Data Cards

I have a requirement for 'broadband' via data cards such as T-Mobile's Web &
Walk Professional.

I don't need huge amounts of download capacity, but my requirements involve
dialling into customer sites via VPN and PC Anywhere or Remote Desktop.

I need the ability to plug in a data card into a laptop and know that I can
get broadband speeds to the internet anywhere (e.g. in any hotel).

I only need a fairly cheap tariff as my usage is not high, but it cannot
restrict you to only surfing web pages. Some packages say no VOIP, but
others say web surfing only.

Any ideas?

Thanx.

AMO

---

› See More: Data Cards

In message <[email protected]>, AMO
<[email protected]> writes
>I have a requirement for 'broadband' via data cards such as T-Mobile's Web &
>Walk Professional.
>
>I don't need huge amounts of download capacity, but my requirements involve
>dialling into customer sites via VPN and PC Anywhere or Remote Desktop.

I think you need to clarify your requirement!

Are you wanting Internet connection that you can use to connect to a
customer, or do you want to dial in? If you want Internet connectivity
then you might be OK, but if you want to dial in, you are restricted to
(AFAIK) 9.6k

>I need the ability to plug in a data card into a laptop and know that I can
>get broadband speeds to the internet anywhere (e.g. in any hotel).

From my experience, GPRS on a datacard will give you about 57k connect
speed (30k payload) which is rather disappointing (as with it being
class 10 it should be about 4 times that), whereas 3G should get you
closer to 384k.

For higher speeds, you'll either have to wait for WiMax, or connect to a
wireless broadband network. I think that when they're claiming broadband
speeds from their wireless data services, what they mean is that you can
get broadband speeds when you are connected to a wireless hotspot; not
purely from the mobile network.

>I only need a fairly cheap tariff as my usage is not high, but it cannot
>restrict you to only surfing web pages. Some packages say no VOIP, but
>others say web surfing only.

Well, the budget 3G connectivity (£17+vat pcm) with T-mobile excludes
VoIP and similar; you need to go up to their £44 a month option before
you get to use VoIP.

Regrettably, unlimited high speed and cheap don't go together yet. If
they did we wouldn't be paying for broadband at home.

For speed, I'd make use of the hotel's Wireless service or go sit in a
cafe with a hotspot using a dedicated WiFI card or whatever's built into
your laptop.

For higher rates with reasonable costs but with limitations, I'd opt for
T-mobile's web & walk

For cheapness and flexibility, what I did do, was buy a pre-loved
datacard from Ebay for about £15-20, got an Orange PAYG SIM, and use
GPRS as and when I want it with Orange World 1. It's on the boundary for
skype voice, but works perfectly for skype instant messenger. It all
works fine as I'm not in a great hurry.
--
Gyp
Take out the chemical loo to reply

>>I need the ability to plug in a data card into a laptop and know that I
>>can
>>get broadband speeds to the internet anywhere (e.g. in any hotel).
>
> From my experience, GPRS on a datacard will give you about 57k connect
> speed (30k payload) which is rather disappointing (as with it being class
> 10 it should be about 4 times that), whereas 3G should get you closer to
> 384k.
>
> For higher speeds, you'll either have to wait for WiMax, or connect to a
> wireless broadband network. I think that when they're claiming broadband
> speeds from their wireless data services, what they mean is that you can
> get broadband speeds when you are connected to a wireless hotspot; not
> purely from the mobile network.


The newer vodafone and Tmobile data cards are hsdpa which gives you
theoretically 1.8Mb connection

Data on Vodafone PAYT is £2.35 per Mbyte. There is a unlimited WebnWalk Pro
on Tmobile for about 30 per month.

--
John Blessing

http://www.LbeHelpdesk.com - Help Desk software priced to suit all
businesses
http://www.room-booking-software.com - Schedule rooms & equipment bookings
for your meeting/class over the web.
http://www.lbetoolbox.com - Remove Duplicates from MS Outlook, find/replace,
send newsletters

"Gyp" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I think you need to clarify your requirement!
> Are you wanting Internet connection that you can use to connect to a
> customer, or do you want to dial in? If you want Internet connectivity
> then you might be OK, but if you want to dial in, you are restricted to
> (AFAIK) 9.6k

Sorry, not dial in, VPN via the internet.

