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Review by Crooze See Profile

  • Location: Lewis Center, Delaware, OH, USA
  • Cost: $35 per month
  • Install: about 1 days
Consistently decent speeds on 4G
30 days and no complaints
I'm Satisfied so far
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I bought the Overdrive Pro hot spot to use at work with my tablet. I'm using the $35 a month 4G unlimited plan and so far I'm satisfied. I'm getting pretty decent speeds 4-5Mbps. Plenty enough for email, browsing and streaming audio. There has been once instance where I couldn't connect at 4G but that only lasted for about 30 minutes.

So far so good.

member for 20.8 years, 811 visits, last login: 247 days ago
lodged 11 years ago







Review by dstnvns See Profile

  • Location: Spokane, Spokane, WA, USA
  • Cost: $40 per month
Sprints Network without Sprints contracts, Low monthly charges, Performs well
Nothing significant
Low start-up cost and good performance are only enhanced by no contracts!
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Reliable connections and decent speed. The best part is using Sprints
network without Sprint's typical contract, and for less monthly. My
current plan, $40/mo Unlimited, is no longer available, however, for
$10/mo more you get 500gb transfer per month. Virgin Mobile admitted
that Sprint does reserve the right to give their customers priority. To
see the extent of such throttling I tested both my work and this
connection. The Virgin Mobile connection (same model modem, same PC
Win/Linux) was faster than the Sprint connection both upstream and
downstream. I appreciate the fact VM/Sprint assigns an IP address that
isn't from a pool of internal Class A's. Cricket assigns 10.xxx.xxx.xxx
IPs and it limits some activity and refuses to support Linux systems.
Lastly the modem is compatible with LInux (Ubuntu with usb_modeswitch
installed, which is automatic on 10.1 + and in the repos for previous
versions and derivatives) USB Modem: Novatel Ovation 760

My only complaint, as small as it is, has to do with paying the bill
when using Linux. When you connect with windows a browser window opens
to the VM website allowing you to login and take care of business. With
Linux this isn't the case and you have to remember the URL AND pay
before the month expires otherwise you are unable to access the page and
have to find another way.

Overall A-!

member for 12.3 years, driveby review (so far)
updated 12.3 years ago


Review by dj0521 See Profile

  • Location: Orlando, Orange, FL, USA
  • Business customer Business customer
  • Cost: $40 per month
  • Install: about 1 days
Great Service, No Contract, Sprint Network
None
Great Price, Value, Service
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Ive had this service for about 1 year with the MC760 USB Dongle. No problems with service in FL or GA that i travel to. I do have an older plan where my monthly cap is 5GB, not like the new plans which i think are 2GB which i would find annoying when i pay the same price for 5GB. Wont go with another provider for my wireless data card anytime soon !

member for 19 years, 91 visits, last login: 12 years ago
lodged 12.7 years ago

ArizonaSteve
join:2004-01-31
Apache Junction, AZ

ArizonaSteve

Member

Are you kidding?

I don't believe any of the 100% ratings for FL or GA! In the Phoenix area the speed got so slow that it doesn't even work anymore and we are stuck with $80 dongles that we can't use for anything now.
wirelessdog
join:2008-07-15
Queen Anne, MD

wirelessdog

Member

Re: Are you kidding?

Arizona is a long way from GA or FL and since you don't have any service you like its pretty easy to do the math.






Review by rollei35guy See Profile

  • Location: Atlanta, Fulton, GA, USA
  • Cost Contract price not specified.
  • Install: about 1 days
Prepaid Wireless Broadband. included WiFi router
Subject to EVDO performance YMMV, 5gig usage cap. Your access expires after 30 days (10 days for the $10 service)
Good to travel with or for backup, pay only when you use it
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For a couple years I had a Sprint EVDO service that I used for home and mobile. I now have permanent DSL (well kinda permanent ) so the monthly charge was now an unnecessary expense.

With recent DSL issues I wanted a backup plan along with service when traveling. The Virgin broadband2go seemed like a good solution.

