3G speed: Phone vs. data modems

I have a strange question:

I am using my Nokia E51 and Vodaphone modem 3G HSDPA Data card on the Vodacom networks. I upgraded to the latest software available from Nokia and for my Data card. With 3G HSDPA 3.6Mbits switched on, I surf the internet.
With the E51 I get a download speed of around 15KB/s and with the data card I get around 100KB/s. I tried even a Nokia 73 and a Huwai 3G HSDPA usb modem, all upgraded to the latest software and tested all with even different sim cards for which some are contract and prepaid. So, just to try every possible way of testing, I even went to the same website downloading the same stuff all within about 5 minutes between phones/modems and sim cards. I swopped the cards very quickly to do this. I used a download meter to give me accurate results. I tested it in various provinces and towns in SA!

Now, I think by myself why buy a 3G Phone when I can't get 3G speeds? The datacards and usb modems are much faster and more to 3G speeds.
Ok, I went even further and did the same test on the 2nd biggest cellular network with their sim cards! NO DIFFERENCE! I got the same results!!

Question I ask, is the South African cellular networks bull****ing us as soon they detect a cellphone with 3G capability? Do they have not enough bandwith to accommodate all, only the real data modems? Or is there newer technology available on newer model cellphones, can you tell me what to look for?

Regards:
Michael 3G

The datacard WILL perform faster than the phone no matter how you cut it...

WHY?

Because the datacard is built and designed around ONE SINGLE PURPOSE.
A Phone is built and designed to multitask MANY SEPARATE PURPOSES.

Why does a PS3 play games faster than a PC?
Because its designed and built for that singular purpose.

The phone's memory is hellishly lots slow when it has to run the phone, calendar, homescreen, connection subsets, contacts, etc etc.


Also remember that there is a difference in capability on a phone.
3G =/= HSDPA
Also the phone tries to keep the communication channel open for incoming calls.

15kbs download? Really? The Minimum i get with my K850i is around 35-40 very rarely do i get speeds approaching 100 though. On a side note ive only ever seen the H symbol for HSDPA once. In Villiers on the way to jhb...so strange...

There must be something wrong on your side. The difference in speed between a cellhpone and a data modem is not significant - in my case the modem is about 22% quicker (2424 kbps vs 1979 kbps / 303 KB/s vs 247 KB/s).

This is a very good explanation. I find lots of people using their phones as "their 3G modem" and they complain of such slow 3G speeds.

nuyork said:

This is a very good explanation. I find lots of people using their phones as "their 3G modem" and they complain of such slow 3G speeds.

Click to expand...

i`ll +1 that

The numbers you give seem a bit extreme. How do you connect the phone to PC to download? Or are you downloading on the phone itself.

The main speed difference would be due to the antenna. The phone antenna is probably less capable than the one in the modem devices.

hmmmmm, odd. I get download rates of between 20 and 500kbps. Have the Samsung G800 which has 7.2HSDPA. But obvioulsy im not conecting at that speed.