> From my experience, GPRS on a datacard will give you about 57k connect
> speed (30k payload) which is rather disappointing (as with it being class
> 10 it should be about 4 times that), whereas 3G should get you closer to
> 384k.
> Well, the budget 3G connectivity (£17+vat pcm) with T-mobile excludes VoIP
> and similar; you need to go up to their £44 a month option before you get
> to use VoIP.
> For cheapness and flexibility, what I did do, was buy a pre-loved datacard
> from Ebay for about £15-20, got an Orange PAYG SIM, and use GPRS as and
> when I want it with Orange World 1. It's on the boundary for skype voice,
> but works perfectly for skype instant messenger. It all works fine as I'm
> not in a great hurry.
> Gyp

Thanx Gyp. What exactly is the term I should be searching for when looking
for one of these datacards? Are they simply PCMCIA data cards?

There are a lot that come up. How do I know which ones will take SIMs and
will they take any or are they specific to a network?

Thanx

AMO

In message <[email protected]>, AMO
<[email protected]> writes
>"Gyp" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...

>Thanx Gyp. What exactly is the term I should be searching for when looking
>for one of these datacards? Are they simply PCMCIA data cards?

Try "gprs data card".

>There are a lot that come up. How do I know which ones will take SIMs and
>will they take any or are they specific to a network?

I know the Vodafone ones are unlocked. I now have 2 - a GPRS one that
cost me about £15 + P&P, and a 3G/GPRS quad band one that cost about £50
+ P&P.

Unfortunately you seem to be restricted to Voda software, but both work
fine with my Orange PAYG SIM.

As Orange don't allow the Orange World 1 deal on their 3G PAYG, I should
have settled with the GPRS card (see www.option.com, products>data
cards>globetrotter), but to be honest I thought at the time I could get
3G Orange World 1, and, err... I was using ebay while pissed...

As it happens, the 3G card (see www.option.com products>data cards>
globetrotter 3G quad) does give me stronger reception which is handy as
reception in my house is dreadful.

So if you want a cheap card that works fine with Orange GPRS, then let
me know :-)
--
Gyp
Take out the chemical loo to reply

> I know the Vodafone ones are unlocked. I now have 2 - a GPRS one that
> cost me about £15 + P&P, and a 3G/GPRS quad band one that cost about £50 +
> P&P.
>


My 3G Globetrotter+ (purchased about 2 months ago) is locked to Vodafone.

--
John Blessing

http://www.LbeHelpdesk.com - Help Desk software priced to suit all
businesses
http://www.room-booking-software.com - Schedule rooms & equipment bookings
for your meeting/class over the web.
http://www.lbetoolbox.com - Remove Duplicates from MS Outlook, find/replace,
send newsletters

In message <[email protected]>, John Blessing
<blessij@**REMOVE**THIS**gmail.com> writes
>
>My 3G Globetrotter+ (purchased about 2 months ago) is locked to Vodafone.
>
I sit corrected.

When I got mine, I ensured I bought them from dealers that declared them
to be unlocked, and had excellent feedback.

I also found a number of comments on the web to the effect that the Voda
ones are not locked. Perhaps that has changed. Or they were wrong.
--
Gyp
Take out the chemical loo to reply

On Sun, 12 Nov 2006 16:57:26 -0000, "AMO" <[email protected]>
wrote:

>Thanx Gyp. What exactly is the term I should be searching for when looking
>for one of these datacards? Are they simply PCMCIA data cards?

Although I have a 3G data card, I find it easier and better to use a
Nokia 7600 mobile phone connected by bluetooth. You can position that
where it will get the best 3G signal. Next to a notebook is never the
optimum place.

--

Iain
the out-of-date hairydog guide to mobile phones
http://www.hairydog.co.uk/cell1.html
Browse now while stocks last!

<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Although I have a 3G data card, I find it easier and better to use a
> Nokia 7600 mobile phone connected by bluetooth. You can position that
> where it will get the best 3G signal. Next to a notebook is never the
> optimum place.
> Iain

Thanx Iain. I had difficulty setting up my Nokia 7600 with BlueTooth. I
think I'm doing something wrong. I'll give it another go - I bought myself
a Bluetooth Adapter for my laptop (its a Belkin) but I haven't got it
working and I figured that the data card route might give better speeds. At
least I know that it does work with a 7600.

Thanx

AMO

In message <[email protected]>,
[email protected] writes
>On Sun, 12 Nov 2006 16:57:26 -0000, "AMO" <[email protected]>
>wrote:
>
>>Thanx Gyp. What exactly is the term I should be searching for when looking
>>for one of these datacards? Are they simply PCMCIA data cards?
>
>Although I have a 3G data card, I find it easier and better to use a
>Nokia 7600 mobile phone connected by bluetooth. You can position that
>where it will get the best 3G signal. Next to a notebook is never the
>optimum place.
>

TBH, if I could do this I would. The problem being that the SIM I use
for data is different to the one I use for calls

I've got a Nokia 6230 for my calls, and a stack of other phones kicking
around. The pain with having a separate phone for data is keeping it
charged, especially if it's not got the same charger as the voice phone.

