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Review by chicosat See Profile

  • Location: Trinidad, Las Animas, CO, USA
  • Cost: $59 per month
Fastest Speed for my rural area.
For my situation, there are no bad points.
Happy to have it !
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I've lived in a rural area for 15 years with my property surrounded on three sides by mountains. My first ISP was dial-up and after several years I graduated to hughes.net (direcway at the time) satellite as my only option for anything faster. (I'll be old and grey when DSL becomes available in my area.)

When my Verizon cell phone service's 'new every two' option came up last month, I bought a Palm Centro with broadband access capability and decided to try it as my internet service provider as well. Only receiving 1 bar on my phone inside my home, I knew I was going to have to purchase some type of antenna/booster set up, which I did and it was delivered a few days ago: A zboost repeater and 15 dbi yagi antenna.

The wireless zboost came standard with an omni directional antenna which is what I have set up right now (until I've got enough daylight to set the yagi up) and it's sitting inside my window, not even outside. With the Centro tethered to my desk top computer and using the zboost I'm getting download speeds of 1.2 Mbps, no dropped connections and I'm happier than a puppy with two tails. I'm paying the same price as I paid for hughes but the biggest diff is I have no daily download limit as I did with hughes which was my biggest gripe. The money I paid for the booster/antenna set up is well worth it. Verizon customer service is great, they speak English and have always been nothing but helpful even when I needed tech help with my phones in the past. Life is good !

member for 15.9 years, 31 visits, last login: 15.1 years ago
updated 15.1 years ago


Review by kdoggmdf See Profile

  • Location: Westerville, Franklin, OH, USA
  • Cost: $71 per month
Able to get online anywhere cell phone has coverage; Speed doesnt seem to change with signal levels; Easy access, no dialer req.
Ping times very high; DNS routing sometimes wrong (ie: google in german)
If you need access to the internet anywhere, this is the way to go. Plus, if you have a VZW phone, you can get a tether plan.
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If you need internet access anywhere you go, then I would recommend Verizon BroadBand Access above all the competition. For me, VZW has the best coverage in town and I have never been in a place that I could not get access to the internet. The speeds on the service don't really seem to change as your signal levels change (unless you it 1x only or 1ev-do bar). I have noticed that, at times, the DNS routing does odd things, like say I am in another state, but that is to be expected. I have also experienced times when I get routed to other countries default pages (ie: google in german) but that was a one-time occurence.

If you have a VZW phone, you can add a plan to your account to allow for tethering from your phone, saving you from getting another device and having to lock in a two-year guarantee.

Overall, the service has worked as well as expected from cell-phone broadband. Hopefully, over time, VZW will roll out some network updates and improve the speed, but for now I can certainly deal with what I have.

member for 15.6 years, 76 visits, last login: 7.5 years ago
lodged 15.2 years ago


Review by cgoody15 See Profile

  • Location: Petersburg, Rensselaer, NY, USA
  • Cost: $50 per month (24 month contract)
  • Install: about 2 days
super fast even in rural areas, good for power outages [like now].
none so far!
for back-up and on the go its a really fast and reliable service!
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awesome! if you can get it or add it to a phone its great for those times when landline connections go down!

member for 18.7 years, 3 visits, last login: 15.3 years ago
updated 15.2 years ago







Review by FenglerF1 See Profile

  • Location: Biloxi, Harrison, MS, USA
  • Cost: $60 per month (24 month contract)
Works anywhere EVDO is found
Not always fast, 5GB Monthly Cap
If nothing else is available and you need Internet on the go, It serves its purpose
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I Have Verizon Wireless with a Blackberry, I added the Data Connect feature to my data plan and tether my blackberry to my laptop. The speeds vary widely, anywhere from 200k down to 2mb, and 50-200k up. I am happy overall, just have to be careful to not exceed the monthly Usage caps or else there will be large overage fees.

member for 19 years, 2919 visits, last login: 8.9 years ago
updated 15.3 years ago







Review by bullet087 See Profile

  • Location: Kingwood, Harris, TX, USA
  • Cost Contract price not specified.
  • Install: about 1 days
Connect to the net from almost ANYWHERE!
Latency on Rev. A is a lot better than it was on Rev. 0
Great Service!
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When I upgraded from an old 1x-only phone to a 1xEVDO phone, I noticed that you can use your phone has a modem for connecting to Verizon's high-speed data service. It has worked fine since day one, never had any problems with it. On various trips back and forth from Houston to Dallas, I have always had a constant internet connection to stream my favorite satellite radio from my home PC to my phone or laptop.

