High Speed Packet Access (HSPA) is an amalgamation of two mobile telephony protocols, High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) and High Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA), that extends and improves the performance of existing WCDMA protocols. This basically means that any mobile broadband device using HSPA, HSDPA or HSUPA uses the 3G network for high speed mobile broadband services. Typically HSPA devices will be USB Dongles or 3G Routers.
An example of a 3G Router is the Telecom FM Dataroute which is a HSPA Router which uses both HSDPA and HSUPA protocols to achieve maximum download speeds of 7.2 Mbps and maximum upload speeds of 5.76 Mbps. Of course, these speeds are only the ones achielvable by the router, these are wholly reliant upon the 3G network that it is connected to and the distance from the 3G base station.
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Typically using a 3G router and a 3G Mobile Broadband SIM Card in a good reception areas you would expect around 4 to 5 Mpbs downloads speeds and 0.5 to 1.5 Mbps upload speeds which is comparible to most wired broadband services these days.
Using the 3G mobile broadband services is just as easy and reliable as using wired broadband services, with most 3G routers offering both wired and wireless connectivity for PC's and other LAN devices such as IP cameras and printers. Simply insert the SIM Card into the embedded 3G router, connect a PC and open a web browser to configure the router. Simply enter your APN settings (user name and password basically) for your particular network and tariff and you are now able to surf the net and share your connection between multiple PC's, IPhones, IPads, Mobile Phones, IP CCTV, IP Cameras and Networked Printers.
Simply treat the 3G Router like a normal broadband router and if you need additional wired connections then connect to a hub or switch, use it with wireless extenders or homeplugs to create wired connections using the mains wiring of the building.
A common fault of the 3G mobile broadband service is that typically the 3G base station will disconnect users if the service is inactive, however the Telecom FM Dataroute 3G Router will actively monitor the connection and if it becomes disconnected then the router will reboot itself and re-establish the connection. This means that the router can reliably be used in all applications including homes and offices, but more importantly it can be used in remote locations for remote access and monitoring eg IP CCTV or M2M (Machine to Machine) applications. This feature is called Ping reboot and the settings can be quickly applied using the Web Interface Configuration Tool.
By using and embedded 3G Router you do not have any compatibility issues that are commonly experienced by users of routers that can connect to the UMTS / 3G network using a USB Dongle. The embedded HSPA router simply takes a 3G SIM Card so there are no compatibility issues.
Businesses can also use a 3G router like the Telecom FM Dataroute as a backup to their existing broadband service, in fact the Dataroute HSPA router features a built in ADSL2/2+ router so can be used as an all-in-one wired and wireless broadband router with automatic failover to 3G should the wired broadband service become unavailable.
For normal business use including VoIP over 3G applications, the Telecom FM Dataroute 3G Router can be used with a fixed IP SIM Card so can offer the same remote access or hosting services that you would expect from wired broadband services.
The Telecom FM is a great all rounder for home and business use and be be purchased online from the 3G Router Store.
Other HSPA Routers Manufacturers include:-
Osbridge
Option
Digi
Sierra Wireless
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For details of a new HSPA+ Router click here.