Vodafone 3G

It seems that a quick experiment with a Vodafone 3G phone reveals that
the customer site that cant get wired broadband, may actually be able to
get 3G service via Vodafone.

So, investigating what Vodafone can deliver at what cost via a router/3G
dongle is today's little taskette.

- What does it cost bandwidth wise?
- What speed is likely?
- What router works with a 3G connection? How much does such cost?
- What traffic shaping and other restrictions would be imposed?
- Is a fixed IP address possible in this scenario? Useful for private
access to certain sites.

Any other horror stories with Vodafone?

"The Natural Philosopher" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:i6nldc$k05$(E-Mail Removed)...
> It seems that a quick experiment with a Vodafone 3G phone reveals that
> the customer site that cant get wired broadband, may actually be able to
> get 3G service via Vodafone.
>
> So, investigating what Vodafone can deliver at what cost via a router/3G
> dongle is today's little taskette.
>
> - What does it cost bandwidth wise?
> - What speed is likely?
> - What router works with a 3G connection? How much does such cost?
> - What traffic shaping and other restrictions would be imposed?
> - Is a fixed IP address possible in this scenario? Useful for private
> access to certain sites.
>
> Any other horror stories with Vodafone?

Don't think Vodafone offers a static IP

Google finds:
http://www.nucleusnetworks.co.uk/mob...c-fixed-ip.htm

I've seen another somewhere - if I remember it I will let you know.

Speed will be entirely dependent on location. Is this your site north of
Norwich airport? You might get dial-up speeds ...

A Vigor 2820 can use a 3G dongle as its "WAN-2" connection.

As a general rule, connections using the mobile phone networks only give
usable performance out of doors in major cities. Others will no doubt tell
you of locations where they have been seen to work, but you have to test it
yourself. Putting the dongle on a long wire up a pole might help.

--
Graham J

Graham J wrote:
> "The Natural Philosopher" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:i6nldc$k05$(E-Mail Removed)...
>> It seems that a quick experiment with a Vodafone 3G phone reveals that
>> the customer site that cant get wired broadband, may actually be able to
>> get 3G service via Vodafone.
>>
>> So, investigating what Vodafone can deliver at what cost via a router/3G
>> dongle is today's little taskette.
>>
>> - What does it cost bandwidth wise?
>> - What speed is likely?
>> - What router works with a 3G connection? How much does such cost?
>> - What traffic shaping and other restrictions would be imposed?
>> - Is a fixed IP address possible in this scenario? Useful for private
>> access to certain sites.
>>
>> Any other horror stories with Vodafone?
>
> Don't think Vodafone offers a static IP
>
> Google finds:
> http://www.nucleusnetworks.co.uk/mob...c-fixed-ip.htm
>
> I've seen another somewhere - if I remember it I will let you know.
>
> Speed will be entirely dependent on location. Is this your site north of
> Norwich airport? You might get dial-up speeds ...
>

Its somewhat to the west of that. The phone allegedly was getting 200K
or so.


> A Vigor 2820 can use a 3G dongle as its "WAN-2" connection.
>

That's good info.


> As a general rule, connections using the mobile phone networks only give
> usable performance out of doors in major cities. Others will no doubt tell
> you of locations where they have been seen to work, but you have to test it
> yourself. Putting the dongle on a long wire up a pole might help.
>

Thats not a problem at all. Presumably a 'long' USB cable is needed.

Hmm Looking at the coverage maps, it looks like Orange and T-mobile may
be a better bet than Vodafone.

What does it cost to get suitable USB dongles to try?

The Natural Philosopher <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> Thats not a problem at all. Presumably a 'long' USB cable is needed.

Better than an external antenna, yes.

> Hmm Looking at the coverage maps, it looks like Orange and T-mobile may
> be a better bet than Vodafone.
>
> What does it cost to get suitable USB dongles to try?

Either 20-30 quid a network to buy their retail package, or buy an unlocked
dongle and some free/99p PAYG SIM cards. Most of the Huawei dongles are
free/cheap to unlock.

You may or may not want to throw away the PAYG SIMs afterwards, depending on
the tariffs (but in some cases 'phone' SIMs can actually work better than
'dongle' SIMs).

Theo

Theo Markettos wrote:
> The Natural Philosopher <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>> Thats not a problem at all. Presumably a 'long' USB cable is needed.
>
> Better than an external antenna, yes.
>
>> Hmm Looking at the coverage maps, it looks like Orange and T-mobile may
>> be a better bet than Vodafone.
>>
>> What does it cost to get suitable USB dongles to try?
>
> Either 20-30 quid a network to buy their retail package, or buy an unlocked
> dongle and some free/99p PAYG SIM cards. Most of the Huawei dongles are
> free/cheap to unlock.
>
> You may or may not want to throw away the PAYG SIMs afterwards, depending on
> the tariffs (but in some cases 'phone' SIMs can actually work better than
> 'dongle' SIMs).
>
> Theo

Thanks Theo..have a 3 Mobile huawei available..would that need 'unlocking'

The Natural Philosopher <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> Thanks Theo..have a 3 Mobile huawei available..would that need 'unlocking'

It's probably locked. Google for '<model number> unlock' for details.
Don't pay anyone for unlocking unless you've found some feedback (eg forum
postings) saying that site works. Quite a few can be unlocked for free if
you look a little harder.

Theo