EVDO Rev.A is available in many smartphones and PC data cards

Of course, it is not fast enough to be considered broadband anymore, but it is still good for the price I paid and for a almost-anywhere connection

Only downside is that since my phone is not a smartphone (or a PC Data USB/Card), it has the older EVDO Rev.0. The latency ranges from 150-200, and I get speeds of:

UPDATE:

I have recently upgraded my phone to the LG Dare, which features EVDO Rev. A
My new speed test is at the bottom of the page.

(the first image is my Rev. A test, the second image is my Rev. 0 test)

Attachments:
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member for 17.8 years, 944 visits, last login: 13.1 years ago
updated 15.4 years ago

ydoucare
join:2003-03-12
Lafayette, IN

ydoucare

Member

.

Rev B is not available on any phones or data cards, and has not been deployed or scheduled to be deployed by any carrier at this time.
bullet087
join:2006-05-17

bullet087

Member

Re: .

Hmm, if the new touch screen blackberry for verizon wireless is reportedly going to have Rev.C, I would think there would be Rev.B stuff planned at least.

Review by ssmitty See Profile

  • Location: Charlotte, Mecklenburg, NC, USA
  • Business customer Business customer
  • Cost: $59 per month
  • Install: about 1 days
Works almost everywhere.
Slower than WiFi
A good value for the cost.
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Ordering was easy, installation was error-free. I've only had to make one call to tech support and the issue was resolved immediately. I have only been in one location where I could not get a strong enough signal to connect.

member for 17.5 years, 63 visits, last login: 9.7 years ago
lodged 15.7 years ago







Review by rlmesq See Profile

  • Location: Chico, Butte, CA, USA
  • Business customer Business customer
  • Cost: $60 per month (24 month contract)
Available just about anywhere
Slow in some rural areas
Dump Verizon Access Manager and use Windows Network & Sharing Center
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I've had Verizon broadband for about a year, and am dumping my home DSL because it's adequate for my needs (consistent 1.5 connection at my house). I recently switched from the Sierra Wireless AirCard 595 to a USB modem to make the swap between desktop and notebook easier.

The Verizon Access Manager software is kludgy and unnecessary. Instead, set up a connection in Network & Sharing Center (if you're running Vista). Here's a how-to: »www.evdoforums.com/threa ··· 546.html

Once you're done, you can drag the connection icon from Network Connections to your desktop, start menu or QuickLaunch for a one-click connection.

(Note that Verizon doesn't support this alternative, so you're on your own as far as tech support goes.)

I'm an attorney and use it throughout rural Northern California for quick access to online research and email. The connection sometimes gets as slow as 150k inside courthouses, but even then it can be a lifesaver.

member for 22.3 years, 10 visits, last login: 6.8 years ago
lodged 15.8 years ago

T4K
join:2002-03-13
Fort Lauderdale, FL

T4K

Member

Hmmm

I just make a dial up connection and point it to my evdo card and put in number to dial #777 and no username and pass. An it works.

no benefit
@myvzw.com

no benefit

Anon

Re: Hmmm

No it won't. There is a user name and password, and there is absolutely no benefit to doing it other than one saved mouse click. I have it set up both ways.

HatesFluff
@myvzw.com

HatesFluff

Anon

Re: Hmmm

It absolutely does work and there are benefits. The VZ Access software is not needed; it uses system resources, increases connection time several fold, and reduces control of the internet connection. Without the Verizon software, Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) works too (you'd need to turn off DHCP on your router.) As for mouse clicks, start your browser, it connects...

weaseled386
join:2008-04-13
Edgewater, FL

weaseled386 to no benefit

Member

to no benefit
I works just fine without a user/pw. How do I know? I just tried it...

I completely uninstalled the Dell/Verizon broadband utility. I set up a dialup connection -- to be dialed when a connection does not exist. Upon first reboot it had to reinstall the drivers, but was fine on second boot.

