Mobile broadband modem
A UMTS modem ( UMTS data card ) is a peripheral which produces with the help of a SIM card, a connection between a computer and the ISP using the UMTS mobile network.
Generally
On some notebooks, a UMTS modem is available internally. External UMTS modems are available as USB sticks ( " UMTS - Stick" ), PCMCIA (PC Card ), ExpressCard, and SD card. The speed is dependent on network availability and is typically at up to 384 kbit / s, which corresponds to six times the speed of ISDN. The UMTS modems are - like all cell phones for the mobile network of the third generation (3G ) - so-called dual-mode devices. In UMTS reception is too weak, mobile phones and PC card modems switch automatically and without interruption to GSM. Newer modems transmit data using HSDPA with 1.8 up to 7.2 Mbit / s Meanwhile there is also UMTS modems that can transmit at speeds of up to 100 Mbit / s via LTE. Faster speeds are not yet possible, the 5G techniques are not expected until 2020.
Models
UMTS modems there are, among others, by the following manufacturers: The company Option NV, based in Belgium delivered for the first Vodafone UMTS modem. The U.S. company Novatel Wireless Inc. of San Diego, California, delivered the first UMTS modem for T -Mobile and O ₂. The Chinese company Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd.. and the Canadian mobile specialist Sierra Wireless are represented with their UMTS modem with German mobile operators. BandRich from Taiwan offers his card only on the free market. There is also the company Onda Communication from Italy and ZTE of China.
Many mobile phone companies sell UMTS modems these manufacturers under their own name, such as Vodafone, A1 ( Austria ), T -Mobile, E -Plus, O ₂, One, Three, Sunrise, Swisscom, Orange and debitel. Thereby the product and price comparison difficult for the consumer. An advantage of this re-labeling is obtained for the mobile companies: By changing the product name of the card is made close to the product name of the associated data plan. Mixed calculations can be marketed more easily this way. This type of bundling ( hardware and tariff or mobile network) is in contrast to mobile phones, however, often backed by a rare Netlock, supplied by network operator specific application software. Use in mobile networks, the buyer has to rely to waive the supplied software and integrate the card with on-board means of the operating system or the use of alternative, network operator -independent software, such as the open source software umtsmon (Linux) or the freeware MWconn (Ubuntu and Windows).
Alternatives
As an alternative to a UMTS modem the internet connection can be established via a mobile phone (see tethering ) or a UMTS router.