mobile internet/voip?

Grehan

Grehan

Well-Known Member
Joined
11 Jun 2001
Messages
3,729
Location
Inland France + Oxon.
www.french-waterways.com
Is anyone using a G3/GPRS modem like these . . .
laptopdcard.jpg
laptopmodem.jpg

. . . and have you managed to use VOIP - e.g Skype - using the device? Looks like most/all networks block such use, or is this merely . . make it difficult . . . ?

Any advice gratefully received, including references on to any firms that might help. Thanks.

PS Any experience of this in France, would be even more valued.
 
I have the Voda 3gb usb stick - when I bought it in the Voda shop they said that voip is not blocked as such, but is technically problematic because of latency. Having said that - I've never tried it myself.

Cheers
Jimmy
 
I used to have the one on the left and it was pretty useless for voip. I've now upgraded to the newer one and I would think it would be fine but not tried it.
 
Have tried it afloat for IM/web and streaming (simerlar demands to VOIP) for any time critical application - unless you have good (vey good) coverage then you will be disappointed, check and then recheck your coverage and consider an external antenna.
 
Rather than 'performance'/'coverage' issues, I was thinking more about mobile networks blocking VOIP for 'commercial' reasons - i.e customers cutting down on mobile calls in favour of VOIP Skype calls. Anyone know the score?
 
Hi,

I've got an SFR 3G+ modem like the one in your second picture. (I live aboard in France). Though it was sold as 'illimité', there is in fact a 1gig/month limit.

They also say that such things as peer-peer and voip are not allowed...

Works well for what I want (work), but is quite expensive at 60 euros a month.

Brian.
 
I've used both on T-Mobile in UK, and the PC Card with providers in Italy and Malta. No real problems with Skype as long as you get at least a 3G signal in all cases.
 
In France or anywhere else i use http://www.voipcheap.com/en/index.html or voipstunt.com

You do need a phone though!I have a list of cafès with more than one phone for customers.
I use a free sms to say im waiting by the phone then the other person enters the number the cafè phone rings and you can chat for up to one hour.There is a small connection charge,even for failed calls.

For internet peer to peer "voice" there seems to be a large choice,MSN seems very popular.I have tried before with yahoo & others but it wasent a great sucsses unless the connection was fast enough even then "calls" only averaged 5 minuets

Ive used "gizmo" "aim" & "fring" which is the best, but all have there ways!!Voice via phone is hard work from the boat!!When you need it its not working,at least thats how it seems.

I manage with free SMSs and SSB data.And when the phones needed via voipcheap,you can use a phone box.First try the number to see it "rings"then make yourself comfortable!
 
Thanks Trouville, et Salud! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Going back to France in the next few weeks but we may need to make a fair number of international (world) calls on the move (on the water), in predominately rural areas (i.e sans WiFi). Hence thinking about using VOIP/Skype and whether our 3G modem (we haven't signed up to a mobile network yet, abonnement not PAYG, but we will) plus mobile network connection is truly feasible (not blocked by France Telecom/Vodafone/Bouyges/Etc).
If this kind of combination works in the UK, maybe it will in France, too.
 
We've been looking into mobile internet and have found that all suppliers block use of VOIP for purely commercial reasons.
 
You can call from a mobile to anywhere in the world ZONE 1 USA UK etc for 35cents/min if thats any help?

If it is i can post the link to the mobile operator which is not very good but if needed seems to be the least costly-just for a change ive lost the name!!Illhave to power up my other phone to get it

There is this link which has a lot of info
http://www.dicodunet.com/tag/cartes-sims-prepaid-internationales
 
Jim,

these two devices shown are great for normal internet access but they run at 3.6 mbps and are not fast enough to run skype. The new devices now run at 7.2 mbps and are easily fast enough for things such as skype, streaming etc. This does depend on signal strength but if you've got 3.5G as it's referred to, you're laughing.
Hope that helps,

Andy
 
Sorry if this is drifting the thread a little. A friend of mine was sold a PC card similar to the one in your first picture. Vodafone said it would fit all laptops with a PC slot. When she bought a new laptop it would not fit as they now sell laptops with new style slots. Vodafone refused to accept this and only cancelled the contract when I contacted Richard Read, who is the CEO or similar.
Allan
 
Sorry but I must point out that the original remark that all suppliers block VOIP is just not correct. Maybe the ones you have tried do so but that does not mean that ALL do. Mine certainly does not - I use SKYPE and it works great. I am not certain about the strength of my wi-fi but I get through 99% of the time. A fantastic service all in all.

Cheers

Squeaky
 
Judging by the amount of times my home BT Internet 'via wires' broadband drops it's connection, and the amount of others who are having horrendous home broadband connection issues, I wonder what chance we have of anything reliable when trying to run voip over mobile phone links. Just another reason why technology winds me up!!!
I'm currently looking to find an on board comms expert to sort my on board stuff out and if successfull, I'll put your quetion to him/her.
 
Hi

I am using the 3.6MB Version USB now
Have it installed on My boat PC which is set up as a hot spot on Vodafone Italy.
Connect from Laptop via WiFi I then have a VPN tunnel to the UK and encapsulate the VOIP traffic within this.
VPN has worked for me all over the world including UAE where Skype and VOIP is banned.
Advice is then to find yourself a VPN provider and you can pass all the traffic you want.
Advantage is if you get a UK one your IP address will look as if you are in the UK so you can use the BBC Iplayer also.
 
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