Which Cat Cdma Modem?

[Digitalbanana]

Looks like I am going to have to bite the bullet again and buy another CAT CDMA modem for an extended upcountry trip whilst we wait for the powers that be provide a 3G plan.

My question is why the big price range on the three CAT CDMA USB modems on offer? Will the cheapest EC150 at 2400THB be sufficient?

(Last yr I had an MC727 that cost nearly 8000THB so at least they've become cheaper).

Current products:

CATCDMA VW140 = 3500THB

Main Features.

3G compatible SIM card in CDMA.

CDMA EV-DO Rev.A speeds up to 3.1 Mbps *.

(Download up to 3.1 Mbps .* Upload up to 1.8 Mbps .*).

A built-in antenna and external antenna jack.

The drivers and programs on the machine can be used immediately.

The Connection Manager ** can record telephone calls and send and receive SMS.

(** Program available on the Window 2000, XP, Vista, Window 7.

And Nokia may have to use accessories such as headsets speakers that do not get included as well.)

CATCDMA EC150 = 2400THB

Main Features.

3G compatible SIM card in CDMA.

Data transfer speeds up to 3.1 Mbps.

Supports USB 2.0 and the maximum MicroSD Card 8 GB.

Send and receive messages and English. And English (for Windows and MAC OS X).

Driver and software installation. (AutoRun) in the unit can be used immediately (for Windows and MAC OS X).

CATCDMA MC760 = 5900THB

Features

3.1 Mbps (Download) Mobile Broadband Internet

Micro SD Cardreader (Up to 8 GB)

Support Window 2000 , XP , Vista , Seven , Mac , Linux

External Antenna Connector

Mobilink 3 Software

[nocturn]

i would say scrap them all and get the mifi.

then you have wireless for 5 devices as well as fixed.

http://www.catcdma.com/promotion/promotion_mifi990.htm

so far i have been very happy with the performance.

CATCDMA.

MiFi2200.

It 's your choice with MiFi.

Main Features.

• Download speeds up to 3.1 Mbps.
• Wi-Fi broadcast in a radius of 10 meters.
• Wi-Fi connects devices up to 5 machines simultaneously.
• By setting the security code to prevent access.
• Portable and easy to use with only weighs 59 grams.
  * Speed of connection depends on the terrain. Signal strength and amount of the destination device.

Standard Package Contents.

• MiFi 2200 Modem.
• User Guides.
• Quick Start Guide.
• USB Cable.
• Li-ion Battery.
• Travel Charger.
• Carry Pouch.

Read promotion. Devices MiFi 2200. c a wide variety of>>.

Price: 7900 baht (including VAT) from today - 31 December 2553.

[samuijimmy]

i would say scrap them all and get the mifi.

then you have wireless for 5 devices as well as fixed.

http://www.catcdma.c...ion_mifi990.htm

so far i have been very happy with the performance.

That is interesting to know about the Mifi, & that you are happy with it..... I asked them at my local CAT office a few months ago & the guy suggested waiting until the next model came out as they had had some problems with the Mifi thingy...

To the OP. I've been using the 727 for a couple of years, which has worked fine (except for a period when updating to W7, but sorted that) ... But have used the 727 in various parts of southern Thailand with no problems... It depends, I think on how close you are to a Micro wave tower...(?)...

I assume you not taking the 727 with you because you have to leave it at home? ....if not why not take it?

CAT recently had the MC 760 model at 5900 baht, with 3 months free.... I am not sure if that offer is still running, but makes (made?) it a pretty good deal....

A friend just brought the cheaper CAT model, but speed is slower... it depends on your needs.....

[Digitalbanana]

I have held a 727 before, since sold it with account as I moved to Bangkok last where CAT doesn't work of course. Now 727 is not on CAT web site hence my op.

Perhaps the high range in prices of current products due to free start up airtime? Web site gives no clues. My main need is for a USB that works, why would cheaper be slower, poorer antenna? I will pay for speed if it is justifiable otherwise I might just take the EC150 as it only costs 2400THB. Just wondering what the catch is if any?

[ThaiLife]

I have held a 727 before, since sold it with account as I moved to Bangkok last where CAT doesn't work of course. Now 727 is not on CAT web site hence my op.

