Questions about
the WiBE and what it does.
Which mobile network is it best
to use with my WiBE?
Does the WiBE support 2.5G (GPRS) and 2.75G (EDGE) if
3G is not available?
How does a WiBE connect to the 3G network?
How can I run my WiBE from a car battery?
Can I use a WiBE in a vehicle?
Which countries does the WiBE work in?
How many users does the WiBE support?
What is the range of the WiFi on the WiBE?
Can I use a WiBE in other countries?
Questions about
using the WiBE - technical support.
Where is the best place to put a
WiBE?
I have inserted my SIM and the WiBE says "New SIM
detected - Please press Setup" but when I do and select the
"Contract" or "Pre-pay" buttons nothing happens. What has
gone wrong?
I put the SIM in my WiBE, the lights of the front
flash, but I cannot connect to the 3G network. What's
wrong?
How do I upgrade the firmware on the WiBE?
What is an APN?
Do I need a different APN when I'm roaming (using a
WiBE in another country)?
How do I get the WiBE to rescan the 3G
network?
How do I reset the WiBE back to its factory default
settings?
How do I change the "admin" password?
How do I change the Wireless Network Mode so it uses
802.11n?
How do I change the Wireless Network Name
(SSID)?
How do I change the Wireless Network security type
and key?
My SIM does not have a PIN, but my WiBE asks for one
on the setup screen. What do I do?
After I have entered the APN details for my SIM, the
screen shows a message that says "Invalid PIN". What do I
do?
The 3G light on my WiBE is flashing. What does this
mean?
The WiFi light on my WiBE never comes on. What does
this mean?
I think my WiBE has a fault. What do I do?
Questions about the WiBE and what it does.
Which mobile network is it
best to use with my WiBE?
Many people buying a WiBE will have either no 3G signal or a
very weak 3G signal at their home or place of work. In almost all
cases, if you know you have a weak 3G signal for a particular
network then the WiBE will provide a greatly improved performance.
If you sometimes get a 3G connection or the connection drops in and
out, or maybe you can connect to a 3G network outside your home but
not inside, then that network would be a good one to choose for use
with a WiBE. . Beware, however, if you are using a phone to
determine whether you have 3G network coverage. A 3G phone falls
back to 2G if there is no 3G signal, whereas he WiBE does not
connect using 2G.Another way to tell which network to use is to
look at coverage maps. In most countries the network operators
provide coverage maps on their websites, or you can look them up
on http://www.mobileworldlive.com/maps/. Also,
phone shops will often be able to look up your coverage based on
your postal code or address. Unlike other 3G devices, a WiBE
will work indoors if there is weak outdoor 3G coverage in your
location.
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Does the WiBE support 2.5G
(GPRS) and 2.75G (EDGE) if 3G is not available?
No. The WiBE is designed to provide a broadband data connection,
which is not available from a 2G network. Mobile devices, such as
phones, will use a 2G network if the 3G network is not available,
but if a 3G signal is weak they will tend to connect to the 2G
network in preference, and this would not be desirable for a
broadband device like the WiBE. Deltenna is evaluating GPRS and
EDGE support for future WiBE products.
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How does a WiBE connect to
the 3G network?
When you turn on your WiBE (after you have configured the APN
details) it will spend about three minutes scanning to find the
best 3G connection. It does this by selecting each of its four
antennas in turn and monitoring the download speed. The antenna
(arrow) lights on the front of the WiBE flash to show which antenna
is being monitored. If it cannot detect any 3G signal (for the 3G
network operator defined by your SIM), all four antenna lights
flash for a few seconds and the WiBE repeats the scanning process.
You can also see how the scanning is progressing by logging on to
the WiBE and looking at the status page, although beware that
the status page does not automatically refresh.If the WiBE does
detect the 3G network during the scanning process it will select
the antenna that gives the best download speed. One of the antenna
lights will remain on continuously to show which antenna has been
selected. Sometimes, a second light will flash. This indicates that
although you have a good 3G connection, it is possible that you
will get a better data speed if you change the location of the WiBE
in your building. The WiBE flashes the second light when it sees
that the signal strength detected by the antenna opposite the one
it has selected is nearly the same as the signal strength on the
selected antenna.
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How can I run my WiBE from
a car battery?
The WiBE-HS7 takes 6V, whereas most car batteries supply 12V. A
wide range of suitable adaptors in available at low cost. The only
requirement is that the output voltage needs to be 6V and the
adaptor needs to be able to supply a current of at least 900mA.
