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Review by nogaps See Profile

  • Location: Greenbush, Alcona, MI, USA
  • Cost: $70 per month
  • Install: about 4 days
much higher 3G cap than Sprint offers
terse info about plans on their website
higher caps make 3G as primary internet connection more realistic
Pre Sales Information:
Install process:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:

I'm nearing the end of a 2-year satellite provider contract (Hughesnet) and noticed recently that I had a new, strong roaming signal on my Verizon cell phone, where I used to get just 1 VZ bar and no roaming signal at all. Did some poking around and found that Sprint upgraded an old Nextel tower about 1/2 mile from my house to EVDO Rev A. I signed up with Sprint and found I was getting a workable (-80 dBm - 1.0Mb/300Kb 200ms) signal but wasn't happy with Sprint's 5GB 3G monthly cap.

So I canceled the Sprint trial and signed up for the Unlimited Plan with Millenicom. I received the Sierra 598U device from Millenicom 4-days later and popped it into my newly purchased CradlePoint MBR-1000 router. Pre-sales and install done! The only criticism I would offer in those 2 areas is that the information on their website about their plans in pretty sparse. I already knew what plan I wanted, by doing research here at BBR, but the lack of info would be pretty confusing to some potential new customers.

Connection reliability has been pretty good. Throughput is about the same as my Hughesnet connection, but of course the 3G latency, while not great, is much, much lower than satellite and SSL and IPSec connections are dramatically better (Hughesnet doesn't cache encrypted packets at their proxies on their residential plans). The 3G signal occasionally drops to 1x for a bit (no line-of-site with the tower due to trees), but I realize this is more an issue between me and Sprint, rather than Millenicom. I've purchased a directional grid antenna that I'll put up once the snow clears to hopefully firm things up.

3 weeks in and I haven't had to use tech support or any of Millenicom's other services yet.

Millenicom's 50Gb monthly cap vs. Sprint's 5GB at about the same price and no contract make Millenicom a pretty decent value if you have few other options.

Update 06/21/11

About 4 months in and all is going well. I put a directional grid antenna up a couple of months ago which increased my signal by about 17 dBm. I've lost much of that increase now that the trees have leafed out but am still seeing a darn good signal at about -70 dBm. Getting about 1.2Mb down and 400Kb up with latency of about 100ms.

member for 13.2 years, 1688 visits, last login: 4.3 years ago
updated 12.7 years ago

dgannon
join:2011-04-10
El Campo, TX

dgannon

Member

Agree

I completely agree. I have the same plan. As long as you have a high quality device and a good signal, you can get great download speeds at times and even though sometimes it is sluggish, its worth it for the unlimited downloads and overall reliability.
jbrewno
join:2010-01-21
Port Byron, NY

jbrewno

Member

Re: Agree

Yup bye bye satellite, hello 3g:)!

Review by garymace See Profile

  • Location: Mooresburg, Hawkins, TN, USA
  • Cost: $59 per month
  • Install: about 30 days
Sorry, honestly have nothing good to say.
Poor customer support, poor speed, junk equipment.
Looking for new options.
Pre Sales Information:
Install process:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:

Need high speed for a rural mountain home. Signed up for Millenicom 20GB cap plan after checking online coverage map AND verifying with customer service before ordering. After I got the device and router, it took 4 weekends working with customer service before they finally conceeded the device they sent was defective.

After I finally recieved the replacement device and got it working, I was disappointed to get speeds barely over dial-up. Max I have seen is 140kb download, but it is usually much less.

The Cradlepoint router they sell for their service is also lame. It works if you are sitting in same room as the router, but in any other room, even adjacent, the signal strength drops to nothing.