I bought the Virgin branded MyFi card at a local big box store and was up and running. When you connect you are sent to a virgin moble site where you add money to your account using prepaid cards or credit/debit card.

The MiFi card is about the size of an old PCMCIA card but aside from the USB/Power port there are no other connections. It provides the cellular connection and up to 5 wifi user connections.

The usual WiFi security protocols are supported as well as MAC address filtering. A provision for setting up different WiFi profiles allows you to create hotspots at will. For example you might have a hotspot for home use and another for a meeting or workgroup use.

Connecting the MyFi to your computer disables the WiFi and the card behaves like USB modem.

Make sure you change the password to the MyFi's web based setup or anyone can access it.


member for 20.9 years, 150 visits, last login: 12.8 years ago
updated 12.8 years ago

stridr69
join:2003-05-19
San Luis Obispo, CA

3 edits

stridr69

Member

Virgin Mobile

I use the USB dongle version. One time cost of $100. I've been using this puppy for a little over 2 months now and I'm very impressed. The $20 for 300Mb/30 days is the best choice I've found so far, as I use this as a back-up to home ISP options as well as tethering with my T-Mobile Blackberry 9700. I Like options/redundancy. Granted, Virgin uses Sprint's cellular data access, it's far cheaper then what Verizon charges for non-contract use-Here's their pricing from their Spring/Summer Guide(cover pic has a way cute brunette holding the now-extinct KIN fone)
75Mb....$15.....1 day use
250Mb...$30...1 week(assuming 7 days, wouldn't surprise me if it's just 5 "business days"
500Mb...$50...1 month
Frack'in rip-off, Verizon!

Posted this using VirginMobile Broadband. On a Windows7 Netbook
ArizonaSteve
join:2004-01-31
Apache Junction, AZ

ArizonaSteve

Member

You can't really use it for travelling.

The speed is too slow to use it most places. When it dropped below 56k dial up speeds here I gave up trying to use it.

Review by lighthouseJ See Profile

  • Location: Astoria, Queens, NY, USA
  • Cost: $25 per month
  • Install: about 1 days
25.00 a month for unlimited text and internet No contract!
Dropped calles once in a while. . .and text messages are delivered one day late sometimes.
Great for texting and internet use but if you talk more than 300 minutes I recomond using the 40.00 a month plan.
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This is on Virgin Mobile phone prepaid service! I think it is great and uses the Sprint network. I live in NY and occasionally there are dropped calls but other than that Unlimited texting and unlimited web service with 300 anytime minutes is pretty sweet considering the price. There is no contract!

I have the LG Rumor 2 and it works fine with my needs. But with the unlimited internet feature I would love to have a better phone selection.

Virgin makes there money in ring tones and other little additions soo you can purchase up cards to add credit. The min is 10.00 which is fine. And also if you go over your 300 minutes you can simply add 10.00 and it will take the credit from there. Like stated before if you go over your 300 minutes they have another package that is 40.00 a month with 1000 anytime minutes or something of that nature.

Your account is fully accessible online, and setup or activation only takes minutes. Once the activation is done walla it work simply set up your voicemail and you are set.

There is no service in Montana but as soon as you get to Grand Forks, North Dakota you hit the data network and everything works fine after that.

Most of the nation is 3g coverage and that is what the service uses. The Internet is pretty fast.

Here is a coverage map - »www.virginmobileusa.com/ ··· coverage

UPDATED 5/4/2011 --- SERVICE WATCH / Horrible Cell Service in Astoria Park Area Queens, New York Zip codes - 11106, 11102 . The Sprint Cell Service is touchy in this area, Even the sprint website says there is a lower cell service quality in this area.

