Android tablet with 3G Dongle, help please.

inforfun

Hello,

Recently bought a cheap 7" tablet with the plan to use this for Skype most of all.
Person who will be using this tablet is in a care home without WI-FI so 3G is going to be used.

Problem i am running into is that i cant make a connection to the internet with the dongle.
It is working fine on my windows netbook so the dongle and 3G sim card work, i reckon.

If i compare what happens on my netbook, i am just 1 step away from making a connection.
This particular dongle (ZTE MF190) shows a blue, blinking led when you are ready to connect.
On my netbook, an application is installed that will make the connection only when i select that option "connect". Before i click connect, the dongle shows the same blinking blue led as in Android
Of course this application cant be used on Android.

Using logic, i thought of installing an app called Auto 3G which seems to make the connection upon opening the app where you need a connection, in this case Skype.
However when i set this up, it will try to make a connection but will show an error "Radio is out of service"

Any help is much appreciated.

nucleardublin

I haven't come across any USB Mobile Dongle that supports Android tablets. Your only option is to purchase a Mobile WiFi type device and setup a WiFi connection to the Tablet.

ED E

Try entering the APN settings into android for your carrier.

inforfun

ED E wrote: »

Try entering the APN settings into android for your carrier.

Did do that already.
Also removed pincode from sim card.
Basically copied all settings from the windows application into the apn settings in Android.

Also do get an "icon" in android similar to wifi status bar.
And wifi is definitely switched off.

ED E

There's no firm compatibility list for branded tabs never mind unbranded, so you may just have to try a few different dongles and see what works.

Also, chinapads generally come with crappy ROMs which doesnt help.

Amalgam

There is support for 3G dongles, but the choice of what is supported is limited to a selected few Huawei models. Your dongle sort of crosses over though. It is in the config of various 'value Chinese tablets'.

Anyway, stumbled across the following on slatedroid, courtesy of member kokuo.

Forum thread: http://www.slatedroid.com/topic/38895-how-to-get-3g-dongle-zte-mf190-to-work/

PPP @ Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=de.draisberghof.pppwidget&hl=en

BUT, I managed to have the 3G dongle (ZTE MF190, formerly branded Movistar ES) working!

Below you have the steps:

1) Download the PPP Widget from the market (free)
2) Install it
3) Restart the tablet
4) Go to the widget page (you may want to place the widget on the main page)
5) The connect button was greyed for me (the automatic regognition doesn't work for my 3G dongle model)
6) Tap on Configure
7) Deactivate the auto recognize option
8) Activate the manual port selection
9) Go back to your tablet main page
10) Click on the widget icon
11) Select your dongle from the pop up window
12) Tap on connect
13) Done!

Hope it helps.

Thank you Omarahum and Christian Troy (sei un grande!) for your help!

Cheers

kok

Tell us how you get on.

inforfun

When i place that PPP app i get "no root access"
Connect and configure are both greyed out.

Installed SuperSu but cant work that out.

Forgot to mention ..... i am an utter noob with Android.

ED E

Installing SuperSU doesnt root the device, you need to find out how to root your particular device and do that.

inforfun

Feared so much after some google searches

Will give that a go.

Thanks to all who replied.