• Internet & Networking
• Product Round-ups
• Mobile broadband: HSDPA modem and card round-up

Mobile broadband: HSDPA modem and card round-up

By David Flynn on 20 February 2007

We test the latest HSDPA mobile broadband hardware on the 3G networks of Telstra's Next G, Vodafone and 3.

Towards the end of last year, CNET.com.au compared the first wave of HSDPA laptop cards designed to piggyback your laptop onto the enhanced Telstra, 3 and Vodafone mobile phone networks.

Two of those three carriers have since released USB wireless modems that are compatible with a wider range of notebooks (such as Apple's popular, but slot-free, MacBook series).

In addition, 3 has flicked the switch on its long-awaited HSDPA 3.6 upgrade for Sydney, with the rest of its network to follow before the end of March.

Our revised and updated reviews of this second-gen gear will help you choose the right HSDPA hardware, and the right network, for your mobile adventures.

Don't let speed alone be the deciding factor, unless it's so all-important that money is of no concern. Coverage has to come into play, so take advantage of any carrier offers to trial their HSDPA gear before you commit to a contract.

Then set your mobile broadband budget. As you'd expect, and as shown by our quick comparison table below, both prices and download ceilings vary widely and wildly between the carriers. Telstra remains faithful to its reputation as the most expensive carrier thanks to stratospheric Next G rates, although it's the price you pay for such a surprisingly high and stable level of performance. Vodafone has carefully balanced plans for the business user, while 3 remains as delightfully aggressive as always.

Carrier	Network	Average CDB speeds (as tested by CNET.com.au)	Low usage	High usage	Extreme usage	Excess data
Telstra	Next G (HSDPA 3.6)	1.8Mbps, peak of 2.2Mbps (USB modem)	$50 for 200MB at 256Kbps (G Fast service)	$80 for 1GB at 256Kbps (G Fast), $110 for 1GB at up to 1500Kbps (Super G Fast)	$200 for 3GB at up to 1500Kbps (Super G Fast)	30c/MB
3	3G (HSDPA 3.6)	1.4Mbps, peak of 1.7Mbps (ExpressCard modem)	$30 for 200MB	$50 for 1GB	$70 for 2GB	10c/MB
Vodafone	3G (HSDPA 1.8)	1.2Mbps, peak of 2.2Mbps (USB modem)	$50 for 300MB	$100 for 1GB	No plans above 1GB	30c/MB

 

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5
• 6
• « Previous
• Next »

3 NetConnect Mobile Broadband Card (HSDPA)

3's NetConnect mobile broadband card combines HSDPA speeds, compatibility with ExpessCard and PC Card laptop slots and exceptional pricing plans into a magic mobility mix.

Previous Next

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Topics: 3, broadband, hsdpa, mobile, next g, telstra, vodafone, 1gb, carrier, mobile broadband

• Wireless glossary

• Draft N wireless routers: get ready for 802.11n

• Wireless USB poised to cut the cable

• Ten mistakes to avoid when buying Wi-Fi

• 

  skinny commented on 05/05/2009 15:53 Report abuse

  how about updating this article. its may 2009, but is the only comparison on your site. talk about outdated.

• 

  ha ha commented on 14/04/2009 23:09 Report abuse

  you have no idea about exetel!!

• 

  bonfort33 commented on 09/07/2007 20:17 Report abuse

  Is any one of these services compatible with any of the others? Can you take the SIM card out of one and put it in another? Will any be compatible with proposed federal government services? Vodafones excess MB charge is 10 cents which makes it competitive.

• 

  Incomplete commented on 23/05/2007 13:50 Report abuse

  You've neglected the option of using a mobile phone as a modem for your PC pm an existing plan. In this case, Vodafone (the only provider to incorporate data charges into the capped plans) comes out to be a faster and cheaper service than the other alternatives.

• 

  drpump commented on 20/02/2007 16:24 Report abuse

  You probably need separate entries for Telstra MobileNet and Telstra BigPond. The MobileNet data packs are better value than BigPond, particularly for high-speed access.