Here are some examples from the UK:
http://www.maplin.co.uk/1a-regulated-car-power-adaptor-37423
http://cpc.farnell.com/jsp/level5/module.jsp?moduleId=cpc/551188.xml
http://www.amazon.co.uk/GenieWish-Universal-Universelle-Voltage-Replacement/dp/B003Z71HPW/ref=sr_1_9?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1299250360&sr=1-9
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hibaba-Cigarette-Lighter-Universal-Adaptor/dp/B000KDRIKM/ref=pd_cp_ce_1_img
All of these have a variable output voltage that must be set to
6V.
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Can I use a WiBE in a
vehicle?
One of the reasons that a WiBE can give such an amazing
performance improvement over other devices is because it is in a
fixed location and is therefore able to work out the configuration
of its antennas that give the best performance. This means that it
will not provide any performance improvement in a moving vehicle.
However, the WiBE takes about three minutes to configure itself
after it is switched on, so provided you can wait for three minutes
after stopping before using it, there is no reason why it should
not be used in a vehicle (see FAQ entry: How can I run my WiBE from
a car battery?).
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Which countries does the
WiBE work in?
The current version of the WiBE (part number WiBE-HS7) operates
on any HSPA (High Speed Packet Access) network that uses the 2100
MHz, 3G frequency band. These are networks that are referred to as
"3G 2100" by the GSM Association (see http://www.mobileworldlive.com/maps/).
Note that this does not include most networks in the USA. There is
often a lot of confusion around this, as US 3G networks do operate
at 2100 MHz for transmission from the mobile base station to the
device, but use frequencies in the 1700 MHz band for transmitting
from the device to the base station rather than the 1900 MHz band
used in most other countries. There is also a matter of local
regulatory approval. The WiBE-HS7 has been tested to and complies
with all relevant EU regulations and a copy of the Declaration of
Conformity (DoC) can be found on the Deltenna web site click here. This DoC is also valid in
several other countries. The WiBE-HS7 is also specifically
type-approved for use in South Africa.
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How many users does the
WiBE support?
The theoretical number of users that can connect to the WiBE by
WiFi at any one time is 100. However, in the WiBE-HS7, all these
users would share a maximum of 7.2 Mbps in the downlink (from the
3G base station to the WiBE) and 5.76 Mbps in the uplink (from the
WiBE to the 3G base station). Several WiBE users have had 18 - 20
people connected to a WiBE at one time in an office environment,
using it for VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) calls as well as
email and web browsing.
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What is the range of the
WiFi on the WiBE?
This depends very much on the environment, which includes how
many walls there are between you and the WiBE as well as what other
WiFi devices and sources of interference there are in the area..
Deltenna has measured a range of 100 metres line of sight, going
through one wall and WiBEs have been used to provide Internet
access in conference rooms and exhibition areas up to 5000 sq
metres in area (from one end of the room). The key value of the
WiBE is in its superior 3G performance and in side-by-side tests
the WiFi range and performance has been shown to be nearly the same
as other standard WiFi 802.16bgn routers.
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Can I use a WiBE in other
countries?
If your network operator has enabled roaming for your SIM, you
can use your WiBE in other countries, but BEWARE, roaming charges
for data can be very high and you could easily be charged hundreds
of dollars for a day of usage. Please check with your network
operator what the roaming charges are before you go abroad with a
WiBE. As a warning, if you are roaming, the 3G light on the
WiBE-HS7 will flash when you are connected instead of being on all
the time. If you are planning to take a WiBE abroad with you, it is
likely to be a lot cheaper to buy a SIM in the country you are in
for a local network operator.
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Questions about using the WiBE - technical
support.
Where is the best place
to put a WiBE?
Generally speaking it is best to put a WiBE near a window and as
high in a building as possible to give it the best chance of
receiving a 3G signal.
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I have inserted my
SIM and the WiBE says "New SIM detected - Please press Setup" but
when I do and select the "Contract" or "Pre-pay" buttons nothing
happens. What has gone wrong?
1. As with mobile phones, for the SIM card to to be recognised
it must be put in while the equipment is turned off. The WiBE
is the same. If you think you may have inserted your SIM
after the WiBE was turned off, all you need to do is turn the WiBE
off, insert the SIM and turn the WiBE back on. This time when
you see the "New SIM detected" and enter the setup, the APN details
will now be entered when you click the relevant button. Click
"Apply" and the WiBE will begin its 3G scanning.
