• TV
  • MOVIES
  • MUSIC
  • SHOWBIZ
  • SOAPS
  • GAMING
  • TECH
  • FORUMS
  • Follow
    • Follow
    • facebook
    • twitter
    • google+
    • instagram
    • youtube
Hearst Corporation
  • TV
  • MOVIES
  • MUSIC
  • SHOWBIZ
  • SOAPS
  • GAMING
  • TECH
  • FORUMS
Forums
  • Register
  • Login
  • Forums
  • Gadgets
  • Mobile Phones
Three Mobile Broadband - Automatically Disconnects
cooler
04-09-2015
Within the last 2 days, when I connect to the internet via 3Connect, it connects to the internet, but after about 5-10 minutes it disconnects automatically then displays this message about it cannot detect the SIM card in the modem.

http://s11.postimg.org/46j9ju2lf/3connect_error.png

When I click Ok, it then displays 'No service' in 3Connect.

It also displays another popup message which says "Error 663: The modem (or other connecting device) is already in use or not configured properly".

Does this seem that it's a mast issue or some fault with the dongle itself as it's specifically mentioning no detection of the SIM card?
chrisjr
04-09-2015
Is it possible to remove the SIM from the dongle? If so do it and give the contacts a wipe over just to clear away any gunge build up (doesn't necessarily need to be visible either) and put the SIM back.

Always possible the SIM is faulty if cleaning the contacts doesn't work.

The other thing to try is to uninstall all the 3Connect stuff and drivers then re-install them just in case something has become corrupt.
cooler
04-09-2015
Originally Posted by chrisjr:
“Is it possible to remove the SIM from the dongle? If so do it and give the contacts a wipe over just to clear away any gunge build up (doesn't necessarily need to be visible either) and put the SIM back.

Always possible the SIM is faulty if cleaning the contacts doesn't work.

The other thing to try is to uninstall all the 3Connect stuff and drivers then re-install them just in case something has become corrupt.”

Yesterday, I removed the SIM from the dongle then reinserted it, but the problem still occurred again today.

I'll try re-installing the 3connect software.
hTconeM9user_gi
05-09-2015
Originally Posted by cooler:
“Within the last 2 days, when I connect to the internet via 3Connect, it connects to the internet, but after about 5-10 minutes it disconnects automatically then displays this message about it cannot detect the SIM card in the modem.

http://s11.postimg.org/46j9ju2lf/3connect_error.png

When I click Ok, it then displays 'No service' in 3Connect.

It also displays another popup message which says "Error 663: The modem (or other connecting device) is already in use or not configured properly".

Does this seem that it's a mast issue or some fault with the dongle itself as it's specifically mentioning no detection of the SIM card?”

The line I have highlighted is the clue the software in the dongle did not install properly and you need to go into your laptop/ computer and uninstall it completely restart your laptop put dongle in a different usb port if possible and then let it reinstall its self with all the drivers and only touch your keys on your laptop when it shows up.
if after that it still does not work then take it back to the shop and let them know you have been sold a dodgy dongle they will replace it for you.
cooler
05-09-2015
Originally Posted by hTconeM9user_gi:
“The line I have highlighted is the clue the software in the dongle did not install properly and you need to go into your laptop/ computer and uninstall it completely restart your laptop put dongle in a different usb port if possible and then let it reinstall its self with all the drivers and only touch your keys on your laptop when it shows up.
if after that it still does not work then take it back to the shop and let them know you have been sold a dodgy dongle they will replace it for you.”

I uninstalled the 3connect software then restarted the computer then re-installed the drivers, but the same problem occurred about 1 minute after connecting to the internet.

As well as the other error message, it also shows a different message. Now it says- "Error 692: There was a hardware failure in the modem (or other connecting device)".

I've also tried using another dongle, a Huawei E1750, but the problem also occurs with that. So it doesn't seem that the dongle is faulty.
chrisjr
05-09-2015
If both dongles are Huawei then go to the Huawei website and look on the support pages for a download of their drivers and possibly the Mobile Partner software. Try using that instead of the 3Connect stuff.

