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jlsoaz
join:2005-06-17
Rio Rico, AZ | Economics of using Slingshot versus Verizon or Sprint Based on what I've heard from people in this area, I considered Millenicom, Verizon, Sprint and Slingshot, and perhaps a few others. Cricket didn't seem to reach one or two of the geographic spots I needed.
I think that a 1 or 2 year contract with Verizon or Sprint would in effect cost me something like $720 per year. Slingshot might cost me about the same, plus more to buy the modem, except that it does not require a contract and I think there will be months when I do not use slingshot, and pay them nothing and do not have any financial obligations hanging over me, the way I would with a 1 or 2 year contract. So, Slingshot is likely to save me quite a bit of money, I think.
I can do the math in this way since Slingshot will not be my primary internet access method (that is my 3 mb Qwest DSL. I'm sure others will have differing views, and others will sometimes use their wireless broadband as their primary internet access method. This could change their calculations. | |
| Just ordered a Slingshot prepaid modem over the weekend.
I am switching to a new laptop in 3-6 months(defecting to Mac plus my 7 year old PC laptop is at the end of it's useful life) and need a flexible broadband wireless option that is not as limited as wifi. The nearest celltower is actually a stealth antenna on a nearby farmer's silo, wifi is at least a 10 minute drive plus long distance from street and wired high speed would be an expensive installation. If I'm traveling, wireless broadband will do a lot more for me when I'm in non-hotspot areas. Basically waiting for the Snow Leopard mac operating system that is still being worked on.
The things I like about this is
1) 5 Gb heavy use option if I need it (had unlimited data pass on AT&T prepaid, but they've taken the unlimited prepaid option away; still OK for handheld browsing on my AT&T Tilt, but not for tethering...for heavy useage I really need a USB modem with a dataplan like Slingshot is offering). From the review that was posted on DSL Reports, not sure if they still offer more limited Slingshot plans like their website, but this is still a big savings over the postpaid Sprint or Verizon offers that will tack on additional taxes, regulatory service fees, etc. Plus I can always walk away after the 2 month trial if it doesn't work out for me rather than get locked into a 2 year postpaid contract with triple digit early termination fees.
2) Works on PC/Mac/Linux. I can install this on my PC and activate it, and then move it to a Mac when I buy it in a few months (although the install on a Mac doesn't look like plug and play)
3) Off-network roaming capability on prepaid but at higher rates (5 Gb becomes 300 Mb).
4) Can use Sprint/Verizon EVDO for most areas so I have coverage where I need it. Wifi doesn't do me any good in rural areas or if the local hotspot while traveling has a high daily pricetag. I'm not sure whether Sprint or Verizon is primary though, the website shows Sprint maps, but some people have indicated recently on some websites that their Millenicom modems were switched from Sprint to Verizon (don't know if that effects the prepaid Slingshot offer or they are still using Sprint as primary service).
When UPS delivers it, I'll report on how well it works for me... | | |
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jlsoaz
join:2005-06-17
Rio Rico, AZ | said by GadgetKen 
[... :4) Can use Sprint/Verizon EVDO for most areas so I have coverage where I need it. Wifi doesn't do me any good in rural areas or if the local hotspot while traveling has a high daily pricetag. I'm not sure whether Sprint or Verizon is primary though, the website shows Sprint maps, but some people have indicated recently on some websites that their Millenicom modems were switched from Sprint to Verizon (don't know if that effects the prepaid Slingshot offer or they are still using Sprint as primary service). When UPS delivers it, I'll report on how well it works for me... Hi:
I think there is some confusion here as to Millenicom versus Slingshot. One of the two or three things that Millenicom offers is that they resell (my word) Slingshot. I think that basically if you get a non-slingshot Millenicom deal, then that puts you into the Verizon camp. If you get a Slingshot modem, whether through Millenicom or through Slingshot, then you are using only Sprint towers and not Verizon towers, as far as I know.
I will look forward to hearing what you have to say. Your situation and use is different from mine. You appear to be ordering this for a much more concerted primary internet use, whereas I use DSL here at my home-office and Slingshot (now) or WI-FI while traveling.
I have to like the security aspect that if I am in an iffy unsecured wi-fi environment then maybe using slingshot instead of wifi provides me with a somewhat better security situation?
On your wait for UPS, I do think I clicked an option to pay somewhat more for a somewhat faster delivery. This seemed borderline wasteful to me, but I did not want to risk the slow version of UPS. | |
| I got the slingshot modem by UPS Ground yesteday (decided to save a few bucks on shipping since I wasn't in a rush). Installation last night wasn't exactly plug and play for my particular laptop, but I figured it out after about an hour of trial and error. Plugging it in installed the drivers, but the installation hung up on the software, so I tried manually clicking on the slingshot folder (didn't work), and then installing the CD (that DID work). Couldn't get it to authenticate so I figured it was either because it was too late to call for activation or because I am in a rural area with Verizon and AT&T as best carriers in my part of town (Sprint works near my house, but not at my house...).
