Which current HSDPA modem is the best?

rpm

rpm

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I am in the market for another HSDPA modem, and would like to know if the current options (like the Vodafone Huawei E172 and Novatel USB sticks) are basically the same or whether there is currently one that stands out as the best. Are these sticks similar in performance (antenna and the like) than a Huawei E 272?

Any feedback will be great.
 
rpm said:
I am in the market for another HSDPA modem, and would like to know if the current options (like the Vodafone Huawei E172 and Novatel USB sticks) are basically the same or whether there is currently one that stands out as the best. Are these sticks similar in performance (antenna and the like) than a Huawei E 272?

Any feedback will be great.
Click to expand...
IMO the E272 is the most flexible for mobility and fixed use due to the external antenna connector, AFAIK the E172 does not have an external antenna connector but I did consider buying an E172 for AAO usage due to it being slightly more compact [AFAIK] compared to the E272.

Unfortunately the E272 modems are in very short supply tending towards not available at all - due to chip shortages, so that leaves the E172 and Novatel stick [I am not a Novatel fan]. Given the choice between the E172 and the Novatel stick, I would consider the E172.

Of course that is a mobility-centric viewpoint, if a forumite needed more nomadic or fixed access combined with wifi &| ethernet, then a router might be the way to go.
 
ic said:
IMO the E272 is the most flexible for mobility and fixed use due to the external antenna connector, AFAIK the E172 does not have an external antenna connector but I did consider buying an E172 for AAO usage due to it being slightly more compact [AFAIK] compared to the E272.

Unfortunately the E272 modems are in very short supply tending towards not available at all - due to chip shortages, so that leaves the E172 and Novatel stick [I am not a Novatel fan]. Given the choice between the E172 and the Novatel stick, I would consider the E172.

Of course that is a mobility-centric viewpoint, if a forumite needed more nomadic or fixed access combined with wifi &| ethernet, then a router might be the way to go.
Click to expand...

As we learned at the conference, the chipset in the E272 has been discontinued, so we won't see new ones. However Vodacom managed to buy up the last few thousand Huawei had so you still find if you shop around.
 
vodacom3g said:
As we learned at the conference, the chipset in the E272 has been discontinued, so we won't see new ones. However Vodacom managed to buy up the last few thousand Huawei had so you still find if you shop around.
Click to expand...
I could not find any of them :( The Vodashop close to us did not have any HSDPA modems...business must be good for VC data ;)

I will use my Saturday to hunt down a Huawei E272. If not I will go for the cheaper USB stick - looks like there is not much difference between the Novatel and the Huawei, although the salesman told me "The Novatel is very much stronger than the other one" :D
 
The Novatel stick has a connector for an external antenna so I would much rather go with that if you can't find a E272.
 
rpm said:
I will use my Saturday to hunt down a Huawei E272. If not I will go for the cheaper USB stick - looks like there is not much difference between the Novatel and the Huawei, although the salesman told me "The Novatel is very much stronger than the other one" :D
Click to expand...
Hope you find an E272. I would go for Huawei over Novatel.
Unlike all the other manufacturers (Huawei, Option and Sierra Wireless) that support standard AT commands, Novatel use a proprietary binary protocol for the diagnostic port.
Perhaps one day you might want to use the device on something other than a Windows PC, or use a dashboard other than the one that comes with it.

There's always the E272's ugly sister, the E270.
 
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rpm said:
I could not find any of them :( The Vodashop close to us did not have any HSDPA modems...business must be good for VC data ;)

I will use my Saturday to hunt down a Huawei E272. If not I will go for the cheaper USB stick - looks like there is not much difference between the Novatel and the Huawei, although the salesman told me "The Novatel is very much stronger than the other one" :D
Click to expand...

Will ask Nicci to source one.
 
BTW if you don't mind the extra weight the B970 will double as a modem when you connect it to the USB port.
 
Yes, sofar for me the bestest I've used, is the B970. (not so worried about size, for me the plus is the external antenna connector, to connect to the antenna)
But when are we gonna see the Vodacom flavour of it? Currently still only available from MTN?
I was wondering what happened to the E272s.... we got 2 new voda contracts for the office on 500Mb contracts, and 'only' got the E220 (no HSUPA :( )... a bit of a letdown after being able to get the E270 on the MTN contracts. (we use both MTN & Voda for the office users)
If the E272s are no more... is there a successor? I'm a bit scared to commit to these USB stick modems, been told they're not as good... too compact? Could just be a perception (bigger = better :) )?
I need to get HSUPA modem for our MD... he's got an MTN E270 for his use, want one for home (on Vodacom), and E220 on Voda is not gonna be good enough.
 
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CeeBee said:
Yes, sofar for me the bestest I've used, is the B970. (not so worried about size, for me the plus is the external antenna connector, to connect to the antenna)
But when are we gonna see the Vodacom flavour of it? Currently still only available from MTN?
Click to expand...

It is already available, check the Fastlink B970 on Vodacom thread.

In fact I am connected with a Vodafone B970 at the moment :D
 
Cool, i haven't seen it in the Vodacom phone offers / special deals pamphlets.
On MTN the B970 is available for free on the 350Mb packages up. If we can get same on Voda it will be a good alternative to the E272, for a home modem that is generally not needed to be mobile.
 
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CeeBee said:
Cool, i haven't seen it in the Vodacom phone offers / special deals pamphlets.
On MTN the B970 is available for free on the 350Mb packages up. If we can get same on Voda it will be a good alternative to the E272, for a home modem that is generally not needed to be mobile.
Click to expand...

Someone did post pricing options in the thread I mentioned. The top-up packages looked the best by far.
 
vodacom3g said:
As we learned at the conference, the chipset in the E272 has been discontinued, so we won't see new ones. However Vodacom managed to buy up the last few thousand Huawei had so you still find if you shop around.
Click to expand...
Purely by chance, I managed to buy an E272 at Makro Woodmead for ZAR1799.00, but it was the very last one, and I broke the seal & opened the box in store to make sure it wasn't one of them pretend E272s that don't have a nipple cover for the external antenna connector and two cradle indents - luckily mine does have all that :). I haven't contacted Poynting yet about a cradle, but I will get around to doing so when I am mobile again.
morkhans said:
The Novatel stick has a connector for an external antenna so I would much rather go with that if you can't find a E272.
Click to expand...
In that case I agree that the Novatel stick has an advantage over the E172, but I still agree with ginggs as far as the Novatel API is concerned and then some :).
 
ginggs said:
Hope you find an E272. I would go for Huawei over Novatel.
Unlike all the other manufacturers (Huawei, Option and Sierra Wireless) that support standard AT commands, Novatel use a proprietary binary protocol for the diagnostic port.
Perhaps one day you might want to use the device on something other than a Windows PC, or use a dashboard other than the one that comes with it. There's always the E272's ugly sister, the E270.[/QUOTEI actually have an E270 test unit which works well…it does not have the beautiful ‘Chinese’ styling with the lights, but does the job :D I am actually using it to test the Telkom service now…popped in the SIM and it just worked.

BTW: Strange that Telkom sells E220 modems while their network is HSDPA 7.2 Mbps & HSUPA capable.
Click to expand...
 
still... if the E272 is due to be extinct soon, is there a true similar HSUPA capable successor in the pipeline for Vodacom... or can I confidently recommend the usb stick modems as "just as good"? (for a desktop too, so it would need to be able to connect to a usb extender cable to get some moveability for best signal.
I have some 'picky' (non-IT) users :)
 
Vodacom are also selling the E220. I saw one go out the door today.

I've heard that the problems with the E220 have been fixed. Is that true. Something about Vista compatibility.
 
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