The only good thing I can think to say is there is no contract period, so I am only out the $150 worth of junk equipment.

member for 12.7 years, 1 visits, last login: 12.3 years ago
lodged 12.7 years ago

hottboiinnc4
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH

hottboiinnc4

Member

More and More

this will happen to MVNOs. As the actual provider tries to get rid of them and take their customers. Try signing up with the actual provider and use their 15-30 days. The service could very well in deed work. Also you'll have a support department that knows what they're doing and a host of network engineers that can tell you what speeds you should be able to get and what you're able to get.

PS- You're not the only one that has had horrible customer service with them. I've been there and done that when I was interested in their service. Would call customer service and a whole crew of people would be laughing and joking around in the background. It sounded like they were having a party- music included.

Review by Wartrace See Profile

  • Location: Wartrace, Bedford, TN, USA
  • Cost: $59 per month
  • Install: about 7 days
If it worked the cap is almost realistic
It started out "ok" but now my top download speed is under 100kbps
The reliability is terrible and I have not been able to get any help.
Pre Sales Information:
Install process:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:

I switched from satilite. For the first year my service was "ok", never saw the "up to" speeds of 1.2mbps but I did see speeds in the 600kbps range. This past fall (2010) it all went to poop. My download speeds are mostly below 100kbps while the upload speeds are in the 400kbps range. VERY RARELY will I see a burst of speed even close to 600kbps.

Millenicom tech support & verizon have given up on trying to help. The tower is less than 5 miles away. They claim it is on my end. I tried two different computers, with/without antenna. It works great right at the tower site but at 5 miles away it is poop.

Millenicom "offered" to let me cancel. I have over 250 dollars of equipment sunk into this folly. I will have to cough up another 300 dollars to get reconnected to satilite again. NOTHING HAS CHANGED ON MY END.

Sure- MAYBE it will work out for you. It worked for me for a while until verizon changed something at my local tower (coinkydink it was right during the 4G rollout that my service crapped out?????)

Was it worth the 500 dollars I lost? Heck no.

member for 15 years, 1274 visits, last login: 2.2 years ago
lodged 13 years ago


Review by Shonya1 See Profile

  • Location: Portola, Plumas, CA, USA
  • Cost: $60 per month
High GB (IF you get to use it!)
Terrible Customer Service
Buyer Beware
Pre Sales Information:
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Services:
Value for money:

After a few months of no problems, my account usage spiraled out of control. I do minimal usage: email and web surfing. No video streaming, no downloading. After numerous excuses and finger-pointing by the company, I unplugged the USB modem and stopped using it for an entire week. The account usage climbed at a rate of almost 1 GB per day! Clearly, the problem is Millencom's. They have refused to replace my modem (which I paid them $99 for) and to credit my account for the time I couldn't use it to prove that the problem wasn't on my end. They claim I may have used my 20 GB allotment by the middle of the month, even when I explained that I hadn't done anything but email and web page surfing (and proved 1 GB per day "usage" when not even plugged in). They still haven't solved the problem, and are looking now to blame another user on the property who has her own Millenicom account (cross-contamination, they claim - hmmm, sounds impossible). Beware of their customer service if you ever have a problem with them. They are not consumer oriented. What good are 20GB per month if you're getting booted out of the system because of glitches that are theirs?

member for 13 years, driveby review (so far)
updated 13 years ago


Jack_in_VA
Premium Member
join:2007-11-26
North, VA

Jack_in_VA

Premium Member

Misinformation

You do realize of course that Millenicom does not acquire usage data? The data is provided by the upstream carriers Verizon and Sprint who actually provide the service.
wirelessdog
join:2008-07-15
Queen Anne, MD

1 edit

wirelessdog

Member

Re: Misinformation

It doesn't matter. Last I checked Millenicom sells a re-branded product NOT a resold product. There is a difference and that difference makes them responsible.

Besides that fact your post is inaccurate. There are far more other issues here that the OP has mentioned besides the usage. Poor tech support, inability to resolve issues, denying issues. This issues run rampant with Millenicom but hey - you get what you pay for.
Expand your moderator at work
dgannon
join:2011-04-10
El Campo, TX

dgannon to wirelessdog

Member

to wirelessdog

Re: Misinformation

They tell you straight up that Sprint/Verizon monitors the data usage. They do not have the ability to track your usage because they don't own the towers.

