Experience with Cellular Internet Access? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

cyrnel · 02-14-2005, 03:11 PM

I'm talking about computer access to the net via cell providers, not land-of-the-giants access to inky-dinky websites as viewed through a 100x100 cell display.

i.e. My carrier (Verizon) offers "unlimited" net access (100-400Kbps) for $79/mo plus the $100 PCMCIA card.

The cost/bit isn't good when compared to cable or dsl, but this is for mobile use which I'm finding would be increasingly useful. I'm just looking for feedback on quality of service from any carrier. Last I tried was 5yrs ago through Sprint at ~$1/minute. (choke, stumble, gag, repeat)

ratbastid · 02-14-2005, 03:24 PM

I use Sprint for this, with my new Treo 650 (brag, brag).

There's an app for the Treo called PDANet. You install it on the laptop and on the Palm, and when you're all hooked up and run it on the Palm, the phone goes into data mode and the computer connects to it like it's a modem, and Bob's your unkle.

I have a very old grandfathered data plan that's unlimited data for $10/month. Current unlimited data plans are $15/month. Only thing is, Sprint doesn't really smile on this sort of behavior. The unlimited data plans are meant only for data to be consumed on the handheld device. You have to watch your usage--if you exceed some unknown magic threshhold, they bring down the hammer of Usage Agreement Violation and whack your head off with an enormous bill for bandwidth usage.

It's no replacement for my in-home wireless network, and I wouldn't use it anywhere I could get a free ethernet or wireless hookup. But I routinely choose it over $10/day hotel access services.

cyrnel · 02-14-2005, 03:38 PM

That's how my old Sprint access worked. I used a Samsung 800(?) as the modem. It was incredibly slow. Most of the time slower than my old Ricochet (RIP) 14.4Kbps wireless. Not to say newer systems don't do a better job, but the experience tells me another simulated async modem setup would be one to try before buying.

Yes, I'm envious. Verizon phones are always a generation behind. I want the 650 but they only have the 600. Bastages.

ratbastid · 02-14-2005, 06:52 PM

650 is supposed to be coming soon on Verizon, though! And it'll be EDGE-enabled, with speeds up to 200kb/s!

I routinely get 80-100kb/s on the Sprint PCS network. Plenty for email and casual browsing, and even some well compressed multimedia applications. I'm not going to try to run bittorrent over it (and if I did, that'd be exactly the sort of usage Sprint would come down on).

I stream internet radio over Sprint PCS to my 650 all the time. Bandwidth is fine for that.

santafe5000 · 02-19-2005, 05:59 PM

I have the Verizon unlimited plan. I have an AirCard 555 from them(old style). They have newer and better cards. I travel all over the US on business and connect when their service is available. I would say it is trully about 80% of the US. They do seem to have a large dead zone in the central states, ie. Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming.
They use an Accelerator program from Venturi to get faster speeds and the newest version is really good. I have never had a cable hookup so i tell you what the speed diference really is. It is vastly improved over dial-up.
When i got it originally, it was $100.00 a month for unlimited, but they dropped it to the $79.00 amount when Sprint came in with their services. I find it well worth it as i can be online almost constantly from Florida to Central Texas. Even get some pretty good signal out in the Calif. desert.
The newer PCMIA cards are supposed to be better and they have True HS conections in some of the larger metro areas.

02-14-2005, 03:11 PM	#1 (permalink)
cyrnel Adequate Location: In my angry-dome.	Experience with Cellular Internet Access? I'm talking about computer access to the net via cell providers, not land-of-the-giants access to inky-dinky websites as viewed through a 100x100 cell display. i.e. My carrier (Verizon) offers "unlimited" net access (100-400Kbps) for $79/mo plus the $100 PCMCIA card. The cost/bit isn't good when compared to cable or dsl, but this is for mobile use which I'm finding would be increasingly useful. I'm just looking for feedback on quality of service from any carrier. Last I tried was 5yrs ago through Sprint at ~$1/minute. (choke, stumble, gag, repeat)

02-19-2005, 05:59 PM	#5 (permalink)
santafe5000 EVIL! Location: Southwest of nowhere	I have the Verizon unlimited plan. I have an AirCard 555 from them(old style). They have newer and better cards. I travel all over the US on business and connect when their service is available. I would say it is trully about 80% of the US. They do seem to have a large dead zone in the central states, ie. Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming. They use an Accelerator program from Venturi to get faster speeds and the newest version is really good. I have never had a cable hookup so i tell you what the speed diference really is. It is vastly improved over dial-up. When i got it originally, it was $100.00 a month for unlimited, but they dropped it to the $79.00 amount when Sprint came in with their services. I find it well worth it as i can be online almost constantly from Florida to Central Texas. Even get some pretty good signal out in the Calif. desert. The newer PCMIA cards are supposed to be better and they have True HS conections in some of the larger metro areas. __________________ When all else fails, QUIT.

02-14-2005, 03:24 PM	#2 (permalink)
ratbastid Darth Papa Location: Yonder	I use Sprint for this, with my new Treo 650 (brag, brag). There's an app for the Treo called PDANet. You install it on the laptop and on the Palm, and when you're all hooked up and run it on the Palm, the phone goes into data mode and the computer connects to it like it's a modem, and Bob's your unkle. I have a very old grandfathered data plan that's unlimited data for $10/month. Current unlimited data plans are $15/month. Only thing is, Sprint doesn't really smile on this sort of behavior. The unlimited data plans are meant only for data to be consumed on the handheld device. You have to watch your usage--if you exceed some unknown magic threshhold, they bring down the hammer of Usage Agreement Violation and whack your head off with an enormous bill for bandwidth usage. It's no replacement for my in-home wireless network, and I wouldn't use it anywhere I could get a free ethernet or wireless hookup. But I routinely choose it over $10/day hotel access services.

02-14-2005, 03:38 PM	#3 (permalink)
cyrnel Adequate Location: In my angry-dome.	That's how my old Sprint access worked. I used a Samsung 800(?) as the modem. It was incredibly slow. Most of the time slower than my old Ricochet (RIP) 14.4Kbps wireless. Not to say newer systems don't do a better job, but the experience tells me another simulated async modem setup would be one to try before buying. Yes, I'm envious. Verizon phones are always a generation behind. I want the 650 but they only have the 600. Bastages.

02-14-2005, 06:52 PM	#4 (permalink)
ratbastid Darth Papa Location: Yonder	650 is supposed to be coming soon on Verizon, though! And it'll be EDGE-enabled, with speeds up to 200kb/s! I routinely get 80-100kb/s on the Sprint PCS network. Plenty for email and casual browsing, and even some well compressed multimedia applications. I'm not going to try to run bittorrent over it (and if I did, that'd be exactly the sort of usage Sprint would come down on). I stream internet radio over Sprint PCS to my 650 all the time. Bandwidth is fine for that.