3G internet dongel ?

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ean_p

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quick techie question...I have a 3 3G dongle that I use a lot in the UK.
Does anyone know if this would function abroad with a local data sim installed or is it likely 'locked' to 3 in the UK?
I'd be looking to use it in Azerbaijan ?
 
Its quite likely locked, the only way I know to tell if it is is to put in a SIM from another provider and see if the dongle connects to that provider - you dont actually need to connect to the internet, just see the service connected.

If its locked, I've succesfully unlocked one using these people. You may also need to find an unbranded version of the dongle software to make it work anywhere, the version you have installed may only work with 3 in the UK.

Third point is to ensure that whatever 2g/3g protocols and frequencies the dongle supports are available in Azerbaijan.
 
Yes, they are sold locked, but with the same provider do seem to work from country to country. My Vodaphone dongle has worked with Vodaphone in UK, Aus, Fiji, NZ - changing the SIM for local 'pay as you go'. 3G is not yet available in some countries.

Australian Vodaphone instructions do say you can use their SIM in an unlocked dongle from another company, but I've not yet come across anywhere able to do the unlocking.
 
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Firstly, I must say that it's a couple of years since I played with these dongles so some of this might be out of date...

You may also need to change the software running in your laptop as well as getting the modem unlocked. For example I bought a Vodafone-badged Huawei E220 on ebay that had been unlocked. If I had used that modem with Windows it would have automatically installed the Vodafone software on the laptop.

Now I've read that UK Voda software generally works with other operators' SIMs so unlocking the modem is probably all you need to do. But I've also read of operators that customise their software so that, even if the modem is unlocked, the modem won't work with other networks. So you may need to get the modem manufaturer's own generic software. (And if it were an oldish modem, bought on ebay say, I would upgrade the modem's firmware from the manufacturer's site anyway.)

The role of the software is described here:
Wikipedia: Huawei E220 software

Again - caution - all this may not still be true. The E220 was one of the most common early mobile modems so there's a lot of info about it on the web.

(I used the E220 a couple of times in the UK but I've never used it when sailing in the med - I prefer to tether a phone.)
 
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If you search around on the internet you can find the unlock codes for all of them. You'll need to install a common dashboard called Mobile Partner which they all run through (as opposed to Vodafone, Orange etc). Then fire it up, type in the unlock the codes and off you go. I've done of these now and they all work on any network I've tried them on so far.
 
DaveRo said:
You may also need to change the software running in your laptop as well as getting the modem unlocked. For example I bought a Vodafone-badged Huawei E220 on ebay that had been unlocked. If I had used that modem with Windows it would have automatically installed the Vodafone software on the laptop.

Now I've read that UK Voda software generally works with other operators' SIMs so unlocking the modem is probably all you need to do. But I've also read of operators that customise their software so that, even if the modem is unlocked, the modem won't work with other networks.
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I think you are right about matching the software to the dongle. I actually have two Vodaphone dongles, which although they both work with all the Vodaphone sim cards I have, will not work with one another's software.

It is possible that it is the dongle software which enables free access to the phone company's web-site, needed to register the sim card and to buy more time when you run out. So, if using a dongle from another company, maybe you couldn't get started! Does anyone know?
 
I bought an unlocked 3 mifi for use in France last year and got a French Orange sim from eBay.fr . Paid 10euros for internet which worked all over France and was still working on the ferry as we left. That was with 4 iPod touch devices all connected. Recommended.

Dave.
 
I have found that the E220 will work wherever it can connect (not suitable to middle east, but then neither is my phone). As said, Mobile Partner is fairly universal. E220 software does not work with Vodaphone and you need Vodalite loading or MP). E220 software works with 3 sim Don't forget the firmware upgrade for the E220 which doubles the download rate.
 
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