Hello.
Surfstick? Magic! I've not heard them called that before.
In answer to your question: Yes.
Knowing what kit you've got would allow me to be a bit more specific, but here's what covrs the most likely setups:
If you're using Windows you need to install some form of Vodafone Mobile Broadband (the software you referred to in your post) to get the drivers into the Windows OS.
Once you've installed Vodafone Mobile Broadband (VMB) you could potentially uninstall it, then insert the USB modme and Windows should plug and play it using the drivers gained through the original VMB Installation (as these are held within Windows and aren't uninstalled during the VMB uninstall). You can check to see if this has worked by carrying out the aforementioned steps and then (with the USB modem plugged in) check your device manager. Depending on the modem you're using you should see a modem, a network adapter and some com ports that all relate to the USB modem. If these are show in the device manager, then you can use parts of the Windows OS to establish a connection.
You will loose functionality if you use Windows (and not VMB) components to estabish connections:
- No SMS (how roaming charges are explained to roaming customers)
- No indication of signal
- No ability to switch between 2G and 3G
- No usage meter
- No application conflict manager (full version of VMB only)
In windows xp, vista and 7 you could use dial up networking, so you'd have to add at+cgdcont=1,"IP","APN NAME HERE" into the extra initialisation commands under the modem properties, replacing APN NAME HERE with the APN specific to your account type:
internet (if you are a contract/pay monthly customer)
smart (if you're a pay as you go customer on a £5 for 250MB lasting up to 30days plan)
pp.internet (if you're a pay as you go customer on a £15 for 1GB, lasting up to 90 days plan)
ppbundle.internet (if you're a pay as you go customer on a £15 for 2GB lasting up to 30 days plan)
Then create a dial up connection using:
The USB Modem you added the extra init commnd to above
A dial up number of *99***1#
Username: web
Password: web
Alternatively, Windows 7 lists mobile connections in it's conenction manager. Provided you have the modem plugged in you can get at this by clicking the mobile phone-esque signal strength indicator (normally used to access WiFi networks) in your system tray. There should be a Vodafone orientated conenction listed in there. You might need to check the APN settings (as per the details above) by right clicking the aforementioned Vodafone connection and accessing properties (I think).
There may be other options, but this depends on the operating system and model of USB modem in use.
Hope that helps.
