Whirlpool

Is there any real world difference between these two modems or do they effectively do the same thing? I read the E169 is rated at a higher speed 7.2 Mbps, but in the bush I'm not going to get within cooee of that anyway.

pedroski writes...

I read the E169 is rated at a higher speed 7.2 Mbps, but in the bush I'm not going to get within cooee of that anyway.

I am not sure what the E160E modem is but if you are in the bush you probably need the E169 because it has 900MHz WCDMA which is used by the Optus network.

cyberknutt writes...

I am not sure what the E160E modem is but if you are in the bush you probably need the E169 because it has 900MHz WCDMA which is used by the Optus network.

Thanks, the E160E is also 900 Mhz, I just wondered if anyone knew anything about it, I can find heaps of info about the E169 but not the E160E

The E160e is almost identical, except that it maxes out at 3.6Mbps, and the exterior is a little different.

Cheers

Dave

Anyone done any side-by-side reception comparisons between the E160 and E169?

keith@beagle writes...

Anyone done any side-by-side reception comparisons between the E160 and E169?

Once we got some in we will.

Cheers

Dave

E160

HSDPA/UMTS (850/1900/2100MHz)
GSM/GPRS/EDGE (850/900/1800/1900MHz)
 Support 3.6Mbps HSDPA services
 Micro SD Card Slot
 Support PC voice (optional) and SMS services
 Support data statistics
 Receive diversity (850/1900/2100MHz)
 Plug & Play
 Support Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista and Mac Operating Systems
http://www.huawei.com/mobileweb/en/products/view.do?id=1960
Can use with Telstra Next G.

E169

Main Features:

HSDPA/UMTS（900/2100MHz）
GSM/GPRS/EDGE（850/900/1800/1900MHz）
Support 7.2Mbps HSDPA services

MicroSD Card Slot
Support PC voice (optional) and SMS services
Support data statistics
Plug & Play
Support Windows 2000/XP/Vista and Mac Operating Systems

http://www.huawei.com/mobileweb/en/products/view.do?id=1181
Can use it on Optus YesG & resellers.

Huawei E160E USB Stick Modem HSDPA/3G Datacard

1. Main Features

• Micro SD Memory Slot, so can act as a Memory stick. (up to 4GB)
• Able to add external Antenna incase signal not enough strong.
• Smaller and More compact.
• Stable and Reliable.
• Compatible with Windows 2000, XP & Vista operating systems and MacOS.
• Zero CD Technology: No CD Requires, Auto plug and play. Simple and easy.

2. Specifications

- Technical standard
HSDPA/UMTS: 3GPP R99, R5
GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 3GPP R99

- Operating frequency
HSDPA/UMTS 2100MHz
GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900MHz

- Support Speed
Maximum download speed : 3600 kbps (7.2Mbps in Future Network Developments)
Maximum upload speed : 384 kbps

- External interface
Mini USB interface: supporting USB 2.0 Full Speed
Antenna: Internal antenna
External Antenna Slot: Able add external antenna.
With Extra Micra SD Mermory Slot (up to 4GB).
SIM/USIM card: standard 6 PIN SIM card interface

- Dimensions
70.1 mm (D) x 25.7 mm (W) x 11.6 mm (H)

- Weight
< 50g

- LED indicator

• Green Light You are connected to the GPRS/EDGE network (fast)
• Blue Light You are connected to the 3G network (faster)
• Cyan Light You are connected to the HSDPA or Turbo network (fastest)

pedroski writes...

Is there any real world difference between these two modems or do they effectively do the same thing?

I haven't seen either of them but from things I've read I suspect that the E160E has an external antenna socket while the E169 doesn't. So worth checking if you think an antenna socket might be important to you.

jhend writes...

E160E has an external antenna socket while the E169 doesn't.

E169 also has the socket.

Cheers

Dave

Silly question, is this 3g capable? :)

not unless you upgrade the firmware

To clarify the important differences for coverage:
E160:

possum22 writes...

HSDPA/UMTS (850/1900/2100MHz)
Telstra NextG on 850 and 2100. It won't do 900 Optus, Vodafone, exetel etc.

E169:
"HSDPA/UMTS（900/2100MHz） "
does Optus YesG (an others that access it such as Exetel etc) and expanded Vodafone networks

E160E:
"HSDPA/UMTS 2100MHz"
Only does 2100 Mhz so is limited and won't access any of the 850 or 900 Mhz expanded networks.

So, in terms of coverage go E169 for Optus, Vodafone, Exetel etc and E160 for Telstra.

NS_Sherlock writes...

To clarify the important differences for coverage:

E160:

You are not correct with some of your info.
The model numbers correct capabilities are as follows.

.
E169 is UMTS 900/2100Mhz 7.2Mbps Capable
This does Optus YesG, and will work on the new 900Mhz Vodafone network when it comes.
http://www.huawei.com/mobileweb/en/products/view.do?id=1181
I am happily using one of these for my Virgin Broadband connection is a 900Mhz area.
.

