4G-stick Huawei E3372h-320: a question out of interest

Discussion
1

Hi all, :wave:

does anybody of you use the 4G-stick Huawei E3372h-320 :question:

If yes, I have a question about a specific point. Everything´s alright; I´m just asking out of curiosity. :blush:

In contrast to my previous stick (which was a MEDIONmobile Web-Stick (model S4012) = Huawei E1550),
the new one no longer logs on to the computer as a modem, but as a virtual network card.

A new LAN interface (“Kabelgebundene Verbindung 2”) is created and the computer connects to this one.

Internet connection itself is established using the stick via the browser. The respective page is “http://192.168.8.1/”.
Here a Huawei-powered GUI presents itself and I establish the internet connection by clicking on something like “connect”.

As far as the LED of the stick is concerned the manual says the following:

Indicator

It indicates the status of the USB Stick.

• Green, blinking twice every 2s: No service/The network
is not registered.

• Green, blinking once every 0.2s: The software of the
USB Stick is being upgraded.

• Green, blinking once every 2s: The 2G network has
already been registered.

• Blue, blinking once every 2s: The 3G /3G+ network has
already been registered.

• Cyan, blinking once every 2s: The LTE network has
already been registered.

• Green, solid: The USB Stick is connected to a 2G
network.

• Blue, solid: The USB Stick is connected to a 3G network.

• Cyan, solid: The USB Stick is connected to an LTE
network.

• Off: The USB Stick is removed.

After the device is inserted into the USB port, the
indicator will turn solid green, indicating that the
software startup process has initiated. After the startup
is complete, the indicator works as detailed above.

That´s all clear so far.

Yet I discovered that this stick behaves somewhat differently from my ancient Huawei E1550 which worked as a modem (using ppp0 as inerface).

When connecting to a 3G-network the Huawei E1550 displayed a blue LED which stayed on during the entire time of connection.

However: when doing some up- or downloading the blue LED was a bit brighter. So you could easily tell whether the stick was just up- or downloading something.
In an “idle” state (“stand-by” so-to-speak") the blue LED was a bit darker.

Just to be clear: The LED was constantly on, just with different intensities.

Now with the new Huawei E3372h-320 it´s different.

When a connection to a 4G-network (it´s the same with 3G) is established the LED lights up with consistent intensity. It doesn´t matter whether or not the stick
is in the middle of an upload or download process or whether it´s just in an idle state. The LED-intensity remains unaltered.

So my question to anyone using the Huawei E3372h-320 would be: Is it the same with you :question:

Many thanks for your opinions in advance and many greetings from
Rosika :slightly_smiling_face:

P.S.:

Internet connection with the Huawei E3372h-320 is generally rock-solid.

It only once occurred that the Huawei E3372h-320 disconnected itself from the 3G network. This was during a pretty severe thunderstorm with heavy raining and hailstorm.

As far as I can remember the connection re-established itself after a while as soon as the weather conditions were better.

2

As nearly as I can tell, connecting to the internet outside of the US is very different than inside the US. You’re using a USB stick as a portable hot spot? I just plug my computer into my cable modem.

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3

I’ve lost confidence in the brand so I don’t use any Huawei products.

4

Hi Bill, :wave:

thanks for your reply.

Not quite. I´m using the Huawei-stick as my sole means of internet connection. It just gives me access to the net.
No hot spot thingy configured.

Many greetings.
Rosika :slightly_smiling_face:

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5

Hi Terry, :wave:

thanks for your opinion anyway.

Many greetings.
Rosika :slightly_smiling_face:

6

Thanks for the explanation, although I don’t understand what you are connecting to. We have no public or private wifi sources in the US. All ISP’s are physically accessed via coax or fibre wiring along the street. Well, also those promulgated from cell towers, but that’s too spendy to use as a constant source. Variety is indeed the spice of life.

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7

Hi again,

thanks for your latest reply.

Well, the Huawei 4G-stick connects to the internet via cell towers (mobile network).
Due to various particular circumstances I cannot make use of DSL subscription (coax or fibre wiring), so I´m pretty much dependent on such a stick. :blush:

As far as costs are concerned I´m currently making use of the AldiTalk infrastructure (using telefónica here in Germany) with the “L”-flatrate .

