Speed Comparison : Hutch / Airtel Edge Data Card Vs Reliance Netconnect

[shuva_nandi 0]

Dear All,

I have been using Reliance NetConnect on my LG RD5130 via USB for a year now. I am on Freedom @ Night plan and i download approx 2 GB every month. I am facing frequent battery problems on my phone and some one suggested that it might be because of using heavy data traffic. So i have decided to go in for a data card.

Now i would like to go in for an unlimited plan as i am not able to access Net on Weekends / Holidays in the current plan. Below are the rates that i am getting from various operators:

1. 
   RIM - Card @ 4200, Unlimited @ 1500 per month
   TATA - Card @ 5200, Unlimited @ 1500 per month
   HUTCH - Card @ 4500, Unlimited @ 399 per month (this is a corporate plan that i am getting), market rate - 799 per month
   AIRTEL - Card @ 4900, Unlimited @ 899 per month
   

Can you guys help me choose one? 1500 pm is too expensive for me. I am not getting any broadband services at the place where i stay.

regards,

Shuvabrata

+91-9323976883

[Arun 795]

Since you are able to get the Hutch corporate plan at Rs.399 per month, I guess that will be a good choice. GPRS speed on data cards are comparable to NetConnect speeds, so it should be alright for you.

[shuva_nandi 0]

Thanks Arun.

But the IT guy in my office seems to favour TATA / Reliance.

regards,

Shuvabrata

[coolrajiv 1]

Since you are able to get the Hutch corporate plan at Rs.399 per month, I guess that will be a good choice. GPRS speed on data cards are comparable to NetConnect speeds, so it should be alright for you.

Hi,

WOW wireless internet @ Rs 399 a month with unlimited upload/download its an awesome plan by HUTCH

[KumaarShah 143]

AFAIK, GSM data speeds are slower than CDMA data speeds. Maybe the geeks can throw more light on this. But tariff wise, I think as Arun - Hutch is far better priced. If speed is not your criteria, go in for Hutch.

[Dj 25]

net thru gprs s**ks... but for those specific time slots like 2am - 4am... my wifey uses gprs on her palm treo and at times we've waited "minutes" to open pages... gprs is okay to retrieve mail and perhaps use the IM... but thats about it... so nothing beating the rconnect so far as mobile internet goes...

[shuva_nandi 0]

net thru gprs s**ks... but for those specific time slots like 2am - 4am... my wifey uses gprs on her palm treo and at times we've waited "minutes" to open pages... gprs is okay to retrieve mail and perhaps use the IM... but thats about it... so nothing beating the rconnect so far as mobile internet goes...

Hutch claims a EGPRS (EDGE enabled) speed of 248 kbps, compared to RIM's 115kbps ...

On standard GPRS though, its about 86 kbps ...

Hence in metros i guess, speeds should be similar ...

[kshah 452]

beware before you really spend on GSM data solutions, I recently saw airtel data card in Ahmedabad (I dont know if ahmedabad has EDGE or not) but speed was absolutely pathetic. Of course reliance is now no better speed is worsening day by day atleast in Ahmedabad.

Edited May 3, 2007 by kshah

[shuva_nandi 0]

beware before you really spend on GSM data solutions, I recently saw airtel data card in Ahmedabad (I dont know if ahmedabad has EDGE or not) but speed was absolutely pathetic. Of course reliance is now no better speed is worsening day by day atleast in Ahmedabad.

As far as i know EDGE on Airtel network is available in very few cities ....

I am getting download speeds of 15 - 20 kBps in Reliance .. after 12 in the night ...

throughput 55-65 kbps

What is your experience?

[Vishal Gupta 4]

Since a few months I'm also getting very poor speed on RConnect. In daytime can't download anything, speed goes down as soon as I start d/l ing. But after midnight I get approx. 17 KBps d/l speed. I'm also thinking to surrender my reliance phone and go for a data card for my laptop. So I'll keep an eye on this thread.

[bobk 0]

Hi,

I am using Reliance Netconnect Datacard for past 2 months. Initial cost was

Rs. 3,500 ( USB Modem) + Rs. 389 ( New no. ) = Rs. 3,889.

My Plan is PLatinum ( Rs. 1500 / month ). During the day time i am getting

speed around 14-16 KB/sec. But after evening..i get around 15-20 KB/sec.

