Hardware
Mobile Phone | Accessories
Long-term Field Test: 23.08.2013.–31.10.2015
Telekom Speedstick LTE III
- Introduction
- Purchasing
- Equipment
- Tech Specs
- Practice
- Firmware
- Software
- Photos
- Close-ups
- Pros
- Cons
- Conclusion
- Text auf Deutsch
LTE Modem as USB Stick
Photo: Telekom Speedstick III – small but mighty!
Purchasing
23.08.2013: After work I take a ride with the train to the local Telekom Flagship Store (Shopping Mall MyZeil in Frankfurt on the Main). In that great Store I subscribe an additional data tariff plan CombiCard Mobile Data XL Zuhause to my existent postpaid Tariff Plan Complete Comfort XXL and aside from that I purchase the Mobile Broadband Modem Telekom Speedstick LTE III for 99,95 EUR.
In that big store is press of people. In spite of enough sales staff there is a long waiting time:
Come into the store at 18:50, registration by the front desk lady, thirty minutes later served very well and leave the store 19:30. Because of the friendly and competent service the long time waiting was worthy.
Equipment
- Telekom Speedstick LTE III (hardware based on Huawei E3276s-150)
- USB cable
- Manual
Photo: Telekom Speedstick III Product Contents
Tech Specs
Model Name
Telekom Speedstick LTE III (hardware based on Huawei E3276s-150)
Measurements and Weight
92,0 × 32,0 x 14,0 mm | ca. 30 g
Colour
white
Cellular Network and Data Transfer Speed
Quadband with LTE 800, 900, 1800, 2100, 2600 MHz
Triband with HSPA+ 3G 900, 1700, 1900, 2100 MHz
Cellular Data Transfer via: GPRS, EDGE, UMTS, HSPA , LTE
Max. Download Speed via LTE: up to 150 Mbit/s
Max. Upload Speed via LTE: up to 50 Mbit/s
Max. Download Speed via HSPA: up to 42 Mbit/s
Max. Upload Speed via HSPA: up to 5.76 Mbit/s
Supported GSM frequencies in MHz: 850, 900, 1800, 1900 (Quadband)
Supported 3G/HSPA frequencies in MHz: 900, 1700, 1900, 2100
Supported LTE frequencies in MHz: 800, 900, 1800, 2100, 2600
Slot for microSD card
memory cards with max. 32 GB
Ports
1 × USB 2.0, 2 × external antenna CRC-9
MIMO Support
2×2
Chipset
HiSilicon Hi6920
Supported OS
Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, Mac OS X v10.6 up
Practice
Transmission Type: variable or fixed – two Examples
This is just as important for difficult reception conditions as for good ones.
When 4G Signal is worse than 3G
Sometimes LTE is quite weak, but 3G/UMTS is very well receivable (HSPA+).
However, the modem prefers radio cells with LTE and you could then only surf slowly. With HSPA+ you would then be on the road much faster.
So you set it to “3G” and surf faster than with LTE.
Very good Reception from LTE, great Reception from HSPA+
There you receive two very good radio cells, but you want to stay logged in at LTE – so set it to “4G” and you'll surf faster and more stable.
LTE smartphones and LTE modems are not yet very widespread at the time of testing in 2013. This means that you will have to share a radio mast/base station with fewer users.
External Antenna can be connected
The included short USB cable gives you a little distance to the notebook. That can give an antenna gain while you have a poor signal.
In the angled position of the USB plug vertical operation is possible. Also by using the USB cable the Modem Stick stays vertical and stable on the desk. Thereby it has a better radio reception as in horizontal position.
For very difficult cases with a very poor signal you can use the two antenna jacks to use an external antenna with higher gain.
Firmware and Updates
Delivered with version: ? (unfortunately not noted)
23.10.2013: New firmware version 21.430.03.04.55 to get the highest speed (Cat4, max. 150 Mbit/s) is ready to download (118 MB, see picture #1).
07.06.2014: New firmware version
11.10.2015: New firmware version
14.06.2016: New firmware version
19.09.2016: New firmware version
01.08.2017: New firmware version (see the two pictures below)
Picture #1 (German text: New Firmware available, 118 MB)
Picture #2: Installation in progress …
Software
Menu Languages: German, Englisch, Bulgarian, Turkish, Slovenian, Albanian, Romanian, Polish, Dutch, Macedonian, Hungarian, Croatian, Grecian, Montenegrin, Czech
SIM-Lock: no lock
Telekom Internet Manager
The Software from Deutsche Telekom. Compatible with the following operating systems:
Microsoft: Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8 (Desktop Version only, presumed current Service Pack)
Apple: Mac OS X 10.6, 10.7, 10.8 (always presumed the last update)
The software starts automatic after plug in the stick into a free USB jack.
By using a SIM card from Deutsche Telekom the installation is very simple – just key in your PIN and the software is ready to work.
It works also with SIM cards from other providers but then you have to setup a new profile with the APN data from your provider.
Photos
Photo: Telekom Speedstick III with removed cover
Photo: Telekom Speedstick III with removed cover
Photo: Telekom Speedstick III with detached cover, SIM card is in the slot
Photos above: Telekom Speedstick III upper and bottom side (mouse click for large format)
Close-ups
Photos: Telekom Speedstick III in large format to see them bigger on Monitors and Tablets
Pros
- newest technology
- very good build quality
- very high data rate
- jackets for external antennas
- integrated card reader for microSD memory cards to 32 GB
- very reasonable price
Cons
- Slot for microSD card: memory cards with max. 32 GB
Conclusion
Recent Technology at reasonable Price
This handy and universal mobile broadband modem with the design of a USB-Stick offers the newest wireless technology with a really reasonable price!
All current standards are includes, so it offers a very high data rate. At the sales start it had only 100 Mbit/s, but later on at 23.10.2013 an update from the mobile service provider brings the new download high speed of 150 Mbit/s also to this device. 
Small Device with high Performance
I am very delighted with the Telekom Speedstick LTE III. I would buy it everytime again.