member for 18.9 years, 1216 visits, last login: 2 years ago
updated 12.9 years ago


compuguybna
join:2009-06-17
Nashville, TN

compuguybna

Member

Broanband Forum

Nice review, but we're referring to MOBILE BROADBAND INTERNET here (pc card or mifi)

lighthouseJ
cheers
join:2005-05-02
Golden, CO

lighthouseJ

Member

Re: Broanband Forum

I realized that after I wrote it all . . sad & sorry

Review by hchen42 See Profile

  • Location: New York, New York, NY, USA
  • Cost: $25 per month (month by month)
Cheap, cheap, cheap, unlimited data, unlimited text
3G data is sporadic depending on location
I am cheap - can't beat $25 plan.
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I live in NYC now, Murray Hill area, 3rd Ave 34th st. I've been on TMobile 1000 anytime minutes plan for 5 years, and lately decided to get something with data. However, I just couldn't justify paying $50 plus TAX plus 2 year contract. After a few months of reading forum, research, I settled on Virgin Mobile (VM). I considered MetroPCS, but it seems there are too many complaints, and I don't know anyone using MetroPCS. Boost didn't have any attractive phone. None of the big 4 (ATT, Vz, TMo, Sprint) have good post paid plan that's comparable. I've used Sprint and feel their network is reasonable. Hence, I decided to try VM.

First order of biz was getting a phone. I got an Optimus V. I test trial it for couple of weeks. My concern was since VM has no roaming and use strictly Sprint network, I need to make sure I can pick up signals to most area I travel to. NJ/NY/Ct area is generally great. Once I am satisfied with the signal, I ported.

I called VM around 10:05am on 3/13. VM rep took all the info. Total time spent on the phone was about 10 minutes. Around 10:45AM, I noticed my TMo phone stopped working. I was able to log into VM account and top up. I made my first call around 11:00AM.

Now after 1 month and about 1 week of usage, I can say, I'll be sticking with VM for awhile.

Highlights:
- Haven't had any dropped calls.
- Signal is generally 5-6 bars in NYC and 4-5 in Queens/Hudson county NJ/Westchester.
- Texts received/sent reasonably quickly (~5 seconds). There is one exception. OnceI got a message 60 minutes late, but that could be attribute to signal. Text msgs communicated mostly with users on ATT and Verizon.
- Optimus V is great (at least compare to my old phone Nokia 3601).
- $25 + sales tax a month. Okay, I paid less. Target has discount, and I also got discount Radio Shack gift card which I use it to get top up cards. Just need to pay sales tax in NYC.
- voip is allowed over 3G if you can get reliable connection.

Low light:
- I got 3G! BUT boy, it can be slow in my office (10017). I'd be happy to get 100kbps at work. It is 1mbps+ in my apt (10016).
- No call fowarding (use ONLY once in my life time).
- no 3 way conference (never use it on a cell).

Since I choose the $25 300 minutes plan, I've set up sipdroid and google voice. I use this method to make outgoing wifi calls at home. My avg monthly usage with TMo was about 350 minutes. Using wifi/sip calling, my first month usage with Virgin Mobile was 230 minutes.

Bottom line, I can't complain with the price, call service, call quality. Data could stand for improvement.

member for 24.2 years, 1912 visits, last login: 2 years ago
lodged 12.9 years ago

ArizonaSteve
join:2004-01-31
Apache Junction, AZ

ArizonaSteve

Member

You gotta be kidding!

There's no broadband plan for $25, you must be talking about a mobile phone.
It used to be unlimited for $40/mo but since they capped it at 5Gb then reduced that to 2.5Gb and raised the price from $40 to $50 it's still not even usable. The speed here is below 56k dial-up speed, it's nothing but a ripoff!

lighthouseJ
cheers
join:2005-05-02
Golden, CO

lighthouseJ

Member

Tether and you have broadband

you can tether threw the phone and have a Broadband Connection!

compuguybna
join:2009-06-17
Nashville, TN

compuguybna

Member

Re: Tether and you have broadband

that's about to come to an end. SPRINT already sent out an OTA firmware to the Optimus S and disabled the hot-spot capability.

only a matter of time before it hits the Optimus V.

by the way, this forum is for mobile broadband devices, not cell phones.

Review by motoracer See Profile

  • Location: Valencia, Los Angeles, CA, USA
  • Cost: $25 per month
  • Install: about 5 days
Cheap...cheap telephone service!
Nothing yet
Great option for cell phone service
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$25/month for 300 minutes, unlimited text, and unlimited data? You kidding me? Great service. Only negative I can see is that it doesn't have roaming like Sprint does. But at the same time, I was paying $80/month with Sprint. The Evo was awesome, but I have the Optimus V with Android 2.2...so it's not that big of a downgrade.