This gives me 5 GB highspeed internet access per 28 days (quite sufficient for me) which costs me 9.99 €.
Another possibility would be the “XL”-flatrate with 10 GB highspeed internet access for 14.99 €.
https://media.medion.com/cms/medion/alditalkde/ALDI-TALK-Preisliste.pdf?dl=001

Many greetings.
Rosika :slightly_smiling_face:

8

It sounds as if population density is a factor. Much of the US is less densely populated and geographic distance is a constant factor. Hence the need for physical wire (or coax or fibre) to promulgate signals. The most common mode of internet contact here is via cable TV–Xfinity/Comcast, Charter, or various municipal wired networks. I don’t know of anyone who uses cell towers as a source within their homes or offices. Satellite TV companies offer some internet capability. Starlink is growing as a possibility, with ‘trains’ of satellites in high earth orbit; right now it’s a viable choice in North America at higher latitudes. I’ve heard that broadband is more available in Korea and Japan. I’m curious to find out how the signals are transmitted and received. Universal broadband is being viewed as a necessary utility, like clean water or electricity; what modes exist and what is possible?
Thanks for your detailed response!

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9

Hi Bill, :wave:

You may be right here. This ceratinly makes sense.

In actual fact the most common way of internet contact here in Germany is via DSL (telephone line) and to a certain extent via cable as well.

That sounds interesting. But what about upload? Does one have to use a telephone line for that as well or is it possible to transmit to the satellites directly :question:
That would be awesome. :wink:

I´m sorry I wouldn´t know about that. Perhaps there´s someone else here in the forum who can shed some light on the matter.

Many greetings.
Rosika :slightly_smiling_face:

10

If I’m not mistaken, Starlink operates both ways quite well (Starlink Internet Review: Pricing, Plans and Speeds). But new tech sometimes has bumps in the road. Hughesnet offers 25Mbp download and 5Mbp upload, but I don’t know if that’s typical.

Starlink proposes to blanket the earth (except for the poles) when they have their satellite arrays in place. Imagine modern broadband access in central Africa, the Amazon rainforest, in Germany and in Oregon, without having to deal with local wiring and building codes!

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11

I would recommend everyone to be more skeptical and not so hyped about Starlink. Considering its founder has so many failed and absolutely moronic projects, there is no guarantee Starlink will even work.

12

I thought I was sufficiently cautious, but I have to agree with you. Elon Musk is NOT the guy I’d bet the ranch on.

13

To be fair, he is not an absolute failure, obviously. Tesla is not that bad (though, he is not the actual inventor, but had become the main investor at some point in time) and SpaceX, despite some failures with rockets, like the supposedly “cheaper” returning rockets, which yet do not seem cheaper, is pretty fine. Definitely not “bad”.

But if you look at Hyperloop or his flying cars, or the ridiculously stupid Las Vegas car tube… It’s like he wants to be a successful and serious businessman on the one side, but on the other side he wants to be a ridiculous clown. Perhaps it’s just a huge marketing gag? Who knows… :smiley:

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14

Hi Bill, :wave:

thanks a lot for the info and the link, which I´ve just read through.
It really seems very interesting indeed.

Yet as far as I can tell it´s surely the cost factor which will prove to be a stumbling block for many potential users.

During the current public beta, Starlink internet costs $99 per month.
[…] You have to invest $499 up front for a Starlink satellite dish, modem, and other required hardware

and:

10% of the world’s population live in extreme poverty,
[…] Starlink’s high equipment cost places the service far above the reach of millions around the world who could benefit from internet access.

I couldn´t agree more. :slightly_frowning_face:

But all in all: technology-wise it´s all very exiting.

Many greetings.
Rosika :slightly_smiling_face:

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15

Is it too naive to hope that once the system becomes totally installed and proves to be really world-wide, that the Starlink folks use subscriptions from wealthy areas to subsidize access for poor areas? It’s honorable to make clean food and water available to everyone; broadband is rapidly becoming as essential as those. If a portion of my fees for broadband access can go to help provide service to people who otherwise can’t get it, I’d gladly participate.

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