Review by mlohrwork 
Posted: 1.3 years ago
member for 7.2 years, 1212 visits, last login: 2 days ago
 Laurel,Howard,MD
 $59 per month (12 month contract)
 about 4 days
 "Worked everywhere I have needed including remote cabin"
 "Slow when not in 3 G mode"
 "Expensive but only alternative as analog cell is shut down"
| Pre Sales Information:
Install process:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings match consensus)
|
Since ATT/Cingular shut down the analog tower near my cabin near the Skyline Drive so I was forced to look for alternatives. Laptop connect PCMCIA was suggested and it works at the cabin in the non 3 g mode ~80kbps/~60kbps. It slows down to half rate when used with the Cisco vpn client but seemed quite reliable. Pings are longish (.4-.8 seconds) since the network connection point to the backbone is in the center of the United States. While on recent travel to AZ I used it and got full 3 G performance ~1Mbps/~1Mbps and much lower ping times 80ms. It also got 3 G at the Baltimore airport. Thus far (1.5 months) it has never failed to connect and has always worked. When in 3 G mode it feels speed wise like my DSL 1.5Mbps/768Kbps. Slightly slower than my Comcast 6MBps/700Kbps. No ports seem to be blocked. IP is dynamic and different each time I connected. Remains constant during a session. It also goes to a slower mode when driving in a car between cell towers ~15Kbps/~10Kbps. In all modes it is faster than analog cell modem (2.4Kbps)
Equipment cost $300 dollars($100 rebate) and $50 setup for the PCMCIA card and its sim. Because I currently have Cingular cell phones the contract period is 12 months. Provided software install smoothly but was immediately remotely upgraded on the first session. It did allow me to refuse the upgrade.
Cingular representative wisely advised against metered service at the $29 dollar level equivalent to the analog phone. He said very few customers keep the metered service.
Great when in 3 G areas but slightly better than dial-up otherwise
Followup comments:  njvictor
join:2007-08-13
Brick, NJ
 ·Cablevision
 ·Cingular Wireless
|  " Butt- Sir,, we only changed the name..?""
 Oh, My,, as I often hear from customer service and  a supervisor,,,, we only changed the paperwork and our name,, our system stayed the same...........
 NOT,,, it's quite obvious,, you had service before the "Big" -(SWITCH) change over,,, and now you don't,,, gee how is that possible Battman......""
A NEW Name, A New Look,, but the service is,, or as I tell everyone,, " AT&T the MOST DROPPED CALLS " ..... | |
| mlohrwork
join:2001-05-30
Laurel, MD | Iphone has hurt I am getting more failure to connect as the iphone starts loading up the available channels. However the 3G service is unaffected. I guess that iphones don't use the 3G.
Still an okay service | |
| | | |
| Forums » comments on review of Cingular Wireless |
|
(12)