Huawei E272 HSUPA modem with connector for external antennas

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Re: problems with E272 on Vodacom network

Hi,

Correction: Seems there is a small hole under the label for an external antenna, but no plastic cap that I can see, the label runs about 3/4 the length of the modem, if it is for an external antenna it's in a rather akward place and I'm not sure if removing the label to get at the hole will void any warranty. Fortunately in the UK we have a pico cell in the office and in my apartment block as the frequency for HSDPA and HSUPA doesn't penetrate through walls very well.

I've used the modem on D2 in Germany and on Vodafone in Italy. Vodacom doesn't show up on either of the dashboard softwares but I've heard from colleagues in Saudi that if you search for networks you can jump on to the Vodafone network there, but didn't work for me here onto Vodacom.

Will try through Vodafone in the UK to see if I can get it unlocked.
 
Picture of an 'uncapped' E272 here.

There's a similar connector inside the E220, and a corresponding hole in the plastic casing, although the hole is covered by the logo, picture here.
 
vodacom3g said:
Hey!, I hope your not eyeing my E272 with any intend to disect? :eek:
Click to expand...
:D Only through software!

Here's some more about the connector inside the E220 here. It's in Swedish, but you can figure it out from the pictures.
I poynted this connector out to Poynting some time ago, and they told me it was only a test point.
 
ginggs said:
:D Only through software!

Here's some more about the connector inside the E220 here. It's in Swedish, but you can figure it out from the pictures.
I poynted this connector out to Poynting some time ago, and they told me it was only a test point.
Click to expand...

Those pics enticed me to open my E220 - and ended up breaking the screw bracket - did even know this thing was held together by a screw as well:o

Edit: Now I see the screw.
 
Last edited:
New Vodacom Modems?

Afternoon peeps

On saturday I went past the Vodacom store in Fourways to sign up for the Vodacom Data contract with free modem. Unfortunately I did not have the 3 months of bank statements required for the contract. :cool:

My query is regarding the usb modem options. The salesmen was trying to sell me on a new modem they have that apparently goes up to +7mbps? He advised me that it was a more expensive modem, and there would be a once off payment of +/- R250 (cant remember exact price) on top of the contract. So basically this wasnt a free modem, just a greatly discounted one.

However I can find no information regarding this modem on Vodacoms website or the mybroadband.co.za site.

Please could someone provide me with the various usb modem product names so I can research the options you have available? I believe the (previous?) one was the Huawei E220.. Any reccomendations/information in comparisons of the modems would be greatly appreciated

Can anyone confirm the new modems are not free on contract, but merely greatly reduced, and the exact costing involved?

Cheers :p

Edit ** and I did check http://www.vodacom.co.za/services/mobile_data/vodafone_usb_modem.jsp ;)
 
Last edited:
Mike.S30 said:
Afternoon peeps

On saturday I went past the Vodacom store in Fourways to sign up for the Vodacom Data contract with free modem. Unfortunately I did not have the 3 months of bank statements required for the contract. :cool:

My query is regarding the usb modem options. The salesmen was trying to sell me on a new modem they have that apparently goes up to +7mbps? He advised me that it was a more expensive modem, and there would be a once off payment of +/- R250 (cant remember exact price) on top of the contract. So basically this wasnt a free modem, just a greatly discounted one.

However I can find no information regarding this modem on Vodacoms website or the mybroadband.co.za site.

Please could someone provide me with the various usb modem product names so I can research the options you have available? I believe the (previous?) one was the Huawei E220.. Any reccomendations/information in comparisons of the modems would be greatly appreciated

Can anyone confirm the new modems are not free on contract, but merely greatly reduced, and the exact costing involved?

Cheers :p

Edit ** and I did check http://www.vodacom.co.za/services/mobile_data/vodafone_usb_modem.jsp ;)
Click to expand...

I believe it was the E272 (square white one). It is more expensive than the current E220 (more rounded).

I STRONGLY advice you to pay the R250 extra for the E272, it not only supports 7.2 but also supports much faster uplink speeds, called HSUPA.

If you don't take this modem, you're going to be disappointed within the next few weeks. Trust me on this. ;)
 
E220 vs E272 in the field

Hey,

I managed to get my Vodafone E272 purchased in the UK unlocked thanks to the friendly technicians at Huawei (it helps to speak Mandarin).

Having used it in the UK and never gotten over 5mbps (625KByte/sec) even with full bars connectivity and a pico cell in the building I was interested to know how it stacks up to the E220 on the Vodacom network.
Vodacom has rolled out 3.6Mbps HSDPA compared to the 7.2Mbps being offered by Vodafone UK in some areas. In testing I tried to be as consistent as possible using 2 similarly spec'ed laptops except for screen size to ensure there wasn't any possible interference caused by processor load or speed influencing the USB connectivity.
The specs are: T7600 2.33Ghz Core 2 Duo, 2GB Ram 667mhz, XP SP2
Identical Windows services and processes were running on both machines during testing.

I tested using speedtest.net as well as major sites such as CNN, Google, Facebook, Ebay, BBC World.
The testing criteria I used was based on ping, upload and download speed.

