Which 3g modem to choose. Modems. Which modem is better to choose?

Which are used to access the Internet. Now there are so many of them on the Ukrainian market that ordinary users or beginners are simply lost when choosing them.

Many people wonder what is better - a 3G modem or a 3G WiFi router? What is more practical and easier to use? We will help you decide on this issue yourself. To do this, we will compare a 3G modem and a 3G WiFi router. We will show their differences, pros and cons - this will allow you to determine which device is right for you.

What is a 3G modem?

This is a transceiver that uses operator networks mobile communications for receiving and transmitting information. Such modems can be integrated (built-in) into various equipment: laptops, tablets, phones, smartphones, routers, and so on. They can also be an independent device - for example, a regular 3G modem with a USB output. To use the network cellular communication A SIM card is usually inserted into the modem, but can sometimes be programmed. For example, CDMA modems are installed on the network by software and “flashed” (in Ukraine this is the operator Intertelecom and PEOPLEnet). If you are interested in 3G modems, our specialists will help you.

What is a 3G WiFi router?

This is the same transceiver, only built into wifi module which distributes the Internet through wifi connection. This zone can be public or password protected. To receive and transmit information, pocket routers use mobile operator networks and, just like 3G modems, they operate from a SIM card or are programmed.

Today there is large number pocket Wi-Fi routers with different configurations and capabilities. So that everyone can choose the most optimal solution for themselves. If you are interested in 3G WiFi routers, our specialists will help you.

“Comparison of 3G modem and 3G WiFi router”

Now let’s look at both devices and compare them to understand what is the difference and which is better? To do this, we have selected the most important points, using examples of which we can determine which is better.

1. Internet distribution via USB connection

3G modems have no problems with this function at all, since they are designed to work in this mode. But not all 3G routers can work like this, only newer models are already equipped with this function. And as a rule, they can provide the Internet simultaneously via USB to 1 device and via WiFi to up to 10 devices.

2. Internet distribution via WiFi connection

The 3G WiFi router definitely wins here, since the modem simply does not have such a function. And distributing the Internet in this way increases the number of connected devices to one 3G router - up to 10 users simultaneously at a distance of up to 20 meters of line of sight.

3. Compatibility with Operating Systems

One of important points- this is support operating system which you are using. Here the 3G modem clearly has a drawback; older models simply do not have software(drivers) for configuration. But for a 3G WiFi router this is not a hindrance, since it has no physical contact with the device. The maximum that can be is the protocol setting WiFi encryption. Perhaps I would also include here the situation when the Internet is needed on a tablet. In both the first and second cases, the router is clearly irreplaceable.

4. Device autonomy

It is difficult to determine the exact winner in this comparison, since the USB modem operates from the device to which it is connected (laptop). Accordingly, the modem will work exactly as long as a laptop. What can’t be said about a 3G WiFi router - if you forgot to charge it, and you don’t have it with you yet USB cable to connect to a laptop. Therefore, before leaving home, check the battery level in your pocket Wi-Fi router or take a cable with you. As you can see, the built-in battery in the router is its positive and negative quality at the same time. The good news is that some models of pocket routers have a Power Bank function, which allows you to charge your phone using a powerful battery.

5. Work in the networks of Ukrainian telecom operators

Several are used in Ukraine frequency ranges, on which operators provide 3G Internet. Let's take a look at the leading companies in our market:

1 - CDMA 800 mHz - Intertelecom and Peoplenet (PEOPLEnet)

2 - WCDMA 900-2100 mHz - Kyivstar, Trimob (Ukrtelecom), MTS Ukraine, Lifecell and Vodafone

3 - CDMA-450 mHz - MTS Connect

Briefly, I will say that there are modems and routers that work immediately at the frequencies from points 1 and 2; they do not work at the frequency from point 3. Accordingly, a 3G modem or 3G router operating at the frequency from point 3 will not work in points 1 and 2.

