Huawei E870: Online via HSDPA/HSUPA on a 3G Network
Two weeks ago I bought a Huawei E870 Express Card on ebay. It’s a 3G device I can insert into the Express Card 34 slot on the left side of my MacBook Pro to have a mobile internet connection wherever I am.
Though I already have internet access on my iPhone everywhere I can find a GSM (GPRS/EDGE) or 3G signal, it’s limited because there’s no tethering option (I installed NetShare in the brief period it was available but it doesn’t seem to work with my configuration).
A 3G data card like the Huawei E870 (T-Mobile Germany calls it “web’n'walk Express Card IV”) gives me the freedom to go online at any time and place using my MacBook Pro without draining the iPhone’s battery or being unable to use my phone.
My investion already proved to be worthwhile—I’m currently working on a conference in Constance and they don’t have WiFi here, so I put a so-called “MultiSIM” (a second SIM card on my iPhone plan) into the Huawei E870 card, slid the device into my MacBook Pro et voilà, I’m online via T-Mobile’s 3G network and don’t have to pay extra for it because I’m using the data flatrate included in my iPhone plan.
Installation—and why I don’t like T-Mobile’s software
It seems that with every service T-Mobile sells, there’s something giving me a seriously hard time using it. When I first installed the included T-Mobile software (a customized version of the popular Mac application launch2net), it asked me for my e-mail address to activate the licence. All went well and I got a confirmation e-mail from MacSupport@t-mobile.de telling me that everything was fine and I was ready to work with their L2N software.
I used it over two days—everything worked as advertised.
Then the trouble began: When I started the software the third day, a dialog box told me to activate my copy. But activating obviously required an active 3G connection (an open internet connection via WLAN didn’t help), which in turn couldn’t be established because the application “wasn’t activated”. A vicious circle of dialog boxes led me to reinstall the software, which didn’t help either.
Googling for alternatives I quickly found that T-Mobile Austria is offering different software for its customers: Their so-called web’n'walk Manager includes a driver for the Huawei E870 Express Card, which I installed.
All I have to now is to insert the card into the Express Card slot and choose “Connect with Huawei Mobile” in OS X’s menubar.
First impressions
After using the device for a few days now, this is what I can tell about it:
- I’m online almost instantly wherever I am—the card supports different types of networks (HSDPA, HSUPA, UMTS, EDGE, GPRS)
- HSDPA and HSUPA is one blazingly fast combination! With a strong 3G signal, my connection to the internet is actually faster than at home where we have DSL 2000 (the fastest connection available there :-/ )
- The connection is stable even after hours of using it—I streamed the Stevenote “Let’s rock” yesterday.
- I can’t be sure which network I am on because I don’t have the official software installed—Careful: using the Express Card driver with OS X’s included modem software can lead to high roaming costs on the wrong network!
I’m going to update this post in case there’s more to report. 
Do you use your mobile phone or a similar device to get your laptop online on-the-go? What are doing with it?
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Hee heh, if you read your post title as-is, you realise that twenty years ago no one would have understood what the dickens you were talking about.
I wouldn’t use a mobile phone to go online, because the call charges are savage here in the UK.
Thats great!
Hi, I found your blog on this new directory of WordPress Blogs at blackhatbootcamp.com/listofwordpressblogs. I dont know how your blog came up, must have been a typo, i duno. Anyways, I just clicked it and here I am. Your blog looks good. Have a nice day. James.
Sounds to good to be true, so it really is possible to have the Data Flat for 2 Sim Cards? Or can you only have the flat on one Card and the other is for calls and messaging only? Have you got the first bill yet? If this works its phenomenal. Thanks for sharing!
@Uli It does sound to good to be true, indeed—but it actually works. I don’t have the Huawei card long enough to talk about it especially, but I did this with another 3G phone before and I don’t have any additional entries on my bill even now.
The experience of the last two months shows: You don’t have to pay extra—the data flatrate is valid for at least two Multi-SIM cards.
thanx for sharing about Huawei E870..
nice article
very useful for me..
I cannot wait to acheive speeds like this here in the USA!
Reading your very complete blog made me realized how technology brings comfort to people who are always on-the-go. The topic speaks for itself. Very hi-tech. Seems so important but not yet that affordable to masses.
Hi Julian,
thx for the great article. One question about that web’n'walk Manager – does it allow you to choose your provider or it automatically connects to T-Mobile?
Just to explain – I am about to buy my first macbook. I allready use 3G via USB modem on my PC notebook when on-the-way, but I intend to switch to something more elegant and buy this card. Was looking for a SW for some time, that’s how I found your blog (great BTW). My recent provider is Orange Slovakia, but they are too impotent to provide their own SW for OSX, while they offer the E870 with their 3G services… lame. So what do you think – will I be able to use the E870 with the web’n'walk Manager here in Slovakia with a provider ather then T-Mobile?
Hi Julius,
as far as I remember (I don’t have a laptop around), web’n'walk manager lets you choose a provider from the Settings and automatically connects to the chosen one.
Julian