Mobile Broadband - Backup Modem Dongle

danjo-xx

I would like to have a backup modem but not sure what would be the most beneficial way to go about it without running into compatibility problems etc.

I have a refurbished E180 Huawei modem with Meteor, cost €20 which I find great.

Could get another one of these and leave it at that....or.....

Could get a modem from O2

this option would give me a choice of modems and isp's in case of failure of modem or service.
but if I wanted to interchange sims would one sim card work in the other's modem (assuming both were unlocked) would it be that simple.

jor el

Need to unlock the modems to use the other network's SIM.

Seems like a waste of money/effort though. These modems don't fail, and if it did, you could just go and buy one and be back up running within hours.

danjo-xx

jor el wrote: »

Need to unlock the modems to use the other network's SIM.

Seems like a waste of money/effort though. These modems don't fail, and if it did, you could just go and buy one and be back up running within hours.

fair point.... would my current bb sim card work with any unlocked modem?

JonathanAnon

jor el wrote: »

Seems like a waste of money/effort though. These modems don't fail, and if it did, you could just go and buy one and be back up running within hours.

+1
If you're on contract, why dont you just get the next free upgrade, and keep the old modem as backup.. I dont think there is a huge issue with compatibility, any device they sell you should work with your PC.

Our man in Havana

danjo-xx wrote: »

fair point.... would my current bb sim card work with any unlocked modem?

Yes it would.

watty

Rough guess
The Networks fail (run out of capacity) about 1000x more likely than Modem Fail. More use to have an alternate SIM for different provider than a spare Modem. If you are that concerned.

If I was that fussed I'd have VSAT (Internet by satellite) with 3G dongle as backup. Assuming that I couldn't get DSL, UPC Cable, Magnet fibre, Digiweb Metro, BreezeMax or some other real Broadband service. Then if I was Really concerned I have VSAT as the backup for the real broadband.

Years ago when Esat first did DSL we used 2 channel ISDN on eircom as backup. We actually had to use it twice in the first year. The ISDN was the original Internet and was retained for 12 number direct dial FAX in to a server and then faxes to desktops.

Amalgam

The OP should be *cough* looking for a back-up SIM, to be honest. I bought a Meteor SIM & Modem after '3' let me down once too often.

The Huawei E180 is a sturdy modem, love mine.

danjo-xx

Thanks guys I didn't realise that modems were very reliable. Seeing refurbished ones being sold I assumed that these things have a short life.

watty

"refurbised" = Working models returned by customer without packaging because the service (network) coverage was terrible (or some other reason).

I doubt anyone actually repairs them.

danjo-xx

thanks watty that is good to hear.