How do I know which router is compatible with my 3G modem?

R

ros_b

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 26, 2010
Messages
792
Reaction score
143
Location
Johannesburg
I bought a 3G modem on bidorbuy about 2 years ago. It has "T-Mobile" written on it, and works perfectly with my 8ta sim. Now I need to connect a Samsung Galaxy Tab to the internet at the same time as my laptop, but I don't want to get another SIM for the tablet and have to buy data bundles for it... I have excess data on my 8ta monthly contract so I want to use that for the tablet as well. So I figure what I need is a 3G Wifi router? The way I understand it (if I understand it at all!) is that instead of plugging the 3G modem directly into my laptop, I must plug it into a router, and then connect to that router via my laptop's Wifi and my tablet's Wifi. Is this correct? If so - can someone recommend the cheapest available router that I can get? Thanks.
 
ZyXEL NWD2205 Wireless N Adapter

I had a similar situation here with connecting my Android smartphone via wi-fi so that I could use my 8.ta 10 GB + 10 GB data bundle to do all the updates, etc.

I purchased a ZyXel NWD2205 Wireless N Adapter (802.11n - 300 Mbps) - about the size of an SD card - for under R 200-00, from a local PC store, and set it up as an access point and to bridge to my USB modem in the configuration settings, allocated an SSID & WPA password - and now I can use the internet on my desktop PC and also connect any other wi-fi enabled devices to the net at the same time.

http://www.zyxel.com/products_services/nwd2205.shtml?t=p
 
Last edited:
Step one: find out which modem you have.
What else is printed on the modem?
Upload a picture.
Run MDMA and look in the device properties.
 
ginggs said:
Step one: find out which modem you have.
What else is printed on the modem?
Upload a picture.
Run MDMA and look in the device properties.
Click to expand...

And I'm guessing you are not referring to this?


MDMA
MDMA is an empathogenic drug of the phenethylamine and amphetamine classes of drugs. MDMA has become widely known as "ecstasy", usually referring to its street pill form, although this term may also include the presence of possible adulterants. Wikipedia
Click to expand...
 
Hi There,
I went to 8ta website and they have this device as a single user device.
They have others there as well which are multiple user devices. No pricing on the site that I can see and they direct you to a Telkom store to purchase.

Regards

Tim
 
Yes, it is computer drug in small pill (around 100kB in size). :)
 
Tim the Techxpert said:
Hi There,
I went to 8ta website and they have this device as a single user device. They have others there as well which are multiple user devices. No pricing on the site that I can see and they direct you to a Telkom store to purchase.
Click to expand...

Thanks Tim. I'm not actually using a 3G modem bought from 8ta, though...

I'll upload a picture of my 3G modem later (have to be online right now, can't take it out of the computer to photograph it...)

How do I run MDMA?
 
ros_b said:
I'll upload a picture of my 3G modem later (have to be online right now, can't take it out of the computer to photograph it...)

How do I run MDMA?
Click to expand...
Rather write down "Device info" from MDMA.
You need to unload other dashboard from memory (including systray). Then double click on MDMA. No installation required. To connect, you have to create dialup connection and name it mdma (or rename existing one), otherwise dial button will return error.
 
sajunky said:
Rather write down "Device info" from MDMA.
You need to unload other dashboard from memory (including systray). Then double click on MDMA. No installation required. To connect, you have to create dialup connection and name it mdma (or rename existing one), otherwise dial button will return error.
Click to expand...

The above is all Greek to me. Unload dashboard from memory? Huh? double click MDMA? Where?
 
ros_b said:
Thanks Tim. I'm not actually using a 3G modem bought from 8ta, though...

I'll upload a picture of my 3G modem later (have to be online right now, can't take it out of the computer to photograph it...)

How do I run MDMA?
Click to expand...
Hi there I understood that.
let me re-state your problem as I understand it.
Yoiu have a 3G 8ta card and a stick modem with a sim card in it.
You want to connect more than 1 device wirelessly through a router to the 8ta network
You want to know which router to buy to do this using the 8ta sim card.

So The single wireless option I looked at would not support multiple connections. you would need to look at this model as an example from 8ta

Where you bought the current router from is irrelevant. You now want to take a 8ta sim card and get a modem that is going to support the sim card and hence my suggestion to look at what 8ta offers first.

Regards

Tim
 
Tim the Techxpert said:
Hi there I understood that.
let me re-state your problem as I understand it.
Yoiu have a 3G 8ta card and a stick modem with a sim card in it.
You want to connect more than 1 device wirelessly through a router to the 8ta network
You want to know which router to buy to do this using the 8ta sim card.

So The single wireless option I looked at would not support multiple connections. you would need to look at this model as an example from 8ta

Where you bought the current router from is irrelevant. You now want to take a 8ta sim card and get a modem that is going to support the sim card and hence my suggestion to look at what 8ta offers first.

