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Review by delta_queen See Profile

  • Location: Searcy, White, AR, USA
  • Cost: $60 per month (12 month contract)
  • Install: about 3 days
I may be going to satellite now. had a good 3 months with alltel
tower congested recently? poor connectivity
Pre Sales Information:
Install process:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:

other options where I am moving > satellite or dialup

speed> they promote UP TO 2.5 Mb (I have found 600 without additional antenna)

price>$200 for the USB gizmo (UT Starcom), $60/month after that, 1 yr contract

Install process> received USB gizmo in 2 days, ran install disk, stuck in the USB antenna

I am moving to an rural area where the only two options are satellite and EVDO - at this time and from the results of my research.... After getting hives reading all about satellite service and restrictions, I read a review here about Alltel broadband in rural MS. (I am moving to rural AR) I ordered my starcom and tried it out for 3 days this weekend. WHAT A RELIEF! Yes my comcast cable will be sorely missed, but you were quite right, "when nothing else is available, this is an excellent choice". Without a booster antenna I am receiving 600-150 up down (inside a metal building). This will certainly do considering there are no restrictions for usage. I intend to research booster antennas next and will report back here.

UPDATE 4.16.2008
Four months into contract. Still a happy cusomter. Only one outage (for a couple of hours) in four months. Speeds are consistant with 600 down/100up. A tech told me yesterday that ALL towers were going to be upgraded soon.
Usage really is unlimited. youtube not a prob. Upload is pokey though and one of my corporate VPNs didn't work with this service, but another one did. Customer service really is tops with Alltel, can't think of another telecom company that has ever come close to their quality.

UPDATE 5.26.2008
The past 5 weeks, I have had terrible connection problems. The rssi jumps around all over the place. Many instances I can't even connect or am disconnceted. The first 4 months were SMOOTH sailing with Alltel Axcess. Now this product isn't worth 0.02. I've had an offical ticket open for almost 2 weeks and have never gotten one call from a tech. I have to call back in every other day to check status and explain myself all over again. "Possible tower congestion" I am looking into dropping Alltel and giving satellite a go. How sad.

Update: 6.12.08
I've made the switch to wildblue. Alltel was great for three months, then traffic got too much on my local tower and during peak hours I couldn't use the service AT ALL. and it was mostly too problematic at other hours. I loved Alltel at the start and they have super polite customer service, alas no one would do any thing abo0ut my connectivity issues over the last 7 weeks. PS; heard Verizon was going to be taking over, so it's a good time to bail.

Update 6.23.08
Just ended my service officially. Alltel did not make me pay for the time I had my trouble ticket open (30+ days). But I will owe the remaining $150 - to end the contract.


member for 16.2 years, 31 visits, last login: 13.1 years ago
updated 15.7 years ago

adolobe8
join:2002-07-23
Jacksonville, NC

adolobe8

Member

alltel

congrats man, you will love alltel. I was on sat for a few years at my parents place.. I hated leaving my cable on holiday an weekends to visit. But now they have altell and sharing the connection with a K1 router which alltel will even sale you if you ask. life is good to visit the folks now. There is a tower only about 5miles away an its not uncommon to hit 1.2 meg down on it mostly around 700-800. Upload usually hovers between 80-140.

word of advice if you can still return your modem. Add a second line to your phone with alltel then call in an ask for the $25 data pack its same as the modem play but you hook up via usb. The K1 works great via usb to a razr. Save you some money in the long run if you already have alltel
delta_queen
join:2008-01-14
Mountain View, AR

delta_queen

Member

Re: alltel

thanks for your advice, but I'm curious.. I didn't get a modem from them , I ordered a USB antenna which works in my desktop and laptop. No phones involved. - or should there be??

THANKS!
Virginia
adolobe8
join:2002-07-23
Jacksonville, NC

adolobe8

Member

Re: alltel

You actually got the usb modem. You dont need a phone to get evdo. Unless you wanted the monthly fee to be $25 but if alltel isn't you current cell provider then there really isnt any advantage. its just cheaper for most ppl to add a second line get the razor which is free from most alltel locations now and teather it a desktop/notebook or share the connection via the K1 or other routers. All in all it would be about $34 a month ($9 second line and $25 for internet)

But if you have cell service with another company then your probably better off the way you currently are.

Also just as a heads up. If you seeing speeds aroud 600-700 a booster ant wont do you much good unless you keep droping a connection.

Real world evdo speeds are around 600. Burstable upto 2.5. But it also depends on how many ppl are connected to the same tower as you.
delta_queen
join:2008-01-14
Mountain View, AR

delta_queen

Member

Re: alltel

adolobe, I appreciate your help.
zobel85
join:2008-03-03
Sugarcreek, OH

zobel85

Member

Question

I am new to the alltel wireless internet thing. I have the UTStarcom um150 usb modem and i would like to share the internet connection with other computers and my Nintendo Wii. Is there any way to do this? I have a router but i am told that you need a hardwire connection to use it to share the internet signal. Any ideas? Please respond to zobelchuck@garaway.k12.oh.us