With the latest firmware updates for the E220 as well as E272 there wasn't much difference between the two at 1-4 bar signal strength. On occassion the E220 would outperform the E272 and vice versa by 50Kbps
(6KByte/sec) which I can only ascribe to better reception at the moment or network traffic. At 5 bars the E272 maintained a consistent margin of between 40-60Kbps(5-7KByte/sec) with a peak download speed of 3Mbps, marginally outperforming the 2.9Mbs obtained on the E220.
Note that the peak speeds were obtained at 5am GMT+2.
Peak upload speeds for the E272 was 300Kbps compared to 220Kbps on the E220 also at 5am GMT+2 with 5 bars signal strength.

I would assume that the difference comes down to revisions in E272 with regard to its internal antenna as it was designed for HSUPA 2Mbps and HSDPA 7.2Mbps and would therefore need to be able to handle faster uploads and downloads simultaneously than the E220 which only supports HSUPA 384Kbps. Please note that at 1-4 bars signal strength there was virtually no difference in performance between the modems.

My recommendation to those in the market for a wireless modem is as follows:
First test out the quality of the reception in your area.
Secondly, if you are receiving 5 bars signal strength and are more concerned about upload speeds than download, for instance sending large files for work, and want to be able to use HSUPA 2Mbps when it is eventually rolled out in SA probably late 2009 to early 2010 and aren't influenced by the additional cost of the modem and plan to use Vodacom's 3.6Mbps service at the additional R49 monthly cost then going for an E272 is the right choice. If you don't plan to use the 3.6Mbps service stick with the E220 for now you can find unbranded/unlocked modems on Ebay for R450-R800 excluding shipping.
Thirdly, if you are receiving 3-4 bars signal strength, either an E272 or an
E220 with external antenna would be a good choice depending on your choice to use the 3.6Mbps service or not. Theoretically with 3-4 bars unassisted signal strength, an external antenna might be able to increase your signal strength to 5 bars. If you have the money then to spend on both the E272 and an external, it wouldn't be a bad choice as you would benefit from the increased performance of the E272 over the E220 at 5 bars signal strength.
Fourthly, if you are receiving 1-2 bars signal strength, stick with an E220 and use an omni-directional external antenna connected by inductive coupling at best you'll receive 3-4 bars signal strength which will provide you with a stable connection but you'll never experience the theoretical limits promised by the E272.

To summarise if you have cash to burn, or are renewing a data contract, receive a good signal already and plan to use the 3.6Mbps service buying an E272 is the choice for you. Otherwise save your money and stick with the E220 for now.
 
Apotomy said:
Hey,

I managed to get my Vodafone E272 purchased in the UK unlocked thanks to the friendly technicians at Huawei (it helps to speak Mandarin).

Having used it in the UK and never gotten over 5mbps (625KByte/sec) even with full bars connectivity and a pico cell in the building I was interested to know how it stacks up to the E220 on the Vodacom network.
Vodacom has rolled out 3.6Mbps HSDPA compared to the 7.2Mbps being offered by Vodafone UK in some areas. In testing I tried to be as consistent as possible using 2 similarly spec'ed laptops except for screen size to ensure there wasn't any possible interference caused by processor load or speed influencing the USB connectivity.
The specs are: T7600 2.33Ghz Core 2 Duo, 2GB Ram 667mhz, XP SP2
Identical Windows services and processes were running on both machines during testing.

I tested using speedtest.net as well as major sites such as CNN, Google, Facebook, Ebay, BBC World.
The testing criteria I used was based on ping, upload and download speed.

With the latest firmware updates for the E220 as well as E272 there wasn't much difference between the two at 1-4 bar signal strength. On occassion the E220 would outperform the E272 and vice versa by 50Kbps
(6KByte/sec) which I can only ascribe to better reception at the moment or network traffic. At 5 bars the E272 maintained a consistent margin of between 40-60Kbps(5-7KByte/sec) with a peak download speed of 3Mbps, marginally outperforming the 2.9Mbs obtained on the E220.
Note that the peak speeds were obtained at 5am GMT+2.
Peak upload speeds for the E272 was 300Kbps compared to 220Kbps on the E220 also at 5am GMT+2 with 5 bars signal strength.

I would assume that the difference comes down to revisions in E272 with regard to its internal antenna as it was designed for HSUPA 2Mbps and HSDPA 7.2Mbps and would therefore need to be able to handle faster uploads and downloads simultaneously than the E220 which only supports HSUPA 384Kbps. Please note that at 1-4 bars signal strength there was virtually no difference in performance between the modems.

