[UK-CONTEST] 3G routers

[Mark David]

Steve

I found T-Mobile worked best for us in North Yorkshire. Tried Three
but just wouldn't hold the connection from the contest site. Of course
your situation will vary.

Some things to think about:

1. External Antenna. We used a small encapsulated directional antenna
(11dbi) connected to the USB dongle via a 5M  pigtail. This improved
the signal quality and reliability by getting the 3G antenna away from
the computer equipment. The dongle had a socket for an external
antenna though there is an option for a 'modem mate' to place over the
3G dongle. No probs with RF either way. This site has more:
www.connextech.co.uk

2. Used an old PC configured with a Linux image from www.zeroshell.net
as a router / firewall etc. Allows configuration of a 3G modem as a
network device.

No broadband out in the sticks so this was a significant improvement
over analogue dial-up (remember that?)

Drop me a mail off-reflector if you'd like more info.

73
Mark
G4MEM
G6MC - Brimham Contest Group




>
> > Hello contesters,
> >
> > I have been using a 3G modem when portable contesting for some time and
> > I see that there are now wireless routers that accept a 3G dongle
> > directly. These are attractive to me as it gives some redundancy in a
> > multi PC system as no single computer is responsible for internet
> > connectivity.
> >
> > I understand that some folk are using these dongles for broadband at
> > home, and I wonder if anyone has suffered problems with RF and I would
> > particularly appreciate comments about the performance of a
> > dongle+router in a contesting environment. This may be a bit left field,
> > so I might just have to buy one to try, although it will be pretty
> > difficult to choose a brand as all the major manufacturers are close in
> > price and www reviews.
> >
> > 73
> > Steve
> > M0BPQ
> > _______________________________________________
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> > UK-Contest at contesting.com
> > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/uk-contest
>
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