The tech support is friendly and helpful, and I have very rarely been on hold. I usually get connected to a technician as soon as I call, and I am talking to an experienced person who seems genuinely invested in my issue.

As far as issues/getting what you pay for, they are just reselling, so you get the exact same thing if you go through Sprint or Verizon directly, except for lower caps and higher prices.

Review by OiCU812 See Profile

  • Location: Murray, Calloway, KY, USA
  • Cost: $59 per month
  • Install: about 3 days
Great value, very good customer service tech's
Modem's external antenna plug is easy to break, I broke mine! VZ software, not very Mac friendly
Excellent product, fair price
Pre Sales Information:
Install process:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:

Living out in the sticks, my only shot at high speed internet was gonna be Hughesnet, or some sat. service. While looking into that I read about some guy discovered he was now in a Verison coverage area (he pulled his dish out of the ground with his tractor and said it was the best day of his life!!) After reading that I decided to take a look and WOW.... I'm about 3.6 miles from a tower....The guy with the tractor mentioned Millenicom in his post and that's how I got to where I am now.....and that's HAPPY!!!!

member for 13.1 years, 53 visits, last login: 11 years ago
lodged 13.1 years ago


Review by jbrewno See Profile

  • Location: Port Byron, Cayuga, NY, USA
  • Cost: $60 per month
  • Install: about 5 days
20gb cap a month
Blows Wild Blue out of the water!
Pre Sales Information:
Install process:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
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Value for money:

10 Month Review
Still going strong, oh and Millenicom upped the usage from 10gb to 20gb.

6 Month Review:

Millenicom is a great company. I am on the Verizon 10gb a month plan with them. Good for gaming too! Ping usually 70-100 on Counter Strike Source and games like that.

Here is a list of speeds users get on Millenicom Verizon based service.

»Post your VERIZON Novatel USB760 Speed Test Results

I use this service just for my desktop. If cable,dsl, or fios were to come along id definitely switch.

Oh and since i get my Verizon service through Millenicom i get twice the bandwith that i would get from Verizon itself! Yea pretty strange i thought to but im not complaining! Oh and $59.99 a month really is $59.99 a month. No hidden fees!

Bottom line. (If your using this at your house only!)

If you can not get cable or dsl out at your house and you like to play video games. Make sure you get this service over any satellite services.

Cable>Millenicom>Dial Up>Satelite

member for 14.1 years, 929 visits, last login: 7.6 years ago
updated 13.1 years ago

hottboiinnc4
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH

hottboiinnc4

Member

Shared!?

You don't expect them to give you a dedicated line do you? If you want that you better call your local telco and get a leased line.
jbrewno
join:2010-01-21
Port Byron, NY

jbrewno

Member

Re: Shared!?

What?
jbrewno

jbrewno

Member

Re: Shared!?

There is no lines. Its thru the air

Review by sam_j See Profile

  • Location: Wilson, Wilson, NC, USA
  • Cost: $59 per month (month by month)
  • Install: about 5 days
Pre Sales Information:
Install process:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:

My only option for high speed internet is this service or satellite. So far I like it. It isn't always as fast as I would like but it certainly beats the alternative.

member for 13.5 years, 536 visits, last login: 6.7 years ago
lodged 13.2 years ago







Review by coxzy See Profile

  • Location: Goochland, Goochland, VA, USA
  • Cost: $59 per month
  • Install: about 2 days
reliable
need better firmware updates
all around a good investment untill something better comes along
Pre Sales Information:
Install process:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:

better than dialup and satelite

novatel usb 760

member for 21.5 years, 581 visits, last login: 13.4 years ago
lodged 13.4 years ago







