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Vodafone Mobile Connect USB Modem The 3G Data Card goes USB, but is it the answer to your travelling problems?

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9/10 See more with this score

Reader score

5/10

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Reader review

User: lashurst (profile)
Location:
Date Posted: 7 May 2008
Review: I've had this modem on the "Vodafone" network for 8 weeks now. Nothing but trouble! It suits itself when it works and all I am now told is that I have to send it in for repair. So, no broadband for a few weeks.

Rubbish!

I wish I hadn't bothered. Vodafone customer support is rubbish as well.
Pros: Portable (when working(
Cons: Poor customer support. very erratic service.
Score: 3/10
Rating: 1 person has rated this review helpful

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Reader review

User: andyj (profile)
Location:
Date Posted: 7 February 2008
Review: I bought a T-mobile USB data-card, which from the pictures looks exactly the same (a Huawei device it says on the back). I've only used it a few times so far, but it's been brilliant. There is more lag than I'm used to (on 20Mb Virgin Media cable) but it certainly feels like a 2Mb broadband connection.

I did initially have problems installing it on my MacBook running Leopard, but after downloading a similar update to that 'damienm' describes above but from the T-Mobile site (http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/datacardhelp -> downloads) it works perfectly.
Pros: Very fast connection, generally reliable (train tunnels not withstanding), full internet connection (tested POP3, web and SSH access)
Cons: Slight lag, takes a few seconds to connect, requires update to work with Leopard.
Score: 9/10
Rating: 1 person has rated this review helpful

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Reader review

User: damienm (profile)
Location:
Date Posted: 29 January 2007
Review: I feel I have to correct the information given by the previous poster as I have had no problems installing or using this device.

I installed the CD as instructed on both an Ibook with a G4 chip and on a new Macbook with an Intel chip. The G4 laptop worked first time, the Intel Macbook required a software update which I downloaded from the Vodafone Website. It then worked perfectly. The whole thing was free with a12 months, £25.00 per month contract, this gives you a 250 meg usage, enough for most users.

It is way, way faster than using a GPRS connection as with my old Nokia phone as a modem, it does not tie up the phone line or kill the mobile battery either.

If you use a Mac Laptop with either a PowerPC or an Intel chip, and don't want to pay for accessing Wi-Fi networks, or as I do, need something that is 100% quick and reliable, with a fixed monthly cost, you should get one. I really do think it is a well designed and easy to use device.

As a pro photographer I use it out in the field to send large jpegs to clients, sometimes on very tight deadlines, via email or FTP. It works brilliantly.
Pros: Quick 3G speeds, easy to install and use. Fixed price contracts. Seems to works with all Macs. (oh, and PC's as well I believe)
Cons: None
Score: 10/10
Rating: 4 people have rated this review helpful

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Reader review

User: dowsettj56 (profile)
Location:
Date Posted: 13 January 2007
Review: I signed up with Vodafone in Dec 2006 to take this USB modem for use with my brand new Apple MacBook laptop.
Cons: The device has software in the modem for use with Windows based PCs, but come with a CD software disc for use with Apple MacBook machines. The software version on disc was out of date and I had to contact Vodafone support to get a portal link to the latest version. However, having downloaded from the portal, I found out that when trying to run the software the version on the portal is an incomplete set of software missing one module (at least) and 4 weeks later and numerous phone calls, the portal software has yet to be updated.

Buyer therefore should be aware that this device does not work currently with Apple MacBook machines, the Apple Mac software department working for Vodafone does not undertake final software release testing and Vodafone has not got a customer service department that can resolve such an issue after four weeks. Oh and they continue to charge you for a service that you cannot use.


Score: 1/10
Rating: 4 people have rated this review helpful

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