Tag: lte surfstick

LTE Surf Sticks

LTE Sticks are technically radio modems, meaning little combined transmitting and receiving equipment, which operate on different frequencies.

 

They can be connected via the USB ports to virtually any device such as a larger netbook, laptop or home PC. The sticks are in demand, such as to use abroad, or a change to a new and faster wireless data technology, and they are easy to replace. In addition to the relatively small size and low weight, this versatility and the slight changes are the greatest advantage of the sticks.

 

Even with the older data radio technologies of UMTS and GSM, sticks still dominates the modem market, other solutions such as built-in modem or modem card format to be used much less frequently. For the majority of users, LTE Surfsticks will be the solution that makes mobile internet the fastest and easiest access.

 

The new LTE Sticks come from the Far East, currently dominate the South Korean manufacturer Samsung, LG Electronics and Pantech market, China’s Huawei tries to win over new entrants.

 

So the first LTE Stick was Samsung GT-B3740, which is developed by Samsung in Vodafone Brand. The next stick from Swedish-finished network operator Telia Sonera is the GT-B3710 from Samsung. Meanwhile, there is B3730, which dominated alongside LTE is UMTS and HSPA, GSM and EDGE, as well as wireless technologies. The device sends in LTE mode on the frequency 2600MHz. It is also used in the Vienna LTE network of the Austrian mobile operator A1 Telecom Austria. The B3740 is likely to be an optimized version with a similar standard.

 

The second LTE stick comes from Chinese mobile phone supplier, HUAWEI, it is HUAWEI E398. The device was tested in the LTE network of O2 and is now available at Telekom from the second half of 2011. In Austria, it is the mobile operator A1 Telekom Austria offered on its website.

 

 

Global Supply of LTE Sticks

 

There are very few data sticks, which are with wireless data LTE technology, so pure LTE Sticks have others technologies backward, such as UMTS, GSM and CDMA 2000 network to send and receive. Overall, a clear trend is emerging to stick with multi-technology, pure LTE Data sticks are shunned by the mobile operators.

 

 

The Pantech UML290, originates from South Korea, and sells for US Verizon Wireless LTE network. It’s like the stick used in Scandinavia and Austria from Samsung, sends an older and slower wireless technology on board. In the case it is spread in the U.S. CDMA 2000, and therefore he receives on 800 Mhz and 900 Mhz. For LTE reception, it is in the range of 700 MHz road.

 

The second stick, Verizon Wireless LG VL600 of the South Korean manufacturer LG Electronics. With LTE, it’s in the 700 MHz band travelling with the frequency used the U.S. 3G CDMA 2000 technology, it can send and receive on the 800MHz and 1900MHz band. LG Electronics also has the LD 100 model that is used in Japanese LTE network of Docomo. It also speaks several wireless data technologies, besides LTE, there is UMTS and HSPA, plug for the Japanese to travel abroad, GSM and GPRS are also included. GSM will be gradually switched off in Japanese networks.

 

What to look for LTE Sticks

 

All LTE Sticks on the market are significantly larger than the surf sticks with pure UMTS or GSM technologies; they therefore require more space on your laptop. If two or more USB ports close together, this may lead to another USB ports blocked. Therefore a rotatable mechanism for raising the stick is very useful to save some space with a bent 90 degrees stick, and most of these sticks have rotate mechanism.

 

Pure LTE Sticks can only be used where LTE is available. Since the LTE network is expanding coverage in many areas, it would take many years for LTE network to cover every corner. Therefore in some areas, you have to use other technologies UMTS and GSM, and the associated wireless data technologies HSPA and EDGE, to dominate the modem.

 

Several sticks offer external antenna connectors; one is for the older mobile technologies and one for LTE. This is an important consideration when buying, LTE will be predominantly at home or hospital use, we recommend you might install an LTE external antenna.

LTE Antennas—You will always need double

Those who wants to surf with LTE really fast, which can improve the reception of the radio signal by additional antenna.

 

But beware: while the UMTS radio technology usually received via an antenna, LTE always uses the multi-antenna technology. It’s on two antennas to send and receive data. So you have to always connect two antennas to be receiver. Suitable antennas are double it commercially as a total package; they sometimes look like a tool. If in doubt, ask if there is a dual antenna.

 

Before you buy the antenna that your receiver is ready for connection to a pair of antennas. Receivers are modems such as routers, surf stick modems in card form or radio modems that are built already in tablet, notebook or netbook. If you do not know it yourself, ask the dealer or the seller, whether your device has such a connection for a dual antenna.

 

 

Types of Antennas and antenna purchase

 

There are two types of antenna for LTE: The Omni-directional antennas can be placed up and receive the signal from any direction. However, there are also good and bad places for the erection of the antenna.

 

The directional antennas generally provide a much better result; they have to be aligned with the respective LTE mast. You should know, however, where are the nearest towers. This information provides the agency on a separate card. Simply enter the city, and then you will be presented in a easy map to set of transmission towers around your home or office.

 

The seller of LTE antennas often offer a complete package in which is already containing everything they need. The antenna pair, the associated connection cables, often even a holder for parallel installation of two antennas. Suitable antenna packages are also on LTE mobile operators sometimes offers, in addition to the receiving equipment such as a modem or router.

 

Our tips for easy installation

 

During the assembly, proceed as follows: first, find the right location, either inside the home or outside. You connect the antenna to your computer, and check the signal strength at various locations. You can see the signal strength on the modem. Some vendors offer LTE signal strength measurements via Internet. If you want to do the test, you have to measure computer and a speedometer, the transmission speed at different locations.

 

Where the reception is strongest, you should place the antenna. When you place the antenna inside your own house, then close to or directly on the window, from which you get the best reception. In this case, make sure the antenna distance from the modem or other electronic devices, such as television, radio, PC, electric fields interfere with the signal.

 

The second way to set up the antenna outside of the home, is therefore at the top of the attice, on the roof or on an outside wall. Whichever course choose, you should keep at least one meter away from poles, pipes or railings. Under no circumstances should you screw the antenna on a metal plate or wall. If you need to put the antenna on a mast, then you must sit above the top of the mast, where possible, over the roof edge. The principle is around the antenna, there will be no metal—metal shields radio signals.

 

When you buy yourself a pair of directional antennas, in addition to make two points: First, then antennas are mounted at the same height, and secondly, they are aligned parallel to each standing, to the nearest mast. It’s best to consult it in stores.