USB modem in USA

[kiwi2768]

I use a "3" USB modem for my laptop in Perth. We leave it at our house there and it gets used for a few days a month.

I've done a bit of looking around, trying to find a pre-paid USB modem to use in the USA but can't seem to find one that has coverage in every state. I know some of the hotels have free wireless in their lobbies, and some offer free or charged access in-room.

I'd really like to take the laptop with me, just so I can keep in touch with everyone. Also I want to store my photos on the laptop as well as store photos on CDs, so at least I have two copies of my photos.

 

[drewbles]

AT&T are offering pre-paid data connect passes that would work with this. They offer 75mb, 250mb or 500mb over 1/7/30 days respectively. They're not hugely cheap ($15/30/50) but may offer you a viable option.

Keep in mind that it's likely your USB Modem will be locked to 3 Australia (try another carriers SIM in it and look at your client connection software to tell you if it'll register to another network). Also, AT&T's wireless broadband won't be that quick if you're in a high-density area, thanks to the burden the iPhone is putting on their network

Check out https://buyasession.att.com/sbd/unauth/InitiateSBD.action for info.

Note that you'll need an AT&T SIM card to have this working first. Without a SIM you cannot setup the Data pack as you need the IMEI of the hardware and the SIM ICCID.

 

[v8Statesman]

AT&T are offering pre-paid data connect passes that would work with this. They offer 75mb, 250mb or 500mb over 1/7/30 days respectively. They're not hugely cheap ($15/30/50) but may offer you a viable option.

Keep in mind that it's likely your USB Modem will be locked to 3 Australia (try another carriers SIM in it and look at your client connection software to tell you if it'll register to another network). Also, AT&T's wireless broadband won't be that quick if you're in a high-density area, thanks to the burden the iPhone is putting on their network

Check out https://buyasession.att.com/sbd/unauth/InitiateSBD.action for info.

Note that you'll need an AT&T SIM card to have this working first. Without a SIM you cannot setup the Data pack as you need the IMEI of the hardware and the SIM ICCID.

To use a Dongle from Australia in America on AT&T, it will need to support 850Mhz 3g. Easiest way to make sure it can, it ask "Will it work on Telstra Next G" as that is also an 850Mhz 3G network.

 

[markis10]

To use a Dongle from Australia in America on AT&T, it will need to support 850Mhz 3g. Easiest way to make sure it can, it ask "Will it work on Telstra Next G" as that is also an 850Mhz 3G network.

Which in the case of the 3 modems, only the "mega" ones do.

 

[drewbles]

To use a Dongle from Australia in America on AT&T, it will need to support 850Mhz 3g. Easiest way to make sure it can, it ask "Will it work on Telstra Next G" as that is also an 850Mhz 3G network.

Yup that's correct. T-Mobile do run on 1900, but not all Huawei sticks (what 3 sell) are quad band, and 3 May not sell any that are.

And if you get the Telstra one, make sure that's not locked to Telstra too, and is not just 850mHz HSDPA.

 

[Thom]

And if you get the Telstra one, make sure that's not locked to Telstra too, and is not just 850mHz HSDPA.

Can anyone tell me the model number of one of these next G modems to suit the ATT network?

 

[Mal]

I believe the Huawei E160 I own supports the required frequencies:

Huawei Terminal

It's also quite common as a carrier supplied USB modem (sometimes locked, sometimes unlocked - but you can reflash the firmware with generic firmware anyway).

I can also get them just about free through a cashback deal with one of the carriers over here.

 

[markis10]

Or buy one in NZ, they are by law required to be unlocked, pity the same law does not apply here. Not a big fan of the Huawei ones, they seem cheap with poor reception.

 

[iqis60]

Or buy one in NZ, they are by law required to be unlocked, pity the same law does not apply here. Not a big fan of the Huawei ones, they seem cheap with poor reception.

Plus you get them at a 20% discount, as the prices seem to be the same as Australia, yet you are paying NZ dollars . I paid $99NZ for one from Telecom that had 500meg pre paid included. They use the same 850 3G network as telstra, so the modems work for that and hence much of the USA.