Vista and 3G data card compatibility

[forestpct]

Beware trying to install a Vodafone Mobile Connect 3G Broadband card on a Vista machine. I've tried on several different latops - all fail and I've seen other postings from users with same problem. Firstly, the CD that accompanies the card thinks you are trying to install on Windows 2000 and fails to load drivers. Hunting around on the Vodafone website reveals a driver release for Vista but installing this messes up normal wireless and ethernet connectivity (try either of these methods after installing the vodafone drivers and the adapters fail to get IP addresses assigned and hence internet connectivity is lost). The vodafone card works OK of course!! but if you want to get your old connectivity back you have to uninstall the vodafone drivers. Calling Vodafone is useless - they say they are not aware of any problems - bet they haven't even tried it in non-vodafone networks!

[Tym]

They should be a permanent fix aswell as expresscards at the start of july aswell as consumer price plan changes...

Vista came out with old drivers etc... Vista is in the wrong when hardly anything works with it mate... Hold tight..

[scoobystu2]

Vista is in the wrong when hardly anything works with it mate... Hold tight..
LOL. So seems if you want the latest operating system steer clear of Vodafone. Thanks for the warning. I know a lot of cards sold on ebay for O2 were not Vista compatible. Hardly an advert for 3G broadband.

[Tym]

Well i work for them and it seems the drivers are availabe on the website but only if you have a pcmcia slot :P

so july will sort out with all the expresscards etc :)

[scoobystu2]

Well let us hope Vodafone reimburse customers that have a device that is currently not fit for purpose. Lets face it Vista has been out since the end of January and this issue appears, if your statement is correct, some 6 months later. Pretty poor show for the worlds No.2 network. Do they not care about their Vista customers. How come T mobile does not have this issue ? IMHO They must have either better technical staff or more efficient ones.

[Tym]

Thats like saying reimburse someone if they gained weight and there clothes don't fit anymore... lol :)

I think it's all resolved now and new products are launching for vista... vista actually has a really old .net framework and alot of stuff is out of date.. vista is in the wrong. <3

[scoobystu2]

Thats like saying reimburse someone if they gained weight and there clothes don't fit anymore... lol :)


Not at all. If you buy a product AFTER the operating system has been released it should work. The FACT it does for T mobile is proof enough. ATEOTD if the networks are serious about promoting 3G data products the least they can do is supply them on TODAY's platforms. Obviously by your comments Vodafone do not.
As for PCMCIA availabilty but not Express Card slots, this is even OLDER . LMFAO, what a cock up.

[Tym]

I'd stick with XP until vista has been out atleast a year, hardly anything works with it.

Same thing happened with xp when it came out tho...

It's quite pathetic how i'm just trying to give some advice on when expresscards etc are coming out from vodafone... for someone to say "haha t-mobile are better" when they lack in other area's since i worked for them.

[scoobystu2]

Well sorry you feel that way. My only point is I use Vista, love it and have no issues with it. It is IMHO a vastly improved platform sorting out many of the issues I had on XP. Now to suggest I should go back to XP just to be able to use a datacard seems an non starter. I only mention T mobile as they have sorted it and hence it shows it is possible NOW. That said T mobile coverage in my area is no good.

[SCWMandala]

Hi All -

I've probably missed something pretty obvious but......

I've got a laptop running on Vista, but whenever I download the drivers (apparently compatible for Vista) I lose my own home broadband connection.

I've got the data card working adequately but I can only re-gain my home connection by uninstalling the Vodafone software.

Vodafone aren't keen to help at all!!

Thanks in advance
SCW

[Tym]

What kind of broadband connection is it? directly through a broadband modem or a router?? if it's through a modem, try getting a router and connecting to your home broadband that way... personally i have no idea what's complicating things between your 3g drivers and your bb connection....

try disabling the 3g card while connecting to your normal bb internet? need to explain the situation a bit more... cheers.

[SCWMandala]

Hi Tym

My connection's through a router.

I'm not sure what more info you're after? I would hope that after downloading the drivers from the website the process would be relatively simple.

But, instead, the 3G data card prevents me from accepting the signal from my router.

SCW.

[Tym]

ah if it's wireless, you can just utilise the 3g data card to connect to your wireless router... it has that compatibility.

[faza20]

Hi SCwMandala

I've been advised by a couple of people who had the same problem that it can be resolved. This was emailed to me by one of the people who got it working. I haven't tested it myself so I can't say 100% it will work

On installing the USB Data Card to a Vista System the other Network Connections may be disabled. This can be the wireless connection, the lan connection and or the internal modem. They can not be re-enabled from within the system.To solve this follow the procedure shown below

1. Uninstall the existing Mobile Connect Software from Start Menu, Control Panel, Programs and Features
2. Reinstall Mobile Connect Version 9.1 as follows:
- Run the Setup_vmc(.exe) file to begin setup
- Enter the language required and click ok
- On the Vodafone Mobile Connect Installer Welcome screen, change the mobile network operator from "Vodafone UK" to "TDC Mobil" and click next
- Accept the license agreement and click next (note this will be presented in Danish due to the network selection above)
- Choose whether to enable reporting (given the current issues, enabling reporting would be of benefit if any further problems encountered) and click next
- Click next on Account type screen (with Contract selected)
- Click next on TCP/IP Settings - Click Next on Setup Type (with Standard Selected)
- Click Install
- Click Finish when prompted - Click Yes to restart PC
3. Configure the Mobile Connect connection for UK settings as follows:
- Add the data card if prompted - Once detected and into the dashboard click on Manage Devices - Highlight the device in use and click Edit
- Click the APN Tab and ensure the APN is set to internet, Use Authentication is ticked and Username and Password are both set to web
- Click on the IP/DNS Tab and Untick "Use manual DNS Settings"
- Click OK to confirm settings
- Click OK to return to dashboard main view

[tibs]

This workaround also works with the PCMCIA mobile connect card!

[faza20]

Thanks for letting me know. Glad it worked for you Tibs