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Cellular Phone Forum / Country Specific / UK Group / July 20043G Laptop Help
Hi, I want to move my company laptop onto a 3G card to access the office using the internet out of hours. Question is, can anyone suggest someone that will give me a weeks trial to make sure they work at everyones home address before I splash my dosh out? I live in the North East. Who will be best Vodafone or Orange? Best regards Baz > Hi, > [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > Baz Either way 'Free Trial' that generally is what you get in the shops not in your home on pre approval on products like this. You'd have your statutary rights ofcourse but thats about it. Money backs your best bet > Question is, can anyone suggest someone that will give me a weeks > trial to make sure they work at everyones home address before I splash > my dosh out? > > I live in the North East. Who will be best Vodafone or Orange? If you pop into a local Vodafone shop, they should be able to tell you what sort of signal you can expect to receive. Worst case scenario is that you'll only have a GPRS signal ~56Kbps. I think you're unlikley to get a free trial (unless you're a big business) - perhaps you could ask anyone in your local business group if they've got one you could borrow? Terry  Signature-- small disclaimer - speaking for myself, not my employer. bazza1603@hotmail.com had a brainwave and did spout the following: > I want to move my company laptop onto a 3G card to access the office > using the internet out of hours. > > Question is, can anyone suggest someone that will give me a weeks > trial to make sure they work at everyones home address before I splash > my dosh out? Orange Shops are currently offering week trials of certain products, of which the 3G card is one. Then you also have the standard 14 day money back guarantee with both Vodafone and Orange. > I live in the North East. Who will be best Vodafone or Orange? No-one knows for sure, as the 3G network is different to the current network. Oranges pricing is very competitive though (approximately half the cost of Vodafone's) as long as you buy before the end of the month. Signaturewww.unlockingshop.co.uk T610 unlock/unbrand - £15 Sagem unlocking - £15 (most models) > I want to move my company laptop onto a 3G card to access the office > using the internet out of hours. > Question is, can anyone suggest someone that will give me a weeks > trial to make sure they work at everyones home address before I splash > my dosh out? Any Orange shops that are selling the 3G Data Card should have a couple in stock for trial as part of their 'Try' promotion. Tariq xycom1@yahoo.com had a brainwave and did spout the following: > Any Orange shops that are selling the 3G Data Card should have a > couple in stock for trial as part of their 'Try' promotion. If you don't mind waiting 30 minutes while all the damn paperwork gets filled in. Signaturewww.unlockingshop.co.uk T610 unlock/unbrand - £15 Sagem unlocking - £15 (most models) Hi, Thanks all. Orange can confirm that I can try it for free for 14 days. I am going to try it tomorrow as my local Orange shop have them in stock. Only thing is that I have learnt today its on a VPN line and Orange say this can cause problems. I would prefer to go to my existing network supplier and say I want this, but they have no plans to support 3G at present, so I am left on my own.. How did having my own home PC make me IT person? Can anyone suggest people or sites that may be able to help me? Regards Barry > > I want to move my company laptop onto a 3G at the moment the office > > using the internet out of hours. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Tariq bazza1603@hotmail.com had a brainwave and did spout the following: > Thanks all. Orange can confirm that I can try it for free for 14 days. That's not quite true. You can buy one and then return it within the 14- day money back period. > I am going to try it tomorrow as my local Orange shop have them in > stock. Only thing is that I have learnt today its on a VPN line and > Orange say this can cause problems. What? Where did you learn this from? Signaturewww.unlockingshop.co.uk T610 unlock/unbrand - £15 Sagem unlocking - £15 (most models) Hi, Its my office that uses a VPN (vitual private network?). I was speaking to Orange customer servies and was asking what I could expect. He was also saying that the only problems he has came across are on offices that use VPN's. I am a travelagent and use the laptop for reservations. My sales rep for the system also said that other people had tried and failed to connect via a 3G card. I am due to pick one up with 2 hours so will post the outcome. Thanks for your help. Barry > bazza1603@hotmail.com had a brainwave and did spout the following: > > Thanks all. Orange can confirm that I can try it for free for 14 days. