Mobile Broadband

[Marti Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Marti]

Anyone use

An External Device to get on the Internet using their laptop.

How is the speed. What company do you use. Verizon, etc.


USB Modem

Compatible with most computers, these compact devices are
a reliable option for notebooks equipped with a USB drive.


Is 3G network as fast or faster than DSL connection using a router.

[dale7 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dale7]

I am using a usb modem from Verizon and it work up to .5 meg on a good day and some very slow in the middle of the day when everyone is on the network but over all I am very happy with it when we are on vacation. When I am at work I have the modem plug in to a router it works ok but not as fast as DSL.

[vintner Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close vintner]

I tether my Verizon blackberry to my laptop and am overall please with the speed. It cost me an additional $30 per month vs. their USB modem which runs about $60 a month. When I was staying at Christmas Mountain in Dec, I could not keep a phone conversation going without being dropped. However, I got good digital signal with the tethered phone to the laptop.

Before that, I was using a Sprint broadband card that was PCMCIA connection. The card was okay, not special, but I hated dealing with Sprint.

I'll have to do a speed test with the tethered blackberry and post my results.

[brisket lover Member Find all posts View Profile Close brisket lover]

My tethered BB is fast enough for what I need to do. About the same as the old Verizion card I used to use, maybe a bit faster.

[Marti Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Marti]

Compare Mobile Broadband - Companies and their Coverage - Helpful Information


Verizon Mobile Broadband - USB - VZ Access Manager

USB MODEMS

Compatible with most computers, (both laptops and desktops) these compact
(external) devices are a reliable option for computers equipped with a USB drive
to access the Internet without wires or a long term contract.

How It Works

Verizon Wireless USB modems, (ExpressCards and PC cards) provides access
to the Internet using the same reliable network as your Verizon Wireless phone.

Verizon Wireless - America's Largest 3G Network
See map for broadband coverage in your areas.

*NO CONTRACT - Prepaid Plan(s)

The initial cost for the Modem is $129.99
Plus you need an airtime card for $50.00

You will then be able connect to the Internet Wirelessly
anywhere Verizon has broadband coverage for 30 days.

Next use your wireless phone as a portable modem
to access the internet on your (laptop) computer.

What a exciting way to access the Internet at Home, Work, and on Vacation!

[vintner Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close vintner]

Droid 2 (possibly my next phone) will create a wifi hotspot. You can wifi connect to the phone and the phone to the internet to provide service while away from your normal internet connection.

I have heard a couple things that I have not verified, connection may not always be a good as a tethered connection, and Verizon may have a 2 gig download limit for $20 per month. Price is good, download limit is too small.

[dale7 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dale7]

I have Verizon $60 with 5gig limit right now but looking at Virgin at $40 unlimited use no contract.

[vintner Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close vintner]

I currently tether my blackberry to the laptop and have a 5 gig limit for $30 a month. I don't want to end up with the 2 gig limit.

[Marti Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Marti]

Verizon Mobile Broadband - USB - Airtime Card - Update


What a rip off...

I was able to get on line using Verizon Braodband2go
for the first couple days and then their wifi connection
got so slow that it took over 5 minutes just to pull up
Yahoo or Google. I finally gave up today and returned
it back to Bestbuy for a cash refund ($129.99 plus tax)

As for the $50.00 airtime card
I called Verizon at 1-800-922-0204 and told them that it
was not my fault that the stupid modem would not work.
Verizon looked at my record and could tell the modem did not
work properly, but refused to issue a partial credit or refund..
They said, the card was not refundable and would expire.

So, I am out of $50.

[Nancy Platinum Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close Nancy]

Thanks for letting us know about this.

Nancy

[cheryl20772 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close cheryl20772]

but refused to issue a partial credit or refund..
They said, the card was not refundable and would expire.

So, I am out of $50.

You need to post this on every rating board you can find... teach Verizon to give better service. Did you ask to speak to a supervisor there? Call again and talk to another person? Post to the Better Business Bureau. Wear a sandwich board outside their office! Oh boy....

I'm a happy Sprint user. We have Smartphones (Android) and I use an App called EasyTether to get the laptop online when on vaca. Works really well.
Hubby uses a different App PdaNet. They work by USB wire connection or Blutooth. We pay a $127 wireless bill every month both for these phones together; so get every bit of use we can from them. If we have a phone signal, we seem to have internet. Nothing for roaming areas though.