Slipstream USB Modem with built-in Antennae.

I saw it in the latest Data Brochure(2nd Edition - page 2).

MyMeg500 package @ R249 per month. And you pay in R239 for the modem.

And i had a colleague yesterday who was testing one.
 
Thetalogix Slipstream

You can now buy the Slipstream from Vodacom....they have stock includiing a nifty adaptor cable to change the small MMCX connector to the industry standard SMA connector. Chances are you might not need it since the internal flip up antenna has great gain.

Cyan said:
check out www.thetalogix.com they have a HSDPA USb device, the slipstream? they seem to have done something unique with the antenna, also it can take EXTERNAL antenna. only problem is their distributor just doesnt have stock at the moment!
Click to expand...
 
mikkie said:
You can now buy the Slipstream from Vodacom....they have stock includiing a nifty adaptor cable to change the small MMCX connector to the industry standard SMA connector. Chances are you might not need it since the internal flip up antenna has great gain.
Click to expand...


@ic can you move this to the Slipstream thread.

Tks.

:cool:
 
Iam3G said:
I saw it in the latest Data Brochure(2nd Edition - page 2).

MyMeg500 package @ R249 per month. And you pay in R239 for the modem.

And i had a colleague yesterday who was testing one.
Click to expand...

I can get one to test with if you guys are interested to know more about it.


:cool:
 
Installation of this device is a breeze! Its the true meaning of "Plug and Play". Installed one for the first time today, on XP and Vista, and installed without err on both.

And that antenna... oh my... full signal strength!

And its alot smaller than what i thought it would be. I think i should speak to the store owner to get me one for "testing purposes"... ;)
 
Iam3G said:
Installation of this device is a breeze! Its the true meaning of "Plug and Play". Installed one for the first time today, on XP and Vista, and installed without err on both.

And that antenna... oh my... full signal strength!

And its alot smaller than what i thought it would be. I think i should speak to the store owner to get me one for "testing purposes"... ;)
Click to expand...

Hello,
I see that you are satisfied with the 3G SlipStream Modem. Please can you advise me if the relevant modem will solve my following problem?

I am renting a house approximately 1 km from the nearest Vodacom tower. I can see the tower from the house. I use my phone as a modem and I am able to pick up a rock solid reception and 3G connection within a 500 meters range of the tower provided that my phone is on the same level ground as the tower.

When I travel down the hill towards my house the 3G icon remains on my phone until I am approximately 150 meters from from the house. Then it switches over to GPRS.

I am hoping that the 3G SlipStream modem or any other reasonably priced product that you recommend will boost my signal strength and reinstate my 3G connection from the house.

GPRS is useless for my needs. I have seldom seen the the 3G icon appear on my phone when I am at home, but it does not last for more than a few seconds before it switches over to GPRS. This is so frustrating because the house is only 1km from the tower.

Your advice would be appreciated.

Regards,
Mike
 
mrleroux said:
Hello,
I see that you are satisfied with the 3G SlipStream Modem. Please can you advise me if the relevant modem will solve my following problem?

I am renting a house approximately 1 km from the nearest Vodacom tower. I can see the tower from the house. I use my phone as a modem and I am able to pick up a rock solid reception and 3G connection within a 500 meters range of the tower provided that my phone is on the same level ground as the tower.

When I travel down the hill towards my house the 3G icon remains on my phone until I am approximately 150 meters from from the house. Then it switches over to GPRS.

I am hoping that the 3G SlipStream modem or any other reasonably priced product that you recommend will boost my signal strength and reinstate my 3G connection from the house.

GPRS is useless for my needs. I have seldom seen the the 3G icon appear on my phone when I am at home, but it does not last for more than a few seconds before it switches over to GPRS. This is so frustrating because the house is only 1km from the tower.

Your advice would be appreciated.

Regards,
Mike
Click to expand...

Sounds more like a coverage issue than signal. Have you checked the coverage map to see if you have sufficient 3G Coverage?
 
Hi,

Thanks for the very fast response.

I have just been to the coverage map. My street is completely surounded with 3G coverage (and there are no gaps of the "red" 3G colour surrounding my street), although, there is no coverage indicated to the vast area left of my street.

Do you think that the relevant SlipStream mode with it's built in antenna will do the trick?

I would have uploaded a tiny screenshot of my street and the surrounding 3G coverage, but I don't think that upload facilities are available on this forum.

Regards,
Mike
 
mrleroux said:
Hi,

Thanks for the very fast response.

I have just been to the coverage map. My street is completely surounded with 3G coverage (and there are no gaps of the "red" 3G colour surrounding my street), although, there is no coverage indicated to the vast area left of my street.

