HSPDA problem

[irneb]

The HSDPA connection is the bottleneck, not the PC connection.

Although true about the HSPDA speed being the bottle neck - it's always best to not have any other possibility of a bottle neck. I've found USB2 to sometimes become to slow when using an external hard-drive (it should copy at max of 400MB/S or at about 50 mbytes/s). The best speed I've ever found was 20 mbytes/s (160 MB/s), sometimes it even went down to 120 kbytes/s (960kB/s) which is less than HSDPA.

Also, if you have the faster converter you could use it for a 1GB/s LAN card, which is also only available in PCMCIA (in SA). Most laptops only come with built-in 100MBps wired and / or 54MBps wireless LANs.

[MonaMoo]

Any help available please?!

Hi,

I've been reading through all the posts and I'm still a little confused about everything.

Ok, here is my problem. My boss bought a new Amilo Pro V3205 Laptop - the PCMCIA slot is there but is not longer called that but an express slot (I get the difference but still need help!). I've been onto the Micro-D website and have looked at the U132 but that still doesn't help me as I'm unsure as to wether it supports what we need it for.

Ok next part of my problem (where I could actually go to I-Burst and rant/rave/scream/ throw a tantrum - but it still wouldn't help!) Is there a card out there that actually supports the OLD I-Burst cards?? And if there is please point me in the right direction as I'm getting shunted around from this person to the next and I'm at my wits end! (Not to mention the phone bill we will be getting from all the phone calls including international ones where no one can still help!) My boss has made some specific requests that is HAS to be a USB to PCMCIA converter (as the U132 is).

So please, I am on my knees begging you to help me or point me in the right direction ASAP because I'm about to loose it and just give up hope on actually finding the right thing!

[duncan drennan]

What exactly do you have, an iBurst PCMCIA card?

[irneb]

If what you're after is a converter from your old HSDPA PCMCIA card to a USB slot the U132 should work. The problems are:
- it's slightly more expensive than getting a straight off USB HSDPA modem @ about R1000. I know that iBurst & the Cell companies sell these straight off or on contract.
- Also it's much more bulky than the modem, which is a touch larger than a matchbox. Whereas the u132 is about the size of those old PDA's - just thicker & not designed for its looks.
- The u132 also requires extra drivers over and above the HSDPA card. Not so for the modem, which installs itself the moment you plug it in. No CD's required.

So unless you've got some other reason for sticking with the PCMCIA card, I'd suggest scrapping the thing & getting hold of the new modems. Much less hassle & cheaper.

As per my previous post about the speed, this only happens in extremely stressful circumstances so the USB modem should work fine for HSDPA. It also means that only one thing is used when connecting - i.e. the modem. If you're using a converter there's at least 2 things which could give problems.

[MonaMoo]

What exactly do you have, an iBurst PCMCIA card?

Hi dsd,

Thanks for your reply, my answer in very short is yes. He has one of the very old PCMCIA cards (he's had it for about 3 years) thus me running around trying to find a solution to the problem!

[MonaMoo]

Hi irneb,

Thanks for your reply. I've actually just got off the phone with Micro-D and apparently the U132 doesn't support the I-Burst PCMCIA cards. Which kind of narrows down everything to getting the new I-Burst modem as they are saying there is nothing out there (like the U132) that would actually work. Plus they said the price is round about the same so there isn't much else that we can do.

Again, thanks for your reply and all the info!!

[duncan drennan]

If the U-132 does not support the iBurst modem, and you are planning to stay with iBurst, then the best option is probably their USB modem.

[Dave A]

Has iBurst come out with an express card version? That would seem the logical solution.

The advantage of the USB solution is it is more "universal", but USB slots wear out
And on a laptop any kind of repair of a broken part is substantially more expensive than one would wish for.

I can highly recommend avoiding the converter route, such as the U132, if at all possible. It has worked for me (at least most of the time), but what a PITA. Not to mention you can't upgrade software.

You get a laptop for convenience. You get a wireless solution for convenience. That extra box to connect the two - I simply can't wait to be rid of it! *SIGH* Another four months

[duncan drennan]

Has iBurst come out with an express card version? That would seem the logical solution.

No. I actually haven't seen any express cards....

[irneb]

Has iBurst come out with an express card version? That would seem the logical solution.

Oh well ... that's exactly what the client would want ... but of course we're in SA & all these companies have learned from Telkom how not to provide for their clients ...

The idea with a laptop is not to have extra cables and adapters and cards and .... and .... and ..... You can't buy any new laptop with a PCMCIA slot - they've been discontinued for a few years already, you may find a secondhand laptop (but do you want to ). So why do they still sell these? You'd expect it to be the other way round: i.e. you can't find those old cards anymore, instead of you can't use them anymore.

I don't think it's just the logical solution, but rather the only solution which would make their clients happy.

[Dave A]

So why do they still sell these? You'd expect it to be the other way round: i.e. you can't find those old cards anymore, instead of you can't use them anymore.

SA sure is a great place to dump redundant technology stock.

[duncan drennan]

I had a quick look at the info on Kyocera's website (they created the iBurst system) - currently only PCMCIA are available, but take a closer look at the page, and ExpressCard version is due to launch in December (hopefully iBurst SA will get them soon after that).

On a different note, 2Mbps terminals are due in March 2008.

[MonaMoo]

Thank you!

I just want to say thank you to everyone that gave me a response. My boss eventually decided to go with the I-Burst modem since he really didn't have any other alternative.

Again thank you and have a great holiday everyone!!

[irneb]

It's a pleasure ...

eventually decided to go with the I-Burst modem

Well, that's just it ... it's the simplest solution available at present. You still have a loose thing dangling off your knee at the airport lounge - unless of course there is a wi-fi connection, then you don't need it.

BTW, apparently SA is close to on par with the rest of the world on wireless connections (see http://mybroadband.co.za/news/Broadband/317.html). At least comparing price / speed.

[Chatmaster]

Boy, have I been up and on today... My 3G is falling apart! Sometimes I have access to the web other times I can only receive email. Then again I connect on 2G. It is getting really annoying.