UMTS WiFi Modem for Everywhere?
 

Anyone have suggestions for a UMTS wifi modem device that will work in both Europe and the USA? I live in Germany and travel a lot to different european countries and the USA. I want to be able to use my computer to surf without having to buy a different UMTS stick in each country because all the ones I have seen won't allow me to put in pre-paid cards from different providers (i.e. different countries). I have heard that the Huawei-E5830 will not work in both countries due to frequency differences. Or is this not true?

If no one has ideas for a UMTS wifi modem that will work in Europe and the USA, can anyone give tips on which UMTS stick and SIM card to buy with a daily flat rate (like the 2.50 euros per day offered here in Germany by Fonic)? I will only use my computer in the USA for 5 weeks so getting a monthly subscription or something like that will be too expensive.
Thanks!

There is no cheap prepaid data solution on any UMTS operator in the US. On AT&T you can get prepaid data, but you are looking at around $25/100MB. Your best bet is to stick to WiFi.

What, can that be? Amazing! But where there is no wifi I need to build up my own connection, therefore I thought of a UMTS wifi modem. My parents, for example, only have an old telephone and I am staying there for 10 days. How can I work on my computer? I need internet access and the phone modem is way too slow. Anyone have an idea for that that is payable?

Others are far more expert than I, but I believe you can sign up for an AT&T sort-of-unlimited $60/month and then you can cancel with no penalty within 30 days. That's still pricey, particularly with the activation fee.

If you can find a used Verizon USB modem, I do know that there are lots of folks selling Verizon refills on Craigslist for 30-50% off of list price. You could then get a prepaid week's (or month's) data that way.

Depending on where you are and the coverage, Cricket -- www.mycricket.com -- might be another option. $40/month with no contract and free modem.

As to whether ANY of these will work in Europe, I have no clue.

Another no-contract option is from Clear.com where you'll find a WiMax 4G WiFi modem for $100 and a $40/month service plan with unlimited data. This obviously won't work when you get back home, and Clear coverage is still pretty limited.

I have an old ATT USB modem (it's packed away, not sure the model number). It works in the U.S. with an ATT sim card, and in Italy with a Vodafone sim card, in both cases I use the ATT Connect software.

However, that requires two subscriptions; Vodafone is about €30/month, ATT around $60/month. If you have your own modem, or if you buy it outright from ATT, you can get the service without a contract and cancel any time.

Huh. This is actually useful to me right now- what do I search for on CL? I tried and didn't see anything that looked relevant (at least in my area).

"Verizon Refill"

:( that's what I thought. I guess I should look outside my normal coverage area.

I have an ATT (Sierra) USB 881. I download Sierra's software and it had configurations for most carriers. I've used it with ATT, 3 UK, Etisilat, Vodafone, and 3 HK.

You should generally be ok. The thing you should be aware of is that there are five frequencies (800/900/1700/1900/2100mhz) of HSPA, but most modems only support three out of five. Most European HSPA modems that are global have 900/1900/2100mhz. TMobile USA is the only US carrier that uses 1700mhz and you can go without it. You really want 800(sometimes called 850)mhz.

My personal suggestion is to buy an unlocked US unit that has 2100mhz. I would rather try to go without 900mhz HSPA than 800mhz. 900mhz is pretty populated with 2g carriers, and I think most 3g action is on 2100mhz.

Do you research on this one, I'm speaking generally. Your situation could be different.

I just read that the unit I wanted to buy which is from Trekstor but based on Huawei technology has the following. Can anyone tell me if it is then OK for use in the USA? I know Dubai Stu said 800 and 2100 would be useful, but still, what does anyone think of this?:

HSPA/UMTS: 2100 MHz EDGE/GPRS/GSM: 850/900/1800/1900MHz.

It also says WLAN: IEEE 802.11b (11 MBit/s)? , IEEE 802.11g (54 MBit/s)? , (für max. 5 connections)Verschlüsselung: 256 Bit WPA -PSK, 256 Bit WPA2 -PSK
Hi-Speed USB 2.0 (Mini-USB)
microSD-Kartenslot (max. 32 GB)
Standard UMTS SIM für 6-Pin SIM-Einschübe

Sorry, another question, maybe I should start another post. I read that I can get Mobile Connect from Verizon, but only if I have a subscription!! Does anyone know what subscription would be best for someone only wanting Mobile Connect for one month?? I can't believe that in the USA these things are soooo difficult, must be some huge monopolies there.

That is an understatement! We either pay $50 for a phone and sign a 2 year contract with monthly service ranging from $60-$100+ AND there is a $150 to $375 Early Termination Fee or pay $500 for that same phone.

Anyway, you can get Pay As You Go Verizon data connect plans for as little as USD 15$ for 100 megs used in 24 hours OR as much as USD 80$ for 5gig used in 30 days.
Of course you need to provide the data modem still.

Virgin (US) re-sells the same Verizon network plan for $60 for 5gb/30 days. The Virgin-branded stick sells for $79 (they also have a MiFi device):

http://www.virginmobileusa.com/mobile-broadband

Flahusky and Non-NonRev: for either Verizon or Virgin I would still need to sign up for a subscription, correct? So I cannot just get the prepaid or pay-as-you-go version, but need in addition to have a monthly subscription. That is what I got from the small print, anyway. Can you correct me if this is wrong?