6. Data transfer rate

At this point there is a draw, since modems and pocket routers are the same in terms of data transfer speed. A large assortment of products will give you the opportunity to choose a modem or router to suit your needs.

"To sum it up"

Based on the above, we can say that the era of mobile 3G has arrived. WiFi routers, which replaced old 3G modems. But despite this, 3G modems still remain a popular gadget.

The most important thing for the consumer is to understand what he wants to get as a final result. Only after this can you choose the right solution for the tasks at hand.

Review of the main brands of the Russian market of 3G and 4G modems

We sell a huge number of 3G modems on the market designed to work via the USB interface. Their distribution is mainly facilitated by the “big three” of our mobile operators: Beeline, MTS and “”. 4G devices from Scartel (brand) are also widely known - and the leaders of Russian cellular communications are also entering this market. MegaFon already has 4G-LTE networks in Moscow, Novosibirsk, Sochi, Krasnodar, and by mid-2013 this technology will reach Ufa, St. Petersburg, Samara, Kostroma and Vladivostok. Further, there is no doubt that other operators, who are still seriously limited by the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications, will catch up.

And to work with all these networks, 2G, 3G or 4G modems are required (the latter is best, we will look at why later). Every operator offers them, plus there are many universal models from various Chinese and Taiwanese companies. Which of all this is better and why?

Beeline modems

Of course, the company does not produce its own devices - after all, it specializes in providing telecommunications services, and not in developing high-tech units. Beeline 3G modems are produced by Chinese companies and are their most typical devices, only with slightly modified firmware: the software interface is Russified and generally made more understandable, but, unfortunately, these devices can only work with SIM- Beeline cards. But 3G coverage from this brand is not available in all cities, only in the 2400 largest ones, and the speed leaves much to be desired, especially in the evenings. Well, the company is not yet launching 4G networks at all (this LTE technology, with equipment from Huawei, is currently being tested in Georgia and Uzbekistan).

Default devices do not work with some operating systems on Linux based. There is only one tariff plan for now, “Click”. Beeline also does not indulge in a variety of models. In general, the only good thing is the prevalence of the company’s sales points and service centers. It will be quite easy to acquire a modem and support it. Well, as already mentioned, the interface is quite pleasant.

Warranty period for Beeline 3G modems, like all major operators, is only twelve months from the date of sale. This, unfortunately, is the standard for such devices - although for ADSL modems and Wi-Fi routers the warranty is one and a half times longer.

MegaFon modems

MegaFon is the second company in the Russian cellular communications market after MTS. And, by the way, one of the leaders in the segment mobile Internet: According to ComNews Research, it accounts for almost a third of the total profit in this area. Accordingly, MegaFon's 3G modems are selling quite quickly - although these are almost the same models from ZTE and Huawei.

The downside is that the company’s attitude towards its consumers is not very good. Only due to insufficient advertising and numerous scandals associated with MegaFon, this brand has not yet surpassed Beeline in value. Suffice it to recall the story of a million-dollar claim against a client who used a 3G modem from this company while roaming in Crete in order to download his favorite series, which went around the entire Russian blogosphere. In the end, when the situation was picked up in the media and when it turned out that MegaFon’s contract was concluded with gross violations of legal norms, the company nevertheless canceled its claim, but did not make any compensation for damage to the injured subscriber. The same thing applies to SMS messages from MegaFon clients leaked to Yandex. All such stories formed a negative image around the company.

However, in fact, among all operators " big three“It is now the most advanced. Firstly, together with wireless modems For MegaFon, you can choose not just one (like Beeline), but several tariffs. Secondly, the company was one of the first to begin deploying its 4G networks in large Russian cities - not only in Moscow and St. Petersburg, but also in the regions. In settlements already connected to LTE, the average mobile Internet speed on MegaFon 4G modems reaches 15-20 Mbit/s. Such devices also work quietly within the range of a 3G or 2G network - except that the speed of data transmission and reception is, of course, lower. But since, one way or another, all major Russian cities will be connected to 4G networks (or something even more advanced), even now, if you are going to use the mobile Internet in three or four years, it is recommended to purchase 4G modems. And so far, of all of them mobile companies provided only by MegaFon - if you do not take into account individual “white egg” experiments.