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > What? Where did you learn this from? >>> I am going to try it tomorrow as my local Orange shop have them in >>> stock. Only thing is that I have learnt today its on a VPN line and >>> Orange say this can cause problems. >> >> What? Where did you learn this from? > Hi, > [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > connect via a 3G card. I am due to pick one up with 2 hours so will > post the outcome. The card works fine with VPN's, atleast during the trial it has! And plently of people have been using VPN over GPRS so I think the sales bod didnt know what he was talking about. The setup just needs working on. S. Althaf >> I was speaking to Orange customer servies and was asking what I could >> expect. He was also saying that the only problems he has came across >> are on offices that use VPN's. >The card works fine with VPN's, atleast during the trial it has! And plently >of people have been using VPN over GPRS so I think the sales bod didnt know >what he was talking about. The setup just needs working on. He may well have been telling the truth. VPNs can be a bit fragile over mobile links, and if the rest of the service is fine the only problems he has come across may well have been due to VPNs. There is a subtle difference between that and saying that they don't work. FWIW I tend not to use a VPN now, but use port forwarding over SSH to give access to services on my network whilst out and about. It is encrypted, compressed, and fairly reliable. It also gets around having to use the mobile network's outgoing mail servers and web proxys. Matt SignatureMatthew Haigh --$matthaigh{News06}$@haigh.org-- GCRSoft, providing SMS solutions since 1996... http://www.gcrsoft.com http://www.moretext.com > The card works fine with VPN's, atleast during the trial it has! And plently > of people have been using VPN over GPRS so I think the sales bod didnt know > what he was talking about. The setup just needs working on. > > S. Althaf Hi, I have tried and have so far failed. Laptop was 98 so upgraded to 2000 in a complete clean. Now the card detects and asks for drivers to be installed, which the guy at the shop says it doesnot normally do. No reference to it at all in the six page booklet. I have installed a GPRS card and that connects, but I cannot get onto the VPN as it kicks me off at the last stage. Will try again on friday as the guy that sh*t hot is back in. I can get onto the VPN via any dial up or Broadband connection. I am still hoping that I can connect via 3G! Any travel agents using Focalpoint net reading this with 3g. Give me a shout at bazza1603nospam@hotmail.com Regards Baz bazza1603@hotmail.com had a brainwave and did spout the following: > I have tried and have so far failed. Laptop was 98 so upgraded to 2000 > in a complete clean. > > Now the card detects and asks for drivers to be installed, which the > guy at the shop says it doesnot normally do. No reference to it at all > in the six page booklet. The card comes with a cd-rom full of drivers. You MUST NOT INSERT THE CARD FIRST!! Pop the cd into your drive and let it autorun, and only insert the card when asked for. Signaturewww.unlockingshop.co.uk T610 unlock/unbrand - £15 Sagem unlocking - £15 (most models) >I am a travelagent and use the laptop for reservations. My sales rep >for the system also said that other people had tried and failed to >connect via a 3G card. I am due to pick one up with 2 hours so will >post the outcome. I've been using an Orange 3G card to connect to our office VPN with no problems at all. Your best bet is to check that it works on a modem dial-up connection before trying it through the 3G connection. SignatureIain the out-of-date hairydog guide to mobile phones http://www.hairydog.co.uk/cell1.html Browse now while stocks last! >I've been using an Orange 3G card to connect to our office VPN with no >problems at all. > >Your best bet is to check that it works on a modem dial-up connection >before trying it through the 3G connection. Hi Ian Does this mean that Orange are not blocking port 1723 on 3G? I have an ordinary Orange Plan with a GPRS bundle added, and Orange tech support tell me the reason I cannot access my office VPN over GPRS is that they block port 1723 (PPTP) as standard on GPRS connections. I appreciate this information could be wrong, even though two Orange techies have said the same, but I can reach the office over Orange HSCSD, presumably because port 1723 is passed. I have also been successful connecting to the office via a friend's Vodaphone GPRS card. I have been holding back from taking the plunge into 3G because of the disappointment with GPRS... Saul >Does this mean that Orange are not blocking port 1723 on 3G? I don't know. It just works, so I guess not >I have an ordinary Orange Plan with a GPRS bundle added, and Orange >tech support tell me the reason I cannot access my office VPN over >GPRS is that they block port 1723 (PPTP) as standard on GPRS >connections. I thought it was to do with NAT addressing, but you may be right. Whatever the reason, VPN does