Sierra Wireless 308 vs. MF180

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matisyahu

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#74561 2-Jan-2011 11:20

Hi,

I'm looking at getting a 'Sierra Wireless 308':

http://store.telecom.co.nz/mobile/prepaid/mobilebroadband/sierra-wireless-308'

Part of my says "meh, go and get the MF180, thats good enough" whilst there is a feeling that maybe I should just suck it up and spend a bit extra to get a better device.

I am wondering what is the major advantage the 'Sierra Wireless 308' has over the MF180 apart from the speed advantage as Telecom gradually upgrades their network speed. Is the signal better? does it use less power (important when using a laptop with a battery)? on Mac OS X are the drivers and software more stable and reliable?

Since I've never used the 'Sierra Wireless 308' I really can't compare so I wonder if there are any out there that use it on a regular basis and how it compares to MF180 especially when using it on a Mac (but I'm happy if the feedback is related to Windows experience too).

PS. Yes I have read a couple of threads in the past but it never really goes into detail giving a good comparison apart from some superficial "well, its faster".

"When the people are being beaten with a stick, they are not much happier if it is called 'the People's Stick'"

BarTender

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#423489 2-Jan-2011 19:51

The MF180 is only a 3.6MB card, like the MF626, so I would recommend either buying a Sierra 885 off Trademe which are ~$50, they are a 7.2MB card and very rock solid. Or try at least go for a MF636 rather than a 626 if you want one of the ZTE devices.

If you have the extra $ then I would strongly recommend the Sierra 308 card. All the Sierra gear is really well built (unlike the ZTE) and works on Windows/Mac/Linux seamlessly.

If you really have some spare cash then the Sierra 503 is a great Express card (as long as your Mac has an Express card slot) and they work on XT as well as Vodafone on 3G Extended (900Mhz 3G outside the metro areas)... So you couldn't go wrong at all with one of those.

savag3

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#423492 2-Jan-2011 20:02

I have always found Sierra Wireless gear to be excellent. Well written drivers/software etc and very reliable.

matisyahu

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#423515 2-Jan-2011 20:58

BarTender: The MF180 is only a 3.6MB card, like the MF626, so I would recommend either buying a Sierra 885 off Trademe which are ~$50, they are a 7.2MB card and very rock solid. Or try at least go for a MF636 rather than a 626 if you want one of the ZTE devices.

If you have the extra $ then I would strongly recommend the Sierra 308 card. All the Sierra gear is really well built (unlike the ZTE) and works on Windows/Mac/Linux seamlessly.

If you really have some spare cash then the Sierra 503 is a great Express card (as long as your Mac has an Express card slot) and they work on XT as well as Vodafone on 3G Extended (900Mhz 3G outside the metro areas)... So you couldn't go wrong at all with one of those.

savag3: I have always found Sierra Wireless gear to be excellent. Well written drivers/software etc and very reliable.

Thanks for the advice; I've bit the bullet and went for the Sierra Wireless AirCard 308 - I umm'ed and arr'ed about it but pretty much came the conclusion that in the long run it'll be better value. Telecom will upgrade their network gradually and having such a card will mean when that time comes in my area I'll be ready. I've had a look at the software and drivers and yes it appears that Sierra provide regular updates rather than simply the situation with ZTE where the hardware is provided and thats it - don't expect any major update etc.

"When the people are being beaten with a stick, they are not much happier if it is called 'the People's Stick'"

freitasm

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#423517 2-Jan-2011 21:10

I've had some Novatel cards in the past, but my last few ones have been the Sierra Wireless models. They are indeed very good gear, you won't regret.

billgates

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#423560 2-Jan-2011 23:07

I've got a sierra wireless 306 which is an HSPA+ capable stick. never got over 7mbps in Auckland and Hamilton. Usually it's between 2mbps ~ 4mbps.

Also have a MF636 stick. always get between 2mbps~4mbps.

I'd say no point spending extra $$$ on HSPA+ stick when you won't even get over 4mbps majority of the time.

Do whatever you want to do man.

matisyahu

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#423588 3-Jan-2011 00:39

freitasm: I've had some Novatel cards in the past, but my last few ones have been the Sierra Wireless models. They are indeed very good gear, you won't regret.

Just ordered it via online - hopefully it'll be with me by the end of the week :) I'll do some speed tests and review it via video when I have the opportunity :D

billgates: I've got a sierra wireless 306 which is an HSPA+ capable stick. never got over 7mbps in Auckland and Hamilton. Usually it's between 2mbps ~ 4mbps.

Also have a MF636 stick. always get between 2mbps~4mbps.

I'd say no point spending extra $$$ on HSPA+ stick when you won't even get over 4mbps majority of the time.

It isn't just the matter of speed but also signal quality, driver quality when using it on Mac OS X, and so on.

There is also the long term - if I purchase an el-cheapo one now and at a later date Telecom put up some more towers or upgrade more of them then I want to take advantage I'll have to purchase a new device - when doing the sums its worth taking the big whack now and be future proofed. There is also the build quality of the device etc. and having done some googling, and my experience using ZTE on Mac OS X I'd sooner pay the extra for the less hassle. Considering I'll be keeping it for at least 3 years it works out to be $2 a week, hardly a big spend up when one considers the cost over the life time of the intended use period.

"When the people are being beaten with a stick, they are not much happier if it is called 'the People's Stick'"

BarTender

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#423885 4-Jan-2011 09:01

If you hadn't already spent the $ you could have gone for one of the Sierra 885's on Trademe.

But I don't think you will be disapointed with the 308, I had a 503 for a few weeks.. And I got on average in Wellington (off the Miramar Exchange which is HSPA+ Upgrade) averages of 600KB/s.. and one stage I got 1.1MB/s when I downloaded an ISO image off the Microsoft site.

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matisyahu

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#424306 5-Jan-2011 15:50

BarTender: If you hadn't already spent the $ you could have gone for one of the Sierra 885's on Trademe.

Yeah, I had a look but generally speaking I don't go for things without a 'buy now' price because I can't be bothered getting into a bidding war - many times the bidding war the result of the sellers friends pumping up the price artificially.

But I don't think you will be disapointed with the 308, I had a 503 for a few weeks.. And I got on average in Wellington (off the Miramar Exchange which is HSPA+ Upgrade) averages of 600KB/s.. and one stage I got 1.1MB/s when I downloaded an ISO image off the Microsoft site.

I think the one attraction is the longevity of the device and the driver quality - on Mac OS X the drivers are already 64bit so when Apple makes the transition one won't be high and dry. I'll probably end up using it as my main form of internet in around 2 years which by the time the cost of data would have dropped :)

"When the people are being beaten with a stick, they are not much happier if it is called 'the People's Stick'"

matisyahu

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#424587 6-Jan-2011 11:35

Received it today; arrived on the door step. I've upgraded the firmware to the latest global one available, installed the latest drivers (2010) and everything is working beautifully. It is fully integrated in with Mac OS X where one can see the device in the 'WWAN' section of the 'System Profiler'.

The signature below is the testing from home which is good imho when compared to the almost non-existant signal one would get with Vodafone. It is very stable so far, no bugginess that I saw with ZTE and high CPU utilisation of the dialing software. Also a great feature, 64bit drivers! hopefully that'll mean when Apple makes the big 64bit move I'll be all supported :D

I'll upload a review to YouTube once I have more experience but so far so good.

"When the people are being beaten with a stick, they are not much happier if it is called 'the People's Stick'"