vodem, speed and backwards compatibilty

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markwolk

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#9624 1-Oct-2006 17:53

I saw today Vodafone's latest TV commercial about "vodem" and mobile broadband. Can anyone enlighten me please on the following:

1) On their website, Vodafone claim speeds of up to 3.6Mbps , with average speeds of between 800kbps and 1.4Mbps. Is it proper to the new "vodem", or can I achieve this type of speeds with my "old" Vodafone Mobile Connect Card?

2) I see that current coverage is limited basically to downtown Auckland (+ Christchurch and Wellington). This seems to me like the least useful areas. Is it realistic to expect the same nationwide coverage as cellular within a few months?

Mark Wolk

nzbnw

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#47259 1-Oct-2006 17:58

markwolk: I saw today Vodafone's latest TV commercial about "vodem" and mobile broadband. Can anyone enlighten me please on the following:

1) On their website, Vodafone claim speeds of up to 3.6Mbps , with average speeds of between 800kbps and 1.4Mbps. Is it proper to the new "vodem", or can I achieve this type of speeds with my "old" Vodafone Mobile Connect Card?

2) I see that current coverage is limited basically to downtown Auckland (+ Christchurch and Wellington). This seems to me like the least useful areas. Is it realistic to expect the same nationwide coverage as cellular within a few months?

1) No, the Vodem is a HSDPA device and your 'old' VMC card would eitheir be a GPRS or UMTS device and will be unable to achieve such speeds.

2) HSDPA coverage may be limited to the locations you mention, but you will be able fall back on UMTS and GPRS. Basicly that that means is you will have faster speeds in parts* Auckland Christchurch and Wellington compared to other places within New Zealand.

Cheers

nzbnw

[edit] replaced 'downtown' with 'parts'

johnr

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#47260 1-Oct-2006 18:02

Downtown Auckland!!!!!!!!

Its most of Auckland look at the HSDPA coverage on the vodafone site

http://www.vodafone.co.nz/coverage/hsdpa/cities/Auckland/maps.jsp?image_id=1_1&item=3gbb

nzbnw

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#47261 1-Oct-2006 18:05

johnr: Downtown Auckland!!!!!!!!

It all of Auckland look at the HSDPA coverage on the vodafone site

mmm I thought that sounded strange from the OP, pays to check these things.

johnr

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#47262 1-Oct-2006 18:06

I am on HSDPA (vodafone broad band) right now and I am not in downtown Auckland

markwolk

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#47263 1-Oct-2006 18:12

Hmmm, thanks. Is there a standard Vodafone offer for a swap Mobile Connect Card / "vodem"? If not, what am I supposed to do with the Mobile Connect Card and the 50 odd bucks a months that Vodafone charges me for it? Is it pure waste, or are there any swap offers?

Downtown... Auckland... I tend to stay as far away as possible from city centres, so the current coverage is not very appealing to me.

Mark Wolk

johnr

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#47264 1-Oct-2006 18:14

Hi Mark

Your old card will still work the same! what you are requesting is like each time a company brings out a faster product the old one does not work which is not the case!

If you own a ford lazer and ford bring out a tubro ford lazer which is faster does that mean ford give you a turbo changed one.

Also please read the posts 3G broad band is just about all over Auckland where ever 3G coverage is

I also have included a link to 3G BB coverage in Auckland

3G BB was only launched today give vodafone a chance to get the wheels turning maybe a offer might be around the corner or maybe not but the old 3G network carrys on the same!

John

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freitasm

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#47266 1-Oct-2006 18:25

The idea is that HSDPA coverage will be available wherever 3G coverage is curently (or in the future) present.

Your old modem will not achieve the speeds, as mentioned.

There's currently no word on a swap offer, but it doesn't mean it won't happen. But don't count on this.

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#47275 1-Oct-2006 18:45

As we all know, the peak performance of 3G broadband will initially be 3.6Mbps, but it would be fair to assume that this will increase as Vodafone moves down the HSDPA upgrade path over the coming years. Would I be right in saying that firmware upgrades will allow the Vodem to acheive these higher speeds as they become available? Or is it possible that new hardware will be required?

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#47276 1-Oct-2006 18:46

I believe most of the current harware will limit to 3.6Mbps. The next update, promised to be 7.2Mpbs might require some new hardware, again. But don't quote me on that.

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johnr

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#47277 1-Oct-2006 18:47

Some devices can be firmware upgraded as the speeds increase some can't

I can't answer for the vodem

I have read the Novatel 3.6 card can be updated to 7.2mbps but check out the card makers website

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#47288 1-Oct-2006 19:35

johnr: Some devices can be firmware upgraded as the speeds increase some can't

I can't answer for the vodem

Do you know what Huawei's model number is for the Vodem? I think this is an important enough point to be worth researching before investing in $430 worth of hardware, or signing a two year contract.

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#47289 1-Oct-2006 19:36

E220

alasta

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#47295 1-Oct-2006 20:41

johnr: E220

Thanks for that. I've done a bit of research and Huawei's site indicates that it's limited to 3.6Mbps. A quick browse of a few independant sites seems to verify this.

This probably won't be a deal breaker for me, but it's a bit disappointing that I may have to upgrade my hardware before the end of my 24 month term in order to keep up to date with speed increases as they become available. Anyone who is considering taking up a term contract should factor this into their decision.

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#47296 1-Oct-2006 20:47

How much speed do people need I downloaded a 48meg file this evening very quickly on a 1.8mbps card

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#47301 1-Oct-2006 21:16

johnr: How much speed do people need I downloaded a 48meg file this evening very quickly on a 1.8mbps card

At the moment I'm pretty happy with real world speeds in the 500kbps - 1mbps range which is what I'm getting on my Woosh connection, but future services may better utilise higher connection speeds. The Internet is evolving very, very quickly and it's not a good idea to risk being locked into old technology.