Data card vs USB

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Rabidza

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Hi all

Could someone tell me which type of access device is better? I am thinking about getting the MyGig One Broadband Advanced contract. I have an HP Pavilion dv6101ea laptop, and it has an ExpressCard/54 slot (also supports ExpressCard/34) slot.

On the Vodacom website the options are:
  1. my cellphone
  2. vodadafone usb modem 7.2
  3. vodafone data card
  4. 3G & HSDPA wireless router

I've searched and read all over this forum but cannot find any information as to which one is better to use.

My thanks in advance.
 
Hi RabidSquire. I personally would say that the Vodafone K3715 or K3520. They are USB and therefore can be used on laptops or desktops. If you have the Express Card, it will limit you to using laptops with that specific slot. So, if you need to use another desktop or laptop that does not have it, you cant use your modem. Please note though that there is currently a global shortage of the 3G usb sticks, so dont be shocked if you have trouble finding one. Stock is trickling in, so ask your local Vodacom dealer to keep one for you when they receive.

Before I got my usb modem, I used my phone as modem. It runs the battery down very quickly and having to charge it all the time will also wear out your battery sooner. Some phones also cant receive calls when data connection is active and this can get very irritating. I also found that the connection on the modems are more stable than on handsets. The router is also a good solution, specially if you have a few laptops you want to connect at once and they are WI FI. Too bulky if you want to travel with it though. Also, its a quite a bit more expensive than your 3G USB modems.
 
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1. If your cellphone is HSUPA 7.2 capable, you can use it, it is just a bit of a schlep if you use the internet often to use the phone as a modem.

2. The USB devices are more flexible in that you can use it on any computer and even some 3G routers.

3. Well the datacard is pretty much limited to only your laptop.

4. The router is a good idea if you intend to connect more than one computer to the internet. It is very handy to simply have a the router and have a wireless connection to it. Then any computer in your house can access the internet wirelessly.

I would recommend the USB if you intend to mainly use on only one computer and do not want to fork out unnecessary cash. The router option is the one to go for if you want to connect more than one computer, and a nice to have if you don't mind spending a little extra.
 
Thanks.

Is there a speed or reliability difference between the datacard and usb?
I am most probably only going to use my laptop.
 
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The E630 data card does not support 7.2 as far as I know. I could be wrong. Vodacom is in the process of discontinuing it aswell and will only be stocking the USB modems from now on. No more data cards to be brought in. To be safe, rather go for either the K3715 or K3520 usb modems.
 
Well if Vodacom is discontinuing the datacard and no more cards are going to be brought in there must be something wrong with it right??

So that solves my problem...going for the USB modem.
Thanks for the speedy response.
 
No problem...you are most welcome. I would not say anything wrong with it. Just a lot more convenient and a lot more compatible with more hardware. Hell, I use my E220 USB modem on Ubuntu Linux without a hitch. Also, the cards are rather old technology I would say. Not a very fast mover anymore compared to the USB ones...so does not really make sense for Vodacom to order units that is just going to ly around in the warehouse gathering dust. Hope you enjoy your new modem. Remember...stock is limited at the moment...so get down to the closest Vodacom store and ask them to reserve one for you. If you PM me your location I can check some of my branches and see who has got for you.
 
I'd also suggest you go for Vodacom's Prepaid data bundles. They cost exactly the same as the contract data bundles except you're not locked into a contract. You can then adjust the size of the data bundle you prebuy as and when you need to. Of course you'll have to buy the usb card yourself, but that's a small price to pay for avoiding a contract.
 
True, but I am planning on adding the bundle to my already existing phone contract....or is that just a dumb idea?
 
not dumb at all. Add a bundle to your existing contract, and then just get a data sim for your modem that is linked to your main account. Presto...now you can use your phone and modem at the same time.
 
@RabidSquire, hold your horses!!!

If you are wanting to sign a contract to get a modem with the contract [appears to be the case], I strongly recommend that you seriously consider Vodacom's TopUp contracts instead of the normal contracts.

Also, first go for a [VC]BBS data bundle instead of [VC]BBA - unless you decide against my TopUp contract advice, just remember that you can migrate from [VC]BBS to [VC]BBA if you need to in the future, but probably not the other way around.

PS: welcome to MyBroadband :).
 
In my experience the PCMCIA and ExpressCard modems give far few hassles (power, autorun, drive letters, etc) than the USB models.

