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Mobile broadband modems - Three compatible (B32)

dazmatic

ULTIMATE Member
Hi all
I've been inspired recently to potentially undertake another little experiment. I am seeking recommendations for a small, portable 4G router, preferably cheap that supports aggregation with B32.

Simply put, I've got a spare Bluespot antenna that's going to be made redundant soon and fancied tearing it up (as it's technically a chineseium rebranded antenna) and stuffing a mini mobile router inside.

I'm leaning towards an E5783 or similar as it's quite small and undoubtedly has antenna test ports on the inside.

Thoughts?
 
Hi all
I've been inspired recently to potentially undertake another little experiment. I am seeking recommendations for a small, portable 4G router, preferably cheap that supports aggregation with B32.

Simply put, I've got a spare Bluespot antenna that's going to be made redundant soon and fancied tearing it up (as it's technically a chineseium rebranded antenna) and stuffing a mini mobile router inside.

I'm leaning towards an E5783 or similar as it's quite small and undoubtedly has antenna test ports on the inside.

Thoughts?
Interesting project.
The B535-232 also supports b32 (and also cat7), but unlike the E5783 it requires 12v, I guess easily done with PoE adapters.
 
Interesting project.
The B535-232 also supports b32 (and also cat7), but unlike the E5783 it requires 12v, I guess easily done with PoE adapters.
It's probably too big. I'm thinking of inserting inside the bluespot case or at the very most in a small potting box mounted on the rear.
 
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@Lucian the B535 only does B32 with B20 unfortunately, and as I'm sure you're aware B20 is a bit cack.
 
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So this is what I come up with.

The "Bluespot" antenna, despite being of Chinesium originn and the actual gain figures being a complete lie, does actually work as an antenna.

I certainly wouldn't use it at home on any high bands as the gain is too low, however low bands are fine.

Hence, my plan to make use of it for a Voxi Band 20 backup. If my main Three mast falls over, I've always got a B20 alternative to pick from, from nearly any angle.

A spare unlocked EE Alcatel L800, a 160mm box which fits onto the Bluespot case screws, couple of PG11 glands for shortened cables, PG16 gland for a USB B to pass through and seal on plus adapter to plug a USB device into.

5M usb cable gives me plenty of length without the antenna cable losses.

I'll nick a bracket from somewhere, run the cable indoors, chuck it up outside and test eventually.
 

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So this is what I come up with.

The "Bluespot" antenna, despite being of Chinesium originn and the actual gain figures being a complete lie, does actually work as an antenna.

I certainly wouldn't use it at home on any high bands as the gain is too low, however low bands are fine.

Hence, my plan to make use of it for a Voxi Band 20 backup. If my main Three mast falls over, I've always got a B20 alternative to pick from, from nearly any angle.

A spare unlocked EE Alcatel L800, a 160mm box which fits onto the Bluespot case screws, couple of PG11 glands for shortened cables, PG16 gland for a USB B to pass through and seal on plus adapter to plug a USB device into.

5M usb cable gives me plenty of length without the antenna cable losses.

I'll nick a bracket from somewhere, run the cable indoors, chuck it up outside and test eventually.
I always have some popcorn handy for this kind of posts! Keep them coming! 👌😁
 
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But the Alcatel L800 is only Cat3...

SoftBank 403zt is cat6 usb.
It is - but I already had it, it was cheap and it's known working with my Vigor 2860.

For backup purposes it's ideal as if my usual MBNL nodes drop, I've got Voxi/voda backup or O2 and they're both B20 round here anyway.

But, there's space enough in the box for another small mifi device if I wanted to upgrade.

The Bluespot is such a wide beam antenna, it'll pick up anything weakly so long as it's Infront.
 
Sign up to Three on a one month contract on the cheapest mobile broadband plan and get a E5783B-230 for next to nothing.

Then cancel after a month. Not sure if these Three branded devices are locked though.

Edit: Looks like it's a E5783-330 now.

Note: I run my house off a single E5783B-230 and get ~40-70mbps.
 
Sign up to Three on a one month contract on the cheapest mobile broadband plan and get a E5783B-230 for next to nothing.

Then cancel after a month. Not sure if these Three branded devices are locked though.

Edit: Looks like it's a E5783-330 now.

Note: I run my house off a single E5783B-230 and get ~40-70mbps.
Technically, that was the original plan. I weren't sure how it would perform hence testing with this first. My only interest is B20 currently and I can get 10-20Mbps with Voda and it's enough to keep working as a backup.

Not to mention, the E5783 doesn't have external antennas so I'd have to open it up and hope it's got some MS156 test ports.
 
Sign up to Three on a one month contract on the cheapest mobile broadband plan and get a E5783B-230 for next to nothing.

Then cancel after a month. Not sure if these Three branded devices are locked though.

Edit: Looks like it's a E5783-330 now.

Note: I run my house off a single E5783B-230 and get ~40-70mbps.
Got mine + a month of unlimited data on a 1 month contract for £11. Bargain. you need to contact live chat to get this though, and then they call you to put the order through as they can't do it entirely on chat for fraud reasons or something.
 
Got mine + a month of unlimited data on a 1 month contract for £11. Bargain. you need to contact live chat to get this though, and then they call you to put the order through as they can't do it entirely on chat for fraud reasons or something.
Anyone seen a deal like this lately? I'm looking for a Three (or other like EE etc) MiFi.
 
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Oh lord this was a loooooong while ago. Not sure anything like that exists these days unfortunately.
You're right, at least so far as Three is concerned. The monthly deal is now silly money. A bit disappointing as they now have a 5G offering and was hoping they'd be trying to unload the 4G version. Thought I'd ask, just in case though.
 
Just wondering. If I buy a used Three 4G MiFi (Huawei E5783-330 ), are they all unlocked these days? I've seen one on FB for a reasonable price, looks to be 2021.
 
Just wondering. If I buy a used Three 4G MiFi (Huawei E5783-330 ), are they all unlocked these days? I've seen one on FB for a reasonable price, looks to be 2021.
Most mobile broadband devices are unlocked but not all of them.

An Alcatel device I got from O2 recently was fully unlocked and unbranded. A Huawei one I got from Three a little longer ago was both locked and branded - But Three did unlock it easily enough.
 
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