E160 is UMTS 850/1900/2100Mhz 3.6Mbps Capable
This will work on 2100Mhz networks as well as Telstra NextG
http://www.huawei.com/mobileweb/en/products/view.do?id=1960
As far as I know these are the modems 3 now provide since signing their NextG roaming agreeement with telstra.
.

E160E is UMTS 900Mhz/2100Mhz 3.6Mbps capable
This does Optus YesG, and will work on the new 900Mhz Vodafone network when it comes. But it is slower than the E169 at 3.6Mbps.
http://personal.optus.com.au/web/ocaportal.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=Template_wRHS&FP=/personal/internet/prepaidwirelessbroadband&site=personal
I bought one of these to set up a friend on Pre-Paid wireless and I can comfirm it is definently 900/2100Mhz UMTS because where it is now being used there is only 900Mhz network coverage, but I have also used the same modem in a 2100Mhz area. And yes it does say E160E on the modem.
.

E160G is UMTS 2100Mhz 3.6Mbps Capable
This will work on 2100Mhz networks only.
http://www.three.com.au/cs/ContentServer?subId=1156241342637&homeId=1154931041257&c=Page&pagename=Three%2FPage%2FBusinessVideoCallingTemplate&p=1155054450837&cid=1207033928485
As far as I know only 3 ever provided these modems.
.

.

So to summarise there are at least 3 seperate models of the E160, all with different frequency capabilities.
The E160, the E160E, and the E160G.
Kind of confusing at first eh?

AREA 51 writes...

E160E is UMTS 900Mhz/2100Mhz 3.6Mbps capable

This does Optus YesG, and will work on the new 900Mhz Vodafone network when it comes. But it is slower than the E169 at 3.6Mbps.

http://personal.optus.com.au/web/ocaportal.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=Template_wRHS&FP=/personal/internet/prepaidwirelessbroadband&site=personal

I bought one of these to set up a friend on Pre-Paid wireless and I can comfirm it is definently 900/2100Mhz UMTS because where it is now being used there is only 900Mhz network coverage, but I have also used the same modem in a 2100Mhz area. And yes it does say E160E on the modem.

From the specs possum22 listed for the E160E:
2. Specifications
– Technical standard
HSDPA/UMTS: 3GPP R99, R5
GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 3GPP R99
– Operating frequency
HSDPA/UMTS 2100MHz
GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900MHz

Doesn't that mean that where your friend is using it in an area with only 900MHz coverage that it is only connecting at slower GSM/GPRS/EDGE speeds, so yes it works but not as fast as in a 2100MHz area where it would connect using HSDPA/UTMS?

enri writes...

Doesn't that mean that where your friend is using it in an area with only 900MHz coverage that it is only connecting at slower GSM/GPRS/EDGE speeds, so yes it works but not as fast as in a 2100MHz area where it would connect using HSDPA/UTMS?

I dont know where Possum22 got his specs from but he is wrong.

From the specs possum22 listed for the E160E:
2. Specifications
- Technical standard
HSDPA/UMTS: 3GPP R99, R5
GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 3GPP R99
- Operating frequency
HSDPA/UMTS 2100MHz
GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900MHz

Those are the specs are for the E160G (As was sold by Three), NOT the E160E (Currently sold by Optus).

The E160G is UMTS 2100Mhz only.

The E160E is UMTS 900/2100Mhz.

I was using a E160E just 2 hours ago at a clients place and I can tell you it was NOT running on the GSM network.
It was definently running on the UMTS 900Mhz network with the speeds to match.
For the record I was using it to download drivers and was getting about 200KBytes a second download speeds.

AREA 51 writes...

I dont know where Possum22 got his specs from but he is wrong.

I got it from google, but it seems that google is not always right!

Some sites list it as HSDPA/UMTS 2100MHz only & some as HSDPA/UMTS 850/1900/2100MHz.

The Huawei site only shows the E160 model which is HSDPA/UMTS 850/1900/2100MHz, not the E or G variants!

It seems ISP's can order them on what frequencies they desire, as you have found with the one from Optus on UMTS 900/2100Mhz.

possum22 writes...

It seems ISP's can order them on what frequencies they desire, as you have found with the one from Optus on UMTS 900/2100Mhz.

Exactly right. :-)

It can be as confusing as all hell to deal with the different versions of the E160 modem.

And you are correct, the Huawei site only list's the plain E160, 850/1900/2100Mhz model.

I have only been able to find references to the E160G 2100Mhz and E160E 900/2100Mhz variants on the Three, and Optus sites respectively.

Also reading from other people posting on these forums that have those variants of the E160.

EDIT:
BTW hope no offence was taken from the tone of my other comment against you.
Rereading it the next day I can see that it could be taken quite badly.

So if the specs are different, does that mean the software for each (e.g.driver version, etc) is different?

I've been using an E169 for the past 9 months, and had the chance to look an E160E last Friday at the local Optus Shop. Seems no point in my swapping to a slower modem out here in the sticks. Have my E169 set to "WCDMA only" and "all bands" (on a Mac).

@jhend
You are right. The E169 does have an external antenna connector, however it's hidden beneath the housing, as you can see here.

