Vodafone R201

Hi Rob, we've supplied loads of these, common problem that they flake out at times and you have to reboot them.
The display should at least indicate whether it's connected or not. I'm sure you know this, but just in case, the display goes off to conserve battery, press the little button on the bottom to turn it on.
Also might help to get the latest firmware, here is a tool:
http://www.business.vodafone.com/si...i_devices/r201/firmware_update/p_firmware.jsp

That SAMBA thing is pretty cool, can turn your R201 + MicroSD into a shared data store.

I digress. :)

If your router is mostly static, there are more robust options.
Check out the Huawei B683 for one.
 
Does anyone have the problem that the SSID still broadcasts, even though it is set not to? i am running the latest firmware, i have disabled WPS, but the next option under WPS is called "WPS Settings" and it has option "Set by WPS" enabled.
 
ginggs said:
Hiding your SSID is not a security measure.
Click to expand...

Thanks, im aware its not a security measure, i'm just wondering why when its set not to broadcast, it still does?. I know hiding the SSID breaks the 802.11 standard. Is anyone aware of needing to set the "WPS Settings" if WPS is already disabled?
 
I went my with brother yesterday and he got one of these on contract for him ... and it actually looks pretty decent. I'm thinking of getting one cash myself - but how much are they?

I've got a Tenda 3G modem that I plug my dongle into - but while it was great at the price (R245 ex VAT), it's slightly unreliable (disconnections occasionally) which annoy me when on wireless. Not sure if it's the router, the dongle or the the network.

He got it on a Vodacom 2GB at R179.00pm, which is pretty decent.

* What's the cheapest cash price of this unit?
* Is there another Mi-Fi unit to look at?
* I have an 8ta card - so I need to Flash or use MDMA? Voda dashboard still won't pick up 8ta?
 
Dolby said:
I went my with brother yesterday and he got one of these on contract for him ... and it actually looks pretty decent. I'm thinking of getting one cash myself - but how much are they?

I've got a Tenda 3G modem that I plug my dongle into - but while it was great at the price (R245 ex VAT), it's slightly unreliable (disconnections occasionally) which annoy me when on wireless. Not sure if it's the router, the dongle or the the network.

He got it on a Vodacom 2GB at R179.00pm, which is pretty decent.

* What's the cheapest cash price of this unit?
* Is there another Mi-Fi unit to look at?
* I have an 8ta card - so I need to Flash or use MDMA? Voda dashboard still won't pick up 8ta?
Click to expand...

The cheapest ive seen them lately is R799 at game, i think incredible has them at that price too. For the price this is about the only Mi-Fi you can get, otherwise you will pay abit more for the others. You can use any sim card in the device, i am using a Cell C sim.
 
Have you guys had any issue when it comes to software with this unit?
Shutting down or something?

My brother said it's giving issues - I offered to buy it ;) but he'd prefer it working. Is there may newer firmware? Or Huawii firmware like in the old days?
 
Ok - I went to his place and there's a software issue. That Vodacom software is slow and bulky ... And something isn't working right on his PC.

Do you get non Vodafone software at all? This software doesn't recognize my 8ta card ... And MDMA won't respond for some reason
 
Working on direct USB connection to PC (like USB stick)?

Vodafone bloatware installs dotnet runtime (I think 2.0) on victim's computer. Older PC's don't like it, it is too heavy load. When you uninstall Vodafone sotware, go to the Control Panel again and uninstall dotnet.

MDMA cannot find modem, as COM port is used by Vodafone running in background.
Go to the options, select two options:
- do not load at startup
- exit system tray from exit
 
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Yea - direct USB connection.

Is there proper Huawei software though?

I remember I flashed my old E220 with Mobile Partner, and it worked. His PC is a dual core with 2GB RAM and it's slow .... but I've got a Quad Core with 4GB and even with that, it's sluggish.
 
Dolby said:
His PC is a dual core with 2GB RAM and it's slow .... but I've got a Quad Core with 4GB and even with that, it's sluggish.
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It must be different issue. With 2GB RAM it shoudn't be a problem. But it could be another dashboard trying a to access COM port (do above with all dashboards), or clash on drivers.

Go to the device manager, View -> Devices by connections, find USB composite device (R201 - whathever is named). Remove all dependent devices (not a modem only) one by one. Lastly remove composite device. Unplug. Wait 90 seconds. plug in and allow to reinstall drivers.

Edit. In other thread you mentioned of using K3772. It must be a clash between two different versions of Vodafone software resident in memory. Now for each modem you need to do the same: select options I adviced, then restart computer. After restart reinstall drivers for each modem (as described above).
 
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ocleroux said:
The device is not locked no. Worst case scenario, you might need to flash the dashboard or firmware.
Click to expand...

LoodFick said:
I was at the vodashop a few min ago and the lady assured me that this device is network locked
Click to expand...

LemonScrub said:
I too would like to know this, as i have spoken to 2 vodashops and both say the R201 can only be used with a vodacom sim card
Click to expand...

Sinbad said:
I have a Vodacom-branded one. I use my 8ta sim in it. No problem
Click to expand...

LoodFick said:
I have tried my 8ta 10gig sim and it works like a charm. Really cool device. So it is not network locked. They also told me it is locked. W
Click to expand...

I've read lots that say it is ; and lots that say it isn't - and plenty saying they use 8ta SIMs. Mine says 'SIM not recognised' with the 8ta SIM (I'm getting the latest firmware to see if it makes a difference ....) - but I can browse wirelessly on with the 8ta SIM.

It appears it's not locked per se - but rather the software won't recognise anything else. I do think it a little unfair though :/
 
Dolby said:
I've read lots that say it is ; and lots that say it isn't - and plenty saying they use 8ta SIMs. Mine says 'SIM not recognised' with the 8ta SIM (I'm getting the latest firmware to see if it makes a difference ....) - but I can browse wirelessly on with the 8ta SIM.

It appears it's not locked per se - but rather the software won't recognise anything else. I do think it a little unfair though :/
Click to expand...

The Vodafone software says sim not recognized but in the background everything is working. You don't need to run it.
Manage the thing directly using its embedded web server. Http://vodafonemobile.wifi if I remember right. Works over USB too.
 
Ok - thanks .... will try that when I get home ....
 
I got it working ... I'm not sure how or why, but it works ;)

I have a vague idea after the hours of reading :

I went to Start > My Computer, Computer Management and disable autorun on a few things (I thing ginggs has post how to do) - so nothing 'Vodacom' is loaded.

I then went to Start > Computer > Netorks and clicked .... I get a yellow bar at the top about auto discovery, which I did. Under Network Infrastructure, I saw 'Vodacom Mobile WiFi' and double clicked.

I got 3 ticks .... then it directed me to the Vodafone.com site.

Bingo!

I have no idea how to disconnect though :P
 
Another question :

Can this be used as a wireless AP at all?

I used to use a Tenda 3G 150 wireless 3G modem (dongle connected in it - and it would connect via ethernet). I installed Plex client on my PC and one on my iPad - and they'd be able to talk to each other through the Twifi network and stream. Same with Boxee remote etc ... they'd work because they were on the same network.

This doesn't work ... is it not really an AP?
 
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