Vodafone-branded Huawei E160x USB modem

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amanzi

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#34963 1-Jun-2009 22:12

I have a Vodafone-branded Huawei E160x USB modem that I purchased in the UK earlier this year. I've unlocked the device and can now use a VFNZ sim card with the device. (Before I got it unlocked I wasn't able to use a VFNZ sim card with it.) According to the specs of the device it can operate on the following frequencies:

HSDPA/UMTS (850/1900/2100MHz)
GSM/GPRS/EDGE (850/900/1800/1900MHz)

Does that mean that I should be able to use this on the Telecom XT network? The reason I ask, is that I've tried it with a new XT prepay sim card, using the Huawei Mobile Partner software and have tried both internet.telecom.co.nz and direct.telecom.co.nz APNs, but I'm unable to connect.

The device sees an active network called "WCDMA NZ05", but fails at the "authenticating..." screen and I get an error which reads: " Error 628: The connection was terminated by the remote computer before it could be completed." The sim card definitely works ok as I've tried it in another phone. The number I'm dialling is the standard *99# is there anything else I need to do to get this working?

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#220628 1-Jun-2009 22:20

amanzi: HSDPA/UMTS (850/1900/2100MHz)

It should work fine... Have you correctly configured the APN to "internet.telecom.co.nz" in your software?

amanzi

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#220631 1-Jun-2009 22:21

Yes, I tried internet.telecom.co.nz and also direct.telecom.co.nz. Both failed at the "authenticating" screen.

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#220632 1-Jun-2009 22:23

And did you leave both username and password empty?

amanzi

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#220636 1-Jun-2009 22:27

Yes, username and password are blank. Even if I enter some dummy credentials in there I still get the same error message.

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#220639 1-Jun-2009 22:32

I've seen this message only if a) entering the wrong APN or b) entering wrong user/password combination or c) no data service provisioned.

Unless of course the device is still locked, but now accepting Vodafone networks only (in addition to the original Vodafone UK)...

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#220645 1-Jun-2009 22:36

freitasm: Unless of course the device is still locked, but now accepting Vodafone networks only (in addition to the original Vodafone UK)...

Hmm... hope not. Just paid 15 euros to DC-unlocker to unlock the device. Doing that got it working with a VFNZ sim card, but perhaps there's something else in the device blocking it. Will investigate further...

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#220811 2-Jun-2009 12:31

Just an update... I've downloaded and installed a new 'dashboard' for the device which completely de-brands it and I've also updated the firmware to the latest I could find. So when I insert the modem into a computer, there is no sign of it being Vodafone branded. But still I get the Error 628 message which seems to indicate that I have the settings wrong for the Telecom APN.

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#221135 2-Jun-2009 22:55

Just been reading through some other threads here and there doesn't seem to be any settings that I'm missing. Can anyone offer any advice why I'm unable to connect to the XT network from my USB modem?

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#221143 2-Jun-2009 23:33

My last update... the error message I'm getting actually changes every now and again to an Error 619 message. Perhaps that will help one of the Telecom gurus solve my issue..?

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#221525 4-Jun-2009 10:14

Have you configured the Modem to only use UMTS?

VF 850GSM works for you right? I suspect you are using 850GSM which XT does not support...

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#221559 4-Jun-2009 12:38

Felix: Have you configured the Modem to only use UMTS?

VF 850GSM works for you right? I suspect you are using 850GSM which XT does not support...

Thanks for the help, but as I mentioned above, the device sees an active network called "WCDMA NZ05", but when trying to connect, fails at the "authenticating..." screen. As far as I know, NZ05 is the new XT network, but I could be wrong.

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#221573 4-Jun-2009 13:00

Amanzi, you are correct NZ05 is the XT network. From you description it looks like the device is not fully unlocked. Sadly there is not a lot Telecom can do to help you. Someone here may have ideas though.

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#221591 4-Jun-2009 13:30

On this note.. is there any software from telecom available for download for such devices? Like Vodafone Mobile Connect.

I know I can just use VMC with the appropriate setting changes.. but curious nonetheless.

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#221595 4-Jun-2009 13:36

Sorry @mjb but as we do not support this product we do not have the appropriate drivers or firmware.

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#221604 4-Jun-2009 13:45

mjb: I know I can just use VMC with the appropriate setting changes.. but curious nonetheless.

Have you managed to get VMC working with another sim card? I tried it and it just said "incorrect sim inserted" I'm currently using Mobile Partner which is Huawei's own software. You can download it from here: http://www.dc-unlocker.com/downloads/open/32

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