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From: Woody on 27 Feb 2010 15:23
Jon B <black.hole(a)jonbradbury.com> wrote:

> Colin Harper <colinharper(a)x.com.invalid> wrote:
>
> > On Sat, 27 Feb 2010 01:45:39 +0000, Woody wrote
> > (in article <1jejtyl.1mkljdx1j3bz2zN%usenet(a)alienrat.co.uk>):
> >
> > > I have a 3 dongle which I use on my FauxSX Advent/macbook. I also have a
> > > number of other small devices that I use from time to time, and sabby
> > > has her archos 7.
> > >
> > > I am almost certainly getting an iPad. Thinking about the price of the
> > > iPad, and the micro sim etc, and looking at contracts, I thought the
> > > MiFi would be a good thing.
> > >
> > > Takes 3G, pipes it out as wireless, can use it on a few devices at the
> > > same time. Means I can get the cheaper iPad, and share the same
> > > connection between that and other things.
> > >
> > > Anyone have one?
> > >
> > > I looked at the new price on 3, and the contracts are a bit expensive,
> > > like �9.50 for 1GB. But I already have the dongle so I thought I could
> > > just take the existing sim out of that, which is �7.50 for 5GB, so I got
> > > one unlocked on eBay.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> > I have a 3 MiFi.
> >
> > The default firmware is pants. I unlocked mine with DC Unlocker, then
> > put the generic Huawei (sp) firmware on (all using an XP guest in VMWare
> > Fusion), and it's much much better. Configurable WiFi timeout, autodial
> > on data with configurable timeout, built in web server so you get a web
> > page to manage it. Much much better as you can now leave it on for
> > extended periods whilst connected to power, and the WiFi doesn't turn
> > off. Which is the most irritating thing about the firmware that 3 put
> > on.
> >
> > I now use it with PAYG with a Vodafone SIM as their broadband credit doesn't
> > expire.
> >
> I know the voice doesn't expire, but is that right on the data?
> According to the site it's only for 30 days
> <http://online.vodafone.co.uk/broadband/mobile-broadband>
> Seriously interested as a non expiring data sim would be useful to me.

My original PAYG sim expired after 30 days, which was a pain, and one of
the things that helped me go for a contract one.

--
Woody

www.alienrat.com
From: Duncan Kennedy on 28 Feb 2010 05:45
In message <1jel9cj.1cxxumt19rwddfN%black.hole(a)jonbradbury.com>, Jon B
<black.hole(a)jonbradbury.com> writes
>>
>> I now use it with PAYG with a Vodafone SIM as their broadband credit doesn't
>> expire.
>>
>I know the voice doesn't expire, but is that right on the data?
>According to the site it's only for 30 days
><http://online.vodafone.co.uk/broadband/mobile-broadband>
>Seriously interested as a non expiring data sim would be useful to me.

Mine is still running on the same 15 quid that I bought it with 12
months ago (don't use it a lot as I have Orange and T-Mobile for
different areas and am not away all that often.

In terms of the original posting, I use a little Zoom router that lets
me plug in any of my 3G dongles and connect by wireless or ethernet
cable. It has a rechargeable battery so I can get and hour or two with
no power supply connected. The instructions say something about being
able to connect it to your broadband land line router to cut in as an
emergence but I haven't experimented with that.

The only real snag is that you can't use the dongle supplied software to
monitor throughput or use the message software.

--
Duncan K
Downtown Dalgety Bay
From: smurf on 28 Feb 2010 09:39
Woody wrote:
> I have a 3 dongle which I use on my FauxSX Advent/macbook. I also
> have a number of other small devices that I use from time to time,
> and sabby has her archos 7.
>
> I am almost certainly getting an iPad. Thinking about the price of the
> iPad, and the micro sim etc, and looking at contracts, I thought the
> MiFi would be a good thing.
>
> Takes 3G, pipes it out as wireless, can use it on a few devices at the
> same time. Means I can get the cheaper iPad, and share the same
> connection between that and other things.
>
> Anyone have one?
>
> I looked at the new price on 3, and the contracts are a bit expensive,
> like �9.50 for 1GB. But I already have the dongle so I thought I could
> just take the existing sim out of that, which is �7.50 for 5GB, so I
> got one unlocked on eBay.

Got it for free with 5gb of data per month for �9.50. The device with its
included firmware hs seem severe design flaws, thankfully it just takes a
few mins to upgrade it to something decent.


From: Woody on 3 Mar 2010 09:03
smurf <smurf(a)smurf.com> wrote:

> Woody wrote:
> > Takes 3G, pipes it out as wireless, can use it on a few devices at the
> > same time. Means I can get the cheaper iPad, and share the same
> > connection between that and other things.
> >
> > Anyone have one?
> >
> > I looked at the new price on 3, and the contracts are a bit expensive,
> > like �9.50 for 1GB. But I already have the dongle so I thought I could
> > just take the existing sim out of that, which is �7.50 for 5GB, so I
> > got one unlocked on eBay.
>
> Got it for free with 5gb of data per month for �9.50. The device with its
> included firmware hs seem severe design flaws, thankfully it just takes a
> few mins to upgrade it to something decent.

So my Mifi turned up, and after a moment of confusion, caused by a dodgy
lead everything is wonderfull. I have it plugged into my laptop for
power, while broadcasting wireless.

So it is unlocked, and there is a page saying what the codes are for
different sims, although that is irrelivant as I am using it on 3.

What do I get if I upgrade the Mifis firmware? I mean it works, so I
don't know what is the difference that I need to upgrade to get?

--
Woody
From: smurf on 10 Mar 2010 17:41
Woody wrote:
> smurf <smurf(a)smurf.com> wrote:
>
>> Woody wrote:
>>> Takes 3G, pipes it out as wireless, can use it on a few devices at
>>> the same time. Means I can get the cheaper iPad, and share the same
>>> connection between that and other things.
>>>
>>> Anyone have one?
>>>
>>> I looked at the new price on 3, and the contracts are a bit
>>> expensive, like �9.50 for 1GB. But I already have the dongle so I
>>> thought I could just take the existing sim out of that, which is
>>> �7.50 for 5GB, so I got one unlocked on eBay.
>>
>> Got it for free with 5gb of data per month for �9.50. The device
>> with its included firmware hs seem severe design flaws, thankfully
>> it just takes a few mins to upgrade it to something decent.
>
> So my Mifi turned up, and after a moment of confusion, caused by a
> dodgy lead everything is wonderfull. I have it plugged into my laptop
> for power, while broadcasting wireless.
>
> So it is unlocked, and there is a page saying what the codes are for
> different sims, although that is irrelivant as I am using it on 3.
>
> What do I get if I upgrade the Mifis firmware? I mean it works, so I
> don't know what is the difference that I need to upgrade to get?

A few things, mainly making it easier to use.

With the three firmware, turning the device on is in itself a chore. You
hold the power button in, then you turn the internet connection no and then
you turn the wireless on. With the update, they are all automated, you hold
the power button in turning it on, and the res is automatic. The other major
pain is the device auto switching off the wireless. If you dont use the
wireless for more then ten minutes it switches off and needs to be manually
switched on again. This is a real issue for people who just want to plug it
in and leave it on all the time. The firmware update allows you to switch
off the auto wireless off option.

One more plus, is the firmware update opens up the webserver, so you can
access it like a router, this is especially useful for people who dont have
a compatible windows computer, which is the only way of accessing the
options under the three firmware with the three drivers.


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