Sierra Announces AirCard 595U - EVDO USB Modem

jackrodgers · EVDO Addict Joined: 23 Mar 2006 Posts: 1131

One should always plug their mobile computer into an ac adapter and run off of the AC rather than battery when near an ac outlet or auto charger.

This reduces the battery charge cycles extending the time you get to use the battery, not the charge here, before it wears out.

There are also battery pads that extend the charge time to as much as 8 -10 hours.

Chuck · EVDO Heavy User Joined: 21 Mar 2005 Posts: 149

These last few posts about the battery really make make me think its not that good of a thing so let me ask a few scenarios before I decided against it:

1. Streaming a radio channel to listen to at 128K while surfing the web in EVDO-A fringe area for 12 hours.

2. Same as 1 but in non-evdo coverage.

3. Playing World of Warcraft in EVDO-A fringe area for 12 hours.

4. Same as 3 but in non-evdo coverage.

These are some real world scenarios for me when traveling for work and staying over in a city for a weekend. Could any of these kill the battery?

Chuck

tbhausen · EVDO Junkie Joined: 12 Dec 2006 Posts: 158

The real deciding factor is "Do you have two adjacent USB ports you can dedicate to USB mobem use?" That, IMHO, is the only potential reason not to choose the U720 over the 595U. If there's any other downside to the U720, I haven't discovered it yet. It's rock-solid here in the midwest, anyhow. In fact, I've never experienced a single dropped connection in the couple months or more I've been using it.

Sierra users are going to get the new Connection Manager interface first--guess that's another factor.

Todd/Indy

Chuck · EVDO Heavy User Joined: 21 Mar 2005 Posts: 149

tbhausen · EVDO Junkie Joined: 12 Dec 2006 Posts: 158

No I haven't tried the U720 with a hub. I use adjacent USB ports on an HP NW9440 (workstation-class laptop).

Todd/Indy

lvjeffro · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 26 May 2007 Posts: 11

Man I wish I would have found this site sooner...Found it friday night, wish I would have found it Tuesday...LOL...

I think the 595U looks like it will be a winner for sure...I didn't notice it when I was looking for USB broadband cards...

Now I am confused on if i should trade in my U720 for the 595U??? Embarassed

editor1 · EVDO User Joined: 26 Jan 2007 Posts: 81

If you like the performance of the U 720 (as I do), why switch? I've yet to read of a persuasive advantage to the Sierra.

Alex · Posted: Sun May 27, 2007 6:42 am Post subject:

lvjeffro · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 26 May 2007 Posts: 11

I haven't used my U720 yet, so i do not know how it performs, but from what I have heard it is a solid performer so that is why I got it, and then finding this forum and doing all the reading on the U720 I know it wasn't just a bunch of BS...One of the better wireless cards avail right now...

I think the sierra 595U will be a winner because it has the swivel USB port which is nice when you plug it directly into the computer, and with the cradle it would keep your desk top a bit less cluttered looking and more professional then with just a modem laying on the table, and from what I read, (no real world info) the battery plus the USB power give it more juice then the Y cable on the U720 and it uses alot less power then the U720 at idle...And it has an external port for an antenna...

But since the 595U has not been tested in real world conditions and the U720 has been, I am gonna stick with the U720 and maybe get the 875U when they come out...

lvjeffro · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 26 May 2007 Posts: 11

I haven't used my U720 yet, so i do not know how it performs, but from what I have heard it is a solid performer so that is why I got it, and then finding this forum and doing all the reading on the U720 I know it wasn't just a bunch of BS...One of the better wireless cards avail right now...

I think the sierra 595U will be a winner because it has the swivel USB port which is nice when you plug it directly into the computer, and with the cradle it would keep your desk top a bit less cluttered looking and more professional then with just a modem laying on the table, and from what I read, (no real world info) the battery plus the USB power give it more juice then the Y cable on the U720 and it uses alot less power then the U720 at idle...And it has an external port for an antenna...

But since the 595U has not been tested in real world conditions and the U720 has been, I am gonna stick with the U720 and maybe get the 875U when they come out...

