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Sam2k
EVDO Newbie
Joined: 08 Jun 2007
Posts: 5
Location: Benton, AR
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 Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2007 8:32 pm Post subject: New to EVDO, a few questions! |
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Hello,
I live in a rural part of central Arkansas where I am unable to get DSL or cable broadband. I cannot stand another summer of dial-up and Satellite is not an acceptable improvement from what I've read. So questions.
I've chosen Alltel because at 59.99 a month for an unlimited plan its cheaper than Verizon and Sprint. Sprint has Rev A coverage for my home, but I called to verified that and was put on with someone who asked me how to spell Are-Kansas and kept trying to sign me up for an account rather than answering my questions. I also went into an Alltel store and two sales reps told me they had sustained download speeds of 700ish kbps and helped me determine that I live within a mile of a cell tower which should help speed and reliability. Anyone have any other thoughts?
I really don't want to be tied into a 1 or 2 year agreement because I'm not sure that it is cost effective for me to keep EVDO service outside of the summer months. I'd also rather not pay $300 (looking for <$200) for one of Alltel's modems. So, which modems (other than the couple that Alltel sale directly) work fine with Alltel and where else can I buy one (my favorite tech shops don't seem to carry them)? Also, since I'm buying outright I'd rather get a Rev A modem since the salesguy told me Alltel is supposed to be rolling out Rev A in around 6 months or so. Neither of Alltel's 2 supported modems is REV A compatible.
Any comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. |
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Torrey
EVDO Junkie
Joined: 09 May 2007
Posts: 288
Location: USA
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| Posted: Fri Jun 08, 2007 9:45 pm Post subject: |
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It looks like Sprint has Rev-A coverage in Benton, AR.
You should go to: Sprint Coverage
Type in your address, check "Mobile Broadband", and it will show you whether or not EVDO coverage is available at your home address.
Sprint's EVDO service is $59.99 per month for unlimited usage, and they don't require you have an existing voice plan with them.
I recommend 3Gstore.com for all your EVDO needs! |
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karlyn
EVDO Junkie
Joined: 02 Apr 2007
Posts: 396
Location: Lynchburg, VA
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| Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2007 5:29 am Post subject: Re: New to EVDO, a few questions! |
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| Sam2k wrote: | Also, since I'm buying outright I'd rather get a Rev A modem since the salesguy told me Alltel is supposed to be rolling out Rev A in around 6 months or so. Neither of Alltel's 2 supported modems is REV A compatible.
Any comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. |
One correction on the Alltel modems -- the UTStarcom PC5750 (PCMCIA card) is upgradeable to Rev. A. The Franklin CDU-500 USB modem is not.
Check to see if you have Sprint coverage like Torrey suggested. You'll have many more options for buying a card outright. |
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Sam2k
EVDO Newbie
Joined: 08 Jun 2007
Posts: 5
Location: Benton, AR
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| Posted: Sat Jun 09, 2007 6:39 am Post subject: |
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| Yes, I have confirmed as best I can using Sprint's coverage map that I am in Rev A coverage. I was just rather put-off by the salesman who couldn't bother to answer my questions before setting up my account. Does 3gstore sell modems outside of 2yr contracts? Are they sold at retail price? |
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karlyn
EVDO Junkie
Joined: 02 Apr 2007
Posts: 396
Location: Lynchburg, VA
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| Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 5:04 am Post subject: |
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| Sam2k wrote: | | Yes, I have confirmed as best I can using Sprint's coverage map that I am in Rev A coverage. I was just rather put-off by the salesman who couldn't bother to answer my questions before setting up my account. Does 3gstore sell modems outside of 2yr contracts? Are they sold at retail price? |
Sorry, it wasn't clear to me in your original post that you'd looked at the maps. Sprint's maps are generally conservative from what I understand and Sprint agents look at the same street-level map as the one you found online.
I can't answer your questions about 3Gstore modem sales. The only provider in my area is Alltel, so that's who I got my card from. I did buy my router from 3Gstore and their price was definitely competitive. You'll find talking to them very different from your Sprint experience even though they are Sprint Master Agents (and Verizon resellers).
Unfortunately your original post is in the Alltel forum. Since 3Gstore is Sprint/Verizon only, this forum isn't included in the "recent posts" list and questions are sometimes overlooked. Try posting your Sprint modem questions in the Sprint forum or contact them at sales at 3Gstore dot com. You should be able to get a Sprint Pantech PX-500 for $200 out of contract. |
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Alex
Site Admin
Joined: 19 Sep 2006
Posts: 3084
Location: Dallas, TX
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| Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 5:37 am Post subject: |
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| Sam2k wrote: | | Yes, I have confirmed as best I can using Sprint's coverage map that I am in Rev A coverage. I was just rather put-off by the salesman who couldn't bother to answer my questions before setting up my account. Does 3gstore sell modems outside of 2yr contracts? Are they sold at retail price? |
We have the S720 available without service for $249.99:
http://3gstore.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=56&products_id=342
but you can't use it without a contract so it won't do much good to buy it that way.
Sprint's 30-day trial period is honored, even when you buy through 3gstore, so there is little risk to try out the service.
I understand your experience dealing directly with Sprint was horrible. Its like that for 90+% of our customers... and is probably the biggest reason they buy through us instead of direct.
We do everything we can to act as a buffer between you and Sprint.
