Potential new EVDO user - coming from Satellite - questions

palouseflyer · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 10 Mar 2008 Posts: 11

We live in a rural area of eastern washington, south of Spokan. Our only option for high speed internet has been satellite, and I have used both Hughes and WildBlue for several years. Currently Wildblue.

But it looks like my location is right on the edge of the map that shows the reach of the EVDO signal, so I am tempted to give EVDO a try. I called Sprint and they said you have 30 days to cancel out so I figure I have nothing to lose.

Satellite internet latency is horrible. How does EVDO compare.
Are the speeds consistently good? Do they slow up a lot during peak usage hours?
Sprint advertises an unlimited plan for $60 a month which sounds good.

I would to get rid of the satellite internet junk and give EVDO a try!

thanks!

rwithers · Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2008 12:33 pm Post subject:

I made the switch from Satellite to EVDO and will never go back to Satellite again. As far as latency goes there is no comparison. I used to get 900-1500ms on my satellite. I get 80-150ms on my evdo. Speeds I get 800-1mb down and 350-400K up on my EVDO. I am experiencing some issues right now but that does not mean you will experience the same. As far as getting busy during peak hours that is all based on how busy the tower sites are in general. Another thing to keep in mind is there is no FAP with EVDO. I think Verizon is the only carrier that is impementing a data cap and that is 5GB a month. But if you have sprint available I would recommend going with that as there is no data cap from what I understand.

Also even if you are on the edge of EVDO service there are external antennas and things of that nature to help bring the signal in a little better.

I would definitly hit up the guys at 3gstore.com for your sprint account and give it a try.

mhtyler · EVDO Heavy User Joined: 01 Jul 2007 Posts: 133

Sat. is like rolling a stone wheel down a muddy road. Try and get Sprint if you can get EVDO, and not Verizon unles you've no other choice.

Speeds under rev A EVDO are quite speedy compared to sat...although for the record, so are carrier pidgeons.

mark
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Mostly Harmless

peterv95 · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 15 Jun 2007 Posts: 18

I had to use Hughes for six years ....It was not too bad until about a year ago, when they changed their FAP and everything was going south. I have Verizon for 4 months now. The 5GB limit was never a problem, did not slow down when I used double.... but still Sprints unlimited is much better and I have it now for near two weeks.

latency, on a good day , test showing ~ 700 ms. For example when I tried to log into Bank of America online banking, with Hughes it took 2 mins until I was logged in (again on a good day and more and more the days was not soooooo god Rolling Eyes

).... Sprint about 4sec

speeds : Verizon sometimes slows a little, but by far not as bad as Hughes does. With Sprint I have all the time 800-1200 kbps dl and over 500 upload, most the time in the 800 range.

and yes it is unlimited for $60. I have an account with a reseller of SMBB, so I don't have to deal with Sprints billing and customer care department. Don't know hows WB doing there, but Hughes outsourced (India) customer care is very bad and Sprint is not better Shocked

But yes when you get used to Sprint EVDO you can't switch back to f@%$% satelitte Laughing

palouseflyer · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 10 Mar 2008 Posts: 11

Thanks for the advice
It turns out I am 2 miles from the edge of service according to their map online, but as our terraiin is somehat rolling hills and my house is in a wide open location (not behind hills) I wonder if I would have any chance to get the signal anyway? I have no way to test this currently though, I guess I woud have to sign up for the service and see what happens

orangepeel · EVDO User Joined: 24 Feb 2007 Posts: 40

palouseflyer · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 10 Mar 2008 Posts: 11

Black05Hemi · EVDO Newbie Joined: 30 Dec 2007 Posts: 6

EVDO is great just for the latency reduction alone...

lewxam · Posted: Fri Mar 21, 2008 11:51 pm Post subject:

xrayman · Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 10:17 am Post subject:

Some have reported Wildblue will keep charging their CC after they canceled the account. Even if the account was out of contract period. Keep a good record of time, date, name of person talked with and details of conversation when you cancel your WB account. Some have used email records to prove to their CC company they did cancel the account.

lewxam · Posted: Sat Mar 22, 2008 8:34 pm Post subject:

If you have an email for their customer non-service, please let me know what it is. One WB rep told me they didn't have one. Can you believe it? Another one, and her supervisor, told me I had 2 months left on my contract even though I have had the service for 2 years and only signed for a 1 year contract. I can't hardly wait to get rid of the WB pain.

peterv95 · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 15 Jun 2007 Posts: 18

palouseflyer · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 10 Mar 2008 Posts: 11

Crud. Signals at my home apparently are not strong enough for revA.

I received an aircard 595U yesterday, and am only getting 2 bars 1xrtt at best (using it on a Macbook pro) , anywhere in the house, upstairs or down. I even drove around my area a little and never saw the signal increase. I have my doubts that even an antenna and booster could help this signal? Not sure I want to start shelling out more $$$ to experiment. How much of a signal do you have to have to begin with to even have hopes of getting an antenna to help? I don't see anywhere in the aircard software to show actuall db readings, it just shows a little cell phone type bar icon.

Oh well, looks like I am stuck with WildBlue. Card going back to Sprint today.

ANd the poster that wanted to know abt Wildblue customer service number, I am using wildblue through one of the utilities, Gotsky.com, and their cust serv has always been helpful. Tech support on the other hand is a nightmare.

CraigCraig · EVDO Heavy User Joined: 15 May 2007 Posts: 141

CraigCraig · EVDO Heavy User Joined: 15 May 2007 Posts: 141

"I don't see anywhere in the aircard software to show actual db readings, it just shows a little cell phone type bar icon."

I'm not sure what software you are running but on my Sprint Connection Manager for my Novatel S720 I let the mouse cursor hover over the bars to the right of the little antenna and it gives dBm readings for both the 1xRTT and EVDO signal (but only if 1xRTT or EVDO are enabled I think.)