VC HSDPA network setup costs.

CodeMaster

CodeMaster

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Hi all,

Since VC dropped their prices, HSDPA access has now become a viable option for our business. We are in the bundu's where no ADSL, I-Burst, Sentech, etc. is available, but we do have some 3G coverage.
If I use my phone, I can connect to a tower that is ± 8km away with about 60-70% signal strength, and reasonable speed & stability. Tower info says 3G and HSDPA enabled.

I need to put a proposal together for the directors to look at, so I would just like some feedback and cost checking on my options. I do not want to sign a contract (Telkom might one day upgrade our exchange), so I will be looking at a 4U contract, and buy the hardware outright.

Once-Off Costs
WRT54G3G Router - R1,695.00 Inc. VAT (PCMall)
HSDPA Data Card - Need feedback here on the different ones available + cost for buying outright & where to buy.
Directional antenna - Here I am clueless... please help.

Monthly Costs
4U Contract - R0.00 /month
My GIG 5 - R989.00 /month

If I go the route of a 4U contract, is it easy enough to add bolt-on bundles if I see that we will go over the 5GB limit?

Any advise or recommendations would be greatly appreciated... I am a noob when it comes to 3G/HSDPA.
 
Codemaster,
Are you sure you are picking up a 3G signal? That "3G and HSDPA enabled" message is coming from a GSM tower. The range of the 3G signal is usually a lot less than the GSM one. You should test with a phone or datacard set to use the 3G (UMTS) band only.
But even if there is "no" signal, a high gain antenna mounted outside may solve the problem.
 
ajax, the speed with my phone was definately 3G speeds. I don't have a HSDPA phone, so I am hoping that the tower has been upgraded to HSDPA.
 
Linksys WRT54G3G + HSDPA data card + fixed directional external antenna sounds like you have a good plan there.

IMO try and get a Huawei HSDPA E620 data card [max downlink speed of 1.8Mbits/s], AFAIK the data card manufacturers have not yet released any 3.6Mbits/s HSDPA data cards.

Also, as good as the Huawei E220 USB HSDPA modem is with signal, it doesn't have a jack for an external antenna, and would not work with the WRT54G3G router, although you could build yourself a Linux router box to use with the E220, but still no way to plug in a fixed external antenna.
 
Thanks ic. I did look at the E220 because of the 3.6Mbit support, but the fact that it cannot be used with the router, and no antenna jack put it out of the equation.
 
Can't fault any of the advice.

Even if you do get a decent 3G signal, still put up an external antenna. You can get them from Poynting. Contact details in the FAQ.

By the time you buy, the 3.6 - 7.2Mb/s cards might be available.
 
Was planning on putting an antenna no-matter-what.
Are the 3.6 - 7.2Mbit cards gonna be arriving soon, like April? :D

vodacom3g said:
Can't fault any of the advice.

Even if you do get a decent 3G signal, still put up an external antenna. You can get them from Poynting. Contact details in the FAQ.

By the time you buy, the 3.6 - 7.2Mb/s cards might be available.
Click to expand...
 
Thanks v3g, please keep us up to date with the cards. I would wait a while to get one if they aren't to far from being released.
 
CodeMaster said:
Will VC be looking at releasing a F/W update for the router? Time-frame?
Click to expand...
Probably best to keep an eye on the Linksys support site for the WRT54G3G as it would ultimately be Linksys that makes firmware changes to accommodate new data cards...
 
What are the Option cards like, ie. quality, firmware, etc?

I can get the new Option GlobeTrotter HSDPA "7.2 Ready" data card from LayerOne for R2,735.00. Not sure if it is supported by the WRT54G3G though.

I see that Option also has a new 7.2 HSUPA card out, but I'm sure VC's HSUPA network upgrade is still some time away...
 
CodeMaster said:
What are the Option cards like, ie. quality, firmware, etc?
...
Click to expand...
<my_opinion>Novatel data cards seem to have & need a lot of firmware upgrades, whereas Option & Huawei data cards seem to have less firmware problems to fix...</my_opinion>
 
CodeMaster said:
What are the Option cards like, ie. quality, firmware, etc?

I can get the new Option GlobeTrotter HSDPA "7.2 Ready" data card from LayerOne for R2,735.00. Not sure if it is supported by the WRT54G3G though.

I see that Option also has a new 7.2 HSUPA card out, but I'm sure VC's HSUPA network upgrade is still some time away...
Click to expand...

Codemaster

The solution that you were proposing is exactly what I am using in my house. I have a Linksys WRT54g3G router and use the Option HSPDA card in the router connected to a LPDA21 Poynting External Aerial.

I have tested my Huewei E620 card in the router and found that it is not as stable as the Option and the signal strenght not as good.

I am accessing a tower more than 8km from my house to connect to HSPDA speeds even though I have three towers not HSPDA enabled withing 3km from my house.

If your company want to waste money on buying the datacard outright, so be it but I am sure that a corporate client will get the datacard included in a 5G contract without paying more than R50 per month more than R989.

Buy the LPDA antenna from any agent but ensure that you buy the LPDA 21 antenna and nothing else. This LPDA antenna boosts the signal with 11db and by placing the antenna outside you will score an additional 7db. Just remember that for every 2m of the cable you loose 1db of signal strenght. Place the antenna as high as possible and in line of sight with the tower.

I connect a second Wifi router to the Linksys to increase the range of the linksys throughout the house and pool/entertainment area. The second router connects to any of the ethernet ports on the linksys and the cable go into the WAN port of the second router. The second router is running a different IP range (192.168.2.1) and uses the Linksys IP as the default gateway.

IT WORKS BRILIANTLY

FireTelkom
 
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