not work with the standard APN but does with the VPN one. SignatureIain the out-of-date hairydog guide to mobile phones http://www.hairydog.co.uk/cell1.html Browse now while stocks last! >I don't know. It just works, so I guess not > >I thought it was to do with NAT addressing, but you may be right. >Whatever the reason, VPN does not work with the standard APN but does >with the VPN one. Iain I'll have to get down to my Orange shop and try one! Does the Merlin card package include software that tracks how much data you've downloaded? Saul notmesaul@aol.com had a brainwave and did spout the following: > Does the Merlin card package include software that tracks how much > data you've downloaded? It's not a merlin card, it's a Lucent Novatel, and yes the software interface does have a session and total data counter with reset button. I've managed 13Mb on 2 days on the shops demo laptop, and that's just messing around. Signaturewww.unlockingshop.co.uk T610 unlock/unbrand - £15 Sagem unlocking - £15 (most models) >It's not a merlin card, it's a Lucent Novatel, and yes the software >interface does have a session and total data counter with reset button. >I've managed 13Mb on 2 days on the shops demo laptop, and that's just >messing around. Thanks Jon I am not really surprised Orange gave me the wrong info. They categorically stated it was a Merlin card they were supplying.... Best wishes Saul > >It's not a merlin card, it's a Lucent Novatel, and yes the software > >interface does have a session and total data counter with reset button. > >I've managed 13Mb on 2 days on the shops demo laptop, and that's just > >messing around. > I am not really surprised Orange gave me the wrong info. > They categorically stated it was a Merlin card they were supplying.... According to the Orange 3G press release, it is Jon who is wrong: http://www.orange.co.uk/documents/about/3g_press_release.pdf "The Orange 3G Mobile Office Card solution utilises the Merlin U530 data Wireless PC Modem Card from Lucent Technologies and Novatel Wireless." Tariq >According to the Orange 3G press release, it is Jon who is wrong: > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > >Tariq Hi Tariq I don't think it's a case of right or wrong - I think 'branding' has occurred. I've just got off the phone with someone I know at Microsoft who confirms the Orange 3G device is a 're-badged' Merlin. (Microsoft are supplying some staff with these things) Saul > >According to the Orange 3G press release, it is Jon who is wrong: > >http://www.orange.co.uk/documents/about/3g_press_release.pdf > >"The Orange 3G Mobile Office Card solution utilises the Merlin U530 > >data Wireless PC Modem Card from Lucent Technologies and Novatel > >Wireless." > I don't think it's a case of right or wrong - I think 'branding' has > occurred. Yet when there was the distinct possibility of Orange being 'wrong', you were more than happy to state: "I am not really surprised Orange gave me the wrong info." OK then... Tariq >Yet when there was the distinct possibility of Orange being 'wrong', >you were more than happy to state: [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > >Tariq Hi Tariq Sorry to offend you. All I mean is that I have, over the years, got used to being given incorrect info by Orange, whereas Jon has supplied accurate information in this n/g for as long as I have been visiting... Saul xycom1@yahoo.com had a brainwave and did spout the following: > According to the Orange 3G press release, it is Jon who is wrong: Guilty! Signaturewww.unlockingshop.co.uk T610 unlock/unbrand - £15 Sagem unlocking - £15 (most models) >Does the Merlin card package include software that tracks how much >data you've downloaded? Good question. I've not heard of Merlin: the software is called Orange Mobile Office Card, but the hardware and drivers are "Novatel". The version I have tracks it for the current connection, but chucks the figures away on disconnect. There is a newer version of the software, which is supposed to be on its way to me, and I hope and expect that it will track data use properly. I'm hoping for great things, because the version of the software I have is not impressive. So I guess the short answer is "don't know". SignatureIain the out-of-date hairydog guide to mobile phones http://www.hairydog.co.uk/cell1.html Browse now while stocks last! >Good question. I've not heard of Merlin: the software is called Orange >Mobile Office Card, but the hardware and drivers are "Novatel". [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > >So I guess the short answer is "don't know". Iain I know Orange move in mysterious ways, but why does their website refer to the 'Merlin U530', http://www.orange.co.uk/business/corporate/office/moc/ohsd_gprs_3g.html and why did their Business Sales people refer us to an article about the Merlin U530, http://www.3gnewsroom.com/3g_news/jun_04/news_4591.shtml - if that is not what they are supplying...? We aren't a big business, but I do need to know what