[deepclutch]

I have bought a Huawei e303c usb modem(Rs1550) and using Idea 3g connection now due to unreliable broadband connection. Idea 3G netsetter is "e303d". hardware, both are same?
I am getting good speeds, though I wonder if there exist a way to connect an external antenna to it.

[Chetan_Rao]

I need to buy a dongle with National roaming. I have a BSNL EVDO dongle with unlimited data for 550/month (old unlimited data tariff that never got updated), but it's local use only.

I'm in two minds. Get a 3g USB dongle from an operator itself, or buy a dongle separately and buy a sim with 3G data connection (Huawei E3121 seems a good model, with soft-Wifi option capable of creating a hotspot for upto 5 devices).

What should I do? And if I go for the generic dongle + SIM option, what SIM type should I get? Regular or micro-SIM?

[deepakchan]

Originally Posted by Chetan_Rao

I need to buy a dongle with National roaming. I have a BSNL EVDO dongle with unlimited data for 550/month (old unlimited data tariff that never got updated), but it's local use only.

I'm in two minds. Get a 3g USB dongle from an operator itself, or buy a dongle separately and buy a sim with 3G data connection (Huawei E3121 seems a good model, with soft-Wifi option capable of creating a hotspot for upto 5 devices).

What should I do? And if I go for the generic dongle + SIM option, what SIM type should I get? Regular or micro-SIM?

Since you already use bsnl, they have an offer to upgrade evdo customer to 3G. There's also a scheme to get the 3G USB modem for free. Check them out.

[Chetan_Rao]

Originally Posted by deepakchan

Since you already use bsnl, they have an offer to upgrade evdo customer to 3G. There's also a scheme to get the 3G USB modem for free. Check them out.

Will check it out tomorrow. Do they provide free national roaming like the other operators?

[deepakchan]

Originally Posted by Chetan_Rao

Will check it out tomorrow. Do they provide free national roaming like the other operators?

Yes they have full national roaming free. That's the main reason they are trying to migrate you to 3G. Bsnl is the only operator which has 3G license in all circles. Everybody else have sharing agreements only.

[carboy]

I have been using a Reliance netconnect+ for 3+ years now. No major issues. But since the last 4 days, my speed is slow enough to be unusable inspite of having full signal in HSD mode. I called Reliance & they said there is some work going on in my area & it will okay by so and so time. The time came and went & nothing changed. Today again I called them & the guy said it will ok by 11 pm. He said there is a problem all over Maharashtra. I told him your person told me some crap like this 2 days ago & grilled him a lot. He finally said there will problem in my area till Dec 31st. God knows if he lying or telling the truth. Anyway, I asked him to terminate my connection.

What I want to know is if there any people here in Mulund/Bhandup, Mumbai who are using Reliance netconnect+. How has your connection been in the last 4 days. What part of Mulund or Bhandup do you use it in?

[carboy]

Looking for a datacard - all use will be in the metros. Will mostly use it in Bombay with occasional use in Hyderabad, Bangalore and few other metros. Looking for high speed fixed data plan - costing 250-300 Rs per month and providing 1 or 2 GB per month (this is a backup connection - won't be using much).

Ignoring Reliance what other cards can I look at? I looks like the choices I have are Airtel, MTNL and Vodafone. What are the opinions on each of these? Tata doesn't seem to have any plans suitable for me.

If it's a 3G card, can I buy an unlocked device which will work across all providers - where can I get it and how much will it cost?

[Chetan_Rao]

Originally Posted by carboy

Looking for a datacard - all use will be in the metros. Will mostly use it in Bombay with occasional use in Hyderabad, Bangalore and few other metros. Looking for high speed fixed data plan - costing 250-300 Rs per month and providing 1 or 2 GB per month (this is a backup connection - won't be using much).

Ignoring Reliance what other cards can I look at? I looks like the choices I have are Airtel, MTNL and Vodafone. What are the opinions on each of these? Tata doesn't seem to have any plans suitable for me.

If it's a 3G card, can I buy an unlocked device which will work across all providers - where can I get it and how much will it cost?

You can check out options from Huawei. They're OEM suppliers for a lot of service providers, so quality shouldn't be a concern. Quoting from my post above:

Huawei E3121 seems a good model, with soft-Wifi option capable of creating a hotspot for upto 5 devices.

Costs about 1600 INR on flipkart (+/- 100 INR in open market, available in stores like Croma, e-zone etc.). Works with all compatible networks, and is 3G capable. You'll just need to buy a SIM card with a suitable data package that meets your needs.

[carboy]

Originally Posted by Chetan_Rao

You can check out options from Huawei. They're OEM suppliers for a lot of service providers, so quality shouldn't be a concern.

OK, thank you. Couple of questions
- What exactly is soft-wifi?
- If I buy a card from the vendor (say Airtel) is there any way to unlock it later on?
- Flipkart also has Huawei E303U which seems to have better reviews - any idea about that?

[phamilyman]

Before buying a 3G modem + wifi combo check online reviews if it works with your service provider or not. Once for a stopgap arrangement in our office, we bought a micromax router+wifi which didnt work for Vodafone but worked for reliance/airtel (voda was the only service provider whose 3Gcoverage was adequate in that interior office). The modem was not returnable because it was "working". Needless heartburn - buy such things from a FNG only to ensure returnability!

[Fillmore]

Also location is very important.

I have a small weekend get-away house around 55km from Bangalore.
None of the datacards i tried so far work there.
Tried : Reliance, Airtel
All pathetic signal , opening your gmail itself takes ages.

Although the mobile voice n/w signal is excellent in the same space with no issues at all.

[carboy]

Originally Posted by Fillmore

Also location is very important.

I have a small weekend get-away house around 55km from Bangalore.
None of the datacards i tried so far work there.
Tried : Reliance, Airtel
All pathetic signal , opening your gmail itself takes ages.

Although the mobile voice n/w signal is excellent in the same space with no issues at all.

But there isn't any way of determining this before buying the card, right?

[DerAlte]

Originally Posted by carboy

But there isn't any way of determining this before buying the card, right?

It's not the card that is at fault. One should call the provider and ask whether there is 3G coverage in the area that one wants to go to.

3G is limited to urban areas in most states. In Bangalore, 55Km out on the (any) highway is definitely at most EDGE, not 3G. And that EDGE traffic gets the least priority in routing. On the national highways, it is a wonder we have any data connectivity at all. Take the state highway or lesser roads, you don't even get that in most places. In those areas, BSNL is the best bet.

[Fillmore]

Originally Posted by carboy

But there isn't any way of determining this before buying the card, right?

The only way is to borrow a card from a friend and try it out.

[macbeth]

I have been using a TATA Photon+ connection and it works seamlessly in all major metros and also in some interior parts of Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu