EVDO users - comments?

[Kaido]

I'm interested in getting one of those Verizon BroadbandAccess cards for my laptop. Anyone have experience with them?

 

[Kaido]

Well, I do now. Picked one up this afternoon. Not too bad, but somewhat laggy. Sometimes it takes 5 - 10 seconds to connect to a web page. Not as snappy as cable. Feels more like slow DSL. Like on Newegg, each thumbnail pops up one by one. At these forums, you can see the forum being built in your browser. Not sure how much I like it. Fast, but not instant. I have 15 days to try it out, so here I go...

 

[pikachu656]

I got the same results too when I tested it out. I didn't like it so I returned mine.

 

[pm]

My mother has it and I installed it and played with it a lot over Christmas. It certainly is nothing like my Comcast 6Mbps cable broadband which screams... but it was neat that it worked everywhere.

I found that the connection was very dependent on where we were in the house - 2nd story was better than the 1st, and - and I know that this sounds weird but it's true - the more we used it the faster that it got.

Initially we found that we were on "NationalAccess" a lot - which is ~128kbps. But for whatever reason, the more that we used it the more we were in "BroadbandAccess" mode. I can't explain it - caching...? Or maybe the card uses multiple communication methods and "learns" which works best. Or maybe the fact that we were in Northern California and it was flooding all over at the time over Christmas and the phone circuits were saturated with calls had something to do with it... but whatever the reason, she didn't like it initially and she loves it now.

It is neat to be able to have fairly fast access wherever Verizon has cell phone access.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: pm
My mother has it and I installed it and played with it a lot over Christmas. It certainly is nothing like my Comcast 6Mbps cable broadband which screams... but it was neat that it worked everywhere.

I found that the connection was very dependent on where we were in the house - 2nd story was better than the 1st, and - and I know that this sounds weird but it's true - the more we used it the faster that it got.

Initially we found that we were on "NationalAccess" a lot - which is ~128kbps. But for whatever reason, the more that we used it the more we were in "BroadbandAccess" mode. I can't explain it - caching...? Or maybe the card uses multiple communication methods and "learns" which works best. Or maybe the fact that we were in Northern California and it was flooding all over at the time over Christmas and the phone circuits were saturated with calls had something to do with it... but whatever the reason, she didn't like it initially and she loves it now.

It is neat to be able to have fairly fast access wherever Verizon has cell phone access.

I agree. I got it to help my mobile lifestyle. I have a laptop, so I can do my computer stuff anywhere. Laptops are powerful enough to replace desktops now, so this worked out great (2ghz a64/2gb ram). I have a cell phone (no landline) with Verizon, so I'm not tied to my apartment for calls. Verizon has excellent coverage in New England, so this worked out great too. Now that I'm telecommuting to work and my Bachelor's degree is completely online, I figured I'd give CDMA/EVDO a shot. The idea of accessing the Internet anywhere for maps, email, server access, and school access was very appealing.

I'm really having mixed feelings about returning it. It's sooooo convenient, but it feels like fast dialup. The pages usually load quickly, but sometimes it takes 5 or 10 seconds for the page to get connected. Once it's connected, it loads right up. Not cool when you're an Internet power user like me (aka addict). I like fast and I like smooth; Comcast is charging me the same price as Verizon is, and even though I'm stuck to my apartment with it, I get those things. No waiting. No slowness.

 

[Hacp]

only problem is that it costs too much. I HATE that part. Verizon is soo overcosted, even though they do have the best network.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: Hacp
only problem is that it costs too much. I HATE that part. Verizon is soo overcosted, even though they do have the best network.

Costs the same for me. $59/mo Comcast, $59/mo Verizon.

 

[Hacp]

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: Hacp
only problem is that it costs too much. I HATE that part. Verizon is soo overcosted, even though they do have the best network.

Costs the same for me. $59/mo Comcast, $59/mo Verizon.

Thats with a seperate cell phone plan though. As for the speeds, it costs 30 dollars more per month than what you would pay for regular DSL from verizon.

