Are so-called HSDPA 3.5G Sim cards a Con?

point3

More replies! Thank you.

This discussion was really about whether there was a difference between sim cards for 3G and HSDPA (also dubbed 3.5G, Super 3G, 3G Broadband and Turbo) data services. I don't think O2 or Orange are offering mobile broadband packages as such at the moment, or if they do they are keeping incredibly quiet .

I was looking to get PAYG sim cards to use in an unlocked USB modem for occasional connection of a laptop to mobile broadband services. 3 Mobile currently offer 3GB per 30 days for £15, Vodafone offer 3GB per 30 days for £20 and T-Mobile offer Web 'n' Walk Plus for 1 day at £4. It seems that all 3G sim cards will allow connection at HSDPA speeds and that this is dependent on the network coverage and handset/modem and not the sim card. There are no "special" 3G sim cards.

It's the tariff that needs to be adjusted to get on these deals, so any ideas on the most painless way to do this?

Sid_Harper

The SIMs are the same as I'm using a 3 year old sim for HSPDA, but I had to get some network update from T-mobile for my 6120 to actually use 3.5G (3G was fine). It's also an option on my T-mobile to turn 3G data on/off.

point3

I can confirm that there is no physical difference between a 3 mobile phone sim and a broadband modem sim. The only differences are the account and tariff information.

A PAYT 3 sim (£9.99 online with £10 free credit) with a £5 Add Internet Monthly add-on will technically work fine in a Hauwei E220 modem. Check the small print, though, as there may be a clause in the Terms and Conditions that says the sim cannot be connected in a modem.

What Ebay sellers are doing is box-breaking. They buy the USB modem and PAYG sim as a package - it's avaliable to students at £49.99. They then sell the modem and sim separately for a profit, typically £70-£100 for the modem and another £10 for the sim. Else they keep the modem, using it with an existing PAYG mobile sim and then sell on the broadband one.

'Special' HSDPA 3G broadband sim cards are a con. Do not pay over the odds for one!

rav0r

Actualy, at Zapp you get a card that won't even register with regular 3G hansdets. You need a HSDPA phone.

http://www.zapp.ro/en/internet-data/residential/3g-internet-sim-card/

redux

rav0r wrote: »

Actualy, at Zapp you get a card that won't even register with regular 3G hansdets. You need a HSDPA phone.

Thanks, we'll bear that in mind, but:

1. This isn't a Romanian website

2. UK doesn't have CDMA networks, on 450 MHz or any other frequency, so the equipment is even less compatible than you suggest

System

3UK do issue sims that are issued with 3G dongles

They have their dedicated access point - 3Internet
They also have Orange roaming disabled.

If you get a standard sim, you just use the standard access point- three.co.uk
You can use Orange when out of 3G coverage.

rav0r

redux wrote: »

Thanks, we'll bear that in mind, but:

1. This isn't a Romanian website

2. UK doesn't have CDMA networks, on 450 MHz or any other frequency, so the equipment is even less compatible than you suggest

1. I realized that, thank you very much
2. The product uses umts 2100, not CDMA 450.

theuser123

I have a phone which specifies
2G Network: GSM 850 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G Network: HSDPA 900 / 2100

I have two GSM SIM cards. Among which one from Vodafone. Can I use both the SIM cards on that phone???


I have Samsung s6700.

www,mobile-phone,pk/samsung_s6700-1953/


replace "," with "." to get the actual link


Please reply

theuser123

I have a phone which specifies
2G Network: GSM 850 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G Network: HSDPA 900 / 2100

I have two GSM SIM cards. Among which one from Vodafone. Can I use both the SIM cards on that phone???


I have Samsung s6700.

www,mobile-phone,pk/samsung_s6700-1953/


replace "," with "." to get the actual link


Please reply

d123

theuser123 wrote: »

I have a phone which specifies
2G Network: GSM 850 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G Network: HSDPA 900 / 2100

I have two GSM SIM cards. Among which one from Vodafone. Can I use both the SIM cards on that phone???


I have Samsung s6700.

www spam spam spam


replace "," with "." to get the actual link


Please reply

Why would we want to reply to your spam?