Sell me on Altell EVDO Service (Why to switch from Sprint)

Rider_55

I have run into a problem with my existing EVDO service (Sprint) as their newly imposed cap is not something that sits well with me. Based on the footnote in the article at http://www.evdoinfo.com/content/view/2343/64/ it appears that Alltel still offers a truly unlimited plan for the time being. I have looked around on Alltel's website and have not found anything that either confirms or denies that there is no cap. I also need to know if Alltel places any restrictions on the types of data transfered on their network. I transfer large files via FTP for work, download lots of files from websites, stream video/audio for school lectures and play games online such as Counter Strike and Call of Duty. No P2P or torrents typically other that an occasional Linux distro. Also what kind of roaming policies do they have? Is there an off network cap? Who are their roaming partners?

Thanks in advance to any that respond.

amanda · EVDO User Joined: 19 May 2007 Posts: 38

I posted my inquiry over on the "cap" thread but will try to delete it as it has to do more with the questions you ask, Rider.

If I opt out of Sprint data if they're letting you go without an ETF, then I might as well switch to Alltel.

However, even if Alltel has no limits, it's network is quite a bit smaller than Sprint's. Can I roam on Sprint's network with Alltel service the way we can roam on Alltel with Sprint? Alltel doesn't have REV A in some of the places I'd most use it.

Thanks.

~~amanda

xenophon · EVDO Addict Joined: 30 Aug 2005 Posts: 1969

Would probably be wise to consider Alltel only if you live in a native Alltel EVDO area. If you constantly roam on Sprint, there's no guarantee that will last as Alltel ultimately has to pay Sprint for service. And, if Alltel has 1xRTT service but Sprint has EVDO in an area, it may favor 1xRTT.

Do Alltel cards allow you to force EVDO roaming?

daverup · EVDO User Joined: 07 Dec 2007 Posts: 45

Before you jump,
Read the threads about "Forcing Degraded Content", "Strange Changes", and others. There are signs that Alltel plans to limit what is presently unlimited.
As a victim of the system Alltel has been testing, I can tell you that it has changed some content and delayed others.
Alltel is supposed to roll out Rev A sometime soon, and has been testing it in some areas. Most areas of Alltel EVDO are only Rev 0 at this time.

At this time, none of the wireless internet providers look trustworthy to me.

Rider_55 · Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 2:25 pm Post subject:

Even based on the degraded pics I am still liking the sounds of the Altell package better. I don't do an awful lot of general web surfing from home (that is what work is for Laughing

) so even pics over proxy doesn't bother me that much. I am not really getting REV A speeds anyway due to my poor signal from sprint so a better signal from alltel rev0 which is on a much closer tower would probably be much lower latency and stable. Is there a map or service that I can check out to see if I am within altell's native service area?

karlyn · Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 3:10 pm Post subject:

Rider -- you can pretty much think of Alltel as a mirror of Sprint. Alltel's roaming partner is Sprint and the current terms are much the same as Sprint's current terms. They have an EvDO roaming agreement with Sprint. BUT, with Sprint's announcement I figure Alltel's unlimited plan will soon likely go the way of Sprint's.

Alltel's coverage maps are awful. Here's the link to the national coverage map -- you can select states from here. A lot of times I look at the gray roaming partner coverage on the Sprint map to determine Alltel's coverage.

xenophon asked about forcing cards to EvDO (HDR). The software is device specific and right now the KPC-680 doesn't allow forcing to HDR -- but forum member Kain seems to have found a neat work-around for that card.

Rider_55 · Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 4:03 pm Post subject:

Irythros · EVDO Newbie Joined: 06 May 2008 Posts: 6

If you go to an alltel store and buy there, you have either a 17 or 30 day trial (cant remember which). DO NOT BUY A HUAWEI CARD!

Alltel is also truely unlimited (or I just havent hit the max). Our connection is shared between 3 computers and we can easily hit 20+ gigs a month (game downloads, torrents, youtube, MMO, browsing, uploading etc) and we've yet to even be contacted about our usage. We got the service back in august of last year.

Also, even if your in the blue for high speed, I wouldn't rely completely on that. I'm mostly stuck to 1xrtt even though my area is pure high-speed. Out of the time i've been on the network, ive only got evDO 3 times for 12 hours. The speed I got for evDO was (50 kBps down) vs my normal 1xrtt speed (18kBps down).

Nikodaemos · EVDO Fledgling Joined: 20 Dec 2007 Posts: 25

Hmm... i was liking Alltell as an alternative to Sprint... but not if im going to be running 1xRTT speeds all the time... that is just NOT acceptable; i can get an ISDN line for the same speeds as 1xRTT and much lower latency.

I need the speeds of EVDO (at least revO); alltell is showing me in their high-speed coverage area (in michigan, near flint).

is there any place to find out about what the coverage and speeds here might be like real-world?

We have to use EVDO for high-speed for the entire house; we're some of those "1%" that Sprint is abandoning with their totally unacceptable 5GB/month BS.

how exactly am i going to limit 4 people that way? I'm paying for internet, damnit, not cripplenet.

Irythros · EVDO Newbie Joined: 06 May 2008 Posts: 6

You'd need to make a post and see if there is anyone in your area or just go and test your speeds during trial period.

otter5555 · EVDO Newbie Joined: 14 Jan 2007 Posts: 9

i have had both sprint and alltel evdo service for about 2 years.

i have both because neither is reliable Smile

lucky for me, when alltel quits, sprint works and vice versa.

i run an antenna and booster and have 100% signal 100% of the time but

there are days when alltel says its connected but you cant surf.

on those days i use sprint.

for the last couple of months alltel has been even more erratic forcing me to use sprint more.

also, prior to a couple of months ago my sprint was always faster up and down. now sprint is the same speed as alltel was.

my signal strength has not changed.

i dont know what is going on with alltel and sprint but i have seen a serious degrading of service with both services in the last few months.

my primary residence (east texas) offers no other broadband solution.

dsl is 1/2 mile from me, cable is 312' from me and i've tried for 12 years with no success to get service from either.

the neighbor with cable will not share even if i offer to pay 100% of his bill.

i am truely in dsl hell Smile

i have owned starband, hughes and wildblue sats. i will take struggeling evdo any day over sat.

my worst day on evdo is better than my best day on sat.

ironically,

my vacation home is located in the sacramento mountains of new mexico 22 miles from nowhere and i have a fantastic dsl connection there:)

oh well,

it's almost time to retire anyway Smile

otter

Rider_55 · Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 4:53 pm Post subject:

I have just discovered some info from ALLTEL's T's & C's which will weigh strongly on my new service.

operknockity · Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 7:22 pm Post subject:

JoeCHecht · EVDO Junkie Joined: 05 Jan 2008 Posts: 278