3G/HSPDA in UK

[Guest]

[Jenny_Y8S]

Hi

I'm using an O2 sim in my e2 HSPDA. It works great but it's part of a shared work data tarrif and I'm looking for other options.

All the good deals at the moment seem to come with USB dongles, and I've heard stories of people not able to use the sims withou the right access software.

What are other people in the UK using for the mobile data in the UK?

[bucklands]

I use Vodafone myself.

I expressed, quite firmly, that I neither wanted or needed the USB dongle and that they should offer me something more useful to compensate me for saving them money.  Eventually we agreed upon a £150 credit which suited me

Stu

[Jenny_Y8S]

Hi Stu

Did you get the SIM direct from Vodaphone?

Any info on the package your on would be great.

Ta muchly

[kyone]

I know in Australia with the 3 network you need to either buy a phone or sign up to a 24 month contract etc but on forums you can find particular stores that will give you the SIM outright.  It was strange because only technical ppl would understand that it was ok to just give the SIM without going into contract but sales ppl don't quite understand and only know to link an account with some mobile hardware.

[roger]

There are a number of related threads on this matter. Any frequent HSDPA Users in the UK? provides some users experiences. UK Mobile Internet Use for an Australian Visitor for 2, 3 or 4 weeks gives some casual use advice. OQO is coy on its inbuilt modem specifications instead giving a knowledge base topic 'e2 HSDPA 3G mobile broadband FAQ' answer to the question 'What are the uplink and downlink speeds for HSDPA?' of 'The maximum downlink speed is carrier dependent.  According to the Global mobile Suppliers Association (GSA), typical user data downlink speeds are 1-3Mbps, although many carriers already supporting maximum downlink speeds of at least 3.6Mbps.  Maximum uplink speed is 384 kbps.'
I suspect the OQOe2 modem could not support 7.2Mbps download but no one can say where an unlocked Huawei HSUPA USB Stick E170 can be purchased.
Links to any commercial and technical reports on this matter would be appreciated.

[bucklands]

Jenny,

Apologies for not replying sooner.  I approached Vodafone directly and signed up to their 12 month Mobile Broadband contract.  At the time I signed up it was £25pm but they reduced it to £15pm in February.  It's basically the 12 month contract which normally includes the dongle, I just said insisted I didn't want the dongle and they should offer me a cash sweetener if they wanted my custom.

Roger is correct the HSDPA modem in the e2 is only capable of 3.6Mbps, not the 7.2Mbps Vodafone headlines.  It really isn't a big deal though as 7.2Mbps isn't widely available, even within London.

I don't have any affiliation with Vodafone, just a happy customer.  I also know someone who is more than happy with O2's HSDPA service.  From what I can tell Vodafone is further ahead of each of the other UK providers with regards to performance and coverage of their HSDPA infrastructure.

Because it £25pm when I signed up I spent sometime deciding if it was really worth it.  I've not had a single regret since going for it though.  What sells the OQO for me, and what makes it really useful is the connectivity options.  Without the connectivity it would probably have been relegated to the 'expensive toy' category, along with the PDA's and smartphones I've had over the years.

[Jenny_Y8S]

That's great, thanks for the information. I'm using the O2 Sim at the moment and (when I'm in areas that can pick it up) the HSPDA speed is fine. I live and work in the sticks in Surrey / Bucks and thereore don't get great 3G in either location, but then I'm within wi-fi range and don't need it.

£15 a month, sounds like a good deal to me.

[Bandit12]

Im using the Vodafone service within the Kent area and find it usually hooks up with 3G or 3G+ and very rarely drops back to GPRS.
It really is an ideal and invaluable tool for my trading activities, but you do notice the jump in speed when the wifi kicks in.