Or if you go for the Sierra pcmcia / express cards they come with an external connector. I picked up a 881 from trademe 2 weeks ago for $25. Its a HSUPA Card. Plus the Vodafone Merlin XU870 works a treat too, and has an external connector on the side. Its only HSDPA tho.
BarTender: Or if you go for the Sierra pcmcia / express cards they come with an external connector. I picked up a 881 from trademe 2 weeks ago for $25. Its a HSUPA Card. Plus the Vodafone Merlin UX870 works a treat too, and has an external connector on the side. Its only HSDPA tho.
The MF668+ / Sierra Wireless AC308/ 503 all have external antenna connectors and are HSPA+ capable. I have found my MF668+ works better with the Netcomm 3GN005w etc than my AC308 which is strange.
Both perform well without external antennas but with portable antenna there connection is stable and speeds improve, with external YAGI, considerably better. I dont use my MF668+ anywhere rurally with out my portable antennas.
Seriously if Telecom will let you upgrade it is worth it for the extra performance a direct connection gives but with a YAGI and even some portable kits (I cant say whos of course) the passive adaptor works well.
BarTender: Or if you go for the Sierra pcmcia / express cards they come with an external connector. I picked up a 881 from trademe 2 weeks ago for $25. Its a HSUPA Card. Plus the Vodafone Merlin UX870 works a treat too, and has an external connector on the side. Its only HSDPA tho.
The MF668+ / Sierra Wireless AC308/ 503 all have external antenna connectors and are HSPA+ capable. I have found my MF668+ works better with the Netcomm 3GN005w etc than my AC308 which is strange.
Both perform well without external antennas but with portable antenna there connection is stable and speeds improve, with external YAGI, considerably better. I dont use my MF668+ anywhere rurally with out my portable antennas.
If it were me I would just look to buy one from eBay in the US, or elsewhere.
For sub $100 NZ you could get a WCDMA HSPA card and YAGI shipped to your door. Sierra 880E can be purchased for $40NZD including shipping to NZ. The Sierra 881 card I have is a HSPA card, but it doesn't do the dual radio at 2100, since it's a AT&T US card the second radio is at 1900.
I personally prefer either a PCMCIA or Express card over a USB (as long as your laptop still has a PCMCIA or Express slot) as the cards tend to be a whole lot more robust and thus harder to break. Plus come with a
Certainly a lot cheaper than going down the upgrade path from Telecom plus you own the card and aren't locked into a 24 month contract at a higher monthly bill.
I recommend the Ericsson W35, have been using 6 of these in various configurations throughout the NI with exceptional results. Can testify to modem side of things being damn good, have used router capability less so (as normally running 2x W35s thru dual wan Drayteks).
They do need to be kept out of sun. Also supplied power leads (that we got, identified by flat 4 wire ribbon from PSU to unit) are very poorly designed and will highly prone to breakage at joints. Though pretty simple to DIY and re wire with some more robust bits and pieces from Jaycar/Dickies.
External atennae (definitely Yagi not omini) indispensbale.
Sadly the Sierra Wireless MC8785V chipset used in the W35 does not support hspa+ (if Telecom ever gets round to it). Ohh and no point trying to use Vodafone on this unit (not that one would given XT has such superior data plans) due to it not supporting 900mhz.
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