Perhaps the high range in prices of current products due to free start up airtime? Web site gives no clues. My main need is for a USB that works, why would cheaper be slower, poorer antenna? I will pay for speed if it is justifiable otherwise I might just take the EC150 as it only costs 2400THB. Just wondering what the catch is if any?

Hi , may be have a look here ..

Link.......

loong bought a VW140 .

I looked at the MiFi2200 , but sadly it has no provision to take an external antenna , so if you live in a poor signal strength area

there may be a problem .

TL :jap:

[nikster]

Either the MiFi - if you have use for the WiFi network.

Or the cheapest USB modem, any should work as long as it supports EV-DO Rev.A (3.1Mbit down, 512KB up), which all of your choices seem to do. They used to offer some that would do EV-Do, but only 1x, which is like 1/10th the speed. The EV-DO nomenclature is confusing so make absolutely sure you get Rev. A at least.

Never made sense they were so expensive in the first place (I had the old C-Motech CCU 680, cost 11,000 baht at the time, and worked great at least until it burned up in a puff of smoke).

I now have a MiFi because I have the iPad, it works but I am not 100% satisfied. It doesn't charge when connected to USB on the laptop, which is annoying. Battery is good for only 2-3 hours but I've heard it might be possible to get a cheap Nokia battery to replace the original. CAT service is good as useless - if anything is wrong, they'll send your device off for weeks on end.

When in Chiang Mai I actually mostly use True 3G now - more reliable than CAT CDMA.

[Digitalbanana]

thanks for Mifi review.... will cross that off the list of contenders.

Still not sure / happy with CAT CDMA service, so may try and get a fixed line TOT/3BB installation instead (which will be cheaper than CAT) and wait for GSM 3G to come in yrs ahead.

[4evermaat]

I own the EC150 and run on a Macbook for several days consistently on end. Very stable. And you (theoretically) can switch out the sim card and use hutch in bangkok. I paid 2900 6 months ago. No promotion.

The Mifi was my next choice. I may end up getting it as I like the flexibility. The Phuket Central Cat CDMA office was sold out 3 weeks ago. They said try the one in phuket town (big dish tower) or patong beach may still have some. High season is here, so they may be gone already.

Can plugging it into the USB port of a laptop at least keep the EXISTING charge (not necessarily add to the charge of the battery)?

[nikster]

Can plugging it into the USB port of a laptop at least keep the EXISTING charge (not necessarily add to the charge of the battery)?

Well - by default if you plug it in the USB it then acts as a normal modem, and I believe it keeps the charge that way too. So it will turn on 3G, and charging. But it won't do WiFi in this mode.

I modified the settings so it works as a WiFi even when plugged in the laptop - but then I get the problem that it doesn't simultaneously charge _and_ do WiFi. So it doesn't do much good really. I think the trick would be to find a cable that doesn't have data on the small end (micro USB or whatever). Haven't found one so far, and using the cable with a "dead" other end doesn't work either, I've tried.

[4evermaat]

I own the EC150 and run on a Macbook for several days consistently on end. Very stable. And you (theoretically) can switch out the sim card and use hutch in bangkok. I paid 2900 6 months ago. No promotion.

The Mifi was my next choice. I may end up getting it as I like the flexibility. The Phuket Central Cat CDMA office was sold out 3 weeks ago. They said try the one in phuket town (big dish tower) or patong beach may still have some. High season is here, so they may be gone already.

Can plugging it into the USB port of a laptop at least keep the EXISTING charge (not necessarily add to the charge of the battery)?

I can confirm that the Phuket Town main CAT CDMA office has a few MIFI 2200 devices left. The price has been reduced to 5900. But unlike the Patong office, they want a work permit. A non-immigrant xx or other long stay visa is not enough. Even if you agree to pre-pay (like I always do). Having my own account for 6 months in good standing wasn't enough. Or, you can bring in a Thai "co-signer" For most of us, that shouldn't be a problem.

I just need to know how to log into the modem interface. I want to "force EVDO only" so it doen't switch to 1x randomly. Has anyone done this?

[nikster]

I own the EC150 and run on a Macbook for several days consistently on end. Very stable. And you (theoretically) can switch out the sim card and use hutch in bangkok. I paid 2900 6 months ago. No promotion.