Regards

Tim
Click to expand...

Though your advice is sound, OP originally wanted to get a router into which he could plug the modem (not sim only) - my understanding. But he didn't know what modem he had and needed to know that first.

Those "all-in-one" units seems nice, but aren't they network bound because of frequencies?

EDIT: Okay - saw ros-b's post below ... you understood him correctly
 
Last edited:
Tim the Techxpert said:
Yoiu have a 3G 8ta card and a stick modem with a sim card in it.
You want to connect more than 1 device wirelessly through a router to the 8ta network
You want to know which router to buy to do this using the 8ta sim card.

Where you bought the current router from is irrelevant. You now want to take a 8ta sim card and get a modem that is going to support the sim card and hence my suggestion to look at what 8ta offers first.
Click to expand...

Yes, exactly. OK, I thought the stick modem with the 8ta SIM in it had to get plugged in to a router. I didn't realise the Sim card goes straight into the router. Thanks for the clarificiation and suggestion.
 
im in the same boat. you get 3g routers that take the stick as well. compatibility is another issue. i identified the tp-link 3420 but it doesnt support my dongle.:mad:
 
ros_b said:
The modem says: HUAWEI E1750 HSPA USB Stick.
Click to expand...
Well then you're in luck. The Huawei modems are the most compatible, you'll probably be able to use just about any router. Just check on the router manufacturer's page for the list of compatible modems. The TP-Link MR3420 mentioned by akescpt is a very good router for its price. I believe Uniterm Direct have a permanent special for MyBroadband members.

We should draw a distinction between a "3G router"[-] which includes a[/-] with a built-in 3G modem, and a "broadband router with a USB port capable of driving a 3G modem" in which you plug your own 3G modem.

The former obviously includes the 3G modem component in its price and you can't upgrade the modem without replacing the router. They are available as portable, battery-powered units though. e.g. Huawei E586, Huawei B683

The latter is probably your best choice for a fixed installation, especially if you already have a 3G modem. They can easily be upgraded as newer modems become available; HSPA+, LTE, etc. e.g. TP-Link MR3420, MikroTik RB751U-2HnD
 
Last edited:
ginggs said:
Well then you're in luck. The Huawei modems are the most compatible, you'll probably be able to use just about any router. Just check on the router manufacturer's page for the list of compatible modems. The TP-Link MR3420 mentioned by akescpt is a very good router for its price. I believe Uniterm Direct have a permanent special for MyBroadband members.

We should draw a distinction between a "3G router" which includes a 3G modem, and a "broadband router with a USB port capable of driving a 3G modem".
The former obviously includes the 3G modem in its price and you can't upgrade the modem without replacing the router. They are available as portable, battery-powered units though.
The latter is probably your best choice for a fixed installation, especially if you already have a 3G modem. They can easily be upgraded as newer modems become available; HSPA+, LTE, etc.
Click to expand...

3g routers dont usually dont come bundled with a 3g modem. uniterm have a couple of those bundles. isnt the mr3420 a wall powered unit? why do you say you cant buy another dongle without buying another 3g router? they are two seperate things. im getting the mr3420 and plugging my dongle into it. going to connect it to my broadband router to share with non wifi devices.
 
akescpt said:
3g routers dont usually dont come bundled with a 3g modem. uniterm have a couple of those bundles.
Click to expand...
Lets keep in the way that 3G routers have built-in 3G modem.
Don't complicate things which are easy to understand. :)
 
sajunky said:
Lets keep in the way that 3G routers have built-in 3G modem.
Don't complicate things which are easy to understand. :)
Click to expand...

what the hell is your problem? not all 3g routers have built in 3g modems. stop posting after drinking troll. OP has a seperate 3g modem and needs a router that accomodates that.
 
ginggs said:
We should draw a distinction between a "3G router" with a built-in 3G modem, and a "broadband router with a USB port capable of driving a 3G modem" in which you plug your own 3G modem.

The former obviously includes the 3G modem component in its price and you can't upgrade the modem without replacing the router. They are available as portable, battery-powered units though. e.g. Huawei E586, Huawei B683

The latter is probably your best choice for a fixed installation, especially if you already have a 3G modem. They can easily be upgraded as newer modems become available; HSPA+, LTE, etc. e.g. TP-Link MR3420, MikroTik RB751U-2HnD
Click to expand...

Thank you. That clarifies things a lot. I think I want the "broadband router with a USB port capable of driving a 3G modem" because then I don't have to keep taking my SIM out of the dongle and putting it into the router and then back again when I go out with the laptop. Seems simpler just to plug the dongle itself into the router, then take the dongle out when I need to be mobile.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X