We wrote more about why people should buy from us, in this blog post:
Why Buy From 3GStore.com?
you may want to read that, then order Sprint card and service from us online.
as Torrey said earlier, Sprint's EVDO Rev-A is $59.99/mo for unlimited service, which is not more expensive than Alltel. And if you wanted to keep up front costs for card as low as possible, you could get the PX500 which is only $49.99 up front, and comes with a $50 mail-in rebate, making it free after the rebate.
i'm guessing that you only spend summer in this area where you would need mobile broadband, and when you're not there you have cable/dsl? if so, sprint allows you to suspend service for 6mos at a time at just $7/mo. other conditions apply and we can explain them if you are interested.
we look forward to serving you as our customer! |
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Sam2k
EVDO Newbie
Joined: 08 Jun 2007
Posts: 5
Location: Benton, AR
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| Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 7:51 am Post subject: |
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Are you saying that Sprint requires you to have a 2yr contract to receive service?
The mobile broadband will be for my home where I can only get dial-up and there are no plans to expand dsl or cable coverage any time soon. I only want it for the summer because someone will be using the internet most of the time. During the school year, most members of the family have access to high speed networks at school so the dial-up will suffice when compared with $60 a month. |
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Alex
Site Admin
Joined: 19 Sep 2006
Posts: 3084
Location: Dallas, TX
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| Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 8:51 am Post subject: |
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| Sam2k wrote: | | Are you saying that Sprint requires you to have a 2yr contract to receive service? |
Not necessarily a 2-year contract, but a contract of some sort.
There is no month to month or short-term service though there is a 1-yr contract which we never think is a good option.
Why? because with a 1-yr contract your up-front discount for the intial hardware purchase is cut in half, and you also pay $20 more per month.
Let's do the math: instead of a $150 'service credit' given with a 2-yr contract, you only get a $75 'service credit' on the hardware purchase. Add to that difference the extra $240 you pay during the 12 months of the contract, and the "cost" of choosing a 1-yr over the 2-yr contract is $315.
Even for customers who truly need the service for only one year -- it always makes more sense to us for them to sign up for a 2-yr contract and then pay the $200 early termination fee to cancel service after the first year.
Doing it that way saves our customers $115... and that makes more sense, right? |
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Sam2k
EVDO Newbie
Joined: 08 Jun 2007
Posts: 5
Location: Benton, AR
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| Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 11:45 am Post subject: |
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| So...to get Sprint service at $59.99 you have to sign up for a 2 year contract. Making Alltel (which is only 59.99 regardless) cheaper for short term service...? Slower. But cheaper. |
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Alex
Site Admin
Joined: 19 Sep 2006
Posts: 3084
Location: Dallas, TX
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| Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 1:43 pm Post subject: |
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since it seems like price is the primary factor for you, i'll remind you of something you said in earlier post: "I'd also rather not pay $300 for one of alltel's modems".
seem's you are in between a rock and a hard place.
good luck with that! 
if you want sprint service, and prefer having EVDO Experts for first line customer support, call on 3gstore.com |
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Sam2k
EVDO Newbie
Joined: 08 Jun 2007
Posts: 5
Location: Benton, AR
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| Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 8:09 pm Post subject: |
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| Well, I'm now a Alltel EVDO customer. Speeds are about what I expected and setup was really easy. I walked out of the Alltel store with an activated modem and no 2 year agreement for $214. Not bad for a day's work. |
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mjhampstead
EVDO User
Joined: 13 Apr 2007
Posts: 59
Location: Michigan USA
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| Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 4:47 am Post subject: |
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Maybe this is a bit late to post but I have the $25.00 per month Alltel usb Data Access plan and it works really well compared to my dialup. mjh
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mjh |
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aminor
EVDO Newbie
Joined: 13 Jul 2007
Posts: 2
Location: wacahoota, florida
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| Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2007 5:39 pm Post subject: |
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| I also have the $25 AllTel unlimited EVDO and am very satisfied. Do you know the difference between the $25 and the $59 service. I did not know there was a $59 plan when I signed up. |
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Barren_CPM4
EVDO User
Joined: 23 Jul 2007
Posts: 50
Location: Houghton Lake, MI
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| Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 3:28 pm Post subject: |
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In regards to a previous post,
the UT Starcom 5750 can work in the Rev A networks and it will operate faster than in traditional EVDO areas, but the only true Rev A that we (Alltel) carry is the Kyocera KPC680 Express Card.
Regards
Jason Peterson
Wireless Consultant
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Alltel Wireless |
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Barren_CPM4
EVDO User
Joined: 23 Jul 2007
Posts: 50
Location: Houghton Lake, MI
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| Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 3:35 pm Post subject: |
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| aminor wrote: | | I also have the $25 AllTel unlimited EVDO and am very satisfied. Do you know the difference between the $25 and the $59 service. I did not know there was a $59 plan when I signed up. |
The $59 plan is for use with the air cards. The $25 plan is for use when you tether your phone as a modem.
The data cards produce higher performance numbers in testing, but the real world effects are minimal. I am able to play Lord of the Rings online with my phone or my air card with no noticeable difference in latency, and i am able to stream XM radio online with either connection. The only noticeable difference i see is when i am downloading a file, I get 10-30K faster on my aircard.
Regards
Jason Peterson
Wireless Consultant
...
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Alltel Wireless |
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