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Review by wayne8888 
UPDATED: 231 days ago
member for 4.1 years, 1275 visits, last login: a few hours ago
 Baltimore,Baltimore City,MD
 Contract price not specified.
 "Ease of setup, friendly staff"
 "Slow to add coverage to many areas of Baltimore beyond downtown"
 "Unfortunately not even committed to covering all of Baltimore, City much less....."
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Install process:
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I first purchased the XOHM modem on 10 Oct. 2008. I did this after running my zip code (21212). I should have run my exact address because I would have seen that I was plus or minus a quarter mile from coverage based on modem coverage. I attempted the activation process but the signal strength (one bar out of 3) was not strong enough to activate (nor to connect to internet and get IP address). I kept the modem for almost a month (hoping for an expansion of coverage) and finally returned it (along with the mini PCI adapter which I had never opened) on Nov. 4th. to stay inside the 30 day refund window. Although there was no evidence of expansion of coverage in my area (not one iota), I decided to try again (but not with the adapter just the modem) and got another modem. This time I was able to activate and now pay $25/month for the first 6 months and $35/month thereafter. I got an inconsistent 2 bars of signal strength and download speeds of 1-4mbps down and 500kbps-1.1kbps download speeds without an external antenna attached to modem. Using a 14dbi external antenna, leaning against the window and the xohm connection widget I am able to achieve speeds like this »www.speedtest.net/result/383966709.png . I have ordered an even more powerful antenna (since I have little faith in XOHM's motivation in consolidating the coverage in Baltimore in any reasonable time-frame) to get the speeds associated with 3 bars of signal strength. We will be switching from Verizon DSL to XOHMWiMax at work shortly as we move to the Fells Point/Canton area (where I tested speeds at more than 5mbps down and 2mbps up using this modem). I would like to thank Jason at the Harbor XOHM Kiosk, Brad at the Towson XOHM Kiosk, as well XOHM user Channa and Matt Larson at WPS antennas for their advice and help.
March 18th 2009
I am tired of waiting for XOHM/Clear to cover my neighborhood. I am going to drop XOHM and go back to Comcast High Speed Internet. XOHM/Clear has not increase their coverage even one tenth of an iota since October. Two of 3 bars (lights) on the modem seems to translate into slower and slower speeds (usually under 3mbps) and the upload speed has decreased from 1100kbps to often less than 500kbps. I am tired of waiting for expansion of coverage I'm sure that they will never cover northern Baltimore City. I tried to get to full signal strength using a 16dbi external antenna from WPS antennas mounted on the roof. That did not help at all in my case now I just have it by an upstairs window with better results than i got from the WPS external antenna. On the bright side we will keep the service at work which happens to lie on the Canton waterfront (an area of Baltimore that XOHM actually bothered to cover). But I am tired of the slowness at home which turns surfing and VOIP into a horrible experience at many times. So its back to Comcast with my tail between my legs!
Later on March 18th after moving the XOHM modem around, i am seeing a bit of improvement with download speeds of 3.3 to 4.5 mbps but the upload is still less than the 1-1.3 mbps that I had started to get used to. »www.speedtest.net/result/432492750.png
I kind of miss the 2mbps that I got with Comcast for upload. I might hang with XOHM even though there is no action on their part at coverage increase in many areas of Baltimore city and county. This is also my last month at the intro price of $25/month ......soon to be 35$ if I stay with XOHM.
It is now March 30, 2009
I have re-installed Comcast High Speed Internet and will drop XOHM today or tomorrow. The XOHM is either not committed or (more likely) does not have the fiscal resources to cover all of Baltimore City (much less all of Baltimore County or Maryland). The download speed with much tweaking could rise to 4.5 mbps (with my 2 of 3 level signal) but the upload speed just was so unstable as not support my VOIP at home. I can't tell you how many "huh.......could you repeat that......etc" that I heard while talking on the phone using ViaTAlk and now Vonage. Now with Comcast's 2.2mbps upload speeds my VOIP with Vonage is flawless. We will still try to keep ViaTalk at work (near the harbor) where we have 3 of 3 signal strength but some real flakiness like loosing WAN IP address a couple of times per week (necessitating a reset and power cycle combo). My boss is hinting at dumping them due to this (in case she is alone when problems strike and needs to send a crucial email .....she is not a techie by any means).
I wish XOHM/Clear well but it looks like they have squandered their headstart in the 4G arena!
Wayne
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XOHM WiMAX
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