HSDPA Cards

[Baron_Sengir]

Hi All,

I was just wondering if there is an official difference in performance between the available cards. I just got my Huawei card. Well I think u spell it like that. and was wondering how it compares to the Novatel?

Any comparisons?

Also is there a speed difference between the two networks?

Cheers and thanks in advance

 

[vodacom3g]

There should be no speed difference between different cards on the same bearer (GPRS/EDGE/3G/HSDPA).

If you mean by the "two networks" the GSM and UMTS networks, yes there's a massive difference.

GSM Network:
On GPRS you'll max out at about 80Kb/s
On EDGE around 170Kb/s

UMTS Network:
On 3G around 384Kb/s
On HSDPA around 1.6Mb/s

 

[Baron_Sengir]

Thanks

Thanks for the quick response 3G. I hope that the card lives up to its expectations, ill let every1 know.

Cheers

 

[panda]

Comparing the Sierra Aircard 850 and the Huawei e620

I don't own a 3G/HSPDA card yet, but I'd like hear all the pro's and con's for Vodacom's Sierra Aircard 850 vs MTN's Huawei e620 data card, from users in this forum. Mostly, I'd like comments on the following;

1. Is either card network locked?
2. How does the bundled software shape-up and compare?
3. How does the Network Operator's performance compare in well-covered areas?
4. Where to buy either one at the best (contract-free, i.e. cash) price?
5. Any tips from desktop users employing a PC-card to PCI-slot interface.
6. Any other comments about Net-Op issues, or known problems, etc

Regards.

 

[vodacom3g]

I don't own a 3G/HSPDA card yet, but I'd like hear all the pro's and con's for Vodacom's Sierra Aircard 850 vs MTN's Huawei e620 data card, from users in this forum. Mostly, I'd like comments on the following;

1. Is either card network locked?
2. How does the bundled software shape-up and compare?
3. How does the Network Operator's performance compare in well-covered areas?
4. Where to buy either one at the best (contract-free, i.e. cash) price?
5. Any tips from desktop users employing a PC-card to PCI-slot interface.
6. Any other comments about Net-Op issues, or known problems, etc

Regards.

I did not realise Vodacom had a Sierra Aircard 850?

Have a look on vodacom.co.za for the current cards.

 

[panda]

HSDPA Cards - MTN & Vodacom

BTW 'vodacom3g', I saw a pre-release article, with photo etc. (refer "The MAGG" Feb/March 06), that suggested Vodacom was going to introduce the Sierra 850 Aircard for HSDPA (no mention was made of Novatel). Of course, MTN does have the SAC850 as an option to the Huawei, but at a much higher cost! However, this seems a moot point now, as no-one else has replied to the questions I posed...

Thanks anyhow for your input.

 

[Hintry]

Actually not all HSDPA cards are the same.

Last month I got an "early" (no Vodafone branding) Merlin U740 (HW Rev 056) card and performance was very mediocre - even slower than my previous 3G card.

My wife got a Huawei last week and her speed is fantastic.

As an experiment we swapped cards and guess what - I'm smiling but my wife's pissed off . Her speed has plummeted and mine's rocketed.

There must be something wrong with the Merlin...

V3G , any suggestions?

 

[vodacom3g]

I've asked for a release date on new firmware on the U740. If anything is amiss, it can only be fixed by a firmware upgrade.

Will keep you posted.

 

[magus]

If anything is amiss, it can only be fixed by a firmware upgrade.

Something is most definitely amiss, as is anecdotally evidenced here and here

 

[Hintry]

If its not fixable anytime soon I'd like to swop the Merlin for a Huawei/Option card.

Will there be resistance? I hate getting worked up.

 

[SPINOUT]

Hi guys i too recently got my new HSDPA card a (Merlin U740 ) , well im not impressed at all infact it is at the most even slower than my 3G card that i had previous to this one.I thought it could be a location problem and did a test at a friends house that recently got a new Huawei card and all i can say is that there is no comparison ,i will be looking to replace my card asap.

Is there any reason why the big difference between these cards. ????

 

[rehd]

Hi All,

Any comparisons?

Also is there a speed difference between the two networks?

Yeah there seems to be a big difference between Vodacom and MTN. Vodacom seems to have a big download link and a small upload link, MTN seems to have balanced the 2 out quiet evenly. Their upload and download links seem to work at the same speed.

I was using international speed test sites in Holland.