Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: TheBoy on 18 March 2012, 09:38:29

Title: Mobile Internet Dongle help
Post by: TheBoy on 18 March 2012, 09:38:29
I have a Hauwei E160, never really given trouble before, but can't get a signal here, although iPhone can. Drive up road, it's ok

I did order a aerial for it 6 weeks ago, but never turned up :(

Tesco have a cheap O2 badged E173 - is this more sensitive?


I'd normally do my own homework, but pita on mobile crApple devices
Title: Re: Mobile Internet Dongle help
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 18 March 2012, 09:53:15
why not use iphone as a wifi router , if you dont need dongle frequently ?
 
(my samsung have this built in )
Title: Re: Mobile Internet Dongle help
Post by: TheBoy on 18 March 2012, 10:20:57
why not use iphone as a wifi router , if you dont need dongle frequently ?
 
(my samsung have this built in )
My service provider does not allow tethering, which means I have to keep swapping sims, which is a PITA
Title: Re: Mobile Internet Dongle help
Post by: Bionic on 18 March 2012, 15:05:19
 :)
Take it your not on BT so you can connect to their hotspots? My laptop is brilliant on them wherever I go now they have just done the upgrade to customers and the old phone is not too bad either but a bit small for me to see properly and those bloody small keys are argggggh....
Title: Re: Mobile Internet Dongle help
Post by: zirk on 18 March 2012, 15:06:02
Wouldn't have thought the E173 would be any different than the 160 tbh, and the short lead plug in aerials dont really improve things either. When I moved house recently all my dongles now live in the draw due to Signal reasons, unless Im half hanging my Lappy out of the top bedroom window.

If you've got an old Nokia or Symbian lying around try JoikuSpot, got me out of trouble for a while, use to leave an old SE Satio and charger running on the upstairs window 247 to give WiFi around the house worked really well surprisingly.

The Lite ver is free (pops up their website on connection) I used the full version about a fiver from memory.   

Title: Re: Mobile Internet Dongle help
Post by: pscocoa on 18 March 2012, 17:01:20
I have a Hauwei E160, never really given trouble before, but can't get a signal here, although iPhone can. Drive up road, it's ok

I did order a aerial for it 6 weeks ago, but never turned up :(

Tesco have a cheap O2 badged E173 - is this more sensitive?


I'd normally do my own homework, but pita on mobile crApple devices

Might be worth a call to the ISP to see if they regard your area as good service. You might find there is a local mast issue which requires attention - this did happen to me a couple of years ago.

I have a Vodafone dongle and an Orange dongle also plus use of BT Openzone which sees me ok for most situations.
Title: Re: Mobile Internet Dongle help
Post by: Taxi_Driver on 18 March 2012, 17:21:30
why not use iphone as a wifi router , if you dont need dongle frequently ?
 
(my samsung have this built in )
My service provider does not allow tethering, which means I have to keep swapping sims, which is a PITA

Buy a gigabag, then you can  :y
Title: Re: Mobile Internet Dongle help
Post by: TheBoy on 18 March 2012, 19:36:52
why not use iphone as a wifi router , if you dont need dongle frequently ?
 
(my samsung have this built in )
My service provider does not allow tethering, which means I have to keep swapping sims, which is a PITA

Buy a gigabag, then you can  :y
The Dongle's SIM has a gigabag on it, iPhone SIM has a Goodybag. So I have to keep swapping SIMs, PITA
Title: Re: Mobile Internet Dongle help
Post by: TheBoy on 18 March 2012, 19:41:44
I have a Hauwei E160, never really given trouble before, but can't get a signal here, although iPhone can. Drive up road, it's ok

I did order a aerial for it 6 weeks ago, but never turned up :(

Tesco have a cheap O2 badged E173 - is this more sensitive?


I'd normally do my own homework, but pita on mobile crApple devices

Might be worth a call to the ISP to see if they regard your area as good service. You might find there is a local mast issue which requires attention - this did happen to me a couple of years ago.

