Kindle DX Whispernet in Europe?

[nar001]

So I live in Europe, and I know for a fact my country still had 3G networks. Hell, using 311 in the settings for my DX even shows them, but it doesn't seem to be able to connect to any of these for some reason? I did change the date, so that's not the issue, and I did install the caupdate too, but nothing changes. Any pointers? Or did Amazon just disable it globally? Thanks!

[Quoth]

My DXG only gets the data via 3G or 2G (EDGE). There is no "store" service any more for older Kindles even on WiFi and certs are all expired, so the only thing that works is date reset after battery is flat (which can take a day). Perhaps a non-https site might work, but none of them would have been free anyway.

So even if it connects to 3G or EDGE there is probably nothing it can connect to. Same they did models with mobile/cell and no wifi.

However the DXG is the worst ereader I ever bought. Only 150 dpi, deadly slow for PDFs and no azw3.

[nar001]

Originally Posted by Quoth

My DXG only gets the data via 3G or 2G (EDGE). There is no "store" service any more for older Kindles even on WiFi and certs are all expired, so the only thing that works is date reset after battery is flat (which can take a day). Perhaps a non-https site might work, but none of them would have been free anyway.

So even if it connects to 3G or EDGE there is probably nothing it can connect to. Same they did models with mobile/cell and no wifi.

However the DXG is the worst ereader I ever bought. Only 150 dpi, deadly slow for PDFs and no azw3.

Sorry to hear that your experience, honestly i bought solely for the huge display (I do admit it's slow)

Weirdly enough it doesn't connect at all, even if I choose another network, and I don't really get why. At this point I'm more curious as to why it doesn't connect than trying to access the amazon store!

[Quoth]

How do you select a network? It's an Amazon SIM and account. The DXG (2.5.8 I think?) has no option other than turning mobile or or off. Also it only ever connected to a few sites for "free". Sites either had a download limit or maybe you could be charged?

Certainly no Mobile without account registration (though only registration via mobile). I'd guess if my DXG was de-registered it's unlikely to ever re-register. But it's pretty pointless as it's only mobi or PDF and really most 6.8″ to 8″ Kobos do PDF far better.

Even a PW3 is better for PDF if you've got super-powerful reading glasses! 300 dpi and far faster.

The K3 that came out the same time as the DXG is only 167 dpi, but at least a later upgrade gave it azw3. It's far far better for novels than the DXG, which I bought for PDFs (Amazon had a final bargain sale on NOS DXG) and was a total waste of money. Even my phone with Pocketbook is better for PDFs than a DXG, but I'd use the 8″ Sage or 10.9″ Nxtpaper 11 for PDFs now.

[nar001]

Originally Posted by Quoth

How do you select a network? It's an Amazon SIM and account. The DXG (2.5.8 I think?) has no option other than turning mobile or or off. Also it only ever connected to a few sites for "free". Sites either had a download limit or maybe you could be charged?

Certainly no Mobile without account registration (though only registration via mobile). I'd guess if my DXG was de-registered it's unlikely to ever re-register. But it's pretty pointless as it's only mobi or PDF and really most 6.8″ to 8″ Kobos do PDF far better.

Even a PW3 is better for PDF if you've got super-powerful reading glasses! 300 dpi and far faster.

The K3 that came out the same time as the DXG is only 167 dpi, but at least a later upgrade gave it azw3. It's far far better for novels than the DXG, which I bought for PDFs (Amazon had a final bargain sale on NOS DXG) and was a total waste of money. Even my phone with Pocketbook is better for PDFs than a DXG, but I'd use the 8″ Sage or 10.9″ Nxtpaper 11 for PDFs now.

I chose my network by pressing alt-311 in the settings, which shows a menu that shows all the cellular networks discovered around the device, but none work, so I guess it's just disabled by now, sadly. I'm sure newer devices are better, I just wanted to see how far I could take that one I guess! Thanks for the help though!

