Results 1 to 16 of 16

Thread: 3G data cards

  1. #1
    mush-mushroom b0redom's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Middlesex
    Posts
    3,438
    Thanks
    174
    Thanked
    362 times in 279 posts
    • b0redom's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Some iMac thingy
      • CPU:
      • 3.4Ghz Quad Core i7
      • Memory:
      • 24GB
      • Storage:
      • 3TB Fusion Drive
      • Graphics card(s):
      • nViidia GTX 680MX
      • PSU:
      • Some iMac thingy
      • Case:
      • Late 2012 pointlessly thin iMac enclosure
      • Operating System:
      • OSX 10.8 / Win 7 Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 2713H
      • Internet:
      • Be+

    3G data cards

    Hi,
    I need to look into getting a 3G card for my laptop. I'm not always able to plug into either wireless or wired networks. I can't see me using more than say 5GB/month.

    Does anyone have any recommendations? It will need to offer coverage in Slough, Greater London (inside M25) and Central London.

    This will go into a MacBook Pro, so needs to be either USB or Express Card/34 (new PCMCIA type).

    Hope someone can suggest something.....

  2. #2
    Agent of the System ikonia's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    South West UK (Bath)
    Posts
    3,736
    Thanks
    39
    Thanked
    75 times in 56 posts
    do the new macbooks not have pcmcia ?
    It is Inevitable.....


  3. #3
    Will work for beer... nichomach's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Preston, Lancs
    Posts
    6,137
    Thanks
    563
    Thanked
    138 times in 99 posts
    • nichomach's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte GA-870A-UD3
      • CPU:
      • AMD Phenom II X6 1055T 95W
      • Memory:
      • 16GB DR3
      • Storage:
      • 1x250GB Maxtor SATAII, 1x 400GB Hitachi SATAII
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Zotac GTX 1060 3GB
      • PSU:
      • Coolermaster 500W
      • Case:
      • Coolermaster Elite 430
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 20" TFT
      • Internet:
      • Virgin Media Cable
    Something like THIS?

  4. #4
    mush-mushroom b0redom's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Middlesex
    Posts
    3,438
    Thanks
    174
    Thanked
    362 times in 279 posts
    • b0redom's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Some iMac thingy
      • CPU:
      • 3.4Ghz Quad Core i7
      • Memory:
      • 24GB
      • Storage:
      • 3TB Fusion Drive
      • Graphics card(s):
      • nViidia GTX 680MX
      • PSU:
      • Some iMac thingy
      • Case:
      • Late 2012 pointlessly thin iMac enclosure
      • Operating System:
      • OSX 10.8 / Win 7 Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 2713H
      • Internet:
      • Be+
    Ikonia: No

    Nichomach: I was actually after a recommendation of a provider too. Is that definitely supported by OSX, I can't find anything to say it is....

    Cheers...

  5. #5
    trust.HEXUS.net Tom Scott's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    A desk, Leicester, UK
    Posts
    1,109
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked
    1 time in 1 post
    I'd wait until next month when the USB datacard dongle comes out on T-Mobile. This works with MAC and PC

    You can get Unlimited data (10GB fair usage policy) for £44.00pm that enables you to use it for VOIP as well, and its HSDPA enabled.

    http://www.scancom.co.uk/product.php?xProd=2209
    Tom Scott,
    Scancom.co.uk/HEXUS Liason


  6. #6
    Will work for beer... nichomach's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Preston, Lancs
    Posts
    6,137
    Thanks
    563
    Thanked
    138 times in 99 posts
    • nichomach's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte GA-870A-UD3
      • CPU:
      • AMD Phenom II X6 1055T 95W
      • Memory:
      • 16GB DR3
      • Storage:
      • 1x250GB Maxtor SATAII, 1x 400GB Hitachi SATAII
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Zotac GTX 1060 3GB
      • PSU:
      • Coolermaster 500W
      • Case:
      • Coolermaster Elite 430
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 20" TFT
      • Internet:
      • Virgin Media Cable
    Yes, it does - see http://www.novatelwireless.com/produ...lin-xu870.html .

    Provider? T-Mobile - in any urban area, your coverage is fine. I just sorted one of my directors out with Web'n'Walk Max and he's thrilled to bits. £44pm with a 10GB fair use limit at standard rates, but given that you're supplying your own datacard, you may well be able to get a discount; I know we did. He's using a Dell Latitude D420 with built in HSDPA adapter, and although the software's Voda-branded, it works a treat with a T-Mobile SIM.