Not only that, but I failed dismally to get connected to the network
with either my Motorola or my Sony Ericssons using bluetooth or USB
cable (as a consideration to overcome both bluetooth problems and the
charging problem).

The only phone I could get to reliably connect to the Internet was the
Nokia

So going on-line meant a SIM shuffle to put the data SIM in the Nokia
and the voice SIM into one of the spare phones for the duration,
swapping back at the end. Real PITA!

In the end I settled for convenience and a solution that I find works
reliably.

However, if Orange would allow me to add unlimited data to my OVP-Virgin
contract for a couple of quid a month, I'd be a very happy man :-)
--
Gyp
Take out the chemical loo to reply

"Gyp" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> In message <[email protected]>, AMO
> <[email protected]> writes
> >"Gyp" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> >news:[email protected]...
>
> >Thanx Gyp. What exactly is the term I should be searching for when
looking
> >for one of these datacards? Are they simply PCMCIA data cards?
>
> Try "gprs data card".
>
> >There are a lot that come up. How do I know which ones will take SIMs
and
> >will they take any or are they specific to a network?
>
> I know the Vodafone ones are unlocked. I now have 2 - a GPRS one that
> cost me about £15 + P&P, and a 3G/GPRS quad band one that cost about £50
> + P&P.

when i bought a Toshiba laptop a few months back the supplier was offering a
vodafone card free - you just had to register and take out a contract......

this looked like the same one i use for work - 3G gives me a 384 Kbps
(although it seems to limit to 100+ Kbps in many situations - probably down
to sharing the cell).

Long latency though - so apps that need fast response to be useable (like
outlook) are bearable but not great.

It can do GPRS as well, but the 3G <-> GPRS switching scheme is crude so i
have that locked out - who wants 40 Kbps or less and latency around 1 to 2
sec?

So - cards are cheap, may well be locked, but do work.

BTW - Virgin trains seem to be radio shielded - i only ever get a useful
signal in a station.........

>
> Unfortunately you seem to be restricted to Voda software, but both work
> fine with my Orange PAYG SIM.

Work uses iPass to allow us to roam to various connections - it can drive
the vodafone card directly.
>
> As Orange don't allow the Orange World 1 deal on their 3G PAYG, I should
> have settled with the GPRS card (see www.option.com, products>data
> cards>globetrotter), but to be honest I thought at the time I could get
> 3G Orange World 1, and, err... I was using ebay while pissed...
>
> As it happens, the 3G card (see www.option.com products>data cards>
> globetrotter 3G quad) does give me stronger reception which is handy as
> reception in my house is dreadful.
>
> So if you want a cheap card that works fine with Orange GPRS, then let
> me know :-)
> --
> Gyp
> Take out the chemical loo to reply
--
Regards

[email protected] - replace xyz with ntl

>
> when i bought a Toshiba laptop a few months back the supplier was offering
> a
> vodafone card free - you just had to register and take out a
> contract......
>
> this looked like the same one i use for work - 3G gives me a 384 Kbps
> (although it seems to limit to 100+ Kbps in many situations - probably
> down
> to sharing the cell).


Same with me, though there were two types of card offered. The standard 3G
and the HSDPA card (which of course was more expensive), the latter has a
current max of 1.8Mbps

--
John Blessing

http://www.LbeHelpdesk.com - Help Desk software priced to suit all
businesses
http://www.room-booking-software.com - Schedule rooms & equipment bookings
for your meeting/class over the web.
http://www.lbetoolbox.com - Remove Duplicates from MS Outlook, find/replace,
send newsletters

In message <[email protected]>, stephen
<[email protected]> writes

>this looked like the same one i use for work - 3G gives me a 384 Kbps
>(although it seems to limit to 100+ Kbps in many situations - probably down
>to sharing the cell).

My card sometimes reports 384k even though it's running at a lot lot
less as I'm only running GPRS.
--
Gyp
Take out the chemical loo to reply

On Mon, 13 Nov 2006 08:25:42 +0000, Gyp <[email protected]>
wrote:

>TBH, if I could do this I would. The problem being that the SIM I use
>for data is different to the one I use for calls

Oh, I'd not use the 7600 for phone calls. It's not nice to use without
a BT headset. I only keep it as a modem. It has its own T-mobile PAYG
sim card.

--

Iain
the out-of-date hairydog guide to mobile phones
http://www.hairydog.co.uk/cell1.html
Browse now while stocks last!