Getting started with 3G..

D

dlc

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Hi guys,

I am completely new to 3G and my knowledge surrounding it is quite limited. Can someone please help me out. I've recently bought me a laptop and would like to get a 3G connection for when im out and about. What do i need to get to make this happen.LOL. I'm thinkin of getting prepaid 3G as i do have Telkom adsl at home so will only be using the 3G occasionally.

Secondly, I've had a look at those 3G modems from vodacom and they are quite expensive i would say. Is it possible for me to use my cellphone as a 3G modem for my laptop? I have a samsung jet cellphone on contract which is 3G enabled i believe. Will this be possible and would this require me to get a new prepaid sim card to load a data bundle onto? Or are there any other cheaper alternatives to thos expensive 3G modems? At game it costs R1500!!:wtf:

Can anyone shed some light on the matter for me. Thanks in advance.
 
plug your 3g phone into your pc, install needed software/etc.

dial *111# for vodacom to buy a bundle

connect to the internet using phone software.
 
What keeper said. Use your phone, and buy bundles. :)
 
Hi dlc
I have used my Nokia 5800 as a modem for past 6 months. Used my Sony Ericsson M600 for 3 years prior to that. This is as a backup to ever-worsening Iburst.

Living in eastern Pretoria, I mostly connect at 3G, sometimes at 3.5G. Connection is reliable. Do not expect lightning speeds - I would seldom see a sustained average download above 0.5Meg. I have a 20Meg monthly bundle which is fine for checking emails and weather reports, on top of which I received an additional free 25Meg/mnth together with my 5800 contract. When Iburst cannot be relied on or when spending a few days outside of Iburst coverage, I buy an extra 75 or 150Meg.

I am wondering whether the standalone modems offer any advantages over the cell modem? Any advice anyone?

But R1500 is expensive for me too. I don't like the idea of being locked into ANY data contract with anyone, which is the only way to get the modem for free. 2 years in the highly volatile data market is a looong time to be tied into to an out-of-date package.
 
I agree nevstarwader, you don't want to be tied to one of those contracts.
I have a adsl 384kbps at home and only see downloads of 0.3MB/s, so 0.5MB/s would be fine for me.lol. Having my cellphone act as the modem say continuesly for 1-3 hours would this negatively impact my phone in any way except for the battery?

One last thing - should i go out and buy a prepaid simcard to load a databundle onto or can i load one onto my contract sim? I've tried *111# but cant seem to find an option to do this.
 
Effect on your phone - suppose this depends on your phone. Of course, it would use more battery power while providing you with comms. You should be able to talk on the phone simultaneously, but only if you have a 3G or better connection. Your data signal might drop when on voice.
I have always used my contract sim card - the only one I have. I can't remember exactly how I implemented it, (probably voice call to 082 155) but I simply have a databundle added to my contract and add topups when necessary.
 
You can buy an unlocked Vodafone K3565 or similar 3G modem for R500 on eBay.

Then use Vodacom data bundles on prepaid.

Can't go cheaper than that.
 
Say I am at work and the supplied network based internet is websensed to hell and gone. Can I load , say, chrome or some other browser and make that browser use only the 3G connection? How do I prevent the current IE7 from using the 3G?
 
steve-rsa said:
Say I am at work and the supplied network based internet is websensed to hell and gone. Can I load , say, chrome or some other browser and make that browser use only the 3G connection? How do I prevent the current IE7 from using the 3G?
Click to expand...
The default setting for the 3G card's dial-up connection is to be the default gateway, so any traffic except for that destined for your local subnet will go through your 3G card. Fill in your work's proxy server details in IE7, leave the proxy server blank in Chrome. If your work's proxy server is not on your subnet you may need to add a static route to it on your Windows PC.

If this doesn't work, you can try it the other way round; change your 3G card's dial-up connection so that it is not the default gateway, fill in Vodacom's proxy server details in Chrome. According to the Wap.Vodacom settings on my phone, Vodacom's proxy server is at 196.6.128.12 port 8080. You'll also need to create a static route to Vodacom's proxy over your dial-up connection and this could be different every time you connect.
 
Last edited:
ginggs said:
The default setting for the 3G card's dial-up connection is to be the default gateway, so any traffic except for that destined for your local subnet will go through your 3G card. Fill in your work's proxy server details in IE7, leave the proxy server blank in Chrome. If your work's proxy server is not on your subnet you may need to add a static route to it on your Windows PC.

If this doesn't work, you can try it the other way round; change your 3G card's dial-up connection so that it is not the default gateway, fill in Vodacom's proxy server details in Chrome.

[looking up VC's proxy details now]
Click to expand...

Tx for the help
 
nevstarwader said:
Hi dlc
I have used my Nokia 5800 as a modem for past 6 months. Used my Sony Ericsson M600 for 3 years prior to that. This is as a backup to ever-worsening Iburst.

Living in eastern Pretoria, I mostly connect at 3G, sometimes at 3.5G. Connection is reliable. Do not expect lightning speeds - I would seldom see a sustained average download above 0.5Meg. I have a 20Meg monthly bundle which is fine for checking emails and weather reports, on top of which I received an additional free 25Meg/mnth together with my 5800 contract. When Iburst cannot be relied on or when spending a few days outside of Iburst coverage, I buy an extra 75 or 150Meg.

I am wondering whether the standalone modems offer any advantages over the cell modem? Any advice anyone?

But R1500 is expensive for me too. I don't like the idea of being locked into ANY data contract with anyone, which is the only way to get the modem for free. 2 years in the highly volatile data market is a looong time to be tied into to an out-of-date package.
Click to expand...

Here's a good explanation of the whole using your phone as a modem compared to using a stand alone 3G data card.

http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php?t=190988
 
dlc said:
What are you guys take on something like this?
Click to expand...

My problem at the moment is a shortage of good/reliable 3G coverage in my area. I need a modem on a USB extension placed near a window to get coverage. This is why I bought the Vodafone K3565 (R899 from Game, R100 free airtime and a micro-2GB SD card), which is all I need.
 
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