I'm buying before I take the plunge.. Saul notmesaul@aol.com had a brainwave and did spout the following: > >Good question. I've not heard of Merlin: the software is called Orange > >Mobile Office Card, but the hardware and drivers are "Novatel". [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > We aren't a big business, but I do need to know what I'm buying before > I take the plunge.. I can't remember where but I did see the word merlin somewhere in the modem properties today. It installs as "Lucent Novatel UMTS modem primary port" but I do remember seeing the word Merlin. Signaturewww.unlockingshop.co.uk T610 unlock/unbrand - £15 Sagem unlocking - £15 (most models) >> Does the Merlin card package include software that tracks how much >> data you've downloaded? > > Good question. I've not heard of Merlin: the software is called Orange > Mobile Office Card, but the hardware and drivers are "Novatel". Very easily confirmed by looking at the underside of the card where it clearly says it is a Novatel Merlin U530! S. Althaf >Very easily confirmed by looking at the underside of the card where it >clearly says it is a Novatel Merlin U530! Yes, you are quite right. On the top it says Mobile Office Card U530 SignatureIain the out-of-date hairydog guide to mobile phones http://www.hairydog.co.uk/cell1.html Browse now while stocks last! hairydog@despammed.com had a brainwave and did spout the following: > The version I have tracks it for the current connection, but chucks > the figures away on disconnect. The version we currently have keeps track of per session data and also has a counter which only resets when you tell it to. > There is a newer version of the software, which is supposed to be on > its way to me, and I hope and expect that it will track data use > properly. I'm hoping for great things, because the version of the > software I have is not impressive. If you are near an Orange Shop, take your laptop in having de-installed your current software and ask to install the new software. Some stores may be a bit funny about this so best to call the Manager first and explain that you are a triallist. I'd let you if you were in Norwich! Signaturewww.unlockingshop.co.uk T610 unlock/unbrand - £15 Sagem unlocking - £15 (most models) >The version we currently have keeps track of per session data and also >has a counter which only resets when you tell it to. The new version arrived in the post yesterday, and is now installed. Now keeps track of data use across sessions. So thanks for the offer, but all is now fine. SignatureIain the out-of-date hairydog guide to mobile phones http://www.hairydog.co.uk/cell1.html Browse now while stocks last! > Hi, > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > existing network supplier and say I want this, but they have no plans > to support 3G at present, so I am left on my own.. To use VPN over Orange GPRS you need an additional GPRS product activated onto your account, which will allow access to a different APN. There is no cost for this to be added, and data is charged at the same rate as "normal" internet. Regards SignatureJon Pitts Email:jon@pitts50.co.uk Attachments:files@pitts50.co.uk ICQ:41410672 MSN: pitts_j@hotmail.com AIM:jonpittsaim Yahoo Messenger: pittsjon Web: http://www.pitts50.co.uk > > Hi, > > [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > Regards Hi group. I have had the Orange card for the last couple of weeks and whilst it is ok for general web access, I have not as yet been able to connect to my office servers using a vpn connection and I was wondering if antone can give me some advice? The techies at our office tell me that I need to provide them with a static IP address so that they can add it to their "allow" list so that I can establish a vpn connection. Orange tell me that it is not possible to allocate me a static IP address and that they only support dynamic ip allocation. I obviously don't expect our IT department to change their security policy just for me, but is there another way I can securely connect via vpn without a fixed ip address? Any help and advice much appreciated. Mark >The techies at our office tell me that I need to provide them with a >static IP address so that they can add it to their "allow" list so [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >policy just for me, but is there another way I can securely connect >via vpn without a fixed ip address? This could work, but it would need your firewall guys to support dynamic IP addresses for incoming VPN connections. It is possible to do, but it's a lot of hassle for one user, and they probably don't want to. Since it's your company firewall blocking the incoming conenction, there's nothing Orange or anyone can do (apart from your company getting a more co-operative IT department) ;> mclabon@hotmail.com had a brainwave and did spout the following: > I obviously don't expect our IT department to change their security > policy just for me, but is there another way I can securely connect > via vpn without a fixed ip address? Could they allow an IP range? Orange's 3G IPs seem to start with 10.something, I think only the last 2 fields change (is this called sub- netting?) You won't get a static IP unless you're prepared to pay serious money. Signaturewww.unlockingshop.co.uk T610 unlock/unbrand - £15 Sagem unlocking - £15 (most models) >Could they allow an IP range? Orange's 3G IPs seem to start with >10.something, I think only the last 2 fields change (is this called sub- >netting?) 