Travel Technology - USB 3G GSM Modem Unlocked $99

This is a great deal - Unlocked - No Contract.

http://www.compusa.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4636292&csid=ITD&body=MAIN

Unless of course you are with T-Mobile USA who uses a different 3G frequency (1700) from everyone else in the world.

If I want to use my data plan with my laptop I am stuck with EVDO (Sony Ericsson GC89) or I can pay $250 for the T-mobile modem.

:mad:

Very good price. I do wish the damn T-Mobile modem wasn't such an expensive option :(

If a pcmcia form factor works for you then check out this (http://wireless.1saleaday.com/)

Option GT MAX Unlocked 3G High Speed Wireless Laptop Internet Modem

Uh, quick only one hour left!

Personally, I'm holding out for the usb version Scottc mentioned earlier.

Jim

Unless of course you are with T-Mobile USA who uses a different 3G frequency (1700) from everyone else in the world.

To be fair, this is a product of federal regulations and spectrum availability.

I believe T-mobile's track record on this is that any phones it offers with AWS 3G it also offers with rest-of-the-world 3G. YMMV

Actually I have found information that shows T-mobile specifically chose a different band than other U.S. Carriers for 3G.

"Phones. The T-Mobile 3G network may look like those in use by other global carriers, but it’s not. T-Mobile uses a radio frequency band (1700 MHz) for 3G connections that is unique in the world. The carrier claims it allows faster data speeds but the reality is it means that only phones specifically designed for the T-Mobile network will work at full speed. You can’t just use any phone, which limits the consumer’s choices for handsets. According to the T-Mobile web site there are only five phones that support 3G offered by T-Mobile, not counting the newly announced G1, which is not available yet. These phones are the Samsung t639, t819, Nokia 3555, 6263, and the Sony Ericsson TM506."

http://gigaom.com/2008/09/23/4-things-you-need-to-know-about-t-mobile-3g/

The device would work on AT&T's U.S. 3G Network at 1900 and 850

Actually I have found information that shows T-mobile specifically chose a different band than other U.S. Carriers for 3G.

This is rubbish. Because T-Mobile is a German company, the US based carriers (like AT&T) got first dibs on the 3G spectrum and hence little was left for T-Mobile. Kind of protectionist practice like with the Airlines having to be owned by US citizens - contradictory to the whole open market mantra, but hey, it's free capitalism here, ain't it???

This is rubbish. Because T-Mobile is a German company, the US based carriers (like AT&T) got first dibs on the 3G spectrum and hence little was left for T-Mobile. Kind of protectionist practice like with the Airlines having to be owned by US citizens - contradictory to the whole open market mantra, but hey, it's free capitalism here, ain't it???

I think this, too, is wrong. My recollection is that AT&T won the bid process for the 2100 MHz spectrum. They paid more for it, pure and simple.

Any one know if this would work if I put my AT&T blackberry SIM in it?

I think this, too, is wrong. My recollection is that AT&T won the bid process for the 2100 MHz spectrum. They paid more for it, pure and simple.

The problem isn't the 2100 MHz spectrum at all. It's the 1900 MHz.

The original UMTS standard was 1885–2025 MHz uplink and 2110–2200 MHz downlink. This is known as "2100 MHz" or sometimes "1900/2100 MHz". It's what most of the world uses.

However the 1900 MHz band was already being used for 2G services in the US. Hence AT&T could replace some of its 2G spectrum for 3G, using 1850-1910 MHz for uplink and 1930-1990 MHz for downlink. This is why AT&T's 3G is incompatible with most of the rest of the world.

T-Mobile, without access to the 1900 MHz band, could still use 2110-2155 MHz for downlink but was forced to use 1710-1755 MHz for uplink. Hence the incompatibility with everyone.

Any one know if this would work if I put my AT&T blackberry SIM in it?

The 3G specs are quite unclear. If it's talking about 3G when it says this: "850, 1900 & 2100 band support", you should get UMTS data. (Assuming AT&T don't complain about you changing devices, or lock their SIMs to certain phones, or anything silly.)

It might be worth digging into the manufacturer website to check.

Without getting too off topic, Wikipedia seems to indicate otherwise (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UMTS_frequency_bands#UMTS-FDD). This shows a UMTS 2100 uplink of 1920 - 1980 MHz, and a PCS downlink of 1930 - 1990 MHz. So AT&T, for example, could use the standard 2100 MHz band. Right?

Also, you mention that T-mobile doesn't have access to the 1900 MHz band. T-mobile ONLY has 1900 MHZ (PCS) coverage.


The problem isn't the 2100 MHz spectrum at all. It's the 1900 MHz.

The original UMTS standard was 1885–2025 MHz uplink and 2110–2200 MHz downlink. This is known as "2100 MHz" or sometimes "1900/2100 MHz". It's what most of the world uses.

However the 1900 MHz band was already being used for 2G services in the US. Hence AT&T could replace some of its 2G spectrum for 3G, using 1850-1910 MHz for uplink and 1930-1990 MHz for downlink. This is why AT&T's 3G is incompatible with most of the rest of the world.

T-Mobile, without access to the 1900 MHz band, could still use 2110-2155 MHz for downlink but was forced to use 1710-1755 MHz for uplink. Hence the incompatibility with everyone.

Without getting too off topic, Wikipedia seems to indicate otherwise (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UMTS_frequency_bands#UMTS-FDD). This shows a UMTS 2100 uplink of 1920 - 1980 MHz, and a PCS downlink of 1930 - 1990 MHz. So AT&T, for example, could use the standard 2100 MHz band. Right?

Oops, you're right. The 2100 in use is narrower than the original standard.

AT&T could used the standard 2100 MHz band if it had access to that spectrum. IIRC, the 2100 and 1700 bands were offered as a bundle. I seem to remember that AT&T did win some 1700/2100 spectrum along with T-Mobile, but not sure what they plan to do with it...

Also, you mention that T-mobile doesn't have access to the 1900 MHz band. T-mobile ONLY has 1900 MHZ (PCS) coverage.

Sorry to be unclear, I meant for 3G specifically.