I have a Vodafone dongle and an Orange dongle also plus use of BT Openzone which sees me ok for most situations.
O2 claim 'good 2g coverage indoors and outdoors', but given the terrain, unsurprising, its not great.  Dongle won't recv o2 (but can just hang on to voda connection, but still drops). iPhone is showing  3 bars of EDGE, with occasional drop out.

Would you expect dongle to recieve o2, if the iPhone can?? Is dongle faulty?
Title: Re: Mobile Internet Dongle help
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 18 March 2012, 20:12:43
cant you transfer your number to a better service ? so wont require sim swap..
Title: Re: Mobile Internet Dongle help
Post by: Rods2 on 18 March 2012, 21:13:39
My wife does not get a great 3g signal in the Ukraine (1 to 3 bars), so I've been looking at possible solutions.

This website gives food for thought for a cheap home brew solution (your dish washer permitting the time):  ;)

http://www.philpot.me/3g1.html (http://www.philpot.me/3g1.html)

and for professional expensive solutions:

http://www.cellantenna.co.uk/? (http://www.cellantenna.co.uk/?)
Title: Re: Mobile Internet Dongle help
Post by: Rods2 on 18 March 2012, 21:18:11
If your E160 dongle does not have an aerial connector socket, this website, shows how to get to it, where it is on the PCB.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Huawei-E160X-Vodafone-K3565-3G-dongle-external-a/ (http://www.instructables.com/id/Huawei-E160X-Vodafone-K3565-3G-dongle-external-a/)
Title: Re: Mobile Internet Dongle help
Post by: TheBoy on 18 March 2012, 21:41:03
cant you transfer your number to a better service ? so wont require sim swap..
I don't want to.

I want to use a dongle for lappy, and the phone is a seperate entity.
Title: Re: Mobile Internet Dongle help
Post by: TheBoy on 18 March 2012, 21:42:18
If your E160 dongle does not have an aerial connector socket, this website, shows how to get to it, where it is on the PCB.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Huawei-E160X-Vodafone-K3565-3G-dongle-external-a/ (http://www.instructables.com/id/Huawei-E160X-Vodafone-K3565-3G-dongle-external-a/)
It was the crc9 socket, but nowhere down here seem to stock them.  If I was at home, I'd have more options available.
Title: Re: Mobile Internet Dongle help
Post by: zirk on 18 March 2012, 21:49:24
What happens if you force the dongle software to 3g or above only, it should try harder  to search for more channels and forget the 2g network.
Title: Re: Mobile Internet Dongle help
Post by: TheBoy on 18 March 2012, 22:13:54
What happens if you force the dongle software to 3g or above only, it should try harder  to search for more channels and forget the 2g network.
2g only coverage here, no chance of 3g within 5 miles.  I would be content with 2g
Title: Re: Mobile Internet Dongle help
Post by: Kevin Wood on 18 March 2012, 23:56:13
O2 claim 'good 2g coverage indoors and outdoors', but given the terrain, unsurprising, its not great.  Dongle won't recv o2 (but can just hang on to voda connection, but still drops). iPhone is showing  3 bars of EDGE, with occasional drop out.

Would you expect dongle to recieve o2, if the iPhone can?? Is dongle faulty?

If the iPhone can receive it anything can, I'd have thought... ;)

.. assuming the SIM in the dongle and iPhone are both able to use O2.

I could test its' 2G sensitivity, but not a lot of use to you at the moment.

Title: Re: Mobile Internet Dongle help
Post by: zirk on 19 March 2012, 00:14:37
What happens if you force the dongle software to 3g or above only, it should try harder  to search for more channels and forget the 2g network.
2g only coverage here, no chance of 3g within 5 miles.  I would be content with 2g

Pretty poor state of affairs then, try switching off 3g then, and GSM 2 0r 2.5G only that way it wont bother to keep searching for 3g or above and drop the signal if it finds something, if your using a Network Provider software then ditch that for the Hauwei own software (Mobile Partner) and try that, you may get 2.5g (GPRS) amd if your lucky 2G Dail up at 9600, if the network supports it,  but your scraping the barrel now.

As Kevin says the iPhone gives over readings on signal strength, where as Hauwei have been at it for years.

