Huawei E5

Posted on October 23rd, 2010 in 3.5G | No Comments
  • Battery life up to five hours
  • Maximum data speeds: 5.76Mbps (HSUPA) and 7.2Mbps (HSDPA)
  • Compatible with Windows and Mac Operating Systems

The Huawei E5 makes it possible to be connected to the Internet from anywhere – as long as there is a 3G coverage.

This inconspicuous device is both a 3G USB dongle and a wireless broadband modem.

It works with a standard-sized subscriber identity module (SIM) card and connects to the Internet using the 3G network.

The E5, which supports data speed of 7.2Mbps, also works as a network hub providing five wireless connections protected by Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) security.

Turning on WPA, even though it slows down your connection, is highly recommended especially if your mobile broadband plan comes with a limited data bundle.

I found that transfers slow down when there are multiple connections trying to stream music or YouTube videos.

However, battery life seemed relatively unaffected whether there is one or five connections active.

The E5 has a nice-looking LED display that provides a wealth of information: signal strength and type, Wi-Fi connection status, telco provider, a connection counter and battery level.

If you are a gadget buff who uses several devices that need Web connectivity and do not want to incur the cost of subscribing to multi-SIM plans, the Huawei E5 could be your answer.

It makes sharing a single mobile broadband subscription with multiple devices over Wi-Fi dead simple.

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Huawei E5 3G dongle

Posted on October 16th, 2010 in 3.5G | No Comments

Huawei E5 3G dongle

This pocket-sized 3G dongle does not need to be plugged into your laptop. It does not even need to be taken out of your bag to work.

Essentially a portable Wi-Fi hot spot, the Huawei E5 can support up to five concurrent users. It comes with a microSD card slot.

This plug-and-play dongle works with both Windows and Mac OS laptops. Its battery is said to last for about 5 hours.

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Dlink DIR-457U 3.75G Pocket Router

Posted on September 18th, 2010 in 3G | 1 Comment

Dlink DIR-457U 3.75G Pocket Router

Take along your own hot spot wherever you go with this router. Smaller than an iPhone – measuring just 11cm by 6.5cm and weighing 103g – you can easily slip it in your pocket. Plug your SIM card into it to access the Internet with download speeds of up to 7.2Mbps.

The DIR-457U can be hooked up to 16 wireless devices, which can be portable computers, phones and game consoles. It offers Wi-Fi networking, WPA and WPA2 encryption and also works as a USB modem.

It even has a microSD card slot so you can share files wirelessly. Its built-in lithium ion battery can be charged conveniently via any compatible USB cable.

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Zyxel NBG4115

Posted on August 4th, 2010 in 3G | No Comments

Bulkier than both the Edimax 3G-6210N and D-Link DAP-1350, this Wireless N device from Zyxel looks more like regular-sized router than a portable one. While it comes with a compact moniker, it is more for the home than for traveling.

Zyxel NBG4115

It has a built-in USB port that lets you hook up a 3G modem.

What strikes me about this Zyxel NBG4115 plain-looking router is its ease of use. Like the Edimax device, it quickly allowed me to connect to the Internet once I plugged in Huawei USB modem.

No set up was required, though if I wanted to, I could change the router’s settings via its configuration page.

A wide range of 3G dongles are supported, including almost every model from Huawei – a brand which is common in Singapore as far as 3G dongles go.

The Zyxel NBG4115 device supports data transfer speeds of up to 150Mbps and has QoS features. It is a worthy consideration for the home, where you are likely to also make use of the router’s two wired Ethernet ports to hook up your PCs.

Click for Zyxel NBG4115 now.

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D-Link DAP-1350

Posted on August 2nd, 2010 in 3G | No Comments

D-Link DAP-1350

Unlike the Edimax router, the D-Link Wi-Fi router is not battery-powered, so you cannot use it while carrying it in your pocket.

However, you can still use it on the go as it comes with a USB charger cable that can draw power from your laptop. It also comes with a regular charger which you can plug into a wall socket.

Unlike the other two routers featured here, the D-Link Wi-Fidevice requires a bit of work to set up. You have to log in to the settings page via a Web browser (note: Google’s Chrome browser does not display the page correctly) and indicate that you are plugging in a USB 3G modem.

A caveat: This device supports only 3G dongles from D-Link, namely the DWM152 and DWM156, so the Huawei USB dongles that you get from telcos when you sign up for a data plan will not work.

As it is meant to be portable, the DAP-1350 is extremely well-built, with rubber stoppers to protect the onboard connectors. It also comes with a handy switch that changes the device’s settings to router, client or access point.

Checkout for the specification: D-Link Wireless N Pocket Router / Access Point DAP-1350 – Wireless access point – 802.11n – 802.11b/g/n – external

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AT&T 3G MicroCell Pumps Up Coverage

Posted on June 25th, 2010 in 3G, Hardware | No Comments

DO YOU FREQUENTLY experience dropped calls or sluggish data service on an AT&T cell phone in a home or small offce that’s supposed to be within the network’s area of coverage? An AT&T 3G MicroCell might help your wireless connection,
though in my tests it wasn’t 100 percent reliable. And how much hassle you’ll have depends largely on the layout of both your home and your home network.

