Huawei E620 vs E220

[AR_GTR]

Hi

Firstly this is my first post so go easy on me please. Anyway tomorrow I'm going to get a data bundle, looking at the 1gig with MTN, then see hook up my N73 to the PC and see how fast 3G is. It's just to get a taste of fast internet.

By next week I want to have either the Huawei E620 but of course along with that I'll need to have my laptop which I don't think I'll have by then. The other option is the Huawei E220 with USB.

So what's the difference with the 2? Is there a speed difference between them, namely the USB port and the PCMCIA slot. Will it effect my connection speed? Because both are priced the same, is R2150 a rip off?

Also the "PC Card Slot for 1 Type II card" that is the correct slot for the Huawei E620 right?

Thanks in advance, hope the post isn't too long

 

[ginggs]

So what's the difference with the 2? Is there a speed difference between them, namely the USB port and the PCMCIA slot.

The E220 is the newer of the two cards and can do 3.6Mbps (although currently the networks are only doing 1.8Mbps), the E620 only does 1.8Mbps. The E620 can take an external antenna so it's good for fixed installations, but you can use a long USB cable on the E220 and stick the device on your wall to improve reception.

Because both are priced the same, is R2150 a rip off?

I got mine on a MyChoice 75 package for R75 per month for 24 months, works out a bit cheaper and you get R75 worth of airtime every month.

Also the "PC Card Slot for 1 Type II card" that is the correct slot for the Huawei E620 right?

That's correct.

 

[AR_GTR]

Thanks Ginggs

Btw i meant R2150 as in the cash price of the both the modems. So I'm leaning to the USB modem not because of it's speed (not getting that here anytime soon ) but because it's USB therefore I can put it just about anywhere. Does elevation matter in getting better speeds? I think I'm situated fairly high up but the beach is less than a 5 minute walk away. Will the salty water in the air affect the signal?

Now on a laptop I'm looking at this is one of the expansion slots, with no mention of "1 x Express Card™ slot" with no mention of Type II or PCMCIA. I think that's a new slot but my question is, is that compatible with the
E220?

Also how much would a long USB or USB extension cost versus an external antenna?

The thing is I don't want to be bound to a contract just yet, so I'll take the data bundle with MTN 500MB for R250. Does a bundle carry over to the next month if not completely used or does it expire after one month of activation? Because I asked a guy at a MTN store and he said the data contracts Don't carry over

 

[sean12]

Thanks Ginggs


The thing is I don't want to be bound to a contract just yet, so I'll take the data bundle with MTN 500MB for R250. Does a bundle carry over to the next month if not completely used or does it expire after one month of activation? Because I asked a guy at a MTN store and he said the data contracts Don't carry over

Vodacom does the same bundle for R189.

MTN and Vodacom do not carry over bundles.

Vodacom allows you to load another bundle when you 1st one has expired.(30 days)

MTN only allows you to reload a bundle after 1 month and pay R1.5 - R2 per MB, out of bundle rate.

 

[ginggs]

Btw i meant R2150 as in the cash price of the both the modems.

The contract is cheaper, why pay R2150 up front when you could pay R1800 over two years and get R1800 worth of airtime?
You don't have to use that monthly R75 on data, you can use it voice calls, SMS, your choice (hence the name of the package ). You could even buy a pre-paid SIM for your data card and use the MyChoice SIM in another phone if you wanted.

So I'm leaning to the USB modem not because of it's speed (not getting that here anytime soon ) but because it's USB therefore I can put it just about anywhere.

Yeah, USB is quite, um, universal.

Does elevation matter in getting better speeds?

Generally you get a better signal the higher up you go.

I think I'm situated fairly high up but the beach is less than a 5 minute walk away. Will the salty water in the air affect the signal?

I don't think so, the distance from you to the cellular tower would be more of a factor.

Now on a laptop I'm looking at this is one of the expansion slots, with no mention of "1 x Express Card™ slot" with no mention of Type II or PCMCIA. I think that's a new slot but my question is, is that compatible with the E220?

I think you mean E620?

Also how much would a long USB or USB extension cost versus an external antenna?