 

[Kaido]

After spending last night and this morning with the card, I've decided to return it. This technology is definately not ready for primetime yet. I couldn't get reception at one of my work areas and the latency everywhere else was just too high. When it becames as fast and as instanteneous as Comcast or Cox's cable Internet, and maybe drops in price a bit, I'll move back. Until then, thank goodness for 802.11

 

[Metron]

My boss uses it since he lives out in the sticks. Best landline internet connection he can get is ISDN at 128K. He has a laptop with the EVDO card and it works fine. Like you say, not blazing speed... but it works anywhere a Verizon cell phone will work.

 

[imported_shader]

i used to work for verizonwireless in the support group that deals exclusively with evdo connectivity

some tips: DO NOT install the venturi software that comes bundled with the install program. it sucks royally. if you use these cards and have that software installed and experience lag, connectivity problems, tcp/ip issues, this software is the cause of it. also some laptops do not provide standard amount of voltage across the pcmcia controller (3.3v) and as such the cards will not work, or will not work reliably (dell latitude d500 is one of the models i can remember). the sierra wireless ac580 is probably the best/most reliable card, but is almost always much more expensive, the other manufacturers cards will work fine as long as you keep up to date with the drivers (some cards would not work with the drivers shipped with them).

from a user point of view: the connection speed is going to vary based on where you are at. unfortunately they do not have evdo coverage everywhere. you can tell what type of coverage you are getting by using the connectivity software package (either 1xevdo, or 1xrtt). maximum (current) theoretical throughput on downlink for evdo is 2.4 megabits, but realistically it is 2.0 mbs. when i worked there i got calls from users who actually got about 1.5 mbs. there are multiple things which can effect your connection speed: distance from nearest cell tower; objects causing interference - buildings, electical devices causing rf interference, etc.; number of users connecting on the same tower - some towers can be configured to evdo only or evdo & cell so any additional traffic to your tower will slow your throughput down.

if you got the money and need to be able to connect w/o being at your house, this product is great. for someone who has other options (i.e. cable, dsl) or does not need to be mobile, probably not a good idea.

 

[imported_shader]

Originally posted by: pm
I found that the connection was very dependent on where we were in the house - 2nd story was better than the 1st, and - and I know that this sounds weird but it's true - the more we used it the faster that it got.

Initially we found that we were on "NationalAccess" a lot - which is ~128kbps. But for whatever reason, the more that we used it the more we were in "BroadbandAccess" mode. I can't explain it - caching...? Or maybe the card uses multiple communication methods and "learns" which works best. Or maybe the fact that we were in Northern California and it was flooding all over at the time over Christmas and the phone circuits were saturated with calls had something to do with it... but whatever the reason, she didn't like it initially and she loves it now.

It is neat to be able to have fairly fast access wherever Verizon has cell phone access.

verizonwireless should have (semi-)up to date coverage maps on their website, you can put in your address and see what type of coverage should be in your area. if it shows you having broadbandaccess and you dont get it, you should call and complain.

and yes, the card does have the ability to switch on the fly to either type of network. if it finds that it can connect to the evdo network and has strong enough signal it will connect to that network, if it cannot it will try the 1xrtt network (nationalaccess). on some cards there is a way to "channel lock" and force it to only connect to evdo and never to the national access (the verizonwireless tech support guys will probably not tell you this is possible or show you how to do it)

also when verizonwireless adds new evdo capability to their existing towers or they erect a new tower the card does not automatically connect to them, you have to update the connection list on the card (called a prl - preferred roaming list) which can be done using the software provided

edit - max theoretical throughput for 1xrtt - 144kbps and from testing in very good signal areas, i could get 136-138kbps, they guarantee 60-80kbps in 1xrtt areas. and to recap, max theoretical for evdo - 2.4mbps, 2.0 real, when i tested in a fairly good area i never got over 1mb (about 750kbps) but i did have people tell me that they got around 1.5mbps

 

[NutBucket]

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: Hacp
only problem is that it costs too much. I HATE that part. Verizon is soo overcosted, even though they do have the best network.

Costs the same for me. $59/mo Comcast, $59/mo Verizon.