I definitely recommend checking out Virgin Mobile if you want to save some big money.

member for 20.5 years, 4616 visits, last login: 122 days ago
lodged 13.1 years ago


compuguybna
join:2009-06-17
Nashville, TN

compuguybna

Member

good and bad points

You forgot to add the $149 for the phone to the equation.

On the upside, its great if you have strong SPRINT presence in your area. No romaing though. Last night, my phone had NO bars for about 40 miles on the interstate.

motoracer
join:2003-09-15
united state

motoracer

Member

Re: good and bad points

said by compuguybna:

You forgot to add the $149 for the phone to the equation.

On the upside, its great if you have strong SPRINT presence in your area. No romaing though. Last night, my phone had NO bars for about 40 miles on the interstate.

You're right...I also forgot to add that I sold my 1 year old EVO for $340.

compuguybna
join:2009-06-17
Nashville, TN

compuguybna

Member

Re: good and bad points

hey, you did pretty good then ! ! Cheaper plan, paid for phone, and money to boot!

Review by aoisserver See Profile

  • Location: Bellefonte, Centre, PA, USA
  • Cost: $10 per month
  • Install: about 1 days
Good Speeds - Good Coverage
Installation Was Somewhat Hard for Non-Tech People but Wasn't Too Bad
It's good coverage and speeds fit my needs, cost is great.
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I have Comcast 12/2 connection at home but wanted to have a mobile broadband connection without a contract and easy to return if it wasn't good. Good price, no contracts. Speeds were not what I expected at first and couldn't get EVDO Rev. A in my home. Went outside of my office and have a good 3-4 bars but inside it was 3-2 bars then back to 1xRTT. Got a USB extender and put it on the window sill and now get 3-4 bars but the connection stays EVDO Rev. A. Much better now. As well as good coverage around my town here in State College, PA.

member for 14 years, 366 visits, last login: 6.2 years ago
updated 13.1 years ago


Review by Ammocatcher See Profile

  • Location: Murrysville, Westmoreland, PA, USA
  • Cost: $40 per month
Setup relatively easy. $20 cheaper per month than Verizon, unlimited bandwidth
Can't use 3G as much when we travel. Minor inconvenience.
Great Value for my money.
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Like a couple other posters, I have no broadband options here other than cellular broadband. I have been using a Verizon USB modem for a year now with a Cradlepoint Wireless router to allow my home systems to have internet access. My only complaints with Verizon are price and bandwidth limit, so I've been looking at alternatives.

T-mobile's solution worked, but didn't give me 3G speed in my area so I tried Virgin Mobile next. My normalized upload/download speeds for across the country are 742K up, 283K down, and 194 ms latency. This is roughly equivalent to my Verizon stats so I switched without hesitation.

I like that I can drop this immediately if something better comes along without a cancellation fee and the fact that if my daughter goes a little nuts with iPod downloads, I'm not going to be raped with overages.

Overall, the experience has been very good.

member for 13.5 years, 10 visits, last login: 13.1 years ago
lodged 13.2 years ago


Review by gokussj5okaz See Profile

  • Location: Sainte Genevieve, Sainte Genevieve, MO, USA
  • Cost: $40 per month
  • Install: about 5 days
Great signal, no cap!
None so far.
Far better than Sprint, with better coverage even.
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Been using VMBB for a few days now, and it is far better in every way, compared to Sprint.

No cap, full signal constantly, and a real 1.5mb connection. Latency 100ms.

Great service, especially for $40 a month.

member for 14.6 years, 16 visits, last login: 1.2 years ago
updated 13.2 years ago

ArizonaSteve
join:2004-01-31
Apache Junction, AZ

ArizonaSteve

Member

You Must Be Joking!

You don't know what you are talking about, you must be a plant. The coverage can't be better than Sprint, they are on the Sprint network! Also there is a 5 Gb cap but it's too slow to ever use that much.