Do you think that the relevant SlipStream mode with it's built in antenna will do the trick?

I would have uploaded a tiny screenshot of my street and the surrounding 3G coverage, but I don't think that upload facilities are available on this forum.

Regards,
Mike
Click to expand...

What do you mean by vast left?
 
IMPO, this looks a situation where you're constantly switching between 3G and GPRS. Chances are that if you get the Slipstream or E220 you might be sitting with the same problem.

I just had a customer today also with an E220. her whole street is covered with 3G converage, and there are some scattered areas, and she noted that the green light was on. I told her exactly what i told you.
 
Hi,

mrleroux said:
I am renting a house approximately 1 km from the nearest Vodacom tower. I can see the tower from the house. I use my phone as a modem and I am able to pick up a rock solid reception and 3G connection within a 500 meters range of the tower provided that my phone is on the same level ground as the tower.

When I travel down the hill towards my house the 3G icon remains on my phone until I am approximately 150 meters from from the house. Then it switches over to GPRS.
Click to expand...

Some 3G phones (possibly all) let you select between "3G only", "GSM only" or "3G preferred". Set your phone to use "3G only" and see if it picks up the 3G signal. It is possible that the 3G signal is weak and your phone is using GPRS instead.

Cheers,
WireFree
 
Re: 3G Problem at home

Thank you for all the replies to my question regarding the SlipStream modem.

Although the Vodacom Coverage map displays 3G coverage 360 degrees around my street, there is a large area/valley to the left of the end of my street that does not have any 3G coverage at all. The relevant valley is +/- 80m from my home.

"Iam3G", I think you are correct in saying that the chances are that the Slipstream or E220 may not solve my problem.

I will speak to the local retailers about my problem. If they are willing to lend a SlipStream modem to me for a quick test, and if it solves my problem, then I will post an update on this forum.

Regards,
Mike
 
mrleroux said:
Thank you for all the replies to my question regarding the SlipStream modem.

Although the Vodacom Coverage map displays 3G coverage 360 degrees around my street, there is a large area/valley to the left of the end of my street that does not have any 3G coverage at all. The relevant valley is +/- 80m from my home.

"Iam3G", I think you are correct in saying that the chances are that the Slipstream or E220 may not solve my problem.

I will speak to the local retailers about my problem. If they are willing to lend a SlipStream modem to me for a quick test, and if it solves my problem, then I will post an update on this forum.

Regards,
Mike
Click to expand...

It sounds like you might need an external antenna that you could put up on your roof somewhere, one of the high gain ones that Poynting sells, but not sure if you want to do all of that if you're renting.
 
Iam3G, 'Coverage' is nothing but a function of 'signal'. They are directly inter-related.

mrleroux, you seems to have a geographic or other anomaly (hill, dip, buildings, etc.) that's effectivly stopping the signal getting to your house. You should be able to see it. If not, it could just be a range problem, where the signal just runs out of steam, resulting in no coverage.

The map is done with prediction software, so if it's thinking there are problems in your area (the gap to the left), there probably is.

It's probably not that you don't have signal at your home, but rather that it's so weak that your phone and datacard will rather switch to 2G as the signal level is higher.

You could try a 3G-Only profile, but rather you need to get a stronger signal:

1) You can try and avoid the anomaly. Often higher is better. Can you get higher up and see if you get a signal. Have you tried on your roof?

2) You can 'boost' the signal. Most effective way is by using an external, direction antenna as supplied by companies such as Poynting. This will make a massive difference.

3) You can (or should) do both. Get an external antenna and mount it outside, as high as possible. You then need to run a cable to the data card.

A practical solution might be the following:

1) Get a high-gain, external antenna.
2) Mount where you can get the best line-of-sight to the tower. Height is your frind. Mount a pole if you have to.
3) Connect to Linksys 3G router, mounted in ceiling.
4) Use WiFi to reach down into the house.
5) Connect all PC's in the home to the Linksys WiFi AP.
 
vodacom3g said:
Iam3G, 'Coverage' is nothing but a function of 'signal'. They are directly inter-related.

mrleroux, you seems to have a geographic or other anomaly (hill, dip, buildings, etc.) that's effectivly stopping the signal getting to your house. You should be able to see it. If not, it could just be a range problem, where the signal just runs out of steam, resulting in no coverage.

The map is done with prediction software, so if it's thinking there are problems in your area (the gap to the left), there probably is.

It's probably not that you don't have signal at your home, but rather that it's so weak that your phone and datacard will rather switch to 2G as the signal level is higher.

You could try a 3G-Only profile, but rather you need to get a stronger signal:

1) You can try and avoid the anomaly. Often higher is better. Can you get higher up and see if you get a signal. Have you tried on your roof?