My recommendation to those in the market for a wireless modem is as follows:
First test out the quality of the reception in your area.
Secondly, if you are receiving 5 bars signal strength and are more concerned about upload speeds than download, for instance sending large files for work, and want to be able to use HSUPA 2Mbps when it is eventually rolled out in SA probably late 2009 to early 2010 and aren't influenced by the additional cost of the modem and plan to use Vodacom's 3.6Mbps service at the additional R49 monthly cost then going for an E272 is the right choice. If you don't plan to use the 3.6Mbps service stick with the E220 for now you can find unbranded/unlocked modems on Ebay for R450-R800 excluding shipping.
Thirdly, if you are receiving 3-4 bars signal strength, either an E272 or an
E220 with external antenna would be a good choice depending on your choice to use the 3.6Mbps service or not. Theoretically with 3-4 bars unassisted signal strength, an external antenna might be able to increase your signal strength to 5 bars. If you have the money then to spend on both the E272 and an external, it wouldn't be a bad choice as you would benefit from the increased performance of the E272 over the E220 at 5 bars signal strength.
Fourthly, if you are receiving 1-2 bars signal strength, stick with an E220 and use an omni-directional external antenna connected by inductive coupling at best you'll receive 3-4 bars signal strength which will provide you with a stable connection but you'll never experience the theoretical limits promised by the E272.

To summarise if you have cash to burn, or are renewing a data contract, receive a good signal already and plan to use the 3.6Mbps service buying an E272 is the choice for you. Otherwise save your money and stick with the E220 for now.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the excellent feedback.

You've missed one crucial point however. :)

While both modems support 7.2Mb/s in the downlink, the E220 only supports an uplink speed of 384Kb/s while the E272 supports up to 2Mb/s.

When you did your tests, the network was still at 384 but this is not going to the case for much longer.

I'm probably the biggest E220 fan on this forum, but the E272 will be the new 'E220' :)
 
E220 vs E272

@Vodacom3G

I didn't miss the difference between the theoretical maximum upload speeds of the E220 vs the E272, to quote my post:
"I would assume that the difference comes down to revisions in E272 with regard to its internal antenna as it was designed for HSUPA 2Mbps and HSDPA 7.2Mbps and would therefore need to be able to handle faster uploads and downloads simultaneously than the E220 which only supports HSUPA 384Kbps. Please note that at 1-4 bars signal strength there was virtually no difference in performance between the modems."

I still stand by my recommendation that unless you are renewing a data contract the need to upgrade to the E272 at this time is limited to the certain circumstances. I would certainly save my cash at this time, especially if you plan to purchase the modem outright not on a contract, until there is word from MTN and Vodacom as to an actual rollout date for HSUPA 2Mbps in SA or at least 7.2Mbps HSDPA.

Just to mention tests were conducted at Rivonia, Sandton shopping centre, Midrand close to Vodaworld, Menlyn shopping centre, Brooklynn Mall, Olympus and Faerie Glen in Pretoria east.
 
Apotomy said:
@Vodacom3G

I didn't miss the difference between the theoretical maximum upload speeds of the E220 vs the E272, to quote my post:
"I would assume that the difference comes down to revisions in E272 with regard to its internal antenna as it was designed for HSUPA 2Mbps and HSDPA 7.2Mbps and would therefore need to be able to handle faster uploads and downloads simultaneously than the E220 which only supports HSUPA 384Kbps. Please note that at 1-4 bars signal strength there was virtually no difference in performance between the modems."

I still stand by my recommendation that unless you are renewing a data contract the need to upgrade to the E272 at this time is limited to the certain circumstances. I would certainly save my cash at this time, especially if you plan to purchase the modem outright not on a contract, until there is word from MTN and Vodacom as to an actual rollout date for HSUPA 2Mbps in SA or at least 7.2Mbps HSDPA.

Just to mention tests were conducted at Rivonia, Sandton shopping centre, Midrand close to Vodaworld, Menlyn shopping centre, Brooklynn Mall, Olympus and Faerie Glen in Pretoria east.
Click to expand...

6 months ago, I would fully agree with you, but at this point in time that critical knee-point is nearly upon us.....But obviously I have info not yet in the public domain, so it'll influence my decision ;)

I'm more excited about UPA (than 7.2 DPA) as I believe the current transmission constraints will allow us to more easily provide UPA than any substantial improvements in speed on DPA.

We've already demonstrated the 7.2 radio network and I've personally seen real-world speeds (i.e. off-net) sustained at nearly 6Mb/s.

But to try and get this kind of capacity from Telkom for thousands of towers is near impossible. (Actually IS impossible).
 
If I get a shiny 17'' widescreen Toshiba laptop, it might tempt me to buy a E272. :(
 
vodacom3g said:
I believe it was the E272 (square white one). It is more expensive than the current E220 (more rounded).

I STRONGLY advice you to pay the R250 extra for the E272, it not only supports 7.2 but also supports much faster uplink speeds, called HSUPA.

If you don't take this modem, you're going to be disappointed within the next few weeks. Trust me on this. ;)
Click to expand...

And how many multiples of R50.00 will that cost us.??:sick:
 
Anyone knows where I can source a E272 urgently? Vodacom only expecting a shipment in 3 weeks, but my laptop with built-in 3G was stolen & I'm flying down to CT on Sunday. Voda has the E220 (outdated now) & the Novatel MC950D but my power cable prevents it from plugging into adjacent USB. Know of any other service providers that have stock?
 
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