Yeah, that's why you're saying its like fast dialup. You need the $80/month data plan to get broadband-type speeds.

For light useage you're better off getting an EVDO phone and using it as a modem.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: NutBucket

Originally posted by: Kaido

Originally posted by: Hacp
only problem is that it costs too much. I HATE that part. Verizon is soo overcosted, even though they do have the best network.

Costs the same for me. $59/mo Comcast, $59/mo Verizon.

Yeah, that's why you're saying its like fast dialup. You need the $80/month data plan to get broadband-type speeds.

For light useage you're better off getting an EVDO phone and using it as a modem.

No, it's the same plan. You get $20 off per month if you have a voice plan with Verizon.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: shader
i used to work for verizonwireless in the support group that deals exclusively with evdo connectivity

some tips: DO NOT install the venturi software that comes bundled with the install program. it sucks royally. if you use these cards and have that software installed and experience lag, connectivity problems, tcp/ip issues, this software is the cause of it. also some laptops do not provide standard amount of voltage across the pcmcia controller (3.3v) and as such the cards will not work, or will not work reliably (dell latitude d500 is one of the models i can remember). the sierra wireless ac580 is probably the best/most reliable card, but is almost always much more expensive, the other manufacturers cards will work fine as long as you keep up to date with the drivers (some cards would not work with the drivers shipped with them).

from a user point of view: the connection speed is going to vary based on where you are at. unfortunately they do not have evdo coverage everywhere. you can tell what type of coverage you are getting by using the connectivity software package (either 1xevdo, or 1xrtt). maximum (current) theoretical throughput on downlink for evdo is 2.4 megabits, but realistically it is 2.0 mbs. when i worked there i got calls from users who actually got about 1.5 mbs. there are multiple things which can effect your connection speed: distance from nearest cell tower; objects causing interference - buildings, electical devices causing rf interference, etc.; number of users connecting on the same tower - some towers can be configured to evdo only or evdo & cell so any additional traffic to your tower will slow your throughput down.

if you got the money and need to be able to connect w/o being at your house, this product is great. for someone who has other options (i.e. cable, dsl) or does not need to be mobile, probably not a good idea.

Yeah, the first thing I did was disable the Venturi software. I installed everything, plugged in the card, and started surfing...and everything looked like crap. I was like what the heck?? After poking around in the software panel for a minute I found the Venturi stuff and disabled it. Speed dropped 100k but everything looked perfect rather than like compressed JPGs. Man did Newegg look bad

 

[nineowls]

I got one; Had it a few months.

There are times when it slows enough to bug me, but it beats the fly-trap that is the (in my experience) absence of customer service from the purportedly "broadband" Internet provided by C*****t in my 'hood!!

I love driving ten hours to Florida and having Internet a l l t h e w a y there and back. Same thing to Greenville, SC

I hate that I cannot get my card to work on my SUSE 10 installation that I completed this weekend. Anyone got instructions for making a v620 work on SUSE 10 default installation with Gnome?

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: nineowls
I got one; Had it a few months.

There are times when it slows enough to bug me, but it beats the fly-trap that is the (in my experience) absence of customer service from the purportedly "broadband" Internet provided by C*****t in my 'hood!!

I love driving ten hours to Florida and having Internet a l l t h e w a y there and back. Same thing to Greenville, SC

I hate that I cannot get my card to work on my SUSE 10 installation that I completed this weekend. Anyone got instructions for making a v620 work on SUSE 10 default installation with Gnome?

If they could eliminate the lag, I could live with 500k down. I'll consider getting one again when I get one of the new Mac laptops with the ExpressCard and if they upgrade their network to turn down the lag. I've reworked my needs so that I have access to a wireless signal at both of my workplaces, so I'm good for now. I have to admit, it was cool to have access to the Internet everywhere I went, even if it was laggy.

 

[Horsepower]

I had one of the old 555 Aircards, then got a new i730 phone. I put the unlimited access on the phone, closed the aircard account, and use the phone as a modem for my Tablet. Speeds are 4-5 times faster than 1X, and definitely acceptable. BTW you are right about Venturi software, I learned quick NEVER to install it.