The USB models are more versatile though.
 
ginggs said:
In my experience the PCMCIA and ExpressCard modems give far few hassles (power, autorun, drive letters, etc) than the USB models.

The USB models are more versatile though.
Click to expand...
Both card and USB modem types tend to run hot, but an externalised modem will be more ventilated than an internalised modem in a notebook's PCMCIA or Express Card slot - in a desktop PC one can install a fan near the PCI card adapter to do the ventilation - heat being the enemy of just about all electronics.
 
RabidSquire said:
Thanks.

Is there a speed or reliability difference between the datacard and usb?
I am most probably only going to use my laptop.
Click to expand...

i got over 3.6 with the option express card (with latest firmware ofcourse);)
 
ic said:
Both card and USB modem types tend to run hot, but an externalised modem will be more ventilated than an internalised modem in a notebook's PCMCIA or Express Card slot
Click to expand...
I beg to differ, USB modems are encased in plastic, while the card modems have a metal body and can transfer the heat into the laptop's chassis where it can be dissipated by the laptop's cooling fans.
RabidSquire said:
Is there a speed or reliability difference between the datacard and usb?
I am most probably only going to use my laptop.
Click to expand...
There is no speed difference, the PCMCIA and ExpressCard modems use USB to transfer the data anyway, and USB is so much faster than the speed of the modems.

If you are only ever going to use your laptop, get a card modem, but if there's a chance you may want to use it anywhere else, get USB.
 
ic said:
@RabidSquire, hold your horses!!!

If you are wanting to sign a contract to get a modem with the contract [appears to be the case], I strongly recommend that you seriously consider Vodacom's TopUp contracts instead of the normal contracts.

Also, first go for a [VC]BBS data bundle instead of [VC]BBA - unless you decide against my TopUp contract advice, just remember that you can migrate from [VC]BBS to [VC]BBA if you need to in the future, but probably not the other way around.

PS: welcome to MyBroadband :).
Click to expand...

@ic, Yes the assumption is correct I want to sign the contract for the modem. What is the big difference between Normal Contracts and TopUp Contracts, and what is the reason for advising me to go for [VC]BBS instead of [VC]BBA? There is only a R40 difference.

These are the prices available on the net from [VC]:
http://www.vodacom.co.za/services/vodacom_broadband/cost.jsp
 
RabidSquire said:
@ic, Yes the assumption is correct I want to sign the contract for the modem. What is the big difference between Normal Contracts and TopUp Contracts, and what is the reason for advising me to go for [VC]BBS instead of [VC]BBA? There is only a R40 difference.

These are the prices available on the net from [VC]:
http://www.vodacom.co.za/services/vodacom_broadband/cost.jsp
Click to expand...
The TopUp contracts use Vodacom's pre-paid data bundle systems which means that data usage monitoring is realtime, the normal contracts do not have realtime data usage monitoring.

I'm suggesting that you first give the standard option a try, and if or when you are 100% certain that you really need the advanced option, migrate to the advanced option.
ginggs said:
I beg to differ, USB modems are encased in plastic, while the card modems have a metal body and can transfer the heat into the laptop's chassis where it can be dissipated by the laptop's cooling fans.
Click to expand...
Heat transfer via the metal casing is also true, but I don't know of any PCMCIA notebooks that specifically had [have] a fan for cooling off PCMCIA cards - I don't know about the Express Card notebooks though. IMO the problem with card modems is not with the card modems themselves, but rather with the notebooks they are used in, i.e. that the notebooks don't sufficiently ventilate those slots, and in some the slots are very close to the notebook's CPU(s) which adds to the heat problem.
 
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ic said:
The TopUp contracts use Vodacom's pre-paid data bundle systems which means that data usage monitoring is realtime, the normal contracts do not have realtime data usage monitoring.

I'm suggesting that you first give the standard option a try, and if or when you are 100% certain that you really need the advanced option, migrate to the advanced option.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I will try to go the TopUp way, but will I be able to add it onto my existing account. Or do I need to apply for another account for the TopUp contract?

Do you have any idea what the migration cost is? I just figured to keep the in- and out-of-bundle rates the same it is worth the extra R40 so that I need not worry about paying too much if I exceed my bundle.

Plus I think this is a real cool feature of the [VC]BBA Contract:
"Included are HSDPA 7.2 with HSUPA for free - the fastest speeds on the Vodacom network! As well as unused data bundle carry over for up to a maximum of 60 days."
 
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