3G/HSPA/LTE Modems

Jola said:
But neither of those support UMTS 900 ?

BTW, the Aircard 307 is not listed on the Sierra site : http://www.sierrawireless.com/productsandservices/AirCard/USBModems.aspx

Any idea why not ?
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Well they work 2100 7.2mbs which is their max. So no need for umts 900. I have notice the software they give with the modems as well as the drivers are more of a problem than anything else. The vodafone software tries to update itself like every hour which is a huge amount of data. I uninstalled all my drivers and the software going with it its working like a charm better than ever
 
Jola said:
But Cell C is mainly 900MHz UMTS - or are you using another provider ?
Click to expand...
no
this is on the E272
Clipboard01.jpg

To the left is the hours connected. Thats 64 in the middle the amount of data is used.
Top is my network left middle type of connection.
 
Generic 3G usb modems

RVD said:
Re. Generic 3G usb modems

Own K4505-z, K3565-z and Aircard 307. Can confirm that all support CellC 900MHz. Unlike many others on this forum, I've not had any major problems with the K4505-z :)
Of the three, I would definitely vote for the Aircard 307 - best software & firmware support from Sierra site. Has been very reliable and as reported in other posts on MyBB it also properly supports the use of an external antennae . The latest "Aircard Watcher" also provides a neat, useful and unobtrusive interface.
Click to expand...

Thank you for this information. I had my eye on the Aircard 307 for a while. Must just flash for the latest drivers and dashboard. Somebody said he got his for R500 from Gumtree. Wil go and search for it.
 
OK, I bought a Sierra Aircard 307 for R860 including postage.

The idea was to have a good modem that would support Cell C and that would work with an external antenna.

Disaster, the 307 constantly disconnects, it is totally unreliable.

I have tried it with a notebook and three different 3G routers - same behaviour in all of them.

I also upgraded the firmware - no change - this modem is junk, DON'T BUY ONE OF THESE !

Back to the E1820, at least it is reliable if nothing else ! R860 down the drain !
 
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Jola said:
OK, I bought a Sierra Aircard 307 for R860 including postage.

The idea was to have a good modem that would support Cell C and that would work with an external antenna.

Disaster, the 307 constantly disconnects, it is totally unreliable.

I have tried it with a notebook and three different 3G routers - same behaviour in all of them.

I also upgraded the firmware - no change - this modem is junk, DON'T BUY ONE OF THESE !

Back to the E1820, at least it is reliable if nothing else ! R860 down the drain !
Click to expand...

I have two 307's, and they work better than my E1820.
 
Well, my 307 is unusable, and my E1820's are much faster and much more stable.

The 307 was a total waste of money.

But I am still testing for a solution, only problem is that there is not much left to test.
 
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Jola said:
Well, my 307 is unusable, and my E1820's are much faster and much more stable.

The 307 was a total waste of money.

But I am still testing for a solution, only problem is that there is not much left to test.
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I don't know where you bought yours, but if you can't get it to work, then ask for an exchange.

I'm intending to buy a third one for a client soon.
 
Not sure that an exchange will help - the 307 works, it just constantly disconnects and is slow.

I have four 3G routers here, it doesn't seem to work properly with one of them.
 
Jola said:
Not sure that an exchange will help - the 307 works, it just constantly disconnects and is slow.

I have four 3G routers here, it doesn't seem to work properly with one of them.
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Mine works fine with the TP-Link MR3420.

I have sometimes had problems caused by USB extensions and/or poor signal strength, whether it be my 307 or E1820. I'm not saying that this is always required, but I plug my modems straight into the router (no USB extensions), and use an external antenna.
 
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1geoff99 said:
Mine works fine with the TP-Link MR3420.

I have sometimes had problems caused by USB extensions and/or poor signal strength, whether it be my 307 or E1820.
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I bought a TP-Link MR3420 especially to use with the 307. However, it works fine with the E1820, but has constant disconnects with the 307.

I am not using an USB extention, and if the problem is caused by poor signal, then it is clear that the E1820 handles poor signal much better than the 307.

I am using the latest firmware on all three, ie the MR3420, the E1820 and the Aircard 307.

Not sure what to do now, the 307 is of zero value, I will contact the supplier.
 
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I have had no problems with my 307. Am even able to connect and maintain a connection on a one bar signal! Also find that that it does not get as warm as the k4505-z. Jola did you not perhaps get a borked modem? Can't comment on the routers as I plug mine directly into a desktop and notebook. Works fine with both "Aircard Watcher" and MDMA.
 
Jola said:
I bought a TP-Link MR3420 especially to use with the 307. However, it works fine with the E1820, but has constant disconnects with the 307.

I am not using an USB extention, and if the problem is caused by poor signal, then it is clear that the E1820 handles poor signal much better than the 307.

I am using the latest firmware on all three, ie the MR3420, the E1820 and the Aircard 307.

Not sure what to do now, the 307 is of zero value, I will contact the supplier.
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What signal strength does your TP-Link report? I am currently getting 54% and with this have excellent performance and reliability (see below).

1400018152.png
 
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RVD said:
I have had no problems with my 307. Am even able to connect and maintain a connection on a one bar signal! Also find that that it does not get as warm as the k4505-z. Jola did you not perhaps get a borked modem? Can't comment on the routers as I plug mine directly into a desktop and notebook. Works fine with both "Aircard Watcher" and MDMA.
Click to expand...

I have the 307 plugged into my notebook now, and am using it with the Aircard Watcher. It shows 3 bars (-89dBm) signal and is connected via HSPA.

So the issue is that the modem actually works, so I have no excuse to return it - I believe that the 307 is just a poor modem, in spite of the experience that you guys say that you have had with it.

I don't believe that these modems will be defective in such a way that they perform sub-optimally, they will either work, or not work. And this one does work, just not very well - nowhere near as well as my E1820.

Edit : I've had enough of this thing now, doesn't matter where and how I use it, it does not stay connected for more than 3 or 4 minutes.
 
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Jola said:
I bought a TP-Link MR3420 especially to use with the 307. However, it works fine with the E1820, but has constant disconnects with the 307.

I am not using an USB extention, and if the problem is caused by poor signal, then it is clear that the E1820 handles poor signal much better than the 307.

I am using the latest firmware on all three, ie the MR3420, the E1820 and the Aircard 307.

Not sure what to do now, the 307 is of zero value, I will contact the supplier.
Click to expand...
Maybe you should sell yours to 1Geoff99 if you don't come right.
 
1geoff99 said:
What signal strength does your TP-Link report? I am currently getting 54% and with this have excellent performance and reliability
Click to expand...

My TP-Link reports 38% with the 307, and 41% with the E1820.

Looks as if the problem is that the 307 cannot handle signal strength below 50%, whereas the E1820 can handle it !!!

Maybe the 307 will perform OK with a good antenna - I have an antenna, but the 307 requires a pigtail / connector that I do not have.
 
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