A long USB cable should set you back R50 or so, a USB extension under R200 and an external antenna several hundred Rands.

 

[AR_GTR]

The contract is cheaper, why pay R2150 up front when you could pay R1800 over two years and get R1800 worth of airtime?
You don't have to use that monthly R75 on data, you can use it voice calls, SMS, your choice (hence the name of the package ). You could even buy a pre-paid SIM for your data card and use the MyChoice SIM in another phone if you wanted.

I already have a contract, that's my N73, that handles, voice and sms.

Ok can you please go through the details of this contract that costs R1800for a modem and R1800 airtime because the MTN contracts that I saw for a "free" modem and some data starts at R250. R250 * 24 = R6000

R75 can only buy you 7x R10, 10Mb bundles if I'm correct and I can finish 70Mb in an hour then have to wait another month for another hour?

 

[Yotch]

@AR_GTR: Take a look at this thread for cheaper datacard offers. Secondhand is also a possibility.

http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php?t=84562

 

[ginggs]

R75 can only buy you 7x R10, 10Mb bundles if I'm correct and I can finish 70Mb in an hour then have to wait another month for another hour?

You get R75 worth of airtime included in the price, unfortunately at this stage you cannot use it to buy bundles. You can add a bundle of your choice to this package, and once your bundle runs out you start to use your R75 credit at the out-of-bundle rate. At the end of the month you will get a bill for the amount you used over the R75, or if anything was left it will be carried over for the next month.

 

[AR_GTR]

You get R75 worth of airtime included in the price, unfortunately at this stage you cannot use it to buy bundles. You can add a bundle of your choice to this package, and once your bundle runs out you start to use your R75 credit at the out-of-bundle rate. At the end of the month you will get a bill for the amount you used over the R75, or if anything was left it will be carried over for the next month.

Ok I think I think I get you now. So what is your monthly payment figure? Now I assume this figure will be your R75 airtime, for whatever you want to do, plus another amount to cover the modem cost, correct?

So I'll have R75 as a let's say overrun buffer once my bundle, which i buy separately, runs out. But if this is a contract sim, being that it's a contract that I will be taking, then how would I buy airtime to convert it to a data bundle? To my limited knowledge you can't buy airtime for a contract sim.

Btw sorry for the constant questioning just trying to get things clear

 

[ginggs]

Ok I think I think I get you now. So what is your monthly payment figure? Now I assume this figure will be your R75 airtime, for whatever you want to do, plus another amount to cover the modem cost, correct?

No, the modem was free on the MyChoice 75 contract, so it's just R75 plus the bundle cost plus the cost of whatever I use over and above the bundle and the R75 at out-of-bundle rates. I also had CLI and itemised billing removed from this contract, as I had no use for them.

So I'll have R75 as a let's say overrun buffer once my bundle, which i buy separately, runs out. But if this is a contract sim, being that it's a contract that I will be taking, then how would I buy airtime to convert it to a data bundle? To my limited knowledge you can't buy airtime for a contract sim.

There is a MyChoice 75 top-up and a plain vanilla MyChoice 75, which I have. The top-up version is a hybrid, the R75 is on your contract, anything additional is pre-paid. In my case, I just added the bundle and it was included on my monthly bill.

Btw sorry for the constant questioning just trying to get things clear

No worries, that's the whole point of this forum!

 

[AR_GTR]

No, the modem was free on the MyChoice 75 contract, so it's just R75 plus the bundle cost plus the cost of whatever I use over and above the bundle and the R75 at out-of-bundle rates. I also had CLI and itemised billing removed from this contract, as I had no use for them.

Ok I looked on the MTN site and found the MyChoice 75 contract. The thing is I don't see where they say there's a free modem included for your R75. Maybe you've got a link or something?

 

[ginggs]

Ok I looked on the MTN site and found the MyChoice 75 contract. The thing is I don't see where they say there's a free modem included for your R75. Maybe you've got a link or something?

I don't have a link unfortunately, you'll have to check with an MTN store whether the modem is still available on that contract. Basically you would be taking out a contract, and instead of MTN giving you a free mobile phone, you are getting the modem.