Huawei E620 vs E220

[Rural]

I am shopping for a data card/ modem for my laptop. Originally thought an E620 would be right. I was told that it is the only one that has a plug for an external antenna. I live in an area with a weak signal.
Have now noticed that the E630 max speed is 1.8Mbps and the E220 USB modem max is 3.6Mbps
I only intend ever using the card/ modem on a laptop.
Questions:
Is there an external antenna available for the E220, does anyone have any experience of using an external antenna?
When is the anticipated launch of 3.6Mbps in SA? Do the networks intend free exchanging the 1.8Mbps cards for a faster version? Vodacom did it when they changed from 3G to HSDPA.
I am posting this on both MTN and Vodacom threads
Thanx in anticipation

PS: Anyone well connected to Nashua Broadband. The service that I have experienced from their sales people is not dismal …… it is ZERO!

 

[Pitbull]

I am shopping for a data card/ modem for my laptop. Originally thought an E620 would be right. I was told that it is the only one that has a plug for an external antenna. I live in an area with a weak signal.
Have now noticed that the E630 max speed is 1.8Mbps and the E220 USB modem max is 3.6Mbps
I only intend ever using the card/ modem on a laptop.
Questions:
Is there an external antenna available for the E220, does anyone have any experience of using an external antenna?
When is the anticipated launch of 3.6Mbps in SA? Do the networks intend free exchanging the 1.8Mbps cards for a faster version? Vodacom did it when they changed from 3G to HSDPA.
I am posting this on both MTN and Vodacom threads
Thanx in anticipation

PS: Anyone well connected to Nashua Broadband. The service that I have experienced from their sales people is not dismal …… it is ZERO!

The E220 is a little arial itself... the PCMCIA card is what your refering to that needs a arial

3.6Mbps would be your last worry now. AFAIK there is currently some negotiations going for a bigger bandwidth allocation on the SAT3 cable. However I have heard on a wind that it should be in some ereas by June/Jully. I might be wrong.

 

[atmosphere]

I had a E620 - and my laptop broke, so i had my insurance pay out for a new one.... just so you know - PCMCIA cards are old technology...

My new laptop doesn't have a PCMCIA slot.....

So i had to sell my E620 and buy a E220...

I get approximately the same speeds with the E220 perhaps even faster than my E620 with the aerial plugged in.

The new technology is called PC Express cards which will be the new standard as the PCMCIA technology is getting phased out

if i was you - get the USB version!

 

[1004ron]

The new technology is called PC Express cards which will be the new standard as the PCMCIA technology is getting phased out

if i was you - get the USB version!

I bought one of these BandRich C100 http://www.expansys.com/p.aspx?i=144554 cards online and use the MTN Prepaid R399 1G data bundle that gives you 2G with the current special. This has been connecting in PE at 7.2 Mbps HSDPA with great speeds.
The C100 is an Express Card which comes with a USB adapter.

Man this is so much better than the very expensive Hellkom dial-up.

 

[redarrow]

I bought one of these BandRich C100 http://www.expansys.com/p.aspx?i=144554 cards online and use the MTN Prepaid R399 1G data bundle that gives you 2G with the current special. This has been connecting in PE at 7.2 Mbps HSDPA with great speeds.
The C100 is an Express Card which comes with a USB adapter.

Man this is so much better than the very expensive Hellkom dial-up.

Have you actually confirmed your speed with a speed test?

You cannot be getting 7.2 Mbps.. none of the networks offer 7.2Mbps yet..

If you're using MS Windows, just remember that the reported connection speed has very little to do with what you're actually getting..

 

[KrazyKid]

BandRich BandLuxe C100 HSDPA 7.2Mbps Data Card

I have just looked the web site mentioned below and the specs state that it is a 7.2Mb data card (3.5G).

Far as I am aware that is the MAX data bandwidth that the card can support.

The HAUWEI E220 can support up to 3.5Mb data.

When I connect the Hauwei modem onto the network my PC states that I connect @ 3.6Mb even though my coverage at home is pruely a EDGE network. (well that is another story, asked MTN 3 years ago to put a tower in Wilgeheuwel, JHB).

You would have to do a proper speed test to determine the true speeeeeeed.

<KK>

 

[1004ron]

Windows shows it's connected at 7.2 Mbps, but it's understood that the actual download and upload speeds are governed by the traffic on the network, which must have been very heavy last night as it was slow as hell.

The modem light shows it's connected on HSDPA most of the time but occasionally switches to WCDMA.

The handy part with this modem is that I use it on USB now, but when I get a new notebook it will slot into the express port.

Where can I find a speed test ?

 

[redarrow]

Where can I find a speed test ?

There are several available...

I usually use speedtest: http://www.speedtest.net/ which allows you to test your speed on various servers..

 

[KrazyKid]

There is a link to various sites on myADSL
http://www.mybroadband.co.za/myadsl/speedtest.php

If you really clocking up to those speeds don't use the speed testing on telkom.co.za the java or flash componets might melt down, for then 7.2Mb bandwidth speed is like a SWEAR WORD.

 

[Voldemort]

aloha

ive used cnet efore, works allright. this new laptop doesnt have the pcmci slot so take the e220 rather, even though it has a built in arial and doesnt acomodate for a peripheral one it will at least make way for the 3.6mbps when this is introduced, i cant really comment on a date, data dude any coment here?

 

[Skeptik]

Bear in mind that the E220 was designed for 1.8Mbps and has been 'upgraded' already to be 3.6 compatible. It's life is therefore limited. Certain other countries are already on 7.2, so if you travel to Europe, you may want to wait a little.

 

[YelloFever]

Bear in mind that the E220 was designed for 1.8Mbps and has been 'upgraded' already to be 3.6 compatible. It's life is therefore limited. Certain other countries are already on 7.2, so if you travel to Europe, you may want to wait a little.