I have a Huawei dongle and last night tried to install it on my new work Macbook. It failed miserably, the 3 software simply refused to run. Which was odd since it worked perfectly on my previous Macbook with the same version of Mac OS - go figure.

Anyway a bit of googling led me to the Huawei support site and this Mobile Partner software (a Windows version is available). I downloaded and installed it and it worked first time. Automatically detected the dongle was on the 3 network and rock solid connection.

OK it doesn't open a web browser and take you to the My 3 website like 3 Connect but otherwise it seems to do the job. Might be an option worth looking at.
cooler
05-09-2015
Originally Posted by chrisjr:
“If both dongles are Huawei then go to the Huawei website and look on the support pages for a download of their drivers and possibly the Mobile Partner software. Try using that instead of the 3Connect stuff.

I have a Huawei dongle and last night tried to install it on my new work Macbook. It failed miserably, the 3 software simply refused to run. Which was odd since it worked perfectly on my previous Macbook with the same version of Mac OS - go figure.

Anyway a bit of googling led me to the Huawei support site and this Mobile Partner software (a Windows version is available). I downloaded and installed it and it worked first time. Automatically detected the dongle was on the 3 network and rock solid connection.

OK it doesn't open a web browser and take you to the My 3 website like 3 Connect but otherwise it seems to do the job. Might be an option worth looking at.”

I tried using the Mobile Partner software. It connected to the internet, but the connection only lasted for 5 minutes then it disconnected and displayed this message, shown in the screenshot below.

http://s24.postimg.org/3y2v6dlt1/mob...tner_error.png

I don't know if this maybe means the USB port has become faulty as the messages in both connection software refer to hardware failure and the device being disconnected.

When it does disconnect it seems to happen after about 5 minutes, so does this indicate the problem might be software based because if it was hardware based, wouldn't the disconnects occur more randomly.
jchamier
05-09-2015
Originally Posted by cooler:
“I don't know if this maybe means the USB port has become faulty as the messages in both connection software refer to hardware failure and the device being disconnected.

When it does disconnect it seems to happen after about 5 minutes, so does this indicate the problem might be software based because if it was hardware based, wouldn't the disconnects occur more randomly.”

Could be a faulty USB modem, or a faulty USB port. Try updating "chipset drivers" if you can find them - the USB port could be Intel, AMD or a third party like VIA.
cooler
05-09-2015
Originally Posted by jchamier:
“Could be a faulty USB modem, or a faulty USB port. Try updating "chipset drivers" if you can find them - the USB port could be Intel, AMD or a third party like VIA.”

I connected to the internet by right clicking on the network icon in the task bar then clicking 'Connect to a network'. It's connected for about 2 hours and 20 minutes and hasn't disconnected yet.

Earlier today, I tried this method of connection, but it still disconnected after a few minutes. It seems to be more reliable than using the connection software though. Not sure why.

I'll try to update the chipset drivers.
Thine Wonk
05-09-2015
I guess it could be the cable too, worth swapping that out and plugging it into a different USB port.
cooler
05-09-2015
Originally Posted by Thine Wonk:
“I guess it could be the cable too, worth swapping that out and plugging it into a different USB port.”

Due to the design of the laptop (Dell Inspiron), the dongle can only be used in the right sided usb port because the two usb ports on the left side of the laptop are next to the power cord, so the dongle is too wide to plug in when the power cord is plugged in. I'll test it without the power cord though in case it's the usb port.
jchamier
06-09-2015
Originally Posted by cooler:
“Due to the design of the laptop (Dell Inspiron), the dongle can only be used in the right sided usb port because the two usb ports on the left side of the laptop are next to the power cord, so the dongle is too wide to plug in when the power cord is plugged in. I'll test it without the power cord though in case it's the usb port.”

