GPRS/GSM Compact Flash Card?

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3g

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Topic # 4949 13-Sep-2005 12:21

My Chi Mei Communications CF GPRS card has suddenly decided to stop working, so I need to replace it asap (so I can complete some testing).

Does anyone know if there is a source of CF GPRS cards in NZ (or Australia)?
Expansys have a couple of different brands listed, but they all have ridiculous delivery times.

After a bit of googling I came across the Enfora CF card which seems quite good - any comments from anyone about this?

Nigel H.

c1group

2 posts

Wannabe Geek

Reply # 20083 14-Sep-2005 22:33

Hi Nigel,

C1 (www.c1au.com) are the Australian distributors of Sierra Wireless, Chi Mei (CMCS) Cards (known in Australia as the C1 G1 Card) and the Enfora CF Card range.

The C1 G1 cards are available - Fully A-Ticked unlike the Chi Mei version - via www.pressdigital.com.au in the GPRS & CDMA section. Product sold through unauthorised dealers (such as the one mentioned) is not A-Ticked and therefore not legal for sale in Australia.

Shipping times on C1 G1 cards are overnight to anywhere in Australia.

Hope that helps.
Andrew
C1 Group.

freitasm

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Reply # 20085 14-Sep-2005 22:48

Welcome to Geekzone Andrew...

Just a reminder to folks reading this here: while purchasing a GPRS card in Australia is ok for use in New Zealand (simply insert your Vodafone SIM card and off you go, with a little configuration), remember that Telecom New Zealand will not connect CDMA devices to their network if they are not locally tested/certified.

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c1group

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Wannabe Geek

Reply # 20086 14-Sep-2005 23:53

Well said and thanks for the welcome :)

(I must confess to incorrectly guessing the earlier post was from an Aussie ;)

CDMA cards (unlike GSM / GPRS cards) require the manufacturer to have the IMSI of the card updated to the IMSI database of the carrier (which quite simply won't happen if you import a CDMA or EVDO device!).. In short, you can ONLY buy locally certified CDMA / EVDO cards from the country in which you intend to connect that card. ie. If you're in NZ, then you won't be able to grab CDMA cards from anywhere except NZ! ...

In the case of GSM cards, you should at least have local approvals to be legal (Australian A-Tick for Australia) The carriers won't generally "carrier approve" the multitiude of minor data card brands - So don't expect the carrier to provide tech support.. However, as long as you have the appropriate approvals, then you are allowed to connect the card to the networks. Just don't run the risk of importing devices without local certifications though.. Any problems could wind you up with a very large fine indeed!

Hope that helps as background!
Cheers
Andy

freitasm

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Reply # 20087 14-Sep-2005 23:56

No problem... The GSM case is quite easy - Vodafone does not seem to worry too much. And I think the A tick is valid for Aus/NZ (may be wrong, but I've seem some devices here with A tick).

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3g

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Reply # 20241 17-Sep-2005 19:00

Thanks to Andrew (and the C1 Group) our team will be able to continue testing next week.

I was also going to buy an Enfora card, but luckily checked with one of our US offices to see what they had been trying. Sure enough they had already purchased an Enfora card, only to find that due to the thickness of the top of the card, it doesn't travel far enough down the CF slot and doesn't actually plug in correctly on our devices! Might have been a bit embarassing trying to explain that one to my boss 8-).

Enfora will be releasing a "longer" card as this problem has been struck by other users, so will try one when it is released.

Nigel H.