2degrees Hardware comparison-USB modem vs pocket wifi

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hutchwilco

18 posts

Geek

# 77714 21-Feb-2011 12:08

I have tried and tried to get a straight answer from 2degrees phone operators for this but they seem unwilling to let me talk directly to some who knows what they're talking about. Their website is vague and ambiguous on this topic too:
is the USB modem (currently $69 w 3gb) capable of the same speed as the pocket wifi?
The website says USB modem is 3.6Mps but don't specify theoretical or rela world.
The website doesn't list the same specs for the pocket wifi but it's "features" include "7.2 Mbps Hsdpa".
One phone call to 2 degrees told me they weren't the same, that the USB modem was slower, but the CSR seemed confused about the terms, and the technology and seemed programmer to repeat the usual disclaimer about actual speeds to expect. I told him I understood the theoretical/ realworld difference ( I didn't mention the website editors didn't seem to).
I called again this morning and asked to speak to a tech as was advised by my last CSR. The New CSR would only put me on hold while she asked questions of the techs she clearly didn't understand. I final answer I got was yes, they are both high speed hsdpa 7.2mbps. "same technology" she said.
I went to dick smith hoping they would know in a flash but they were equally unsure but added they only knew what 2degrees told them. They said all the info they had implied ( but was not in anyway clear) that the USB modem was slower at "3.6mbps".
The reason I ask is I currently have a e220 vodem with 7.2mps firmware upgrade and a 2 degrees sim that gets me about 3 mbit on speedtest.net.
I'm keen to take advantage of the 69$ 3gb USB modem deal but not if my speed drops to 1.5mbps or similar, which is what I would expect if the modem was 3.6mbps theoretical.

Can someone answer this? (preferably someone from 2degrees who knows what they're talking about?)

and to 2 degrees: make your hardware specs listed on your website universal across devices and common and explicit so that all information is there if your customers require it and comparisons can easily be made.
That will save YOU money on CSRs taking calls with questions they simply can't answer.

After a good run of being a fantastic excuse to leave telecom and vodafone, I'm a lIttle afraid I'm seeing 2degrees heading down the same paths the other two have...

n4

956 posts

Ultimate Geek

# 441895 21-Feb-2011 12:19

The USB modem is definitely a 3.6 Mbps device. If the 7.2Mbps vodem is only getting 3Mbps, its possible the USB modem will get that too, as the vodem will probably be operating at a lower speed.

If you have a 7.2Mbps Vodem that works OK with the 2degrees SIM, why not just use that instead?

Huawei Mate 7, on 2degrees

freitasm

BDFL - Memuneh
65008 posts

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# 441902 21-Feb-2011 12:43

There is no way a mobile operator can give an indication of "real" speeds. This is influenced by many factors that are different for each customer...

- cell site load (more people using mobile data)
- cell site breathing (more people using a cell site reduces coverage footprint)
- device location (if you plug a USB device behind a desktop PC under a desk inside a bedroom in the basement you obciously won't get the same speed as if you put a 3GWiFi router by the window or use an external antenna)
- your distance from the nearest cell site
- badly coded USB drivers causing problems with data transfer

You can only get the theoretical max speed for a device, other than this is fair game...

2degreesCare

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# 441918 21-Feb-2011 13:18

Hi there,

Thanks for the feedback. Sorry if the replies you got from the Call Centre didn't answer your query as fully as you wanted. This query would normally be put through to one of our data specialists to answer.

The short answer to your question is you should get better speeds with the Hauwei E5 Pocket Wifi than the USB modem. While the USB modem is capable of 3.6Mbps and the Pocket Wifi 7.2 Mbps in reality they may not reach those speeds on performance.

Unfortunately as mentioned above we cannot guarantee speeds because of all the usual factors and variables e.g. location within our Mobile Broadband Zone, reception, cellsite load etc but it should behave faster than the USB modem. Of course with the Pocket Wifi you can move it to a point where the reception is better than the location of the device you're using, a windowsill or the top of a bathroom wardrobe.

As for the hardware specs we list as much info as possible that's relevant but welcome any suggestions and feedback.

Just to note, we've just done a speedtest in the office and found the USB Modem at 1.64Mbps (none too shabby) while the Pocket Wifi managed an impressive 2.92Mbps.

