IT Week Executive Editor Martin Veitch tries out a USB 3G modem for laptops

As I mentioned in an earlier post, 3G modems are a very handy addition to the traveller’s collection of devices for getting online. While fixed broadband and Wi-Fi are great when you can access them, a cellular connection is very useful for those moments when you can’t - even if you find do yourself reduced using slower-than-3G links more often than is preferable.

Short of other options, 3G modems can offer a hassle-free experience. The Vodafone USB modem I tested in an earlier post even runs its monitoring software from the device itself and has on-board LEDs that denote GSM, GPRS and 3G status links. However, the Sierra Wireless AirCard 875U that is being offered by O2 posed a significant setup test in my experience.

In tests, I found the ugly install program seemed to have been hastily assembled. It recognised the USB device as a PC Card modem, took an age to display installation notes, but still would not load up and connect after several attempts.

Downloading a new setup program from the Sierra website finally fixed the problem. Let’s hope that the device works better than its installation routine. I’ll be reporting back on my progress soon, but in the meantime I'm feeling prejudiced in favour of modems that don’t need a separate install disk in order to work with a laptop.