3G/HSPA/LTE Modems

No 3G in South Crest area, Alberton?

Hi,
I bought a Cell C sim card a few days ago added 100MB of data, inserted the card into my Victory301 usb dongle and can only connect in Edge (GSM). I went to Cell C's website and noticed that they do sell UMTS2100 (HSPA+) usb dongles that do not support UMTS900 (W-CDMA), which means that their network should also support UMTS2100.
I use the Victory301 presently with both MTN and Vodacom and with both I connect in HSPA+ mode.
The reason I did this is to test Cell C's network before I commit myself to a R3000 data package deal. According to their coverage map, South Crest, Steeledale, Tulisa Park, etc are covered by their 3G+ network, but apparently not.
Can someone assist me with this issue, perhaps someone who has a Cell C connection in this area or a Cell C rep?
Thanks
Johan
 
The Victory301 does not support UMTS900 which CellC uses for its new Wooosh network.
You will therefore only connect on edge on CellC.
 
JohannesPaulsen said:
Here is the link as requested.
http://cellc.co.za/internet/page/support/modems/2
Click to expand...
Thanks, I think I found the page you meant here:
http://cellc.co.za/internet/page/support/modem-types/2
...and I see what you mean, but all four of those modems do support UMTS 900 and have been confirmed here on MyBroadband, and you can also check Cell-C's Modem Compatibility page here:
http://cellc.co.za/internet/page/support/modem-compatibility/2
...although they still haven't listed the ZTE MF190.
 
No 3G for South Crest, Alberton area?

It appears from this thread sofar that CellC network does not support UMTS2100 (HSPA+), only UMTS900 (W-CDMA). Is that assumption correct? And if so how do I confirm that this area is covered, before I spend a lot of money on a CellC data package?
Thanks for being so helpfull.
Johan
 
JohannesPaulsen said:
It appears from this thread sofar that CellC network does not support UMTS2100 (HSPA+), only UMTS900 (W-CDMA). Is that assumption correct? And if so how do I confirm that this area is covered, before I spend a lot of money on a CellC data package?
Click to expand...
That is correct, although Cell-C have mentioned plans of additional coverage on UMTS 2100 in densely populated areas.
See first page of the Coverage Queries thread.
JohannesPaulsen said:
Thanks for being so helpfull.
Click to expand...
You are welcome! :)
 
JohannesPaulsen said:
It appears from this thread sofar that CellC network does not support UMTS2100 (HSPA+), only UMTS900 (W-CDMA). Is that assumption correct? And if so how do I confirm that this area is covered, before I spend a lot of money on a CellC data package?
Thanks for being so helpfull.
Johan
Click to expand...

Good Day JohannesPaulsen

what area do you stay in ?
i will see what the coverage is.
Cell C run on UMTS900.
We are in the process of a full upgrade and should be covered about 95% end of year.

Regards
~AM~
 
Last edited:
Latest Sierra Wireless modems

Hi,
Here is a link to Trinity Telecomms (official distributors for Sierra Wireless in SA) displaying their latest modems supporting LTE and UMTS 900, the Aircard 319U (UMTS 900) and 320U (LTE/UMTS 900). Interesting read.
http://www.trintel.co.za/modems.html
Johan
 
Cell_C said:
We are in the process of a full upgrade and show be covered about 95% end of year.
Click to expand...
Will that 95% include the [-]black[/-] pink hole (coverage map colour) that is the comms desert some people know as "Rustenburg"? Or have you lot just abandoned that poor town to the depredations of the red devil?
 
A friend of mine lives in a nature reserve in the Stellenbosch mountains. On his roof he gets 2 bar of 3G signal. I want to get him a router and external antenna.

But the problem is I'm not sure which modem to get. So far the modems with external antenna connectors has been reported to be diversity antennas meaning the internal antenna of the modem must have at least a "little bit" of signal to be able to switch to the external antenna successfully.

Now the problem is the router and modem will most likely be placed inside the roof. So the modem won't get any signal on its internal antenna. I therefore need a modem with external antenna connector that is NOT a diversity antenna.

I guess one way to test if a modem's external antenna is a diversity antenna or not is to wrap the modem completely in foil (thereby killing the signal on the internal antenna). Then just use a few cm of copper wire and touch the centre conductor of the external antenna connector. If the modem's signal suddenly goes from nothing to something, to say a few bars, then IMHO that would mean the antenna is not a diversity antenna. Such a modem would suit my needs perfectly.

Any suggestions?
 
ajax said:
A friend of mine lives in a nature reserve in the Stellenbosch mountains. On his roof he gets 2 bar of 3G signal. I want to get him a router and external antenna.

But the problem is I'm not sure which modem to get. So far the modems with external antenna connectors has been reported to be diversity antennas meaning the internal antenna of the modem must have at least a "little bit" of signal to be able to switch to the external antenna successfully.

Now the problem is the router and modem will most likely be placed inside the roof. So the modem won't get any signal on its internal antenna. I therefore need a modem with external antenna connector that is NOT a diversity antenna.

I guess one way to test if a modem's external antenna is a diversity antenna or not is to wrap the modem completely in foil (thereby killing the signal on the internal antenna). Then just use a few cm of copper wire and touch the centre conductor of the external antenna connector. If the modem's signal suddenly goes from nothing to something, to say a few bars, then IMHO that would mean the antenna is not a diversity antenna. Such a modem would suit my needs perfectly.

Any suggestions?
Click to expand...