Initial speedtest, using Speakeasy to Atlanta, shows what I've always seen in Daytona Beach: 950/550.

Review by linuxoverwin See Profile

  • Location: Las Cruces, Dona Ana, NM, USA
  • Cost: $60 per month (12 month contract)
  • Install: about 1 days
high coverage, can use it anywhere i cant hijack a wlan
make sure they turn off sms messaging to the cell number associated to your device. they charge 20 cents per message (spam)
i like it. i use it a lot and depending on your environment (building) you get a good connection
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so far i have been satisfied with the service. i wouldnt replace my land line dsl with it but i like that i can use it virtually anywhere (i wouldnt recommend it in the shower). the price is pretty much comparable to a land line dsl and cheaper than cable or satellite. the speed does fluctuate, but what can you expect from something susceptible to wireless interference (just like your cell phone). i havent tried setting it up on linux yet, but if/when i do, i will have a walkthrough on my website for it. i dont do macs so someone else will have to do that. on windows you have to install software for it so im not sure about using it with linux yet unless i use wine. anyway, im all around happy with it. be sure to call their support and ask them to remove the sms text messaging from the phone number associated to the account or you will be charged 20 cents per txt you get and i got a couple of spams on it.

member for 21.2 years, 21 visits, last login: 15.5 years ago
lodged 15.9 years ago


Review by rothenmr See Profile

  • Location: Palmdale, Los Angeles, CA, USA
  • Business customer Business customer
  • Cost: $50 per month (24 month contract)
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Awesome service but inconsistant download speed in the same spot hour to hour, day to day. It seems like something changes. One day I am downloading at 2400 kbps and next my connection is 450 kbps. Then for the next 6 hours I am downloading at 1300 kbps. Overall the service is extremely useful and there are almost never any connection issues. I have traveled hundreds of miles in a car and had an network connection the entire time--Los Angeles to Fresno. This is using a Verizon Wireless/Sierra Wireless 595 card. Install is easy.

member for 16.4 years, 20 visits, last login: 4.5 years ago
lodged 15.9 years ago


Review by spbryant See Profile

  • Location: Greenville, Greenville, SC, USA
  • Business customer Business customer
  • Cost: $60 per month (12 month contract)
It's the network
Expensive as a backup ISP, not really unlimited
Probably the best option if you're not in a major city
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It really is the network. Pricing, equipment, installation, support, and reliability are basically the same across major carriers (and admittedly somewhat of a crap shoot at that). Check the coverage maps for your area and see which provider has the best high-speed coverage for the areas you will be using it in most often.

In my area (upstate SC, a small-mid size market with 1+ mil population in the 3-county MSA) Verizon is the only provider with high-speed access. I purchased a Sprint data plan nearly two years ago, and the sales rep said they would be upgrading the network within a year. As of today, still nothing. Cingular/AT&T also didn't/don't have high-speed (although that will probably change this year).

In Sep 06, a few months after I bought the Sprint card, Verizon came online with EVDO in the larger cities/interstates in my area. I then purchased a Verizon card also, and obviously it blew the Sprint card away in terms of speed. About 6 months after that, Verizon expanded EVDO along the secondary highways to smaller surrounding cities within about a 60-mile radius. I was impressed. I now have two Verizon cards for my business, and obviously Sprint has been cancelled (early termination fee and all).

I don't have any complaints about the overall experience. I had researched the modems online, so I already knew what I wanted when I went into the local corporate store. It took me about 15 minutes to purchase and add to my plan, and about 15 minutes to install when I got home (just download the latest VZAccess Manager program from their website, it's all you need). I haven't had any reliability issues, but I use it as a backup to my broadband so I'm not on it all the time. The speed varies, I usually average about 500k down at my house, so I wouldn't really consider it as a dedicated replacement for my cable broadband (and thus the bandwith cap has not been an issue for me either). I have only had to call support for billing questions, but overall (including my voice plan) the Verizon phone support has been quick and painless.

Your best option may be different if you spend most of your time in a major metropolitan area, but my experience has been that Verizon is the best option for the smaller secondary markets -- for now at least.

member for 19.3 years, 26 visits, last login: 9.5 years ago
lodged 16 years ago