Sounds like your in a Hole in the middle of nowhere.
Title: Re: Mobile Internet Dongle help
Post by: TheBoy on 19 March 2012, 22:54:41
Wondering if the abuse its had has damaged the dongle itself - are the internal antennas fragile?

As the iPhone works - just - as a modem, I'd expect the Hauwei to find a signal.

No options in Mobile partner to disable technologies. Dongle unlocked. SIM provided by GiffGaff
Title: Re: Mobile Internet Dongle help
Post by: Lazydocker on 19 March 2012, 23:50:29
Wondering if the abuse its had has damaged the dongle itself - are the internal antennas fragile?

As the iPhone works - just - as a modem, I'd expect the Hauwei to find a signal.

No options in Mobile partner to disable technologies. Dongle unlocked. SIM provided by GiffGaff
I should think its close to meeting Sammy if it's that bad :-X ::) :D
Title: Re: Mobile Internet Dongle help
Post by: zirk on 20 March 2012, 18:02:05
Wondering if the abuse its had has damaged the dongle itself - are the internal antennas fragile?

As the iPhone works - just - as a modem, I'd expect the Hauwei to find a signal.

No options in Mobile partner to disable technologies. Dongle unlocked. SIM provided by GiffGaff

Options, Nerwork preferences from memory, seem to remember you need sim in and some form of coverage, then brings up things 'ike, 2g or 3g prefered or only.

Cant remember if the 160 does dial out (non packet) you mentioned vodafone sim, so you always try dial up at gsm speed if your that desperate, 07836 900808 if my memory serves me correctly.
Title: Re: Mobile Internet Dongle help
Post by: TheBoy on 21 March 2012, 09:19:55
Problem solved, thanks to pointers  from Zirk - settings were WDCMA preferred. Now set to GSM only. Guess there must be a visible WDCMA network here  :-\. Been using the same settings for weeks around most parts of England...

...cheers to all who helped :y
Title: Re: Mobile Internet Dongle help
Post by: Sir Tigger KC on 21 March 2012, 13:34:36
I use a 3 dongle now and again.  Good coverage, works well, and not stupidly expensive!  :y
Title: Re: Mobile Internet Dongle help
Post by: TheBoy on 21 March 2012, 19:24:09
I use a 3 dongle now and again.  Good coverage, works well, and not stupidly expensive!  :y
I find 3's coverage utterly useless, so I don't really use them. Like Vodafone, seems to work well in urban areas, and near motorways, but generally non existent when rural.

I now tend to stick to O2 based carriers, as coverage is usually very good, although not as much 3G as some of the others.
Title: Re: Mobile Internet Dongle help
Post by: TheBoy on 21 March 2012, 22:09:10
Dongle not playing again. Back to tethered iPhone. *sigh*
Title: Re: Mobile Internet Dongle help
Post by: zirk on 22 March 2012, 10:55:32
I use a 3 dongle now and again.  Good coverage, works well, and not stupidly expensive!  :y
I find 3's coverage utterly useless, so I don't really use them. Like Vodafone, seems to work well in urban areas, and near motorways, but generally non existent when rural.

I now tend to stick to O2 based carriers, as coverage is usually very good, although not as much 3G as some of the others.

Pretty much tried all of them over the years, with HSDPA speeds in mind for me, Vodafone seem to fit the bill for me, pretty much gave the best for consistency in terms of through put vs Signal Strength, O2 again good but couldn't live with their charges if you hit the monthly limit, and 3 was a bit of all or nothing.

Currently using T-Mobile PAYG on a £20 for 6 months deal for unlimited with no additional charges, that works out at 11p a day, great value, meaning I can leave the sim where it belongs, Data use only as when I need it, plus the added bonus of using 2 Networks at HSDPA T-Mobile and Orange, fairly consistent in speed terms gives around 1.2 to 2.4 Mbs, with around 3.6 max, very rarely reduces down to 3g or GSM.     
Title: Re: Mobile Internet Dongle help
Post by: Vamps on 23 March 2012, 00:00:33
Most of what has been said it a bit to technical for me, however I have a '3' dongle that works well, even in North Yorkshire, in fact the only place that 'tested it' was at the Lakes meet, it struggled to the point of me giving up, to get a reliable signal..... :( :(