O2 and MiFi

[Anonymous]

I am in an area where the only network coverage I get is O2. My Blackberry works ok on O2 for email and web surfing. I want to install a MiFi unit or at worst a dongle to use with my laptop. ANy suggestions on a MiFi unit that will work with an O2 SIM?
Thanks
Rob

[Anonymous]

I used an Option 505 ICON USB modem for a while to access HSPA speeds but the connection became erratic on later updates of OSX (Snow Leopard and Lion) so I recently switched to using a Novatel MiFi 2352 (for Europe). In HSPA+ areas I've reached 6Mbps down and just under 4Mbps up so things have turned out well for me.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the reply.
I currently get connected via EDGE so does this compare with HSPA?
Thanks
Rob

[adamtemp64]

no edge is near the bottom of speeds
2g gsm and edge
3g 3g and hspa
see here http://www.o2.co.uk/network/more click on network speed

[Anonymous]

With my O2 SIM I have used the Novatel Mifi 2352 and also the Huawei E585 (unlocked from Three) and both work well with similar performance.
The E585 is only single band UMTS 2100 whereas the Novatel is Tri-band 900/1900/2100. I thought this would make a difference in Central London but I have not seen any practical difference.
With the Novatel, if you connect it to a computer via USB, it switches off wifi. With the Huawei, if you connect via USB, you can still have 5 devices connected by wifi.
There is also the newer Huawei E586 appearing in the UK which does HSDPA+.

[Anonymous]

FYI MiFI is trademarked in the UK by H3G Hence why t-mobile came up with the stupid name of t-mobile wireless pointer and so on..

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the reply.
I currently get connected via EDGE so does this compare with HSPA?
Thanks
Rob

Edge is 2G network, HSPA is 3G network,and nowadays it is already popular at HSPA+ which is also named 4G! the most different is the speeds, the later up to 21Mbps, as like HUAWEI E586 that's the latest mobile wifi router hotspot, you need pay attention that while you pick it, you need an unlocked unit that ensure it is compatible with O2 networks.