The primary modem I use is a Sierra Aircard USB 307. It does have a proper external antenna connector. I use it with a pigtail I bought off eBay (about R35) and Uniterm high gain antenna (R540). Plugged into a TP-Link MR3420 router.

You can get the modem from here: http://www.digitalgr8ness.com/Sierr...1.6MBPS-usb-modem-umts-900-mhz-usb-307-21mbps

You can get the pigtail from here (TS9 connector required): http://cgi.ebay.com/TS9-male-right-...132?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item41554f4af4
If you have qualms about buying from eBay, then contact me - I may be able to help.

Antenna from here: http://www.dbg.co.za/product_info.p...d=662&osCsid=4d70cdaff7400eb98027522800eb7bc1

Router from here: http://www.dbg.co.za/product_info.p...d=423&osCsid=4d70cdaff7400eb98027522800eb7bc1
 
Last edited:
1geoff99 said:
The primary modem I use is a Sierra Aircard USB 307. It does have a proper external antenna connector.
Click to expand...

Thanks, but on that link it says:"Antenna Diversity support: yes"

I do not want antenna diversity. The external antenna connection must be able to function without the need to have signal on the internal antenna.
 
ajax said:
Thanks, but on that link it says:"Antenna Diversity support: yes"

I do not want antenna diversity. The external antenna connection must be able to function without the need to have signal on the internal antenna.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure what you are getting at. When I connect an external antenna to the Sierra, the internal antenna is disconnected as far as I can tell and I get a massive increase in signal strength. I see no evidence that the Sierra needs a signal on the internal antenna for the external antenna to work. I also have an E1820, so I can see the difference in behaviour. That is why I got the Sierra - for the proper external antenna connector.

I've just encased my Sierra in aluminium foil, and it works just the same using the external connector.

EDIT: You can of course use a Poynting inductive coupler for about R295 to connect your external antenna. I have one of these as well. However, my R35 eBay pigtail works much better.
 
Last edited:
1geoff99 said:
I'm not sure what you are getting at. When I connect an external antenna to the Sierra, the internal antenna is disconnected as far as I can tell and I get a massive increase in signal strength. I see no evidence that the Sierra needs a signal on the internal antenna for the external antenna to work. I also have an E1820, so I can see the difference in behaviour. That is why I got the Sierra - for the proper external antenna connector.
I've just encased my Sierra in aluminium foil, and it works just the same using the external connector.
Click to expand...

Fantastic 1geoff99. The Sierra is exactly what I need then.

BTW, the inductive coupler is not an option because of the signal loss through the coupler. I need to spare every dB of signal I can.

EDIT: The Uniterm antenna is definitely an option, but I am concerned about the 7m long cable. Assuming 1 dB per meter cable loss that would be 7dB's down the drain. I only need 2 meters as the router and modem would be installed in the roof almost right next to the antenna installation. I measured the 3G signal at about -101 to -103 dBm on my SGS on the roof outside, so I figure I need at least a 10dB improvement through the whole antenna/cable/pigtail kit to get around -90 dBm.
 
Last edited:
ajax said:
Fantastic 1geoff99. The Sierra is exactly what I need then.

BTW, the inductive coupler is not an option because of the signal loss through the coupler. I need to spare every dB of signal I can.

EDIT: The Uniterm antenna is definitely an option, but I am concerned about the 7m long cable. Assuming 1 dB per meter cable loss that would be 7dB's down the drain. I only need 2 meters as the router and modem would be installed in the roof almost right next to the antenna installation. I measured the 3G signal at about -101 to -103 dBm on my SGS on the roof outside, so I figure I need at least a 10dB improvement through the whole antenna/cable/pigtail kit to get around -90 dBm.
Click to expand...

I think about 0.55dB loss per meter is more accurate (HDF-195 or LMR-195 cable). In any case, I'm sure you can arrange to have the cable shortened by the supplier.

However, I would stick to the 7m cable and see if it works. You can change the cable later if it doesn't. Then you don't have to put the router and modem in the roof. That is inconvenient, and these two items already get hot enough.

Incidently, firmware and software updates for the Sierra here: http://www.sierrawireless.com/en/si...loads/AirCard/USB_Modems/AirCard_USB_307.aspx
 
Last edited:
1geoff99 said:
I think about 0.55dB loss per meter is more accurate (HDF-195 or LMR-195 cable). In any case, I'm sure you can arrange to have the cable shortened by the supplier.

However, I would stick to the 7m cable and see if it works. You can change the cable later if it doesn't. Then you don't have to put the router and modem in the roof. That is inconvenient, and these two items already get hot enough.

Incidently, firmware and software updates for the Sierra here: http://www.sierrawireless.com/en/si...loads/AirCard/USB_Modems/AirCard_USB_307.aspx
Click to expand...

Thanks 1geoff99!

I switched from the K4505-Z the Sierra USB 307 modem. Finding and updating firmware for the K4505-Z is such a pain. :-) There appears to be much better official support for the Sierra modem.
 
ajax said:
The Uniterm antenna is definitely an option, but I am concerned about the 7m long cable. Assuming 1 dB per meter cable loss that would be 7dB's down the drain. I only need 2 meters as the router and modem would be installed in the roof almost right next to the antenna installation. I measured the 3G signal at about -101 to -103 dBm on my SGS on the roof outside, so I figure I need at least a 10dB improvement through the whole antenna/cable/pigtail kit to get around -90 dBm.
Click to expand...

Here is another antenna option (14 dBi Yagi 900 MHz band only).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X