Are the Vodafone E169 modems a bit flakey?

Tom Dunne

I recently got one, I'm using it on a Vista laptop, and to be honest, I find it quite temperamental. So I am wondering if it is my configuration, or is it a general problem with this model of the modem?

What I find is that if I am using it on the train and become disconnected, it won't re-connect, giving a RAS 720 error. Nothing short of a reboot of the laptop will allow me to re-connect.

While it does switch between HSDPA, 3G and grps as I move along, once I become disconnected, that's it, no going back until a reboot.

I've nothing unusual on my laptop (apart from Vista ), I use Symantec Endpoint Protection as my anti-virus.

Could it be my configuration, or is it these particular modems?

Amalgam

3 use the same, very tetchy under Windows, constantly whingeing about the device not being connected. USB molestation and reboot often needed for it to be seen again.

I find things improve if you bypass the Huawei UI\software and just create a desktop link to the Dial-up icon for the modem that should now be in your Network Connections.

Just to add, the modem is rock stable under Ubuntu. Supported out of the box, so to speak.

Tom Dunne

Amalgam wrote: »

I find things improve if you bypass the Huawei UI\software and just create a desktop link to the Dial-up icon for the modem that should now be in your Network Connections.

Might give that a go on the train home this evening, thanks for the suggestion.

Amalgam wrote: »

Just to add, the modem is rock stable under Ubuntu. Supported out of the box, so to speak.

Ah, the irony. I'd love to try it. The only thing stopping me was the issues I had configuring a VPN in Ubuntu last Summer.

Might be worth re-visiting, though.

watty

Ubuntu works witn MS vpn or the better openvpn. We put openvpn on server and disabled the "builtin" MS vpn server.

ttm

The problem of having to reboot is very common, just as common is that people think its a configuration issue. I'm messing with an ZTE627 atm and its a world of difference to the E169 and rarely needs rebooting dispite lots of fiddling around and swapping sim cards.

Tom Dunne

Amalgam wrote: »

Just to add, the modem is rock stable under Ubuntu. Supported out of the box, so to speak.

I thought I would update this thread to report back on my findings.

I have been using the modem with Ubuntu (latest version, 9.04, I think) and it is as Amalgam says - rock solid. There is a specific place I pass on the train where I get disconnected and have simply no option under Vista, other than to reboot. No such problems on Ubuntu. Disconnects and reconnects without problem.

No more reboots, no flakey connections, and I swear it is faster in Ubuntu.

Oh, and it might be worth pointing out that I am using the Live CD version, I haven't actually installed anything on my laptop.

watty

If you disable the fancy GUI on windows on any 3G modem and simply use a suitably setup serial dialup Networing connection (DUN) on Windows, it's then the same as Ubuntu.

The problem is "Connectivity applications" that are trying to make very fast dialup architecture look like broadband/ethernet when it isn't.

Tom Dunne

watty wrote: »

If you disable the fancy GUI on windows on any 3G modem and simply use a suitably setup serial dialup Networing connection (DUN) on Windows, it's then the same as Ubuntu.

You crazy Old Timers.

x in the city

watty wrote: »

If you disable the fancy GUI on windows on any 3G modem and simply use a suitably setup serial dialup Networing connection (DUN) on Windows, it's then the same as Ubuntu.

The problem is "Connectivity applications" that are trying to make very fast dialup architecture look like broadband/ethernet when it isn't.

how do you go about this.?