@countryslicker
No, Huawei has generic drivers and a generic dashboard, which means that all software and drivers from Huawei is compatible with any of their USB modems.

You guys might be interested in the 3G modem wiki, where you can also get an overview of the different versions of the E160/E/G/X

The E169 that I have (black casing, from Virgin) has a lid on the side that lifts off to show the antenna port.

Anyone know why Optus doesn't approve the E169 on their "FAQs: Pre-Paid Wireless" page? I presume it would work if you put in an optus sim.

No, except for the download bandwidth both devices are identical.

Would it be a better option to buy an unlocked 'Sierra Compass 885'. From what I've read of the specs it seems to handle a larger range of frequencies and provide 7.2mbps

UMTS/HSDPA 800/850/1900/2100 MHz
GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
microSD/SDHC support

JonBOY26 writes...

Would it be a better option to buy an unlocked 'Sierra Compass 885'

That would be an excellent choice if you are using telstra. If you are using 3 and want to roam to telstra it would also be good. It gets 850 MHZ for Telstra and 2100MHz for 3.

It wouldn't really be the best choice for optus or vodafone or their numerous resellers. It doesn't get 900 MHz HSDPA so it won't work in the country areas. It would work OK in their city 2100MHz areas, but you can get much less expensive modems if thats all you need.

zaxa writes...

It wouldn't really be the best choice for optus or vodafone or their numerous resellers. It doesn't get 900 MHz HSDPA so it won't work in the country areas. It would work OK in their city 2100MHz areas, but you can get much less expensive modems if thats all you need.

ok thanks. Was thinking about buying a 3G modem to use with Inetrnode NodeMobile, which runs through the Optus network, so the Sierra is not a good option then.

Is there a 7.2mbps adapter that handles both 900 and 2100 MHz HSDPA? The E160E does both but is only 3.6mbps

The E169 does 7.2 if it has the latest firmware – any that are fairly new will have this already installed. These work on 900 & 2100 and are probably the most common ones on ebay – so they aren't usually too expensive.

JonBOY26 writes...

Is there a 7.2mbps adapter that handles both 900 and 2100 MHz HSDPA?

If you want the best, the SW Compass 889 is available: http://www.expansys.com.au/d.aspx?i=182617

Or wait for the "future-proof" SW 307 (21 Mb/s download): http://www.expansys.com.au/d.aspx?i=186789

Exetel is supplying Huawei E160E modems instead of E169.

To get back to the original question at the start of this thread, on current networks, will the average user notice the difference between the E169 HSPDA speed of 7.2MB/s vs the E160E speed of 3.6MB/s?

These were some side by side tests we did back in late May 2009.
In round figures, the E160 only achieves about 65% of the speed of the E169. I suspect that this is because the signaling rate of the E160 (3.6Mbps) is lower than the E169 (7.2mbps).

Anyway, these are potentially the side by side figures you seek :)

---------------------------------------------------------------

Some simple tests which confirm the obvious. The lower signalling
rate of the E160 (3.6Mpbps Vs 7.2Mbps) does seem to effect
performance. The receiver sensitivity of both units does seem similar
and should not be an issue.

Download/Upolad tests (all within 5 minutes of each other.)

1. E169 2.0Mbps / 0.05Mbps
2. E160 1.35Mbps/0.05Mbps
3. E160 1.14Mbps/0.05Mbps
4. E169 1.73Mbps/0.05Mbps
5. E169 2.25Mbps/0.05Mbps

The connection signal was 50%-75% WCDMA for both units on idle.
On download, the connection signals became 56%-75% HSDPA for both units.

Thanks Mike, I'll ask Exetel about exchanging the E160E they have just sent me for the E169 that I ordered from them.

Crazyhopscotch writes...

I'll ask Exetel about exchanging the E160E they have just sent me for the E169 that I ordered from them.

Exetel currently provide a choice of the E160E for $95 or the E1762 for $165 on post-paid plans and only the E160E for $95 on the pre-paid plans. The E169 has not been available for some time now.

Cant speak for other ISP's but we only supply the 1762 these days. The receiver seems slightly more sensitive then the E169, which is helpful when you are at a distance from the tower. It costs more but its worth it.

Dont forget to buy a 5 metre USB extension lead as well. Good Luck.

Mike Parnell writes...

These were some side by side tests we did back in late May 2009.

In round figures, the E160 only achieves about 65% of the speed of the E169. I suspect that this is because the signaling rate of the E160 (3.6Mbps) is lower than the E169 (7.2mbps).

On download, the connection signals became 56%-75% HSDPA for both units.

The OP referred to E160E NOT E160. WHat are you referring to in the above post?? This thread is fully of many variants of the E160 family so we need to be precise, no?

iluv2churn writes...

The OP referred to E160E NOT E160.

The tests are as relevant to the E160E as they are to the E160.

Are you saying that the E160E and the E160 are identical?

iluv2churn writes...

Are you saying that the E160E and the E160 are identical?

They are except for the WCDMA frequencies covered:

• E160 – 850, 1900, 2100 MHz
• E160G – 2100 MHz
• E160E – 900, 2100 MHz