Review by Belinrahs See Profile

  • Location: Nashville, Barry, MI, USA
  • Cost: $70 per month
  • Install: about 3 days
Unlimited service (for $10 more a month), fast, low pings compared to sat
Simply doesn't compete with the reliability of hardwired internet, or even satellite
I'd rather have slower speeds and unlimited bandwidth than faster speeds and a cap
Pre Sales Information:
Install process:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:

UPDATE 6: Well, a WISP has come out my way and I signed up with them, so I've cancelled Millenicom. It was a wild ride but I think overall worth it. Thanks for all your help and I wish you luck in your future endeavors. You haven't seen the last of me in the Millenicom forum...

UPDATE 5: Millenicom sent me a new Novatel Ovation U760 and it's working like a dream. They called me and said they were sending a Sierra 598U, but my mantra that you can't trust a word they say, stands. Changing my ratings to reflect my new experience.

You should know that my ratings reflect MY experience. It will depend on your location and your setup, how well it works for you.

UPDATE 4: I'm reworking my ratings above. At this point, my connection is very, very sketchy at best. It'll switch from EVDO to 1xRTT without warning, and the Franklin device can't make a choice on which tower pilot it wants to connect to. I'm seeking a way to get a different device. I'm desperate here !!

UPDATE 3: Moved monthly cost to $70 (I upgraded to Unlimited) and I changed the Pros and Cons. Still very happy with my service, and until something like DSL or fixed wireless appears around here, I'll be sticking with Millenicom. Consider me a satisfied customer.

UPDATE 2: Just since the most recent update, I've been sent a new Franklin CDU-680, and connectivity shot up to something very fast and reliable - I'm quite happy with it now. Also, the "invisible caps" myth seems to be busted, they're releasing new packages, 60$ for 5 gig a month, and 70$ for unlimited bandwidth. Not so invisible, and there's a big difference between 5 gig and pretty-much-infinite gigs, only for 10$ a month. Definitely worth it, I'll be going with that! At this point I will be bumping Connection reliability from a 3 (middling) to a 4 (pretty darn reliable and fast).

UPDATE: I just had some pretty unique issues with Sprint and Millenicom which I'm fully documenting for all to see at »Speed cut due to usage . I have decided to bump the Tech Support rating on this review from 5 (best rating possible) to a 4, because while they are very friendly and do try hard to help out if they can, there is a marked lack of follow up when they tell you they'll have somebody call you back. Over the several times they've told me they would call back in a few hours, I've never, ever, EVER gotten such a call back.

Original review:

I had HughesNet for a long time before I found out about Millenicom right here on BBR, so I checked out their site and asked for a site survey. They said that I'd get excellent service here, and considering I get 4 bars on my Sprint phone around here, I thought I'd give them a shot (why not? no contract!). I received the Franklin CDU-680 USB aircard. At first it was pretty awful because I ended up getting pretty terrible signal (about -95dBm to -105dBm). I talked to the folks at 3Gstore.com who recommended that I get the 32" omni external antenna. I went for it considering it wasn't all that much, $80, and I installed it on an old Dish Network satellite dish mount. I now get about -72dBm constantly and top speeds of about 1.2-1.3 megabits down, which isn't bad considering I'm on a single T1 tower.

I'm pretty worried about the supposed "invisible caps" they're placing, but as far as I can tell I'm still unlimited...I've gone over 15-20 gig's in a month without a peep from the folks at Millenicom or Sprint. I'll be perfectly fine and will stay with this service, satisfied, unless they decide to impose those caps on me.

member for 16.5 years, 406 visits, last login: 6.6 years ago
updated 13.5 years ago


AEA
@direcway.com

AEA

Anon

Wireless provider for Millenicom is no longer Sprint

No longer Sprint....it is now Verizon

Belinrahs
I have an ego the size of a small planet
Premium Member
join:2007-09-07
Nashville, MI

Belinrahs

Premium Member

Re: Wireless provider for Millenicom is no longer Sprint

Uh, no. That is incorrect. Please get your facts straight . . . it depends on where you live, whether Millenicom gives you Verizon or Sprint.

