Review by songsearch 
UPDATED: 31 days ago
member for 244 days, 8 visits, last login: 28 days ago
 Angelus Oaks,San Bernardino,CA
 $70 per month (month by month)
 about 4 days
 "They send the modem within a couple of days?"
 "Deceptive marketing, no call back from tech support, poor connectivity"
 "Not happy, should have stuck with Sprint"
| Pre Sales Information:
Install process:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings below consensus)
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Had Hughesnet dish, ditched because of bandwidth cap, moved to Sprint, ditched because of bandwidth cap. Moved to Millenicom because it was advertised as 'unlimited' bandwidth. Guess what? They have a bandwidth cap. Have no other good options at this point (no DSL or cable out here). Millenicom is using the old 'carrot and stick' to force me into paying more for a higher priced and supposedly 'unlimited' account through throttling, and emails threatening to close my account for excessive usage, which is untrue. Unless and until these problems are resolved, I can't recommend that anyone sign up with this company.
Update 10/16/09
Took the plunge into the 'unlimited' account about a month ago. So far, the only 'unlimited' part of this deal is the problems. Sproradic broadband from the the get-go, sometimes no EVDO for hours. Today, no connection at all until 8PM, and it's pitiful slow, likely from a tower far away. I spent a couple of hours on the phone to tech support earlier today, who finally gave up and referred me to Sprint tech support. They passed me around to three different people who couldn't figure out who I was, and wanted to know why I was trying to get tech support on an account without my name on it. Apparently Millenicom's fictitious business name with Sprint is something like Celestial Seasonings or somesuch crapname, and guess what, I don't know their first pet's name so I couldn't pass the security check. No help there whatsoever.
One other note: the Franklin modem disables the other USB ports on my laptop whenever it's in use, so I can't use external drives when online. This happens on two separate machines, so it's not a machine-specific problem. Millenicom tech support has no help here either.
Update 10/26/09
The Franklin modem crapped out completely right after my last update, and a Sprint tech declared it dead. New (well, another) Franklin replacement modem finally arrived 10/24, a week after they said it would be sent 'immediately'. Plugged it in to my USB port, and immediately got an error message "USB device not recognized, blah, blah, blah, replace device". Wonderful. After paying for a week of no internet, this is what I get. If I jiggle it around in the USB port, sometimes the modem is recognized, and I can get online, at a fantastic speed of 300. Wow. I used to get up to 900 on Sprint with the same antenna on a Pantech XP-500. The Franklin modems are either incompatible with Toshiba laptops, or they are just plain junk. Back on the phone to tech support. This sucks.
Followup comments:  |  | songsearch
join:2009-03-27
 ·Millenicom
1 edit | Re: rating Misunderstanding, my butt, I SPECIFICALLY emailed them before I signed up to ascertain that band width was unlimited, and they replied that it was. Why are you defending a company that made promises they couldn't keep? You act like I'm the bad guy here. Millenicom was at fault. If they can't deliver, or if delivery was uncertain, why did they promise people unlimited service for $60/mth?
If you think my attitude is bitter, yes, that's absolutely true. I've been screwed, and I emphasize 'screwed' by DirectPC/Hughesnet, Sprint, and now these jokers. All promised services that they could not deliver, because they have oversold their available bandwidth. Whose fault is it? Mine?
That business of 'this is a good company' by consensus is ridiculous. Are you sayings it's ok they screw a few of us, as long as the majority go along with the plan? I can't wait for Congress to pass the Net Neutrality legislation, maybe that'll get rid of these bandwidth caps once and for all. Just because I live out in the country doesn't mean I shouldn't get a fair shake when it comes to internet access. | |
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compuguybna
join:2009-06-17
Nashville, TN | Re: rating I've not had ANY issues with them since June 09.
Damn sure better than HUGHES or WILDBLUE.....
Best choice I ever made (as for as internet access in a rural area). | |
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video
Browsing Through Purgatory
Premium
join:2005-11-27
Newburg, MD
 ·HughesNet Satellit..
| Re: rating said by compuguybna :I've not had ANY issues with them since June 09. Damn sure better than HUGHES or WILDBLUE..... Best choice I ever made (as for as internet access in a rural area). I couldn't agree more with Compuguybna, also have had my Franklin modem up for several days non stop and no troubles to report so far.
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Franklin CDU-680, CradlePoint 350, DLink 655 router, HG2424G Grid antenna, Cyfre Amp. | |
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Jim_in_VA
join:2004-07-11
Cobbs Creek, VA | send me an email via my website and I'll straighten things out for you
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... need help? »evdo-tips.com/ | |
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Belinrahs
This ship is taking me far away
join:2007-09-07
Nashville, MI
clubs:  
·Millenicom
·HughesNet Satellit..
| Franklin devices ARE junk I agree with you that Franklin CDU-680's are junk. I have a very high-quality antenna that I even put as close to being 0 degrees level as I could using a digital level, connected directly to my CDU-680. The thing barely keeps a good connection. Sometimes, when connected to one pilot, it'll get a great quality connection @ -72dBm. Then, magically the modem decides it doesn't like that pilot and switches to one I get anywhere from -115dBm to -95dBm. Nothing physically changes between the time it's at -72 and -95, with clear weather and cloudy skies, with a little sun shining through.
If I were you, I'd see if Millenicom will do a Bring your own Device (BYOD) plan with Sprint Unlimited for you. Go on eBay and get a nice, high-quality modem like a Sierra or an Ovation device. I'm going to be doing this myself - likely get myself a Sierra and sign up BYOD. The Franklin is, plain and simple, one of the worst modems I've ever dealt with. And this thing BURNS if you leave it plugged in too long... 
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Sprint MBB thru Millenicom Unlimited service - Franklin CDU-680 (with 32" omni) connected to a CTR-350; Linksys WRT160N running DD-WRT in repeater mode one room away from the Cradlepoint, to cover the house with 4 bars of N WiFi. | |
| Makoto
join:2009-06-25
Mineral, VA
·Millenicom
| Jekyll and Millenicom I'm still upset with Millenicom... The people who control access to the towers suddenly decided that Millenicom users were too greedy so they pushed Millenicom to warn users not to abuse the service... so accounts who use a lot of bandwidth will be canceled after a few notices.
Tell me if you can wrap your head around this logic. The service is still technically unlimited, but if you use too much they cancel your service... wtf?
Okay, well then they offer an unlimited plan... but I don't have access to it. I'm not in the unlimited plan range. It's all bs. I can't stand it. I'm like 1 mile outside the DSL ISP. Maybe I'll just sell my house and move. It's all about money. | |
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