edge vs HSDPA

[Highroller]

Hey guys, i get a good signal where I am situated and I do have EDGE coverage. However i find the speeds to be pretty bad for what I would like to do with my connection (remote desktop login).

so the big question, if I get a HSDPA modem, will i really see much of a speed difference, in real world terms? because my connection seems incredibly laggy like around 600-800ms to local sites and an intermittent d/l rate of about 4-10k/s , is this normal? would it be better on hsdpa ?

thanks guys!
-jon

 

[Mams]

Yes it would.however first make sure that there is hsdpa in your area.
Whereas edge peaks at 236kbps,the latter peaks at 1.8mbps and soon at 3.6..make sure you take a modem that supports 3.6

 

[Skeptik]

Let's get realistic - you quite likely will never get anywhere near 1.8mbps. This is a theoretic speed that the networks like to claim, but is only achievable under rarified conditions!

 

[ld13]

if I get a HSDPA modem, will i really see much of a speed difference, in real world terms? because my connection seems incredibly laggy like around 600-800ms to local sites and an intermittent d/l rate of about 4-10k/s , is this normal? would it be better on hsdpa ?

I'm also looking into going over to HSDPA too. And as far as I know the E220 USB Modem supports HSDPA up to 3.6, and yea I know I wont ever get near that unless in unrealistic, out of this world situations. I don’t care really. All I need is the added speed and stability. The only problem is, it seems like I cannot find a Retail price on the E220. You can dream about any contract with MTN, and they have the E220 on it. But do MTN have it on a PayAsYouGo option maybe? Because I’m just not a contract person. A quick search on Google did not even pop up anything, not even from Vodacom.

On my GPRS I can Max out at the “theoretical” maximum of 80/85 kbps sometimes. With a HSDPA modem, what speed can I at least guarantee myself? (Giving Good signal etc etc) What is the average speed that you get on 3G(384)/HSDPA(1.8)? My GPRS averages at about half the “capacity”, if I may call it that – +-40kbps.

 

[Voldemort]

Let's get realistic - you quite likely will never get anywhere near 1.8mbps. This is a theoretic speed that the networks like to claim, but is only achievable under rarified conditions!

Same way in which my car has a top speed of 220km/h (downhill that is)

 

[Skeptik]

I'm also looking into going over to HSDPA too. And as far as I know the E220 USB Modem supports HSDPA up to 3.6, and yea I know I wont ever get near that unless in unrealistic, out of this world situations. I don’t care really. All I need is the added speed and stability. The only problem is, it seems like I cannot find a Retail price on the E220. You can dream about any contract with MTN, and they have the E220 on it. But do MTN have it on a PayAsYouGo option maybe? Because I’m just not a contract person. A quick search on Google did not even pop up anything, not even from Vodacom.

This is always a problem. I don't know why they do it. Perhaps they are trying to sell us contracts?
You can get data cards from the bigger Vodacom outlets if you ask. Around R2000 or below.

MTN don't seem to have them anywhere I've been. Perhaps MTNDataDude (Official Rep) would know. He's not around much on this forum though .... (hint)

 

[acidrain]

Let's get realistic - you quite likely will never get anywhere near 1.8mbps. This is a theoretic speed that the networks like to claim, but is only achievable under rarified conditions!

I frequently get around 1.6Mbps on VC. Odd part is, this is when im d/lin on BitComet with around 40 connected peers on one file. After the file is done the speed drops and is back up again when i get a healthy torrent.

 

[ld13]

This is always a problem. I don't know why they do it. Perhaps they are trying to sell us contracts?
You can get data cards from the bigger Vodacom outlets if you ask. Around R2000 or below.

I also found a VodacomSP site that give me the E220 on any contract ranging from R2000 a month to R135 a month. There is no way I’m going the contract route. Now that they know this, they better start throwing some acceptable prices at me. Acceptable being at the R1500 range. R2000+ is just crazy. R1999 is also unacceptable for the Vodacom E220. MTNDD, are you going to be my savior in this "mess"?

 

[Johnit]

I think you can still get the E220 at R85 per month including 40MB pm, on a 24 month contract.

 

[Skeptik]

24 month contracts are for suckers

They are designed to lock you in to rates that in the future will drop.

 

[Voldemort]

24 month contracts are for suckers

They are designed to lock you in to rates that in the future will drop.

I have three contracts, does that make me a sucker then?

 

[Syndyre]

24 month contracts are for suckers

They are designed to lock you in to rates that in the future will drop.

Maybe so but when Vodacom reduced their data rates they did the same for their existing contract holders.

 

[sunsoffun]

I have three contracts, does that make me a sucker then?

A super sucker!