2. The WiBE does not store APN information for all network
operators. More will be added in future, but WiBEs made up until
April 2011 will only store details for UK and Ireland networks. If
you are in a different country you will need to enter the APN
information manually. If you don't know what information is
required, please contact your network operator.
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I put the SIM in my WiBE, the lights of the front flash,
but I cannot connect to the 3G network. What's wrong?
If you have never succeeded in connecting to the 3G network
before, the most likely problem is that your WiBE either does not
have any APN information or the APN information is wrong (see FAQ
entry "What is an APN?"). To enter the APN information, follow the
instructions on the Setup Guide that is provided with the WiBE to
connect to the WiBE either using WiFi or an Ethernet cable and log
onto it using a web browser. When logging-on using a web browser,
enter the address http://192.168.1.1 in the address box of the
browser. You should then see a pop-up box that asks for a user name
and password. The user name is admin and the password is unique to
your WiBE and can be found on the labels in the Setup Guide or on
the underside of the WiBE on the fourth line down from the top.
It's the 8 character random word at the end of the line. The case
(capitals or small letters) of each character in the password is
important. After you have logged on, press the Setup button on the
browser screen and read the instructions on the screen. You will
only need to enter the APN information once for a particular SIM.
After that, you can just connect to the Internet using your WiBE
from any computer or other device as you would with any other WiFi
access point.
If the APN information is correct, the most likely reasons for
not connecting to the 3G network are:
- You are out of range of the 3G network.
- Your SIM has not been enabled by your network operator or is
only enabled for voice, not data.
- You have a pre-pay (pay as you go) SIM and it has no
credit.
To determine which, first log onto your WiBE as described above.
If you see a message on the screen saying "No SIM detected" or "New
SIM detected", follow the instructions. If not, press the Status
button on the screen. On the third line down from the WAN
Connection heading, you will see a line labelled Operator. If you
see the name of your network operator next to this, then your WiBE
has detected a 3G signal and you are in network range. In this
case, we recommend that you contact your network operator (or
whoever provided your SIM card).
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What is an APN?
APN stands for Access Point Name. A WiBE or any other device on
a mobile network needs an APN in order to communicate with the
mobile network. Many network operators have several APNs, which may
be used for contract and pre-pay customers, customers with
different types of service and business customers who have
subscribed to special services such as fixed IP addresses. For many
operators, only one piece of information is needed: the APN itself.
Others also require user names and passwords that go with the APN.
Depending on the version of firmware on your WiBE, your APN may
already be known. If this is the case, pressing the appropriate
Contract or Pre-pay button on the WiBE Setup screen will
automatically fill-in the boxes at the bottom of the screen with
the APN information. If you press Contract or Pre-pay and no value
appears in the APN box, then you will need to type the information
in yourself. Your network operator should have provided this
information with your SIM card, but if they haven't, please contact
them and ask for the APN.
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Do I need a different APN
when I'm roaming (using a WiBE in another country)?
No. However, be aware that data roaming costs can be very high
with any mobile device, and especially with a WiBE, which can
consume large amounts of data in a very short space of time. See
FAQ entry "Can I use a WiBE in other countries".
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How do I upgrade the
firmware on the WiBE?
From time to time Deltenna issue new firmware for the WiBE. This
is available on the Firmware Download page of www.deltenna.com.
(or click
here) Please read the release notes for new software first
to find out if it will benefit you. If you think it will, do the
following:
1. Download the new software to your computer. This is usually
done by pressing the right-hand button of your mouse while hovering
the cursor over the name of the software release, then selecting
Save As.
2. Log onto your WiBE in the normal way. Expand the
Administration menu on the left side of the screen and select
"Upload Firmware". Use the "Browse" button to search and find
the file of the new version of software. Now click "Apply"
and the WiBE will do the rest. It is very important that the link
between your computer and the WiBE is not interrupted during this
process. The actual upload takes about two minutes, and then the
WiBE will reboot.
3. After the WiBE has rebooted, reset it to factory defaults
(see FAQ entry below). This is necessary as settings from an older
version of the software may not be compatible with the new
version.
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How do I get the WiBE to
rescan the 3G network?
When you switch on your WiBE it scans to find the best 3G
network connection. Network conditions can change over time and you
may want to force the WiBE to do a rescan so that it has the chance
of choosing a better 3G base station. To do this, navigate to
Internet Settings -> 3G Antenna Control. From the "Run
test now" drop down box select "Yes" and click "Apply". The
WiBE will now rescan.
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How do I reset the WiBE
back to its factory default settings?