  7. #7
    mush-mushroom b0redom's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Middlesex
    Posts
    3,438
    Thanks
    174
    Thanked
    362 times in 279 posts
    • b0redom's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Some iMac thingy
      • CPU:
      • 3.4Ghz Quad Core i7
      • Memory:
      • 24GB
      • Storage:
      • 3TB Fusion Drive
      • Graphics card(s):
      • nViidia GTX 680MX
      • PSU:
      • Some iMac thingy
      • Case:
      • Late 2012 pointlessly thin iMac enclosure
      • Operating System:
      • OSX 10.8 / Win 7 Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 2713H
      • Internet:
      • Be+
    So I just drop in the SIM and go? I have no experience with 3G stuff at all.

  8. #8
    Will work for beer... nichomach's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Preston, Lancs
    Posts
    6,137
    Thanks
    563
    Thanked
    138 times in 99 posts
    • nichomach's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte GA-870A-UD3
      • CPU:
      • AMD Phenom II X6 1055T 95W
      • Memory:
      • 16GB DR3
      • Storage:
      • 1x250GB Maxtor SATAII, 1x 400GB Hitachi SATAII
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Zotac GTX 1060 3GB
      • PSU:
      • Coolermaster 500W
      • Case:
      • Coolermaster Elite 430
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 20" TFT
      • Internet:
      • Virgin Media Cable
    Well, you may have to get the SIM unlocked prior to dropping it in (although I didn't - but we actually got the SIM via another provider), and you'll need to follow the Mac-specific instructions at http://www.novatelwireless.com/suppo...870-apple.html, but pretty much, yes. All I had to do with the SIM we got was stop the blasted Voda-branded driver trying to connect to Voda's network (not that it could, naturally), and it worked like a dream.

  9. #9
    trust.HEXUS.net Tom Scott's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    A desk, Leicester, UK
    Posts
    1,109
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked
    1 time in 1 post
    Quote Originally Posted by b0redom View Post
    So I just drop in the SIM and go? I have no experience with 3G stuff at all.
    Well yeah, but if you're taking out a new contract I'd suggest getting one with hardware rather than buying your own, it will be a lot cheaper.

    The USB device I mentioned comes with the drivers for Mac and Windows pre-loaded on the device itself, so you literally put the sim in the USB dongle, plug it in, let it install and away you go.
    The USB device is also future proof compared to a proper slide into expresscard/PCMCIA type affair.
    Tom Scott,
    Scancom.co.uk/HEXUS Liason


  10. #10
    mush-mushroom b0redom's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Middlesex
    Posts
    3,438
    Thanks
    174
    Thanked
    362 times in 279 posts
    • b0redom's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Some iMac thingy
      • CPU:
      • 3.4Ghz Quad Core i7
      • Memory:
      • 24GB
      • Storage:
      • 3TB Fusion Drive
      • Graphics card(s):
      • nViidia GTX 680MX
      • PSU:
      • Some iMac thingy
      • Case:
      • Late 2012 pointlessly thin iMac enclosure
      • Operating System:
      • OSX 10.8 / Win 7 Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 2713H
      • Internet:
      • Be+
    Unlock the SIM? I didn't realise you could lock SIMs? I thought only phones/cards could be locked to networks.

    Can SIMs be locked to devices? If so how do I go about getting it unlocked?

    Sorry, I'm a bit of a noob when it comes to this kind of stuff...

  11. #11
    trust.HEXUS.net Tom Scott's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    A desk, Leicester, UK
    Posts
    1,109
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked
    1 time in 1 post
    It'll be the hardware that'll be locked to Voda if anything.

    Sims will only work on their specific network.
    Tom Scott,
    Scancom.co.uk/HEXUS Liason


  12. #12
    mush-mushroom b0redom's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Middlesex
    Posts
    3,438
    Thanks
    174
    Thanked
    362 times in 279 posts
    • b0redom's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Some iMac thingy
      • CPU:
      • 3.4Ghz Quad Core i7
      • Memory:
      • 24GB
      • Storage:
      • 3TB Fusion Drive
      • Graphics card(s):
      • nViidia GTX 680MX
      • PSU:
      • Some iMac thingy
      • Case:
      • Late 2012 pointlessly thin iMac enclosure
      • Operating System:
      • OSX 10.8 / Win 7 Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 2713H
      • Internet:
      • Be+
    Hi Tom,
    That may be the way to go then. Do you have a link to the info about this?

