3G/HSPA/LTE Modems

[morkhans]

Ok, so after all the discussion does the E220 with the 7.2Mb upgrade work with Cell C's 900MHz UMTS?

As per the FAQ

A: Yes, as long as the dongle is UMTS 900 capable – otherwise you will not get the best speed experience.

 

[Mr K]

Ok, so after all the discussion does the E220 with the 7.2Mb upgrade work with Cell C's 900MHz UMTS?

What determines the frequencies supported by a dongle? Is it the software or hardware?
If a dongle supports UMTS 900 Mhz for GPRS and EDGE, can this be upgraded to support HSPA+ on 900Mhz?

 

[morkhans]

What determines the frequencies supported by a dongle? Is it the software or hardware?
If a dongle supports UMTS 900 Mhz for GPRS and EDGE, can this be upgraded to support HSPA+ on 900Mhz?

I believe this is a hardware limitation. Even though they operate in the same frequencies the HW (chip) is different, but I'm not an electrical engineer, so don't take my word for it

 

[Mr K]

I believe this is a hardware limitation. Even though they operate in the same frequencies the HW is different, but I'm not an electrical engineer, so don't take my word for it

Thanks. Lets see if anybody else can shed some light.

 

[Jola]

Cool, just noticed that my Nokia E72 supports UMTS 900MHz and that it picks up CellC - could use it as a USB modem in an emergency !

 

[RVD]

Got Vodaphone K4505-z to work!

Thanks to Ginggs and all the other posters, I have been able to get the K4505-Z to work with the new CellC data promotion. Followed the advice as posted earlier in the thread (using soft method) and changed from VMC to the ZTE generic dashboard.

Went to a CellC branch, politely asked if I could test their SIM from their dongle on my laptop. They were happy to oblige (Like the positive attitude). Popped in the SIM from their dongle into mine and then plugged into my laptop. Was a bit doubtful, as doing this through VMC previously, only gave me EDGE connection speeds. This time round ZTE dashboard showed CellC and UMTS connection. Connected no problem.

Bought the 24GB data promotion SIM on the spot. Did the RICA straight away and tested with new SIM.
http://www.speedtest.net/result/981711495.png
http://www.speedtest.net/result/981714214.png
http://www.speedtest.net/result/981726898.png

Bye bye Vodacon, hellooo CellC!

 

[softsys]

Also have the K3565 Rev 2. Anybody knows whats the max speed it can handle on UMTS 900? Anybody currently using it on 4Gs that can tell us how their experience with it is?

 

[RVD]

Also have the K3565 Rev 2. Anybody knows whats the max speed it can handle on UMTS 900? Anybody currently using it on 4Gs that can tell us how their experience with it is?

As far as I am aware it is 3.6 Mb/s.

 

[morkhans]

I have hi-jacked the first post and added some more details missing from the Cell C site. Comments, suggestions and additions welcome!

 

[krycor]

Can anyone advise me on a data card? preferably one that can handle up to 21Mbps? and where to get it from(if available)

 

[Acc101]

I saw I Huawei E160 advertised on bidorbuy. Asked the seller if it will support Cell C 3g. This is his reply:

The answer is;
Hi, no..Cell C`s new network is 4G.

So has anybody tested or is using the E160 with CellC ?

 

[Jola]

The E160G will not work, it doesn't support 900MHz UMTS.

The E160E and E160X (Vodafone K3565 is a rebranded version of one of these) support 900MHz UMTS and WILL work.

Note that these modems are max 3.6mbps, so will be slower than the 7.2mbps Cell C modem (E1752).

http://3g-modem.wetpaint.com/page/Huawei+E160+(E160G,+E160E,+E160X,+K3565)

Ask the seller which version he is selling.

Note : You can buy a Vodafone K3565 at Hifi Corp or CNA for R369.

 

[Acc101]

The E160G will not work, it doesn't support 900MHz UMTS.

The E160E and E160X (Vodafone K3565 is a rebranded version of one of these) support 900MHz UMTS and WILL work.

Note that these modems are max 3.6mbps, so will be slower than the 7.2mbps Cell C modem (E1752).

http://3g-modem.wetpaint.com/page/Huawei+E160+(E160G,+E160E,+E160X,+K3565)

Ask the seller which version he is selling.

Note : You can buy a Vodafone K3565 at Hifi Corp or CNA for R369.

Great, CNA here I come... Cellc R41.63 per gig, here I come....and cheers for Hellkom !!

 

[Jola]

Great, CNA here I come... Cellc R41.63 per gig, here I come....and cheers for Hellkom !!

Make sure that you get the Huawei version of the K3565, and not the Zte version not sure if the latter works at 900MHz UMTS.