So I brought the modem and my laptop to the office this morning, left an early morning voicemail on the slingshot activation line, and when I tried connecting the modem again, I hit the activation button and I got an internet connection. I then tried a Microsoft software update which downloaded at an impressive speed (particularly for someone used to dial-up at home), and then updated the software. A later call to slingshot confirmed my modem was activated fine, it works both on Sprint AND Verizon (more on this later), doesn't roam in Canada (no big deal, I'll just use wifi or an internet cafe on my rare visits there), that the modem would be transferable to a macbook I intend to purchase (stuff I need will be on the CD) and I was told where I could find the data counter (device properties has a lifetime data counter). I also noticed there is a lot of information on the modem on the Novatel website.
Apparently Slingshot has agreements with both Sprint and Verizon. I am currently using Verizon at my home on slingshot to write this post. On the modem menu near the signal strength meter is a roaming indicator with a red "x" through it to indicate I am not using Sprint. Also I got a message when I logged in that said new PRL's (preferred roaming list) would be installed when I disconnected. I think Sprint is likely the preferred carrier for the modem, but it will choose Verizon if Sprint is not available (my office today had coverage for both Sprint and Verizon towers, but the modem chose Sprint). This dual network capability would give the modem a very wide coverage area in the US, and the Verizon capability is very important to me for home use.
Don't think I'll hit the 5 gb limit limit each month, but I am running into more tasks (for work or for fun) where I need the higher speeds of broadband. Think slingshot is the best solution for me to get portable broadband coverage at a competitive price without a contractual committment. So far thumbs up.
Agree on better security for slingshot than wifi (wep is weak encryption, and wpa is not perfect either); particularly when doing monetary transactions or work related tasks on the PC. Better safe than sorry...
I am currently slowly shifting my many website accounts to a web based Gmail account, and will likely drop my dial-up ISP (or just keep for their limited free ad-supported version) after a few months.
AT&T is also going to offer a 100 MB prepaid data package instead of their former prepaid unlimited data package (really was 5 gb cap like slingshot and most other providers). This would provide a good wireless backup to Slingshot by tethering to my AT&T Tilt, although my primary use of data on that device is really for lightweight data access without tethering. | |
| reply to jlsoaz
Like the quick broadband start-up time for launching my browser and opening a website rather than waiting an eternity for a dial-up service home page to load up(that sort of reminds me of the Smothers Brothers slow talker comedy routine). Other than a few challenges setting up the modem, and a modem software glitch that they fixed a few days later with a patch (occassional annoying popup error message that didn't make sense), the modem has been relatively easy to use. I just taped the short USB cable to the back of my laptop screen to give the modem a little height for the antenna (the included clip is too fat for my thin subnotebook screen). Did also pick up a 4 gb micro-sd card at Radio Shack to use the slingshot modem also as a USB key memory drive.
I wonder whether Slingshot will sign up any major retailers to sell their wireless kits. I know Pilot Centers (national chain of big highway truck stops) are selling them, but haven't seen a major electronics retailer like Radio Shack, Best Buy or a department store chain (Target, Walmart) carry them yet....perhaps it is tougher to ink agreements with some of these stores because they already have wireless agreements set up or the stores get better commissions on selling postpaid data service. Or maybe they are waiting to see how Slingshot does in the marketplace since they just started wireless broadband a few moths ago.
Given the current state of the economy I'm glad I didn't sign up for a postpaid contract. While I could easily qualify for one, I didn't want to get locked into a contract. Think the break-even for prepaid vs. postpaid will be relatively quick because no activation fees, 2 months initial service included in prepaid package (effectively cutting cost of modem in about half) plus no taxes, regulatory fees or nuisance fees that typically inflate mobile phone bill charges. | |
jlsoaz
join:2005-06-17
Rio Rico, AZ | said by GadgetKen:[...] I wonder whether Slingshot will sign up any major retailers to sell their wireless kits. I know Pilot Centers (national chain of big highway truck stops) are selling them, but haven't seen a major electronics retailer like Radio Shack, Best Buy or a department store chain (Target, Walmart) carry them yet....perhaps it is tougher to ink agreements with some of these stores because they already have wireless agreements set up or the stores get better commissions on selling postpaid data service. Or maybe they are waiting to see how Slingshot does in the marketplace since they just started wireless broadband a few moths ago. Given the current state of the economy I'm glad I didn't sign up for a postpaid contract. While I could easily qualify for one, I didn't want to get locked into a contract. Think the break-even for prepaid vs. postpaid will be relatively quick because no activation fees, 2 months initial service included in prepaid package (effectively cutting cost of modem in about half) plus no taxes, regulatory fees or nuisance fees that typically inflate mobile phone bill charges. I think I first ran across and used Slingshot five years ago from a disk I got at a Pilot, a few miles away from my house. I was in a situation where my internet was out and I needed to pick up a quick-and-dirty dialup acccess, but without committing to some ridiculous monthly agreement. Slingshot was a fine solution in that situation and I did not regret it. Once I got my high speed in place I didn't go back to it, except once or twice on the road (where it was fine, for what it was). I probably bought a few more hours here or there, and then that was the end of it. A decent experience.