The network is available in all regions of the Russian Federation, as well as in Abkhazia, Tajikistan and South Ossetia. Also in all regions there are service centers companies where you can return one of the faulty products for repair (the warranty is usually also a year). But roaming on MegaFon’s 3G modems, as already mentioned, is a problem.

But these modems, judging by the specifications, generally work with all more or less modern operating systems. Not just with Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Ubuntu and Mac OS, but even with options like Debian, OpenSUSE, Fedora and Xandros.

MTS modems

Despite the fact that MTS is the largest domestic operator mobile Internet and cellular communications, it is not the most advanced company in this area. Yes, in 2011 alone, users purchased more than five million 3G modems through the MTS retail network, yes, the company constantly holds promotions, selling them for rubles or even giving them away for free (of course, subject to the client’s long-term connection to one of the not particularly profitable tariff plans). But both USB modems and MTS PCMCIA modems so far only have 2G and 3G technologies. 4G networks in Russia are still just being planned. And the design of branded MTS modems is not original: a typical slightly enlarged flash drive with a firmly fixed USB connector, painted in the company’s red and white colors.

On the other hand, the software on MTS modems is made quite well and is convenient to configure. There are a lot of tariff plans. The devices work with all modern operating systems. Although basically these are only 2G or 2.75G modems from Huawei and ZTE (there are also models from Wetelecom, Cmotech, and others, but also of a similar communication standard), and there are quite a few complaints about the width of the transmission channel.

MTS has enough service centers, but the standard warranty period is only a year.

Huawei modems

All modems discussed above, of course, are sold in online stores, but mostly they can be found in offline locations or simply on the website mobile operator, in their own online catalogue. Although there are problems with downloading modern firmware, and they don’t care about supporting their users, most subscribers turn there. Firstly, they believe that this way they will have fewer problems connecting to a mobile Internet operator (which is partly true - although you can figure out a 3G modem yourself quite easily - tea, it’s not the most complex device). Secondly, other places where you can buy similar devices, many people simply don't know.

But Huawei 3G modems are from those branded devices that are sold in dealerships mobile operators, are no different, except that they are usually cheaper and you don’t have to subscribe to extortionate tariff plans in addition. At the same time, both the level of support and the duration of the warranty are much higher. And these 3G modems are suitable for different SIM cards, and there are no problems connecting to non-standard OSs if you know how to simply update the firmware. Plus, company specialists on the forums still know what they are talking about and can advise directly online how to fix this or that problem (although this applies to Huawei to a lesser extent).

Basically, a 3G modem model is now sold in online stores. Like all Chinese devices, it pleases with a variety of colors: there is everything from crimson to bright yellow. In terms of functionality, they are no worse than branded devices. It costs a little more, about 2.5 thousand rubles, but it is not tied to a specific SIM card with a tariff. You can even take several different SIM cards under different functions: or download large files, or just sit quietly on the Internet. The only thing is that the device does not work under operating systems created on the basis of Linux (this can be cured, but for simple user- not so easy). The maximum data transfer speed of this Chinese device also seems to be not so high, only 21.6 Mbit/s, but in fact in Russian 3G networks such a channel is taken as manna from heaven, usually the speed is significantly lower and at the maximum Huawei modem no need to use it.

Huawei is quite popular in the world, especially in America: the company is very attentive to the Internet market, constantly provides journalists with devices for reviews, monitors mentions of its brand on Twitter and other social networks, and in general does its best to maintain a positive image. This is someone our MegaFon should learn from.