MacDo · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 05 Feb 2007 Posts: 25

lvjeffro:

"But since the 595U has not been tested in real world conditions and the U720 has been, I am gonna stick with the U720 and maybe get the 875U when they come out..."

I don't understand the above comment.

You say that the 595U hasn't been tested in the real world, but then continue to say that you will get the 875U when it comes out? The 875U is on a totally different network then the 595U, and neither one has been tested in the real world.

Are you trying to say that even though you are happy with the U720, you will consider getting the the 875U (AT&T) even though it has no track record?

Reason why I am asking is because I am considering the 875U myself, but haven't heard anything about AT&T speeds yet.

jackrodgers · EVDO Addict Joined: 23 Mar 2006 Posts: 1131

bdhadhdnh · EVDO User Joined: 08 Apr 2007 Posts: 26 Location: So Cal

I almost bought the 595U because it was newer and looks somewhat cooler but decided on the 720U for the following reason:

1. I can use the KR1 router with the 720U to make a hot spot for my kids in the car. Can't do that with the 595U.

2. Read the 595U manual: need to charge the card before use, one more gadget to remember to charge. The 720U is plug and play.

3. I was concerned about the 720U 2-port requirement but found that it worked fine with 1 port. My laptop has only 1port and I routinely get 1200KB d/l and sometimes 2000+ in some places. It can only get better with two ports.

4. I used to like the 595U dock station and the swivel feature. I bought some after market USB stations and swivel USB connector that work even better (swivel in more direction). The 595U cannot lay flat when connected. Size-wise, the 595U is even a hair larger than the 720U, the swiveling USB connector is nice but doesn't sit too well with a regular USB cable. The U720 is more compact to travel when I have to use a USB cable (vs. the docking station)

5. Can't find any good review yet on the 595U.

Overall I am happy with the U720. IMHO, the only thing going for the 595U is that it's new and will be around longer (unless someone can enlighten me with a good review).

I still have a few days to decide to switch to the 595U, if someone can point out some advantages of othe 595U I would appreciate the input.

Alex

In this thread about the 595U I've made it clear that I think the built in battery is more of a gimmick than a feature.

Here's more fact in support of my argument that the 595U isn't worth buying... We've reported today that after just TWO HOURS of use in the TopGlobal MB6800 Router, the 595U's battery goes dead and the 595U STOPS WORKING.

A few people contended that when the battery died the modem would just operate at slower speeds. Maybe in a laptop that will be true, but in the ONLY router that the 595U works with the modem does not operate slower when its battery is dead... it STOPPED WORKING.

I argued that if someone were to buy the 595U and use it in a weak signal area ALL THE TIME, how would the battery ever get charged? and while it was charging, how is the modem ever getting full power? When I asked this question, someone who wanted everyone to believe the technology/design of the 595U was intelligent enough to compensate, said that nobody would ever be operating under challenging signal all the time.

Obviously, these people don't sell and support EVDO devices all day long. At least 10 times a week, I get calls from fulltime RVers who spend days/weeks at a time at a remote campground with -105 signal or worse. At least 10 times a week, I get someone who starts their call by saying "I live in the boonies and my only option so far has been wildboo or hughesnet and they recently changed their FAP so its time to find another answer"... for these customers EVDO is a godsend and there is no way I will ever recommend the 595U.

If you bought a 595U and are still under your 30-day trial period, its probably in your BEST interest to reconsider and get the U720 (from 3gstore.com, of course!)... if you are beyond the 30-day trial period, then the next smartest thing you can do is get yourself a powered USB hub.

Incindium · EVDO User Joined: 18 Apr 2007 Posts: 37

Has anyone else seen any issues with the 595U where it says its connected locally only? Basically its still shows as connected but isn't able to connect to anything. This has been happening to me fairly often and alot of time the way I fix it is to exit SCM and unlplug/replug the modem from the USB. Could it be a Windows Vista driver thing or is it likely issues with the 595U?

I am in a poor signal area with the 595U and haven't seen battery issues myself. I've never see the power like turn red on my unit.