A white and orange trimmed box about the size of a Nintendo Wii, the 3G MicroCell is a femtocell, that is, it functions as a mini cell site that connects back to the mobile network via Voice over IP through your wired broadband service.
AT&T is rolling out the $150 device in various markets; you can purchase one only in an AT&T store.

Like other femtocells, the 3G MicroCell has a built-in GPS receiver that reports to the network once activated. It is enables E911 emergency service: If you dial 911 on your cell phone when it’s connecting via the MicroCell, emergency responders
will know where you are.

On the first couple of days after installation, my service was pretty good. Phone calls stopped dropping, although voice quality didn’t improve. I also no ticed very slight pauses before my callers’ responses but nothing I couldn’t live with.
Data was zippy. But on the third day, my iPhone was dropping calls from locations fairly close to the MicroCell. Rebooting the device seemed to fix the problem.

Overall, the AT&T 3G MicroCell does appear able to improve service in the home, but with occasional glitches. Though I’m not entirely thrilled with it, on balance it seems to help my service more than it hurts.

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Will 4G Wireless Live Up to the Hype?

Posted on June 18th, 2010 in Technologies | No Comments

Perhaps you’re started seeing stories about something called 4G and are wondering what it is and whether you want it. Here’s a quick guide to thebasics of 4G wireless. What does “4G” mean? 4G is a marketing term that service providers are using to de scribe the “fourth generation” of wireless services. They typically offer between
four and ten times the performance of 3G networks.

What technologies run 4G services? The two main technologies are Long Term Evolution (LTE) and WiMax. The IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) developed the WiMax standard; the 3GPP, an industry body for providers that use GSM (the leading technology for cellular communications), heads development of the LTE standard. WiMax and LTE use different types of wireless spectrum.

How fast is 4G compared with 3G? WiMax providers are advertising download speeds of between 2 megabits per second and 6 mbps, with peak speeds of 10 mbps or more. Verizon, which will launch LTE networks in the United States later this year, is expecting to offer services with download speeds in the 5 mbps to 12 mbps range. Most 3G data systems today deliver speeds of between 400 kilobits per second (that is, 0.4 mbps) and 1.5 mbps.

Should I want 4G? The faster download speeds of 4G should greatly improve the performance of demanding applications such as streaming video, networked gaming, and video conferencing. You may also be able to re place your home DSL or cable modem service with a 4G service you can use both at home and on the road.

Are 4G services available now? In some places. In the United States, the partnership of Clearwire and Sprint offers WiMax-based services in 28 cities, including Atlanta, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Seattle, with plans to add more cities in 2010. Among LTE providers in the U.S., Verizon plans to launch commercial services in 25 to 30 as-yet-unnamed markets before the end of 2010; AT&T expects to add LTE service in 2011.

Do other providers intend to offer LTE? Yes. In March MetroPCS announced plans to launch LTE services in Las Vegas this year. T-Mobile is expected to launch LTE services sometime in the future, but it has not specified a time frame for doing so.

What are the cost advantages of 4G versus 3G? Right now, the Clearwire/Sprint plans provide true unlimited data usage, whereas virtually all 3G cellular plans impose extra charges for downloading more than 5 gigabytes of data per month. Plans from Clearwire and its resellers are typically $10 to $20 per month cheaper than the standard $60 per month of a 3G cellular data plan, too. At this writing, Verizon has not announced LTE pricing.

Can I get 4G on the 3G phone or USB modem I have now? No. 4G networks run at different frequencies than the ones current cellular services use

Does 4G support voice calls?
Not in any current implementation, other than VoIP applications like Skype or Vonage. Most early 4G phones will be “hybrid” devices that include a 3G chip to handle voice calls.

Are any 4G phones available now? As of April 2010, the only 4G phone announced for U.S. markets is Sprint’s HTC EVO 4G, which was unveiled in March and is expected to be available by this summer. Verizon has said that it expects LTE phones to ship by mid-2011.

Why doesn’t the iPhone come in a 4G version? Since Apple sells the iPhone in the United States under an exclusive contract with AT&T, it has manufactured the phone with chips that connect to AT&T’s 3G cellular network.
Many people hope that Verizon, whose plans for a 4G network are more immediate than AT&T’s, will begin selling a CDMA version of the iPhone later this year.

Can I use 4G while I’m on the road, as with a cell phone? Yes. The idea behind 4G is that it’s mobile broadband.

Can 4G services replace my home DSL or cable modem?
Yes, unless you’re looking for really high-speed services. Clearwire’s WiMax service can match some cable modem offerings. For users who want both home and mobile service, WiMax 4G may be a better deal than the combined
price of a stationary service and a 3G data plan.

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