Huawei modems are used not only by MTS, MegaFon and Beeline, but also by Scartel with its Yota. The warranty is usually one year, but may be longer for more advanced devices. Good devices, the purchase of which is simply recommended for fairly advanced users: this way you can save a noticeable amount of money and choose something to your liking.

ZTE modems

ZTE is another Chinese company, albeit a little older than Huawei. Mainly famous for its production mobile phones, occupying a confident first place in China in this market. The famous MTS Glonass 945 was also created on the basis of a smartphone from this company, model ZTE VF945. ZTE devices are considered very budget-friendly (in Russia the abbreviation even stands for “But there is a Phone”), but in terms of functionality, these devices are quite good. However, users who want to find an inexpensive and fairly good device with 3G support still don’t have much choice: no matter how you look, in the end you will still have to buy a modem from ZTE or Huawei.

All models of ZTE 3G and xDSL modems have essentially one drawback: they are not particularly good user interface. Otherwise, the company is in no way inferior to Huawei, and their website is even nicer, so you can find information or new firmware After the purchase (or better before the purchase) it will be easier here. There are many advantages, among them: price, widespread availability, abundance of different designs, availability of advanced 4G ZTE modems capable of interacting with LTE networks and WiMAX. The variety of devices is enormous (however, for some reason only a small part is sold in online stores: it’s even difficult to find ZTE devices that work with R-UIM cards, and quite standard models that connect not via USB, but via a PCMCIA slot).

Service centers of this Chinese company are already located in more than a hundred Russian cities ( full list can be viewed at Support.ZTE.Ru). The warranty period for USB modems is up to 15 months from the production date, but not more than a year from the date of purchase. Standard.

Of course, there are also 3G modems from other companies on sale - for example, extremely functional devices Samsung with their USB connector that can rotate 90° and a normal antenna. However, they do not occupy a significant market share.

3G technology is becoming an integral part of our daily lives. In Russia They are just beginning to actively use 3G, when in the West and in America 4G is already coming into everyday use. As always, we are behind, comrades. Let's talk about which 3G modem is best to choose for your purposes.

Choosing a 3G modem

Which 3G modem is the best? We will provide a list of the most famous and good modems, which can be found at Russian markets. You can evaluate their advantages and disadvantages and choose for yourself best option. Let's take a look at them.

All 3G modems can be divided into three groups:

• USB modems. They connect to the computer via a 1.0 or 2.0 USB interface. This interface is the most common and universal among 3G network users. It is provided for absolutely all computers and laptops.
• PCMCIA Express modems. These modems are mainly used in laptops that contain a PCMCIA Express card slot. The most important advantage of such devices is their compactness. The entire device fits entirely into the laptop, so nothing sticks out of it. In addition to the devices themselves, there are also PCMCIA Express conductors for personal computer. The device connects to USB output and it works.
• PCMCIA Card modems. Is this the best 3G modem? These devices are used in old-style laptops. It was this device that was replaced by the PCMCIA EXpress modem. Also among model range Such devices are distinguished by adapters for a personal computer.

In addition, all modems share into two groups whenever possible, maximize the flow of information downloaded to the device from the network. The first group is capable of loading up to 3 Mbit/sec, well, the second one - up to 7 Mbit/sec.

We hope the information about modem types is clear.

In Ukraine on the website at http://3gdevice.com.ua/ you can purchase a 3G modem in the online store. By going to the buy modem link, you can find out which modems at the moment became sales leaders, find out the news, look at prices, all types of modems and choose the right one. These are the following 3G modems: WiFi Modems, USB Modems, Modems for Intertelecom. Delivery throughout Ukraine by road transport " New mail". You can find out more details, see tariffs, contacts, etc. on the website http://3gdevice.com.ua/

Reviews about 3G modems

Here's a question that also interests Internet users using 3G modems: which of the operators providing 3G connections is the best?

