Cellular Broadband - Anybody have it?

[tbates757]

I am thinking about getting the new cellular broadband that I keep hearing about. You are pretty much connected all the time through your laptop wherever you go, is this correct? Have anybody used it or had any experiences with it?

 

[Zugzwang152]

you need to be in areas where you can get cell reception, it's much slower than regular broadband and twice the cost. i would get it, but i can't afford it.

 

[AZGamer]

Verizon EVDO. Originally I got it when I was doing some freelance work that required me to have a net connection at all times (and it works on the entire Amtrak corridor from DC-Boston), and the download speeds average between 30-80kbps (in terms of actual dl speeds, not connection speeds). I decided to keep it; I travel enough that it's worth it to me rather than either being stuck in an airport without broadband or paying the user fees for the various WLAN networks that have no real roaming (I had a TMobile Hotspot subscription for a while, and in all honesty, I didn't see a difference in speed from that to EVDO in a crowded Starbucks). There is one important thing to consider - not all cards are created equal, and the ones they typically push are the ones which they get the highest commission on. Both me and a friend use the Novatel 620 (V620 for me for Verizon; S620 for him, Sprint Broadband), and it's pretty solid.

 

[DivideBYZero]

EDGE technology
EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution) is a GSM/GPRS network evolution technology intended to enhance the quality of mobile data services through a higher transfer rate.
specific features



* allows three times faster transfer rate vs. GPRS
* the speed is not guaranteed and is split between same cell's users
* operation similar to GPRS technology - it uses data transfer in packages based on IP access
* EDGE and GPRS networks operates in parallel; the user will automatically connect to one of the networks depending on the type of the mobile phone and the coverage area
* the technology is suitable for Internet access - it allows higher speed for down-link than for up-link
* communication is not cut off at the transfer from an EDGE covered area to a GPRS one and vice versa
* EDGE/GPRS common data offers; there are no tariff differences between EDGE and GPRS

transfer rate

Maximum speed: 210 - 215kbps.

The transfer rate is not guaranteed and depends on a series of factors:

* the number of simultaneous users within a cell
* signal power, radio conditions
* the number of channels used for transmission - depending on EDGE phones and network resources
* the speed is higher for down-link and lower for up-link

 

[DivideBYZero]

EVDO info

 

[kranky]

I'm posting using Verizon EVDO right now. It's far better than dialup, but you would never want to use it 24/7. You need a good cell signal to get full speed.

 

[rudder]

I had cingular service through work. It was more like cellular dialup. It was okay in a pinch, but never got mroe than 128K connects. And cingular has a very strong network where I am at.

 

[QED]

I had Verizon EVDO for awhile.. when you are actually in an EVDO zone you get download speeds from 500 to 800 K.

However, watch out for Verizon's TOS-- they forbid streaming video or music over their network, and lately have been terminating contracts of users who use more than 10GB a month.

I've heard great things about Sprint's EVDO network-- just as fast as Verizon's, it only $15 a month (instead of $40 with Verizon), and their unlimited plan is truly unlimited.

 

[GeekDrew]

Originally posted by: QED
I've heard great things about Sprint's EVDO network-- just as fast as Verizon's, it only $15 a month (instead of $40 with Verizon), and their unlimited plan is truly unlimited.

Wow... I switched to Verizon from Sprint less than a year ago, but that in and of itself may be reason to switch back to Sprint, if it's actually true.

 

[MrFanel]

I have an EVDO aircard from Verizon - I get ~800 KBIT average and about 2 MBIT bursts ones in a while. It's all nice but pricy... but then again I am not paying for it

 

[Slick5150]

Originally posted by: QED
I had Verizon EVDO for awhile.. when you are actually in an EVDO zone you get download speeds from 500 to 800 K.

However, watch out for Verizon's TOS-- they forbid streaming video or music over their network, and lately have been terminating contracts of users who use more than 10GB a month.

I've heard great things about Sprint's EVDO network-- just as fast as Verizon's, it only $15 a month (instead of $40 with Verizon), and their unlimited plan is truly unlimited.

I'm not sure where you're getting those prices from. Sprint's unlimited EVDO plan is $59.99 a month (they have a $39.99 plan, but that only gets you 40mb).

Verizon's is the same price ($59.99 unlimited)

 

[QED]

Originally posted by: Slick5150

Originally posted by: QED
I had Verizon EVDO for awhile.. when you are actually in an EVDO zone you get download speeds from 500 to 800 K.

However, watch out for Verizon's TOS-- they forbid streaming video or music over their network, and lately have been terminating contracts of users who use more than 10GB a month.

I've heard great things about Sprint's EVDO network-- just as fast as Verizon's, it only $15 a month (instead of $40 with Verizon), and their unlimited plan is truly unlimited.

I'm not sure where you're getting those prices from. Sprint's unlimited EVDO plan is $59.99 a month (they have a $39.99 plan, but that only gets you 40mb).

Verizon's is the same price ($59.99 unlimited)

Uhhh... your price for Sprint is a package deal that includes cell phone minutes AND unlimited EVDO data usage. Whereas your Verizon price is for data only on Verizon's NationalAccess (i.e. dial-up speed) network-- not Verizon's EVDO network. Not really apples to apples there.

Verizon's comparable plan on their EVDO network with cell minutes is $79.99 a month-- $20 more than Sprint's.

The prices I was quoting are the additional fees to add unlimited data access on their high-speed network to any existing account. For Verizon, it is $40 on top of your plan. For Sprint, it is $15.