Best HSDPA device?

[redarrow]

Hi,

When the local tower was first upgraded to 3G/HSDPA I managed to get speeds up to about 800kbps... the last week or so though I haven't really gotton anything faster than around 200kbps..

I don't know where the problem lies.. but I am suspecting my datacard is at least partially guilty: I have a Vodacom datacard, Novatel Merlin U740, it has never once as long as I've owned it gone faster than about 800kbps not on Vodacom nor MTN..

Recently its also developed a new problem: the plug where the little external antenna fits in has become slightly loose (i.e. it can move slightly) and basically it will not work at all without the antenna pluged in.. With the antenna plugged in I get only about a half strength signal or less - it's difficult to say exactly how much because I use Linux so I can only test the signal by running "AT+CSQ" in minicom which gives me "12,99" before this problem (back when I only had EDGE) I would normally get like "25,99" ..
- bear in mind I live in direct line of site (well except for one tree) to the MTN tower which is only about 800 meters away... - So I'm pretty certain my card isn't quite right..

So two questions:

What sort of 3G signal strength should I expect living 800m away from the tower?

And what is really the best device that MTN offers for HSDPA (I don't want any more Vodacom hardware seeing as I never use VC anymore it'll just waste the guarantee)
I must be able to get it on prepaid and it must be usable under Linux..

I understand that the usb hsdpa modems have a better reception than the datacards.. is this correct?

Thanks for any insights!

 

[Skeptik]

I understand that the usb hsdpa modems have a better reception than the datacards.. is this correct?

I was wondering the same thing. The plug-in cards connect to the main bus, while USB is limited to speed for that protocol?

 

[redarrow]

I was wondering the same thing. The plug-in cards connect to the main bus, while USB is limited to speed for that protocol?

Well USB 2.0 is up to 480 Mbps and USB 1.0 up to 12 Mbps both of which are significantly faster than HSDPA so I don't figure that'll have any affect... if I understand your question right?

I'm more wondering about signal reception..

 

[redarrow]

hmm.. does MTN only have one HSDPA datacard?

The only one I can find on their website is a "Fastlink E620" .. but no indications of price?
Also cannot find the usb thing?

 

[dotVIBE]

yeah, throughput becomes an issue when connecting through bluetooth, but not USB.

 

[Syndyre]

hmm.. does MTN only have one HSDPA datacard?

The only one I can find on their website is a "Fastlink E620" .. but no indications of price?
Also cannot find the usb thing?

They have the E220 which is the USB modem, abt R2500 cash or you can get it on contract @ R75/month.

 

[ginggs]

What sort of 3G signal strength should I expect living 800m away from the tower?

I'm 1km away and I get between -107dBm and -97dBm. I have a Huawei E620 PCMCIA card with unipole antenna (the one they supply free with the cards these days).

And what is really the best device that MTN offers for HSDPA (I don't want any more Vodacom hardware seeing as I never use VC anymore it'll just waste the guarantee)
I must be able to get it on prepaid and it must be usable under Linux..

I understand that the usb hsdpa modems have a better reception than the datacards.. is this correct?

Reception on the E220 USB and E620 PCMCIA card with unipole antenna is basically the same, I get more variation day to day than the difference between the cards. I can increase the signal on the E220 slightly by mounting it higher up the wall simply because the USB cable is longer than the E620's antenna cable.

The real differences are:
The E620 can take an external antenna, the E220 can't.
The E620 can make voice calls, the E220 can't.
The E220 can do 3.6Mbps, the E620 can only do 1.8Mbps. (MTN currently only have 1.8Mbps, and I understand due to limited Telkom links many towers can only provide 800kbps anyway)
The E620 is a PCMCIA/CardBus device, the E220 is a USB device. (Take note that some laptops are coming out without PCMCIA slots, and if it's going into a desktop PC you'll require a PCI to PCMCIA adapter, both of which make the USB device a simpler option)

Another option is the 3G router, this is a completely OS independent solution, although probably no good if you need portability.

 

[redarrow]

They have the E220 which is the USB modem, abt R2500 cash or you can get it on contract @ R75/month.

Cool thanks for the info!

But does anyone know whether it'll give me better reception?

Oh and anyone know the price of MTN's datacard?

EDIT: Beat me to it! Thanks for the run down ginggs!

 

[redarrow]

I really need to decide which is the better option now..

I'd like portability so the router is not my best bet, plus it sounds pricey seeing as I'll still need a datacard anyway.

The USB thing sounds good as I'll be able to plug it straight into my desktop as well instead of sharing my laptops connection like I do at the moment..

I also don't really like the idea of external antenna's, I'm certain I wrecked my U740's plug from plugging it in and out too many times..

Basically I guess it'll depend on the price difference between the pcmcia and usb modem...

Btw.. is MTN's E620 datacard the same thing as Vodacoms "Huawei E620" ?

 

[Syndyre]

Both MTN and Voda's E620 are the same card. Think the price is the same for both, on contract anyway, makes more sense to get it on contract since the contract repayments x 24 are less than the retail price and you get the free airtime.

 

[redarrow]

Both MTN and Voda's E620 are the same card.

OK Cool.. Thanks!

Think the price is the same for both, on contract anyway, makes more sense to get it on contract since the contract repayments x 24 are less than the retail price and you get the free airtime.

That may be, but I have an intense dislike of contracts.. so much that I'll rather pay more for something outright than take a contract..

But apart from that I doubt I'd be approved for a contract anyway.. I don't even have a credit card..

 

[YelloFever]

They have the E220 which is the USB modem, abt R2500 cash or you can get it on contract @ R75/month.

If you looking for a E220 for about R1500 PM me

MTNDD

 

[davidwza]

OK Cool.. Thanks!


That may be, but I have an intense dislike of contracts.. so much that I'll rather pay more for something outright than take a contract..

But apart from that I doubt I'd be approved for a contract anyway.. I don't even have a credit card..

If you are looking for a E620 for R1200-00 PM me.

 

[YelloFever]

If you are looking for a E620 for R1200-00 PM me.

 

[redarrow]

If you are looking for a E620 for R1200-00 PM me.

Ta thanks for the offer davidwza... but I've decided to get MTNDD's E220...
Usb is just so much more handy..

 

[YelloFever]

Ta thanks for the offer davidwza... but I've decided to get MTNDD's E220...
Usb is just so much more handy..

 

[redarrow]

OK I got the E220 from MTNDD (Thanks! )

And I can now defintely say that my Novatel is not up to speed...

The connection is now much more "steady" I've been getting a very constant speed of around 450Kbps.. That might not seem like much.. but's it's much better than I was getting... also I think the E220 under Linux is not 100% right so I might still be able to get even better speeds with a bit of tweaking...

 

[YelloFever]

OK I got the E220 from MTNDD (Thanks! )

And I can now defintely say that my Novatel is not up to speed...

The connection is now much more "steady" I've been getting a very constant speed of around 450Kbps.. That might not seem like much.. but's it's much better than I was getting... also I think the E220 under Linux is not 100% right so I might still be able to get even better speeds with a bit of tweaking...

Great stuff

Glad you're happy with it

MTNDD