Vodafone 3G/GPRS data card.
Discussion
I've experience of both the Vodafone and the Orange 3G cards.
The Vodafone cards are great, apart from two things:
1. The annoying snappable aerial
2. You cannot run VPN traffic over it, unless you use the Voadfone service - which, of course, is chargable.
I have recommended and have over 10 users on the Orange 3G card which has no annoying aerial but seems to have just as good range. It also works using the 3rd party VPN software we use.
The only downside of the Orange card is that the software/firmaware can be flaky at times, meaning that certain hardware may allow COM conflicts - A Tablet with bluetooth enabled never liked having the 3G card onboard - disable the bluetooth and bingo. It is a known problem at Orange, and one that, providing you get through to third line support, they are pretty good at helping to fix.
One thing to bear in mind with 3G is that is does NOT like Tin Cans - i.e. the NEC does not have any coverage
, and that sometimes the 'supposed' speed you see is actually nowhere near what you are actually getting. It can slow at times to lower than dial up speeds because of the very nature of the technology.
GPRS (as I understand it) uses separate data channels than voice, so therefore will (shouldn't) get congested. However, 3G shares the voice channels, and should a cell get congested, the voice calls will take priority. Also, 3G needs a much stronger signal than voice calls - so even though you have a signal on your phone, you may not get satisfactory performance from your data card.
HTH
Neil
The Vodafone cards are great, apart from two things:
1. The annoying snappable aerial
2. You cannot run VPN traffic over it, unless you use the Voadfone service - which, of course, is chargable.
I have recommended and have over 10 users on the Orange 3G card which has no annoying aerial but seems to have just as good range. It also works using the 3rd party VPN software we use.
The only downside of the Orange card is that the software/firmaware can be flaky at times, meaning that certain hardware may allow COM conflicts - A Tablet with bluetooth enabled never liked having the 3G card onboard - disable the bluetooth and bingo. It is a known problem at Orange, and one that, providing you get through to third line support, they are pretty good at helping to fix.
One thing to bear in mind with 3G is that is does NOT like Tin Cans - i.e. the NEC does not have any coverage
, and that sometimes the 'supposed' speed you see is actually nowhere near what you are actually getting. It can slow at times to lower than dial up speeds because of the very nature of the technology. GPRS (as I understand it) uses separate data channels than voice, so therefore will (shouldn't) get congested. However, 3G shares the voice channels, and should a cell get congested, the voice calls will take priority. Also, 3G needs a much stronger signal than voice calls - so even though you have a signal on your phone, you may not get satisfactory performance from your data card.
HTH
Neil
neil_cardiff said:
I've experience of both the Vodafone and the Orange 3G cards.
The Vodafone cards are great, apart from two things:
1. The annoying snappable aerial
2. You cannot run VPN traffic over it, unless you use the Voadfone service - which, of course, is chargable.
You can run VPN traffic over it. I use Cisco VPN client with a Vodaphone 3G card and have no problems.
plasticpig said:
I've experience of both the Vodafone and the Orange 3G cards.
The Vodafone cards are great, apart from two things:
1. The annoying snappable aerial
2. You cannot run VPN traffic over it, unless you use the Voadfone service - which, of course, is chargable.
You can run VPN traffic over it. I use Cisco VPN client with a Vodaphone 3G card and have no problems.
also true, but we use Extranet VPN client.
one of the options that we use is £75 permonth for 100mb of data, anything over this is charged at £1.75 per MB
Ah right, then it must be certain ports maybe they block.
I know they do filter webpages - no porn, or fun with Vodafone - oh no siree...
All I know is that with Safenet VPN client (and disgustingly enough) boggo standardo MS VPN, Orange is the daddies with no filtering.
I guess its one of those things that you have to test, test, test!!!
I know they do filter webpages - no porn, or fun with Vodafone - oh no siree...
All I know is that with Safenet VPN client (and disgustingly enough) boggo standardo MS VPN, Orange is the daddies with no filtering.
I guess its one of those things that you have to test, test, test!!!
We've been using Vodafone 3G cards since the day they were launched (given them free as an incentive to try them)
I've had very few problems with mine, and apart from the lack of 3G coverage in the sticks, it's got me the data I need, when I need it with little hassle.
We run a Sonicwall VPN client through it, and seldom have problems with this, although our mail server occasionally doesn't like Outlook Web Access through the GPRS connection.
In conclusion I would recommend the card, especially if you live / work . commute in a 3G enabled area.
I've had very few problems with mine, and apart from the lack of 3G coverage in the sticks, it's got me the data I need, when I need it with little hassle.
We run a Sonicwall VPN client through it, and seldom have problems with this, although our mail server occasionally doesn't like Outlook Web Access through the GPRS connection.
In conclusion I would recommend the card, especially if you live / work . commute in a 3G enabled area.
neil_cardiff said:
Oh yeah, and if you are buying bulk (i.e. more than 3 I guess) make sure you don't pay for the things - only the contract.
I refused to pay £150 a card plus contract, and finally they cracked and gave them to me
Neil
They are on fleabay for about a third of that if you hunt about a bit
mcflurry said:was this direct or from a high st chain as i am currently lookng into getting five of these for my business.
Oh yeah, and if you are buying bulk (i.e. more than 3 I guess) make sure you don't pay for the things - only the contract.
I refused to pay £150 a card plus contract, and finally they cracked and gave them to me
Neil
They are on fleabay for about a third of that if you hunt about a bit
We run a vodafone card in a laptop that spends each summer on a boat in the Med and it works fine from; Italy, Spain, France, Corsica, Majorca, Minorca, etc etc.
You can look at dodgy stuff through the vodafone card (allegedly) you just need to ring their data team and unlock it by proving via credit card you are over 18 (their is no charge)
The only fun I had was finding out the IP range Vodafone uses for its dynamic addressing so I could filter it at my firewall.
Other than that very pleased..
You can look at dodgy stuff through the vodafone card (allegedly) you just need to ring their data team and unlock it by proving via credit card you are over 18 (their is no charge)
The only fun I had was finding out the IP range Vodafone uses for its dynamic addressing so I could filter it at my firewall.
Other than that very pleased..
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