Ericsson vs Sierra: EDGE Cards

Just a quick one guys ... are all these 1GB etc packages only on contract or also for ad-hoc use ...

Basically, not looking to extend my 24month contract even further ;-)
 
regardtv, one solution is to get yourself a dual SIM card (on your existing contract)
and use that for ad-hoc data use. That's what I'm currently doing.
 
regardtv said:
Just a quick one guys ... are all these 1GB etc packages only on contract or also for ad-hoc use ...

Basically, not looking to extend my 24month contract even further ;-)
Click to expand...

If you already have a device and a contract and just want the 1 Gig bolt-on to then MTN offers that for R499/month and it's on a month-to-month basis so you will not need to extend the contract.
 
Feedback on the P111 (PCMCIA to PCI bus adapter):
Having tested this adapter card now on various PC's (using a Sierra Wireless
775 card), I have been able to access EDGE without any real problems.
My slowest access speeds have been about 128kb/s

The only issue is that on certain newer PC hardware (with Hyper-Threading),
I have been unable to do a "soft" shut down of the card services (PC goes into a total freeze).
To remove the wireless card, one would need to do a full system power-down.
 
I just got of the phone to MTNSP and they currently have the SE GC85 free on special with the MyChoice 75 package. If I want the Aircard 775 I need to pay R629. Since I'll be using the cards in EDGE only areas (at least for the forseeable future) I don't mind getting an EDGE only card.

From the Forum I don't see a conclusion as to which of these data cards are better. Dbnet, what is your opinion?
 
hotdog said:
I just got of the phone to MTNSP and they currently have the SE GC85 free on special with the MyChoice 75 package.
Click to expand...

I got the SonyEricsson GC85 today and I must say at home I'm getting much better speeds with it than with my Nokia 6230 or 9500. There was huge confusion at the Bloemfontein MTNSP regards the Novatel offering on ExpressMessage; so much so that I decided to let it be. (Interestingly enough...the GC85 is free on MyChoice75 but cost just under R1200 on ExpressMessage despite the monthly subs being just R13 less!)

Download Speed Test
Your line speed is approximately 180.1 Kbps or 22.1 kBytes/sec
Download time: 22.656 seconds
Size of file: 500 KiloBytes
Estimated line speed: 180.1 (kilobits/second)
Estimated line speed: 22.1 (kiloBytes/second)

I find this pretty acceptable for any use but downloading the latest Fedora DVD images... <grin>

I notice on the SonyEricsson webpages that the GC95 is to be released soon; this being a 3G/EDGE/GPRS piece of equipment I think I will wait a bit longer and get that later; if it operates as efficiently as the GC85 it's bound to be a pretty usefull product.
 
MyChoice 75 with AirCard 775

I changed my mind and got the AirCard 775 (which was now offered free) on a MyChoice 75 contract. Although I asked for a USIM, the salesperson at MTNSP in Durban, could not arrange a USIM for me. Apparently they don't have stock yet?! :eek: MTNSP, any help on this one?

I now have a lot of questions I'd like answered please:
1) If I had managed to get a USIM, what would the free data minutes have been for the MyChoice 75 contract?
2) I experienced very slow and intermittent download service (<1.5Kb/s, whereas this morning it is at least 4KB/s) last night. I'm in the PMB area and don't have EDGE yet. What is the cause of this? Surely PMB would not have a problem with overuse on the data side??? MTNBB?
3) Does the Aircard jump around between towers even while connected to GPRS? Where I live my phone jumps switches about 4 towers.
3) Is it possible to lock onto a tower with the Aircard 775? i.e. assuming that the jumping around could cause one to connect to a tower that was not giving optimal throughput? Something like the Series 60 software spoken of elsewhere on this forum?
4) Can one determine what tower you are connected to with the A775 using the AirCard Watcher software? i.e. does it have Cell Broadcast ability?
5) MTNBB, when will PMB (especially Chase Valley) get EDGE service? I know that pigs can fly, but a date would be nice :D

Other than those few hiccups I must say that I'm happy with the A775 thus far.
 
hotdog said:
Thanks MTNHandsets, now all I need to do is hope the MTN g*ds decide to shine favourably on Pietermaritzburg and give us some indication when we will be &quot;Yello Broadband&quot;ed. MTNBB, I know I've asked you before, but any indication yet when this will happen?

While waiting (patently) my mouth waters at the prospect of getting HSDPA speeds in the next year! Anything at this stage is better than GPRS, but hey, why not aim high ;)
Click to expand...
3G coverage is available in PMB.HSDPA will be availabe this year.
 
Edge better than 3G in this case

Tahir Ally said:
3G coverage is available in PMB.HSDPA will be availabe this year.
Click to expand...
Yes Tahir, I know that, but unfortunately the poor upload speed that 3G currently provides is not good enough for what I need. So until HSDPA is available, EDGE is the "Better Connection" ;)
 
hotdog said:
Yes Tahir, I know that, but unfortunately the poor upload speed that 3G currently provides is not good enough for what I need. So until HSDPA is available, EDGE is the &quot;Better Connection&quot; ;)
Click to expand...
For Now there is no dual EDGE/UMTS......You are still stuck + with EDGE you cannot force your connection.It will jump to GPRS .
 
Tahir Ally said:
You are still stuck + with EDGE you cannot force your connection.It will jump to GPRS .
Click to expand...

Wrong. Please see this post :

How to manually select a Base Station

You can quite easily manually select an EDGE base station if you know how, and have the right equipment.

In addition, EDGE and GPRS are the same thing - EDGE is GPRS with a different coding scheme. What you most probably meant to say is that you "jump GPRS coding schemes". Please see this post for a full explanation :

What is GPRS+

Cheers -
ScrnScrm
 
I'm experiencing problems installing the Ericsson Card on some new Notebook hardware (freezing).
Solution: I'm going to stick only to the Sierra Wireless card from now on!
 
dbnnet said:
I'm experiencing problems installing the Ericsson Card on some new Notebook hardware (freezing).
Solution: I'm going to stick only to the Sierra Wireless card from now on!
Click to expand...

I"ve been using mine (GC85) for 2 weeks now on series 8100 Acer Travelmate, without problems. At that time you still had to fork out R700 for the Sierra on MyChoice75, but seems you get it free now.
 
Yes... on the Series 8100 it works fine.
On all older models too ... no problem.
Not so on the newer 4150Lci :(
 
Nope not yet: But I'll sure be watching what Sierra Wireless do.
This as their product and on-line support are 1st rate!

I tried to get an updated driver from the Ericsson site for
the GC85. The product in SA is shipped with version V3.3.4.x
yet their web site still only has V3.3.1.x

Called Ericsson support helpdesk in JHB - Their solution:
"Call Acer"
:(

Edit : I've just dumped (and returned) this rather unstable Ericsson CG85
product and am only going to only use the Sierra Wireless card from now on.
Ericsson obviously are not able to support, or take ownership of their products.
 
Last edited:
I got the Ericsson card, but is seems to be network locked?

How do I see which tower it is connecting to?
 
mc721221 said:
I got the Ericsson card, but is seems to be network locked?

How do I see which tower it is connecting to?
Click to expand...

I am not sure what you mean by network locked - in terms of which network it is locked to and which network you are trying to access? I will confirm on Monday but I'm sure we did not specify for ours to be locked.

Did you get the Ericsson card with the MTN dashboard?
 
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