3G USB Modems

[geoffrey mendelson]

On Nov 21, 2010, at 1:52 PM, Boris shtrasman wrote:

>
> But you need to be aware other this is involed - the sim card and  
> network support.
> While the modem itself works bugs happen all the time.
> The speed presented on the modem isn't the speed you will get from  
> the net - as there is only support for 50% and less for some  
> companies :
>
> e.g. 7.2mbps written on the casing while the net supports 2.8  
> (written in small letters in the contract).
>
>
> <company name removed in order not to get sued> there is at least  
> one company that disconnect and enforce network priritazing policies.
> drop speeds to 128Kbps.
> sends RST packets for some websites (ips) from the internal network.



All of the companies do something to limit your performance. Whether  
it's actual speed limiting, restricting the method of connection, or  
other methods (or tricks if you wish to call them that). Most of them  
have a limit or large charges (I don't know the Hebrew word, but it is  
often translated as "fines") for going beyond that limit.

Orange has a pay-as-you-go plan which simply stops working when you  
run out of pre-paid money (plan bandwidth and overages). So if you  
wait until the last day before you add more money, you will be  
relatively safe. If you put the SIM in a phone and call their  
automated billing system you can find out how much you have used and  
what your limit is. The problem with that is removing the SIM from the  
modem makes it useless while you make the call, and the SIM tray on  
some of the is very flimsy and will break if you do it too often.

You can also call customer support from another phone, give them the  
phone number of the modem and they will tell you how much is left,  
this is really annoying as you actually have to go through the maze,  
and wait for a free person. At least it does not damage the modem.  
Someday I will ask if you can get a pay as you go modem "twinned",  
where there is a second SIM with the same number and billing.

Their website does not give that information, so you can't check on- 
line.

I have been told that Orange now has a policy for contract phones of a  
maximum data charge of 250 NIS a month, and if you prefer you can have  
it automaticly shutdown for the rest of the month if you go over, but  
I have no idea of how you get it, if it is available to everyone and  
so on.

I also have been told that Cell-Com's plan is unlimited during a  
month, with punitive action (reduced speed next month) if you go over  
their limits. Someone mentioned on a list a few nights ago that a  
friend of her's got a 1000 NIS bill for overage, so you really need to  
read the fine print on any contract.

The only decent plan I have ever seen is Virgin's (US) pay-as-you-go  
data plan, it really has no limits. Speed is limited to what is  
available on the network. Virgin US is a virtual cellular company,  
they buy time on another network and re-sell it to you. They are in  
the process of getting a license to do business in Israel, I sure hope  
they do.

Right now the cellular companies here are fighting them to prevent it,  
if they do get a license they will be fighting each other to get their  
contract.

Geoff.
-- 
Geoffrey S. Mendelson,  N3OWJ/4X1GM
To help restaurants, as part of the "stimulus package", everyone must  
order dessert. As part of the socialized health plan, you are  
forbidden to eat it. :-)