 

[ginggs]

Can anyone advise me on a data card? preferably one that can handle up to 21Mbps? and where to get it from(if available)

You can get the Huawei E1820 from Cell C. If you get it as part of the 60GB bundle the modem only costs R1000.

 

[RVZ]

Also have the K3565 Rev 2. Anybody knows whats the max speed it can handle on UMTS 900? Anybody currently using it on 4Gs that can tell us how their experience with it is?

I'm currently using this one. Connecting at 7.2, even though the Cell-C website shows the maximum at 3.6.

Make sure that you get the Huawei version of the K3565, and not the Zte version not sure if the latter works at 900MHz UMTS.

I have the Z version. Works perfectly. Had to remove the vodafone dashboard software first though, then installed a generic dashboard. JoinAir or something like that if I remember correctly.

 

[Mercury12]

Just read through all the pages, so has anyone got cell c working on the E220 modem? Do I need to update firmware or install the cellc dashboard? Plugged it in to my E220 and it asks to select access point and non of them connect.

 

[morkhans]

Just read through all the pages, so has anyone got cell c working on the E220 modem? Do I need to update firmware or install the cellc dashboard? Plugged it in to my E220 and it asks to select access point and non of them connect.

Read points 2 & 3 of the first post.

 

[ginggs]

I have tried a Cell C promotional SIM in a Nokia N900. UMTS @ 900MHz working very well.

 

[MightyMuffinMan]

Cell C updated thier Supported deices page: http://www.cellc.co.za/packages/datapromotion_bundles choose Modem compatibility

it also much easier on the eyes.

Check which modems are compatible with Cell C’s new UMTS 900 network.
Modem incompatibility may lead to significantly reduced data speeds.

RED Cell C devices
RED Compatible devices

TABLE 1: HUAWEI MODEMS

Modem type UMTS 900 UMTS 2100 GSM 900 EDGE GPRS Max DL Max UL HSPA+
Huawei E1752* Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 7.2Mbps 5.76Mbps Yes
Huawei E1820* Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 21.6Mbps 5.76Mbps Yes
Huawei B970b Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 7.2Mbps 5.76Mbps Yes
Huawei E180 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 7.2Mbps 384Kbps Yes
Huawei E2010 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 7.2Mbps 5.76Mbps Yes
Huawei E5 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 7.2Mbps 5.76Mbps Yes
Huawei K3565 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 3.6Mbps 5.76Mbps Yes
Huawei K3765Z Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 7.2Mbps 5.76Mbps Yes
Huawei E160 No Yes Yes Yes Yes 3.6Mbps 384Kbps No
Huawei 156G No Yes Yes Yes Yes 3.6Mbps 384Kbps No
Huawei B560 No Yes Yes Yes Yes 7.2Mbps 384Kbps No
Huawei B970 No Yes Yes Yes Yes 7.2Mbps 2.0Mbps No
Huawei E1550 No Yes Yes Yes Yes 3.6Mbps 384Kbps No
Huawei E169 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 7.2Mbps 384Kbps No
Huawei E170 No Yes Yes Yes Yes 7.2Mbps 2.0Mbps No
Huawei E172 No Yes Yes Yes Yes 7.2Mbps 2.0Mbps No
Huawei E220 No Yes Yes Yes Yes 1.8Mbps 384Kbps No
Huawei E230 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 3.6Mbps 384Kbps No
Huawei E270 No Yes Yes Yes Yes 7.2Mbps 384Kbps No
Huawei E272 No Yes Yes Yes Yes 7.2Mbps 2.0Mbps No
Huawei E620 No Yes Yes Yes Yes 1.8Mbps 384Kbps No
Huawei K3520 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 7.2Mbps 384Kbps No
Huawei K3520Z Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 7.2Mbps 384Kbps No
Huawei K3715 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 7.2Mbps 2.0Mbps No

All other current Huawei Modems are not compatible with Cell C's new UMTS 900 network.
* Available on Cell C's Data Promotion Packages

RED Compatible devices

TABLE 2: ZTE MODEMS

Modem type UMTS 900 UMTS 2100 GSM 900 EDGE GPRS Max DL Max UL HSPA+
ZTE MF 633 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 7.2Mbps 5.76Mbps Yes
ZTE MF 662 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 21.6Mbps 5.76Mbps Yes
ZTE MF 668 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 21.6Mbps 5.76Mbps Yes
ZTE MF 636 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 7.2Mbps 2.0Mbps No

All other current ZTE Modems are not compatible with Cell C's new UMTS 900 network.
Modem compatibility
Specifications are subject to change.
The information on this table is based on the latest information provided by the manufacturers.