The Mifi was my next choice. I may end up getting it as I like the flexibility. The Phuket Central Cat CDMA office was sold out 3 weeks ago. They said try the one in phuket town (big dish tower) or patong beach may still have some. High season is here, so they may be gone already.

Can plugging it into the USB port of a laptop at least keep the EXISTING charge (not necessarily add to the charge of the battery)?

I can confirm that the Phuket Town main CAT CDMA office has a few MIFI 2200 devices left. The price has been reduced to 5900. But unlike the Patong office, they want a work permit. A non-immigrant xx or other long stay visa is not enough. Even if you agree to pre-pay (like I always do). Having my own account for 6 months in good standing wasn't enough. Or, you can bring in a Thai "co-signer" For most of us, that shouldn't be a problem.

I just need to know how to log into the modem interface. I want to "force EVDO only" so it doen't switch to 1x randomly. Has anyone done this?

Go to 192.168.1.1 and log in as admin (password is cat I think?!)

There you get some options - if you don't see EV-DO only somewhere - and I am not sure this is an option at all - you can save the config via the web interface, then open the saved file with a text editor and see if you can find anything in there.

I solved my USB charging problem with a charge-only no-data USB cable - that's all. I used one of those multi USB charger cables that charge iPods, cell phones, and Blackberrys - that last one is important as it's the same flat micro USB that the MiFi uses. It's the micro USB plug end of the cable that determines which mode the MiFi goes into - if there's no data on the micro USB, it will go in "charging and WiFi" mode, which is what I always want it to do.

Edit: By the way, I don't think it switches to 1x "randomly"?! Never seen this happening.

Edited January 8, 2011 by nikster

[4evermaat]

Go to 192.168.1.1 and log in as admin (password is cat I think?!)

There you get some options - if you don't see EV-DO only somewhere - and I am not sure this is an option at all - you can save the config via the web interface, then open the saved file with a text editor and see if you can find anything in there.

I solved my USB charging problem with a charge-only no-data USB cable - that's all. I used one of those multi USB charger cables that charge iPods, cell phones, and Blackberrys - that last one is important as it's the same flat micro USB that the MiFi uses. It's the micro USB plug end of the cable that determines which mode the MiFi goes into - if there's no data on the micro USB, it will go in "charging and WiFi" mode, which is what I always want it to do.

Edit: By the way, I don't think it switches to 1x "randomly"?! Never seen this happening.

there is no password, but you can set one to make it more secure so someone couldnt just reset your modem settings if the connection were open (or secure, and they knew the password) and the ip address. For most people, this is not a problem, as the default is a secure connection.

It's not like the EC150 or other sticks that come with GUI software that facilitates the connection process. And you can pick options like force evdo only. This was useful especially when you are in a lower signal area, or are traveling. When I was at the cat cdma office in patong setting up the EC150, all of a sudden the connection got slow. We checked the signal and it was showing 1x. But the representative insisted that it should be EVDO, like when I first signed on. By forcing EVDO only, it never switched on me again. What was so bad about the switching is once it switched to the 1x network, it had a tendency to stay there. It's not like it would switch quickly, then switch back.

There were cases where you want to use 1x only. Usually with voice calls, not data. Especially when you're moving, sometimes you go through a town thats all they have, but the call will drop everytime it switches modes. This could be more often than convenient. One of the reasons I hated my blackberry is because they took out this option to force to 1x only.

How did you know if the cable was "charge only" or "data and charge"? Is it the thickness of the cable? Or is there certain labeling on the package? What store did you go to?

And I haven't had a problem with the MiFi switching to 1x. In Chumphon near the beach and it is pretty fast, comparing with Phuket. I would argue that it's a little bit faster than the USB stick. Stable, and I can connect new devices on the fly.

My only 2 "complaints" so far is that there is no way to determine signal strength on the unit itself. Also, there's no way to attach an external antenna that may get you an extra bar or 2. It runs hot, but expected for the size and use of the device. You can cool it down some by leaving the battery cover off, and either tilt the unit or otherwise keep air circulation at the bottom. If it is flat on a surface, it may not get max circulation.