2) You can 'boost' the signal. Most effective way is by using an external, direction antenna as supplied by companies such as Poynting. This will make a massive difference.

3) You can (or should) do both. Get an external antenna and mount it outside, as high as possible. You then need to run a cable to the data card.

A practical solution might be the following:

1) Get a high-gain, external antenna.
2) Mount where you can get the best line-of-sight to the tower. Height is your frind. Mount a pole if you have to.
3) Connect to Linksys 3G router, mounted in ceiling.
4) Use WiFi to reach down into the house.
5) Connect all PC's in the home to the Linksys WiFi AP.
Click to expand...

I know and understand that. But what i meant is exaclty you said, his phone\modem would rather select the strongest signal(GPRS in his case), rather than 3G, as some kind of external factor is weakening his 3G signal\coverage.

So what i was saying is that its not a signal problem perce, but ja, as you said, its inter-related.
 
Iam3G said:
I know and understand that. But what i meant is exaclty you said, his phonemodem would rather select the strongest signal(GPRS in his case), rather than 3G, as some kind of external factor is weakening his 3G signalcoverage.

So what i was saying is that its not a signal problem perce, but ja, as you said, its inter-related.
Click to expand...

I think probably 99% of misunderstandings are caused by people (ALL of us) not clearly expressing what we mean when we type something up, forgetting the person reading it cannot see or hear you and thus cannot use the normal conversation cues we use such as tone, timber, body language, etc.

I normally type something up, leave it for a few minutes and then re-read it, to see if it really says what I'm trying to say. But, often, I still get it wrong...:rolleyes:
 
vodacom3g said:
I think probably 99% of misunderstandings are caused by people (ALL of us) not clearly expressing what we mean when we type something up, forgetting the person reading it cannot see or hear you and thus cannot use the normal conversation cues we use such as tone, timber, body language, etc.

I normally type something up, leave it for a few minutes and then re-read it, to see if it really says what I'm trying to say. But, often, I still get it wrong...:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Understood. But its kinda hard getting out the habbit of saying or explaining something in the way you understand it. And that's why there are questions, to gain clarity. I'd rather be a fool once for asking a question(to gain clarity), than be a fool forever for not asking a question at all.

I'll try in future to express what i type in a more understanding manner for the rest of the forumites to interpret without getting confused. I wont promise that it wont happen again... :rolleyes:
 
Iam3G said:
Understood. But its kinda hard getting out the habbit of saying or explaining something in the way you understand it. And that's why there are questions, to gain clarity. I'd rather be a fool once for asking a question(to gain clarity), than be a fool forever for not asking a question at all.

I'll try in future to express what i type in a more understanding manner for the rest of the forumites to interpret without getting confused. I wont promise that it wont happen again... :rolleyes:
Click to expand...

My previous comments were just in general, not specifically aimed at you. :) I'm just as guilty as the next person....

But while I'm on the soap box....

There is no such thing as a stupid question and you should never (NEVER) stop asking questions. We've reached this level of civilisation only through asking questions. And finding the answers.

There are, however, things such as stupid, uninformed statements, made out of sheer ignorance or just plain stupidity. And we see it a lot on this forum.....:rolleyes:

If you're not 100% sure, rather ask than making a dof statement.

Some classic 'dof' statements we've seen recently;

- 'Vodacom refuses to build coverage in a high-density area such as Constantia or Simon's Town',
- 'Vodacom SIM's must be replaced every month' or
- 'It cheaper to transmit higher throughput streams and thus HSDPA should be cheaper than GPRS'

All the above have logical answers, yet the posters never asked but rathther came out with a dof statement, ridiculing themselves in the process.....:rolleyes:
 
vodacom3g said:
My previous comments were just in general, not specifically aimed at you. :) I'm just as guilty as the next person....

But while I'm on the soap box....

There is no such thing as a stupid question and you should never (NEVER) stop asking questions. We've reached this level of civilisation only through asking questions. And finding the answers.

There are, however, things such as stupid, uninformed statements, made out of sheer ignorance or just plain stupidity. And we see it a lot on this forum.....:rolleyes:

If you're not 100% sure, rather ask than making a dof statement.

Some classic 'dof' statements we've seen recently;

- 'Vodacom refuses to build coverage in a high-density area such as Constantia or Simon's Town',
- 'Vodacom SIM's must be replaced every month' or
- 'It cheaper to transmit higher throughput streams and thus HSDPA should be cheaper than GPRS'

All the above have logical answers, yet the posters never asked but rathther came out with a dof statement, ridiculing themselves in the process.....:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Ha ha ha Guilty as charged :o
 
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