  13. #13
    mush-mushroom b0redom's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Middlesex
    Posts
    3,438
    Thanks
    174
    Thanked
    362 times in 279 posts
    • b0redom's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Some iMac thingy
      • CPU:
      • 3.4Ghz Quad Core i7
      • Memory:
      • 24GB
      • Storage:
      • 3TB Fusion Drive
      • Graphics card(s):
      • nViidia GTX 680MX
      • PSU:
      • Some iMac thingy
      • Case:
      • Late 2012 pointlessly thin iMac enclosure
      • Operating System:
      • OSX 10.8 / Win 7 Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 2713H
      • Internet:
      • Be+
    USB I mean - sorry we posed at the same time

  14. #14
    Senior Member chrestomanci's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Reading
    Posts
    1,614
    Thanks
    94
    Thanked
    96 times in 80 posts
    • chrestomanci's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus AMD AM4 Ryzen PRIME B350M
      • CPU:
      • AMD Ryzen 1600 @ stock clocks
      • Memory:
      • 16Gb DDR4 2666MHz
      • Storage:
      • 250Gb Samsung 960 Evo M.2 + 3Tb Western Digital Red
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Basic AMD GPU (OSS linux drivers)
      • PSU:
      • Novatech 500W
      • Case:
      • Silverstone Sugo SG02
      • Operating System:
      • Linux - Latest Xubuntu
      • Monitor(s):
      • BenQ 24" LCD (Thanks: DDY)
      • Internet:
      • Zen FTTC
    Quote Originally Posted by b0redom View Post
    Unlock the SIM? I didn't realise you could lock SIMs? I thought only phones/cards could be locked to networks.

    Can SIMs be locked to devices? If so how do I go about getting it unlocked?
    I don't think that is possible though it is possible to lock a phone to a specific SIM card instead of a network. I am fairly sure that no UK network does that sort of locking, though the Americans probably do.

  15. #15
    Will work for beer... nichomach's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Preston, Lancs
    Posts
    6,137
    Thanks
    563
    Thanked
    138 times in 99 posts
    • nichomach's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte GA-870A-UD3
      • CPU:
      • AMD Phenom II X6 1055T 95W
      • Memory:
      • 16GB DR3
      • Storage:
      • 1x250GB Maxtor SATAII, 1x 400GB Hitachi SATAII
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Zotac GTX 1060 3GB
      • PSU:
      • Coolermaster 500W
      • Case:
      • Coolermaster Elite 430
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 20" TFT
      • Internet:
      • Virgin Media Cable
    Locked, as in you need to use a PIN to activate it, not locked in the same way as a phone/datacard is locked to a specific provider.

  16. #16
    Senior Member chrestomanci's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2004
    Location
    Reading
    Posts
    1,614
    Thanks
    94
    Thanked
    96 times in 80 posts
    • chrestomanci's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus AMD AM4 Ryzen PRIME B350M
      • CPU:
      • AMD Ryzen 1600 @ stock clocks
      • Memory:
      • 16Gb DDR4 2666MHz
      • Storage:
      • 250Gb Samsung 960 Evo M.2 + 3Tb Western Digital Red
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Basic AMD GPU (OSS linux drivers)
      • PSU:
      • Novatech 500W
      • Case:
      • Silverstone Sugo SG02
      • Operating System:
      • Linux - Latest Xubuntu
      • Monitor(s):
      • BenQ 24" LCD (Thanks: DDY)
      • Internet:
      • Zen FTTC
    Quote Originally Posted by nichomach View Post
    Locked, as in you need to use a PIN to activate it, not locked in the same way as a phone/datacard is locked to a specific provider.
    That is common, Users can lock their SIM card with a PIN, and the phone will usualy refuse to start up unless the correct PIN is entered. If you forget the pin, or enter the wrong one to many times, you need to call the network to get the PUK1 code to reset the PIN code on the SIM. If you put the wrong PUK1 code in to many times, the SIM will permanently disable itself, by erasing it's internal memory.

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. ISP PlusNet Accidentally Deletes 700GB of Email
    By Tobeman in forum Networking and Broadband
    Replies: 21
    Last Post: 19-08-2006, 08:53 PM
  2. Powered Graphic Cards.
    By hooli in forum Welcome to HEXUS!
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 29-03-2006, 02:08 PM
  3. Data Recovery
    By LayZeh in forum PC Hardware and Components
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 04-08-2005, 11:00 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •