3G wireless router to share Sierra Wireless 885U

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › 3G wireless router to share Sierra Wireless 885U

Dazza69

11 posts

Geek

#40016 23-Aug-2009 18:10

I am looking for a wireless 3G router that can take the new Telecom XT Seirra 885U stick so I can share the internet.

Please suggest some products that you KNOW WORK and your experience if you have any with it.

Thanks

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grb67

63 posts

Master Geek

#249909 23-Aug-2009 20:28

Am just installing a Dynalink N3G005W. Seems to work okay, you don't have to do anything just plug in the USB stick, and wait for it to connect (takes a few minutes). I was getting slow connection and page refreshes but dynalink tech said to change the SSID and take it off auto channel select and suddenly its just like having the XT stick in the computer but a wireless connection. Don't be freaked about signal level apparently 41% is good (just like NCEA) and 19% is marginal.

Dazza69

11 posts

Geek

#250372 25-Aug-2009 14:49

OK thanks. I actually have a 002W that I was using with my old T Stick. We live in the country and the connections were great.

I decided to change to XT for more bandwidth. Even though the manufacturer says it is compatible with the 885, I have had no end of problems. Slow or no connections, dropping out, slower than dial up etc etc.

I upgraded the firmware to the latest before I connected.

I still am wondering if it is something else that is giving me overall a very poor experience compared to the old model.

Anythoughts or ideas anyone?

freitasm

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#250400 25-Aug-2009 15:59

You can try either the Top Global MB6800 or the CradlePoint PHS300. I have both and both work.

The MB6800 is a full router with wired and mobile access, four ethernet port, automatic fallback if the wired connection is the primary and fails. Therefore most expensive.

The Cradlepoint provides wireless access only (mobile access only and no ethernet ports) and you can configure it with passwords and more.

I think the Cradlepoint was coming to New Zealand through Renaissance but not sure what's going on now...

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Dazza69

11 posts

Geek

#250409 25-Aug-2009 16:09

Great, thanks mate. Will do more research but check my other post out and you will see why I was asking...

Dazza69

11 posts

Geek

#252436 2-Sep-2009 00:37

Just an update was a coverage issue NOT equipment.

Chrut

2 posts

Wannabe Geek

#253637 6-Sep-2009 22:00

I had a lot of problems using a Sierra Wireless 885 too - flakey and not consistent with poor rural performance. Did you go decide to go back to the CDMA T-Stick?

JacksonL

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#254065 8-Sep-2009 13:42

Although we had sort of reasonable ADSL it kept dropping out - beauty of semi-rural living. So thought maybe mobile broadband might be a much better option. Have just set up with a Sierra Wireless 885 and it is a bit flakey to say the least. When it is good it is quite good but sometimes it is yuck.

Coverage isn't wonderful although "Tru-Install" seems to think it is "very good". Think I should try a booster - any suggestions would be appreciated. Still isn't bad enough to go back to the old ADSL (ADSL 2+ is not on the horizon and we don't plan to shift in the near future).

Chrut

2 posts

Wannabe Geek

#254091 8-Sep-2009 15:44

There is a person from Nelson way that I believe makes and sells antenna for cell phones (see his advert on trade me # 240197142). His feedback indicates that there are a lot of people who are happy with the > reception. You may want to talk to him about an external antenna suitable for your 885.

JacksonL

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#255594 14-Sep-2009 14:30

Have purchased an aerial from the guys in Motueka - nearish to Nelson - and hope that will alleviate our problems with the sierra 885. I do believe that it is one of insufficient signal strength. Time will tell.

grb67

63 posts

Master Geek

#255974 15-Sep-2009 22:24

Update on Dynalink N3G005W. Added an external antenna which boosted signal and the set up has now replaced a flakey wireless connection. Customer all happy. Watch out when connecting external antenna to Telecom XT Seirra 885U stick as the connector isn't very mechanically robust. Fit it then tape it so it won't move and you're sweet.

JacksonL

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#257705 23-Sep-2009 08:14

Have now installed the antenna and it made a huge difference to the strength of the signal. It was -85dBm at best and is now -53dBm and stable at that. Did notice that the connection to the Modem stick was sloppy to say the least and used tape to stabilise it.

Now did it make a difference? Really it didn't because I still have a lot of problem with the signal dropping out (I used pingplotter to show what is happening visually because the 3G watcher thought we were always connected). We have been working with Telecom data faults and it does seem a lot of trial and error. Is it the PC/laptop - no same on both, is it the SIM card - no same on two different cards, is it the antenna - no it is the same on and off.

We had already tested the Sierra stick but not very well at a Telecom store. I then went to Manukau City to get a Telecom store to test the stick but didn't bother in the end.

I took my laptop and tried the connection in the car park at Manukau City. Voila it worked like a charm. The signal was much weaker than at home with the antenna (better than none though at -80dBm) but it never dropped out for half an hour.

So what is the problem. My guess is that the cell tower itself although there have been no faults reported - don't Telecom monitor the thing themselves.

Anyway the problem has been escalated to Tier 2 or 3 (not sure) so will keep you posted - supposedly within a week.