You need a 0.5m USB extension:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B005LMWAE...&s=electronics

Even shorter ones sometimes come with memory sticks.
jonmorris
06-09-2015
Most likely the dongle is drawing a bit too much power and is being disabled. If another USB port doesn't work, when I had the same problem with a dongle connected to a router - the solution was to use a powered USB hub. A bit messy, but it worked fine.
cooler
06-09-2015
Originally Posted by jonmorris:
“Most likely the dongle is drawing a bit too much power and is being disabled. If another USB port doesn't work, when I had the same problem with a dongle connected to a router - the solution was to use a powered USB hub. A bit messy, but it worked fine.”

I've never had this problem in the past and I've used this dongle for about 3 years.

Does this mean that something must have changed on the OS/software end of things for the dongle to be drawing too much power?
cooler
07-09-2015
I tried using the dongle in another usb port, but the same error message appears about it cannot detect the sim card in the modem.

http://s11.postimg.org/46j9ju2lf/3connect_error.png

So it seems that the source of the problem isn't either a faulty dongle or usb port. Which suggests it might be a local mast issue.

Are there any websites which provide info on whether masts are under going maintenance or having problems or should I contact Three about this?
jonmorris
07-09-2015
If it's saying there's no SIM I really do doubt it has anything to do with the mast.

There's some hardware/driver issue for sure. I am sorry but I can't think of any other solutions, but I'd be looking at the SIM itself or the dongle. I still think it's likely power related (which in turn means a momentary loss of power that makes the device think the SIM has been removed), but without being there I can't try different things.

Try putting the SIM in a phone and see if it works there?
cooler
07-09-2015
Originally Posted by jonmorris:
“If it's saying there's no SIM I really do doubt it has anything to do with the mast.

There's some hardware/driver issue for sure. I am sorry but I can't think of any other solutions, but I'd be looking at the SIM itself or the dongle. I still think it's likely power related (which in turn means a momentary loss of power that makes the device think the SIM has been removed), but without being there I can't try different things.

Try putting the SIM in a phone and see if it works there?”

Is there any way to determine whether it's a power related issue?

If it is a power related issue, does that indicate that some internal part in the laptop is failing or is it more likely to be a software issue i.e caused by windows updates?

The SIM is a regular sized SIM. My phone only accepts a micro SIM, so it won't fit in.
jonmorris
07-09-2015
You don't have any old phones that took the regular mini SIM?
cooler
07-09-2015
Originally Posted by jonmorris:
“You don't have any old phones that took the regular mini SIM?”

I've got old phones which take a regular sized SIM, but they don't have a tethering feature so they wouldn't be of any use.

Also, my old phones aren't smartphones, so im not sure they'd even be compatible with a mobile broadband SIM.
jonmorris
07-09-2015
You're checking if it loses a network connection, and you could test the data connection just fine on the phone itself as long as you have the APN.
cooler
07-09-2015
Originally Posted by jonmorris:
“You're checking if it loses a network connection, and you could test the data connection just fine on the phone itself as long as you have the APN.”

My old phones are Nokia's. I've read on Three's website that Three SIM cards will only work in 3G phones, so it wouldn't be compatible as it isn't a 3G phone.

Upon restarting the computer twice then connecting, it connected okay and has stayed connected for 4 hours without losing a network connection. So it's temperamental, but can stay connected a long while.
cooler
09-09-2015
I tried the dongle in two other laptops. The same error message appears about it cannot detect the SIM card.

http://s11.postimg.org/46j9ju2lf/3connect_error.png

That at least narrows it down to being either a fault with the SIM card or a mast issue. Can't think what else it could be.
VIEW DESKTOP SITE TOP

JOIN US HERE

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Hearst Corporation

Hearst Corporation

DIGITAL SPY, PART OF THE HEARST UK ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK

© 2015 Hearst Magazines UK is the trading name of the National Magazine Company Ltd, 72 Broadwick Street, London, W1F 9EP. Registered in England 112955. All rights reserved.

  • Terms & Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Complaints
  • Site Map