CNC16hhh
@speakeasy.net

CNC16hhh

Anon

Bandwidth Cap

What is your source of information for the $60 5 gig cap and the $70 unlimited one?

Belinrahs
I have an ego the size of a small planet
Premium Member
join:2007-09-07
Nashville, MI

Belinrahs

Premium Member

Re: Bandwidth Cap

said by CNC16hhh :

What is your source of information for the $60 5 gig cap and the $70 unlimited one?
Straight from Millenicom's director, Dennis Castle, over the phone. If you don't believe me, people are talking about it on the forums, and Millenicom's website has a page: »millenicom.com/unlimited ··· uest.htm
Hellsent
join:2009-09-22

Hellsent

Member

Sprint is unlimited. Verzion is 5g

I have millen and i pay 69.99 a month for unlimited.

if i didn't have a sprint tower id be stuck on verizons 5g cap.

I like millencom. I would recomend a External antena to the OP. I just ordered one off ebay stuck it on my roof and it helped loads. no drops so far and i'm always 4-5 bars.
wirelessdog
join:2008-07-15
Queen Anne, MD

wirelessdog

Member

Why pay that when...

You can get Virgin Mobile (Sprint) for $40 a month???

Belinrahs
I have an ego the size of a small planet
Premium Member
join:2007-09-07
Nashville, MI

Belinrahs

Premium Member

Re: Why pay that when...

said by wirelessdog:

You can get Virgin Mobile (Sprint) for $40 a month???
Virgin Mobile is out of the question for me now but for anyone else, I wouldn't recommend Virgin Mobile - I've heard a ton of bad things.
wirelessdog
join:2008-07-15
Queen Anne, MD

wirelessdog

Member

Re: Why pay that when...

Most if not all the initial issues have been resolved. Glad to see you're using a WISP.

Review by Lonig See Profile

  • Location: Nevada, Vernon, MO, USA
  • Cost: $59 per month (2 month contract)
  • Install: about 5 days
Cost, Speed, Ease of Use, Bandwidth Limit compared to other providers
Initial Customer Service
Solid company, service was excellent in 2 states. Will use again if DSL is not available, or I start to travel more.
Pre Sales Information:
Install process:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:

Service was excellent in 2 states (central SC and SW Missouri) and also along I40 when I moved between the 2. I had service for 2 months (5/2010 - 7/2010) and thoroughly enjoyed it.

- FAR better speed/latency than HughesNet, in my area (SC is where I had HughesNet).

- Also cost less per month (I paid 59.99/mo for 10gb limit).

- Startup cost was $198, but I bought the usb modem/dongle. I was offered a lease option for $99 less, but chose against it.

- I played several MMOs while networked with my other computer(both playing). We played WOW, EVE Online, and Combat Arms, all of which has 100-200ms, even during peak times.

- For Wow players, this means we did 25 man Ony and didn't lag out during Whelps. Both players on same connection. We also did 25 man ICC, 25 man TOC, etc. This connection is solid for raiding.

- Networking is possibly difficult to setup (for non-technical) if you do not buy a router made for 3G USB Dongle sharing. It is done through Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) in Windows. Because of this, I would highly recommend buying a new router with the ability to share the USB Dongles connection. (I did not do this).

- Canceling my service was very easy, and the lady on the phone made it a pleasant experience. She did inform me I can reactivate at any time and still have no contract.

Overall, I highly recommend this service(I had VZW resell) to anyone who cannot get DSL/Cable/Fiber. If your options are Satellite or Dialup or Millenicom, choose Millenicom. By far a better experience than any Satellite can provide.

Again, my service length was only short due to moving and having the option for DSL. I will come back to this company in the future.

member for 13.6 years, 2 visits, last login: 13.5 years ago
updated 13.6 years ago