AXIMCom MR-102N mobile router

We’re calling it - the days of the standalone 3G dongle or modem are numbered. In their place, a new class of portable router has emerged. The AXIMCom MR-102N is one such device. Packed into a small device, marginally larger than a cigarette box, is a 3G modem, wireless router and battery pack that will create a wireless LAN anywhere, anytime. 
The AXIMCom MR-102N is very easy to set up. It has an Ethernet port, USB port, power switch and AC input. The Ethernet connection is used for the initial set-up so that you’re not creating an open wireless hotspot before you’ve done any configuration.Unlike many of the routers in this class, the MR-102N supports a variety of advanced network settings such as port forwarding and VPN.

We tested the AXIMCom MR-102N with a USB modem from Optus. We powered on the MR-102N, plugged in the modem and went into the browser-based configuration utility. This was both Windows and Mac friendly. Given that it worked with both Firefox and Chrome, we’d expect the same from Linux.

Setting up the modem required that we choose the brand from a drop down list and then enter the APN settings. Once that was in, we could choose whether to connect automatically or on command. One of the handy things about the MR-102N is that it’s not only able to use USB modems. If you’re an iPhone user and have tethering enabled, you can connect your iPhone and share its 3G connection. You can also use Windows Mobile and Android phones in the same way.

Perhaps the most important thing we can say about the MR-102N is that it just works. Once we’d gone through the initial set up, the MR-102N delivered a reliable Internet connection to an iPhone, iPad, netbook and notebook computer. Battery life was reasonable with several hours of use on a single charge.

Range over the 802.11n radio was solid with ping times only falling once we several several meters away. The signal didn't completely drop away until we were over 12 metres away and with a solid wall interfering with the line of sight.

For $199, the AXIMCom MR-102N delivers an easy way to use your existing 3G data service and share it with multiple devices. With support for all Australian carriers and a bunch from other countries as well, the MR-102N makes a worthy travel companion.

LAN port problem on the Speedy Modem Aztech

This past week I was having trouble accessing the internet at home. For some reason access to the internet very slow, especially for domains outside the country. My wife complains about the lunkhead access Facebook while I waited until the hiccups susestudio access to. I had to do tunelling to my hosting server with a slightly increased speed.

At first I thought this was the impact of the storm Morakot problem in Taiwan, he added there are some Denial of Service attacks against several major online service providers such as Facebook and Twitter.

Since some time the problem is still not finished, I started doing debugging because my assumption might be wrong. I began by trying to access a share to Speedy without another computer. Still remains slow. The strange, even a ping to the modem itself several times RTO (Request Time Out).

My suspicions turned to a cable connection. I change the phone network cable but no change. I also replaced the cable UTP connections with others but no change. I even did Crimping cable 2-3 times and make sure the cable is not a problem but when installed, ping from the laptop to the modem remains RTO. At the same time, if I connect to the switch / hub, the ping to other computers running without interruption.

Suddenly my suspicions turn to the modem Speedy. I got this modem as early as the first bundle Speedy subscription. This ADSL modem with a series of branded Aztech 650EU. Because I do not have a replacement ADSL modem, I decided to just leave first, then tomorrow going to buy a replacement.

I was idly browsing to Google to find out if there is someone else who experienced this. Browsing this is soooo long it provides an interesting information, namely that there are some colleagues have problems with the LAN port (RJ-45) on Aztech modem they own. To be sure I tried using the USB cable is detected by both the existing openSUSE 10.3 on one computer. openSUSE 10.3 was just so happens that because usually I use version 11.1 or 11.2. Installing openSUSE 10.3 is a relic of Zimbra training last week.

My internet connection test with openSUSE 10.3 + USB cable Aztech 650EU modem access was very smooth. I tried again and again and also try to download large files well turn out victorious. Ngacir facebook, twitter kaboor and susestudio ngibrit (hehehe, running out of adjectives:-P).

Because the condition is now only openSUSE 10.3 computers that could connect to the internet, I do the setup for him to act also as a router so other computers can connect to the internet connection aboard.

I checked this morning, the quality is still good. So if you have friends who use Aztech ADSL Modem 650EU or similar and there is a problem with slow internet access, first test with the supplied USB cable.