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by nar001

I chose my network by pressing alt-311 in the settings, which shows a menu that shows all the cellular networks discovered around the device, but none work, so I guess it's just disabled by now, sadly. I'm sure newer devices are better, I just wanted to see how far I could take that one I guess! Thanks for the help though!

It could be that the network the DXG previously connected to no longer has 3G. If that's the case, it won't ever connect.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by nar001

I chose my network by pressing alt-311 in the settings, which shows a menu that shows all the cellular networks discovered around the device, but none work, so I guess it's just disabled by now, sadly. I'm sure newer devices are better, I just wanted to see how far I could take that one I guess! Thanks for the help though!

I pressed ALT and 311 (holding alt)

It warns that if you do this it may never reconnect to Amazon's Whispernet.

It doesn't find any providers for ages and then lists three:

Vodaphone (2G)
Eir Mobile (2G) (default)
O2 IRL (2G) (which is long gone, bought by Three).

I pressed Home rather than change anything. Only Auto will work and only where the operators have roaming agreements.

Those would be EDGE which is 245 kbps. Original 2G was 14.4 kps and 3G was 348 kbps. The higher speeds were later protocols piggybacking on 3G channels.

The 2G (likely mix of 14.4 kbps for phone alarms and EDGE) is still used for smart meters, traffic lights and alarms in Ireland and UK and likely other places. The European 2G is unrelated to USA 2G (GSM vs CDMA). Much 3G was replaced by 4G using the same channels. The GSM uses smaller channels.


It's years since I saw my DXG show 3G. It puts a small EDGE beside the signal bars, when you press menu.

All European & UK 3G modems do GSM/2G EDGE and basic GSM. Most do HSPA and related faster 3G. All 4G ones also do HSPA, basic 3G, GSM/2G EDGE and basic GSM.

The 5G is pointless as it's short range and drops out. It's for paid hotspots, race courses and stadiums etc.

I have a 3G phone used till lately, but data only on WiFi. The voice and SMS is actually more reliable on GSM version of 2G as there is no Cell breathing (causing disconnections) as on 3G and the defunct USA 2G = CDMA.

[Quoth]

See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3G#Phase-out
Much European 3G gone last year and this year.

In some parts of the world, including the United Kingdom, 2G remains widely used for older feature phones and for internet of things (IoT) devices such as smart meters, eCall systems and vehicle trackers to avoid the high patent licensing cost of newer technologies.[20] Terminating 2G services could leave vulnerable people who rely on 2G infrastructure unable to communicate even with emergency contacts, causing harm and possibly deaths.

The DXG (International) certainly uses 2G/GSM/EDGE as well as 3G.
Any USA sourced model probably won't have GSM/EDGE (200 kHz channels) as that was rare in USA (and a different band to Europe) and the dominant 2G was CDMA-1/CDMA2000 (1MHz channels and different bands).
The 3G uses 5 MHz channels, so the bands were easily changed to 4G.

European GSM was / is 872 to 921 MHz (maybe that is GSM-R, but about that). USA 2G was different.
The 3G was 2100 MHz band in Europe
The 1800 MHz in Europe was 2G or 3G depending on location.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2G#Phase-out

[Vroo]

I have dug out my old Kindle DX. In Poland it connects to EDGE network, but Amazon services do not work anymore and I cannot download books from my account. In experimental browser I was able to open non-https Google website, but not much more.

So online services are pretty useless now. But after 14 years, not much to complain about.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by Vroo

I have dug out my old Kindle DX. In Poland it connects to EDGE network, but Amazon services do not work anymore and I cannot download books from my account. In experimental browser I was able to open non-https Google website, but not much more.

That's as much as can be expected.

[Ebookus]

Yeah, my kindle 3 connects mostly to EDGE too, but only works for syncing locations at this point. You can no longer download books (via 2G/3G), as it will ask you to connect to a wifi network instead. Oddly enough, I saw it connect to 3G a few months ago but it made no difference as again it would only sync progress.

[Quoth]

Yet Amazon charges KDP users a delivery charge. No-one else does.