If you have changed the settings of your WiBE and it has stopped
working or is not working very well, then before contacting your
supplier to report a problem it is a good idea to reset it to
its factory defaults. There are two ways to do this.
1. Turn the WiBE on and wait until the WiFi light has come on.
Then, using the point of a pen, a paper clip or similar object,
press and hold the small white button next to the power socket on
the back of the WiBE for at least 10 seconds. After a further 5-10
seconds the WiBE will reboot with the factory default
settings.
2. Navigate to Administration -> Settings Management and
click "Load Default". When prompted click "OK" and the WiBE
will reboot and load the default settings.
The factory defaults include the password and security (WPA) key
that are printed on the label on the bottom of the WiBE.
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How do I change the
"admin" password?
Using the navigation menu find your way to Administration ->
Management. On this screen scroll to Admin password and enter
a new password and a confirmation password and click "Apply".
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How do I change the
Wireless Network Mode so it uses 802.11n?
Navigate to WiFi Settings -> Basic and from the Network Mode
drop down box select your choice. To enable 802.11n use
either "11b/g/n mixed mode" (preferable if you are planning on
using non 802.11n devices in your network) or "11n only".
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How do I change the
Wireless Network SSID?
Find your way to WiFi Settings -> Basic using the navigation
table on the left side of the screen. Enter the SSID you want
in the Network Name (SSID) text box and click "Apply".
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How do I change the
Wireless Network security type and key?
Navigate to WiFi Settings -> Security. From this screen
you can set the encryption type (e.g. WEP, WPA, WPA2, etc.) plus
the algorithms used, etc. If you just want to change the WPA
pass phrase from the default one then enter your now pass phrase
into the Pass Phrase text box and click "Apply".
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My SIM does not have a
PIN, but my WiBE asks for one on the setup screen. What do I
do?
Firstly, check that you SIM really does not need a PIN. Any
default PIN should be in the documentation that was provided with
your SIM. Some network operators supply SIMs that have a default
PIN (often 0000) rather than no PIN. Please be careful as in
software releases 1.1.1.8 and older, a WiBE can sometimes only give
two chances to enter a pin rather than the usual 3, before you need
to ask your network operator for a PUK code. A small percentage of
WiBEs that were manufactured in December 2010 have a mechanical
fault with the SIM holder that can give this symptom. If you have
established that your SIM does not need a PIN, then this may be the
case, in which case your WiBE will be repaired under warranty.
Please contact the reseller that you bought your WiBE from.
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After I have entered the
APN details for my SIM, the screen shows a message that says
"Invalid PIN". What do I do?
Firstly, check that you have entered the correct PIN. If your
SIM does not need a PIN, then see the FAQ entry "My SIM does not
have a PIN, but my WiBE asks for one on the setup screen", as it
may be that your WiBE has a fault.
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The 3G light on my WiBE
is flashing. What does this mean?
A flashing 3G light means that you are roaming. In other words,
your WiBE is connected to a network that is not your home network.
This almost certainly means that you are outside your home country
or region. BEWARE, mobile data roaming charges can be very high and
it is often easy to incur charges of hundreds of dollars for just a
day's use, so unless you are sure of what you are doing we strongly
advise that you do not roam with a WiBE.
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The WiFi light on my WiBE
never comes on. What does this mean?
If is possible, but unlikely, that there is a fault with your
WiBE. If you suspect this, then see the FAQ entry "I think my WiBE
has a fault. What do I do"? In most cases where we have been
asked this question it has turned out that the user has turned off
WiFi (sometimes as an experiment) and then forgotten. This also has
the unfortunate effect of meaning that you are unable to
communicate with your WiBE using WiFi. You can either communicate
with it over an Ethernet connection, by plugging a Cat5 cable into
one of the LAN sockets on the back of the WiBE or perform a factory
reset on the WiBE to restore the factory defaults, which turns the
WiFi on. (See FAQ entry "How do I reset the WiBE back to its
factory default settings"?).
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I think my WiBE has a
fault. What do I do?
Firstly, have a look through these FAQs to see if the problem
you are experiencing is covered here. In particular, if you have a
new WiBE, the most common problems are addressed in the FAQ entry:
"I put the SIM in my WiBE, the lights of the front flash, but I
cannot connect to the 3G network. What's wrong"?
In the first instance, please contact the reseller that you
bought the WiBE from. They will have a returns policy. You can also
contact Deltenna directly via our web site. We are happy to
answer any questions you have and can give advice on returning a
faulty WiBE.
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