10.x.x.x is a private address which will be NAT'd to an Internet address. It is this Internet address which the OP company needs to allow through their firewall. > The techies at our office tell me that I need to provide them with a > static IP address so that they can add it to their "allow" list so > that I can establish a vpn connection. Orange tell me that it is not > possible to allocate me a static IP address and that they only support > dynamic ip allocation. Indeed correct. > I obviously don't expect our IT department to change their security > policy just for me, but is there another way I can securely connect > via vpn without a fixed ip address? There's one other way out of this. Whenever you connect to the net using Orange GPRS, you get allocated an IP address from a specified block, the number of addresses in this block may be surprisingly small. There's no easy way to be given a list of these - frontline CS certainly won't have them, much less be at liberty to give them out - but with a few test connections/disconnections, it should be fairly easy to begin to establish a pattern. Regards Jon. SignatureJon Pitts Email:jon@pitts50.co.uk Attachments:files@pitts50.co.uk ICQ:41410672 MSN: pitts_j@hotmail.com AIM:jonpittsaim Yahoo Messenger: pittsjon Web: http://www.pitts50.co.uk [snip] I have bought the Orange 3G/GPRS card on the max tariff (currently £45 a month but due to go up to £75 a month sometime soon*). 1Gb a month is the fair use I believe. I've also got the Orange GPRS (Ericsson GC75) card on the max tariff (£25 a month promotional). The GPRS only card has always worked flawlessly. I've finally managed to get the 3G/GPRS only card working today after going right the way up to Orange 3rd line data support. ;) I live just outside the Orange 3G reception area. GPRS works fine though. If I set the card to use 3G/GPRS, more often than not it won't connect nor will it switch over to GPRS automatically. It should do this and Orange are escalating this onto their software designers. What I have found I have had to do is to switch the software to GPRS only. Then it works fine. Earlier this evening I drove up town and logged on with it using 3G only mode. This worked fine. I then commenced downloading an 8Mb file, passed the laptop over to a passenger and drove back home. As expected I lost 3G when I got close to home. I haven't yet tried doing this when using the dual 3G/GPRS mode to see if it switches down to GPRS but intend to try it soon. One other thing, when connected the icon in the task tray reports 115 000kbps. IMHO this is the port speed of the serial port and not the actual connection speed. This never changes. It reminds of me of when I used an analogue modem years ago and the driver AT string was incorrectly configured. However thinking about things, since the speed can change dramatically (when switching between 3G and GPRS) perhaps the software is only able to show the port speed in the task tray? My Sony Ericsson GC75 reports 53.6kbps in the task tray whenever I use it with GPRS, rather than a serial port speed, but that's because the connection speed is constant. I'd be interested to hear about any other experiences with the above. :) * so I am told. SignatureDavid Thornton {spamkiller}@usenet.thornton.com had a brainwave and did spout the following: > My Sony > Ericsson GC75 reports 53.6kbps in the task tray whenever I use it with > GPRS, rather than a serial port speed, but that's because the connection > speed is constant. That is still the link speed between the card and the PC. Max throughput on GPRS in the UK is 43.2kbps. Signaturewww.unlockingshop.co.uk T610 unlock/unbrand - £15 Sagem unlocking - £15 (most models) >One other thing, when connected the icon in the task tray reports 115 >000kbps. IMHO this is the port speed of the serial port and not the [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >with GPRS, rather than a serial port speed, but that's because the >connection speed is constant. The Voda 3G card shows the connect speed on the tray, so you can see if it originally connect using 3G or GPRS. It doesn't change as you go in/out of 3G coverage (whichever mode you started on), nor does it give the true speed - it always assumes GPRS is the max GPRS speed available. Matt SignatureMatthew Haigh --$matthaigh{News06}$@haigh.org-- GCRSoft, providing SMS solutions since 1996... http://www.gcrsoft.com http://www.moretext.com |
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