I am finding it interesting and a bit exciting to be part of Slingshot's early efforts in broadband wireless. It was an effort to get DSL Reports to carry a review area and discussion area. I don't know why DSL Reports makes it difficult. Anyway, we can see that Slingshot personnel are seemingly not focused on lobbying for internet discussion of their service (at least not on this board?0 if some shlep customer like me had to be the one to go through the little first effort.
On Economics, so far I do not regret avoiding signing up with Verizon or Sprint because that would be something like a 2 year contract and a lot of money.
However, things are in transition with those big carriers and it is possible (I think) to buy a modem up-front and go on a month-to-month agreement with Verizon or Sprint, but with paying some moderate penalty for restarting service once it is stopped.
So, the lines begin to blur between what Slingshot offers and what Verizon or Sprint offers (if you press them and ask about going on a month-to-month agreement of some sort).
I do have a regret about not going with Millenicom, or giving it a bit more consideration, because the up-front purchase price for the modem seems lower ($99?). A counter-point is that I think Millenicom, on that deal, also has a restart fee, of some sort, though modest. Slingshot does not... it is prepaid, period.
You menion the 5 gig consideration. I think I would be much more worried about that if I were really depending on Slingshot as my main service. For example, on my DSL, I presently stream internet radio much of the day and occasionally stream a movie to my TV. I could increase or decrease these heavy uses (according to what my connectivity provider allowed, but if my wireless was my main connection, I would be unhappy, in the end, if I had to significantly change my internet use because of 5 Gig concerns.
Also, a concern is that I might recommend Slingshot to others but then those other people might have real problems with the service. So, I think the best thing is not so much to recommend but rather for me to report accurately my experiences, bad and good, and make plain certain things like the fact that my use will differ very significantly from someone who uses Slingshot as their main internet access method.
Anyway, so far so good, with a couple of problems, but nothing major, yet. I remain somewhat wary of their smaller size, as a company. | |
| reply to jlsoaz
On 5gb cap, I am using an aging Fujitsu subnotebook (estimated replacement with a MacBook will be beginning of July when Snow Leopard OS is released) that has limited multimedia capabilities and a slower CPU and less memory by today's standards. Need the high speeds to download program updates in minutes instead of hours, stop graphics intensive web pages from choking when loading, to upload pictures to photo websites for professional printing or sharing (haven't done this until now due to bandwith restrictions on dial-up), tying in to an office VPN that needs higher bandwidth to work properly due to high security measures, doing light video clip viewing (eg. out of market TV stations or national news or financial web sites), occasional web radio or audio downloads. Not doing movie downloads (usually DVD's from library, local video store, or Redbox with a promo code) or continuous audio or video streaming so I don't have an issue with a 5 gb cap for my current intended useage. This also makes it possible for me to use Slingshot as a replacement for dial-up at home and as portable broadband with a wider coverage area than wifi and more capabilities than a wifi device (eg Sony Mylo) or data phone (my AT&T Tilt).
Agree on cautiously recommending Slingshot at the current time. My concern with suggesting Slingshot is not everybody is tech savvy enough to set up the modem (I would set it up on someone's laptop for them if they told me they were going to buy it), and the ocassional service glitch (but you get that with any ISP).
On month to month Verizon or Sprint, I thought of that, but would have had an activation fee, probably would have had to do this at a company store rather than an affiliate (nothing near by), and it would have been postpaid without the contract which usually means paying most of the current month plus the next month for the first bill and the usual state and federal taxes, regulatory surcharges ,etc. that would instead be included in Slingshots flat payment.
Another interesting plus with Slingshot is I haven't had RF interference on other devices like I have with other carriers (tethered AT&T Tilt created a racket on TV's, phones, radios, you name it). | |
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