Cheers
^POB

bmoff

116 posts

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# 441924 21-Feb-2011 13:23

I have both these devices on 2 degrees. At the time I bought the WiFi modem I too was concerned about speed as I was getting good performance from the USB modem. My fears where unfounded, the Wifi modem performed just as well. Can't remember the actual numbers now, hope this helps.

hutchwilco

18 posts

Geek

# 441932 21-Feb-2011 13:30

Thanks you're absolutey right about all the factors of wireless data transmission and signal attenuation but I am well aware of all of these (a BSc Physics helps alot with that) My gripe is that 2degrees doesn't clearly and explicitly state the potential of all their devices in the same language, and further muddles it by not having that information at the fingertips of it's CSRs. As it stands I have on good authority from 2 degrees staff that both their devices are high speed 7.2mbps hsdpa. This is contrary to the best interpretation of their website, contrary to what a previous CSR told me and seems to be contrary to what you are both telling me above.
For the record I live less than 100m from a 2degrees tower, get good speed with my 7.2mbps vodem ( 2degrees' network is 7.2Mbps capable, am I right?). I'm merely interested in the good deal on the USB modem and data for another purpose.
Thanks for your interest, I'd still like to hear from someone in the know at 2 degrees. I was hoping this might be the easiest medium to get a good answer as phoning them just proved frustrating.
Thanks again,

SteveON

1917 posts

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# 441948 21-Feb-2011 14:42

hutchwilco: Thanks you're absolutey right about all the factors of wireless data transmission and signal attenuation but I am well aware of all of these (a BSc Physics helps alot with that) My gripe is that 2degrees doesn't clearly and explicitly state the potential of all their devices in the same language, and further muddles it by not having that information at the fingertips of it's CSRs. As it stands I have on good authority from 2 degrees staff that both their devices are high speed 7.2mbps hsdpa. This is contrary to the best interpretation of their website, contrary to what a previous CSR told me and seems to be contrary to what you are both telling me above.

For the record I live less than 100m from a 2degrees tower, get good speed with my 7.2mbps vodem ( 2degrees' network is 7.2Mbps capable, am I right?). I'm merely interested in the good deal on the USB modem and data for another purpose.

Thanks for your interest, I'd still like to hear from someone in the know at 2 degrees. I was hoping this might be the easiest medium to get a good answer as phoning them just proved frustrating.

Thanks again,

But you said: "The website says USB modem is 3.6Mps ... the pocket wifi "features" include "7.2 Mbps Hsdpa".

Is that or is that not telling you that the USB modem can do 3.6Mb and the pocket wifi can do 7.2Mb? It seems like you have answered your own question but you don't believe what the website says.

As the others have said; mobile data is not guaranteed nor can you expect it to be; at this period in time.

hutchwilco

18 posts

Geek

# 441953 21-Feb-2011 15:21

But you said: "The website says USB modem is 3.6Mps ... the pocket wifi "features" include "7.2 Mbps Hsdpa".

Is that or is that not telling you that the USB modem can do 3.6Mb and the pocket wifi can do 7.2Mb? It seems like you have answered your own question but you don't believe what the website says.

As the others have said; mobile data is not guaranteed nor can you expect it to be; at this period in time.

Yep Steve you're right.
Someone from 2degrees has kindly answered my query above (well, almost).

But to explain:
If you look at the 2degrees website and compare the USB modem and the pocket wifi, the info is in different places, and presented in a confusing way so as to leave the reader wondering if the USB modem is really only 3.6Mbps max.

Pocket wifi: "features 7.2Mbps", but in the specs list at the bottom (where I always look to cut through the waffle and get the lowdown on a device) it simply says "3g Broadband ----Yes".

USB Modem: features simply says "Reliable high speed internet connection" which is vague and meaningless
and the specs list at the bottom says (3G Broadband-----Yes (up to 3.6Mbps)"

This wouldn't matter a hoot if I was able to just call 2 degrees and someone said "Oh, sure the pocket wifi is faster, the USB modem is definitely max potential speed of 3.6Mbps.
Since the info on the website is vague, I called 2 degrees to get a straight answer and didn't get one. The CSR was confused himself, so I called Monday morning and was told after much conferencing with invisible tech people, that they were in fact the same technology and the same speed potential! Perhaps that goes someway to explaining the reason I was asking for an exact answer from 2degrees.

Anyway, thanks for the answers