I recently got a Huawei E5 with a Globe Tattoo subscription. Although I can easily share the Internet connection to my wireless devices, I needed my PS3 and Linkstation to share the connection and be accessible from my wireless devices. Supposedly, the E5 can be used as a USB modem. But when I plugged it to the USB port of my Huawei D100 router, it wouldn’t work. Next, I removed the Globe SIM from the E5, put it in my unlocked Huawei E1550, and plugged it into the D100. No luck either. It seems I need to unlock my D100, too.
Huawei E5 (Globe Tattoo Superstick)
I finally got fed up with the recent erratic behavior of my Sun wireless broadband connection and decided to disconnect it. To replace it, I got the Globe Tattoo Superstick. It is essentially a rebranded Huawei E5 packaged with a Globe Tattoo subscription. The rebrand involves the firmware and a hideous Tattoo sticker that I promptly removed.
The E5 is a mobile 3G modem, router, and wireless access point. As a 3G modem, it connects to your 3G network provider (in this case Globe). As a wireless access point, it serves up to 5 wireless clients which can then connect via the router to the 3G modem, and then to the Internet. It has a battery that lasts at around 2-3 hours with one charge. A bit short but can be longer since you can charge it via USB from your laptop (now that’s a mutualism relationship!).
Unlocking the Huawei E1550
My wireless broadband connection is majorly flaking lately and I’ve been considering switching to another provider. But what to do with my Huawei E1550 USB modem which is SIM-locked to my current provider? Why, unlock it, of course!