I think its decent speed, if i compare it with Hutch & Airtel. Before going for

this connection i personally went for a demo by Airtel. Honestly, the speed

was pathetic. The Google page took more than a min to open. You can't

do even normal browsing with ease...forget about big downloads. Since

both hutch & airtel use same tech, i guess more or less both of them will

be same in performance.

Costwise....Airtel provides Unlimited connection for Rs. 999. But its worthless

if you dont get even good speed for normal browsing.

I didnt checked the Tata connection..coz they dont have any Unlimited Plan

in Delhi. So my option was Reliance & Airtel.

With my Research on Wireless conn through Online forums in India, ..clearly

suggested that CDMA is far better than GPRS & EDGE as of now. May be in

future this thing changes after 3G comes in.

So in terms of Speed & connectivity i would Rate... Reliance first, then Tata

indicom, then..may be Hutch & Airtel.

So, in all i will recommend Reliance Netconnect ..coz its has decent speed ,

Datacard charges are less compared to others, a no. of plans to choose from.

ps : Reliance Download-Speed Sample ( During Afternoon - Peak Hours ) attached

Thanks,

Bob

[Greens 21]

I personally know my friend in Hutch using Reliance Data Card for his official use.

The reason he claims is better speed and coverage.

[Vishal Gupta 4]

^^ It answers all the questions.

[Honest 836]

My dear friends I too support Reliance Data Card in matter of speed. Not only the speed but also the coverage matters and Reliance has the excellent coverage throughout India except some hill stations / or hilly areas.

Regards.

Edited May 3, 2007 by Honest

[shuva_nandi 0]

Hi,

I am using Reliance Netconnect Datacard for past 2 months. Initial cost was

Rs. 3,500 ( USB Modem) + Rs. 389 ( New no. ) = Rs. 3,889.

My Plan is PLatinum ( Rs. 1500 / month ). During the day time i am getting

speed around 14-16 KB/sec. But after evening..i get around 15-20 KB/sec.

I think its decent speed, if i compare it with Hutch & Airtel. Before going for

this connection i personally went for a demo by Airtel. Honestly, the speed

was pathetic. The Google page took more than a min to open. You can't

do even normal browsing with ease...forget about big downloads. Since

both hutch & airtel use same tech, i guess more or less both of them will

be same in performance.

Costwise....Airtel provides Unlimited connection for Rs. 999. But its worthless

if you dont get even good speed for normal browsing.

I didnt checked the Tata connection..coz they dont have any Unlimited Plan

in Delhi. So my option was Reliance & Airtel.

With my Research on Wireless conn through Online forums in India, ..clearly

suggested that CDMA is far better than GPRS & EDGE as of now. May be in

future this thing changes after 3G comes in.

So in terms of Speed & connectivity i would Rate... Reliance first, then Tata

indicom, then..may be Hutch & Airtel.

So, in all i will recommend Reliance Netconnect ..coz its has decent speed ,

Datacard charges are less compared to others, a no. of plans to choose from.

ps : Reliance Download-Speed Sample ( During Afternoon - Peak Hours ) attached

Thanks,

Bob

Is there any speed difference between the USB modem and the PCMCIA datacard? Which one would you recommend?

I am using an Acer laptop which has PCMCIA slot.

Please advise.

regards,

Shuvabrata

[bobk 0]

Is there any speed difference between the USB modem and the PCMCIA datacard? Which one would you recommend?

I am using an Acer laptop which has PCMCIA slot.

Please advise.

regards,

Shuvabrata

Hi Shuvabrata,

There is no difference between the speed. Plz be rest assured on that. Both

are same in terms of speed...except that they differ in how they are used.

I went for USB Modem Datacard, coz it gives me freedom to use it both on my

PC as well as Laptop. Just plug it in to your Laptop/PC USB port....and enjoy!.

Works same on both.

As for PCMCIA, it can be used only on your Laptop. You can't use it on PC.

So i will highly recommend you USB-Modem. And go for Reliance...look no

furthur. Reliance's the best at present.

Let me know, if you need any more info..

Thanks,

Bob

[shuva_nandi 0]

Thanx bob a lot.

Will do accordingly.

The local webworld is quoting a rate of 4000 for the USB Modem.

bbye

Shuvabrata

[kshah 452]

also PCMCIA is now obsolete and has compatibility issues too. USB is now best option.