There is no clear answer to this question. Here is what participants in various forums write:

"3G from Beeline and MTS is approximately at the same level. Somewhere one works well, somewhere the other works well. It is impossible to give an unambiguous answer to the quality of communication.
Tariffs are cheaper and more humane (the same traffic does not “burn out” after a month) on Beeline".

"How lucky. 3G may be “caught”, but the data is not transmitted. There may be a speed of 300 kilobits, as well as 2.5 megabits.
But it should be noted that both operators have more and more places with high-quality speed every day. 3G networks are still de facto under active construction... ...Beeline-3G had many spots and the speed was not encouraging (in some places data was not transmitted at all)... ...(the closer to the center, the higher the probability good speeds and coatings)".

"Buy MTS, you won’t regret it, full 3G is best modem for laptop.

"I bought a Bi modem, I use it with an MTS SIM card, and I don’t regret it".

"MTS (the best), since the quality of the service provided is better than others, the modem is cheaper, a 2GB micro SD memory card is included!".

Thus, it turns out that there is no clear answer to the question of which 3G modem is the best. You need to choose a modem and provider based on your place of residence or work, and your financial capabilities. It's up to you, dear reader.

If you travel, go on vacation, or are always on the move, then your laptop and netbook need constant Internet access. In this Wi-Fi case is unlikely to help you solve the problem, since its coverage is not available everywhere, and besides, you have to pay for access to it every time different places- not profitable. Nowadays 3G networks are developing very actively, almost all major cities already have access to 3G Internet, so in your situation 3G Internet is the best option.

What to consider when choosing a 3G modem

Rev A and Rev B

Today, modems can be divided into two types of standards: Rev A and Rev B. The differences between these technologies from each other lie in their bandwidth. Modems with Rev A technology have speeds of up to 3.1 Mb/s, and Rev B modems have speeds of up to 14.7 Mb/s. It is important to note that these parameters were recorded in laboratory conditions: in good weather and maximum signal level with base station, and also when it is not fully loaded. Achieve maximum speed you are unlikely to succeed with both types of standards. Moreover, if in most populated areas it is very difficult to get a speed of 2 Mb/sec on Rev A, then count on high speed with Rev B – it’s not particularly worth it. In addition, Rev B modems are almost 2 times more expensive than Rev A modems.

As mentioned earlier, not everywhere there is high-quality 3G coverage from an operator, so to improve the signal quality, you can connect an external 3G antenna to the modem, but for this, the latter must have a special connector.

Memory card support

Majority modern models 3G modems have support for memory cards, although this is not a very important factor, but, nevertheless, the presence of which can be useful to many.

Firmware for the operator or not

When choosing a 3G modem, we recommend giving preference to a “neutral” modem that is not tailored for one specific operator. Yes, such modems are cheaper than non-operator-compatible analogues, but you initially limit yourself in your choice. That is, if, for example, one operator makes prices more favorable than those of your operator, then on a regular modem you will be able to switch to a new operator, but not on a firmware one.

Due to the fact that most tablets do not have direct USB support 3G modems, then for the tablet we recommend choosing a 3G modem with Wi-Fi that will run on battery power. An example is a modem such as Huawei E5331. Thus, the modem works in a 3G network and distributes the Internet via Wi-Fi point access, in this case you will not only get access to 3G on your tablet, but will also be able to distribute the Internet to 4 more devices besides the tablet.

3G modem which operator to choose

If you decide to buy a 3G modem from an operator, then the choice of modems will be significantly reduced, although the modem models of almost all operators are the same. You need to choose based on coverage and its quality, as well as tariff plans. Also, before choosing an operator, decide in which places you need Internet access, and what is your priority: speed or low tariffs, since often these two factors are not combined. If you need Internet access in one city, look for one best operator in the city, if access is needed in several cities, look for an operator that will provide high-quality communication in these cities. Also focus on purchasing a 3G modem from an operator that has unlimited packages.

The most popular 3G modems today are modems from Huawei, specifically the models of this manufacturer We recommend giving preference to 3G.