| Re: Replacement modem? If you have a preference for primary carrier put that in the comments section on your order form. Generally most cellphones or wireless modem cards will search first for their primary carrier (programmed system ID) then will fall back to other carriers if it can't connect to the primary carrier. CDMA wireless modems like this will download preferred roaming lists automatically or manually (the PRL Download item we saw in the Slingshot menu).
There is always some sort of a roaming indicator so you will know if you are not on your primary carrier.
Not sure about manually switching carriers on these modems. Depends on the hardware/software setup on the thing. |
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| I already ordered it. Maybe I can change it later? |
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| Just send a follow-up email or give them a call if you have a preference. They may not have shipped it yet. You can probably swap it if they have, and it's not the one you want.
I'm guessing because I'm not a customer that they either send a Verizon modem or a Sprint modem and it will fall back to the other carrier in certain situations (e.g. a Sprint modem will work just fine in the USVI but a Verizon modem would roam on Sprint because Verizon has towers in PR but not the USVI. Likewise a Sprint modem would roam on Verizon in some rural areas (like my home)). |
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| I'll try the modem I get. As long as it works, I don't really care what carrier it uses.  |
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| I'll probably be placing a Millenicom order after I get a new laptop (likely a MacBook once the Snow Leopard OS comes out). Probably will try to get a Verizon preference modem in my particular case.
I suspect they will be getting a lot of "Slingshot Refugee" orders. |
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| I hope the FTC kills Slingshot for ripping us off. |
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2 edits | I hope they do.
And I'm sure their are lots of truckers out there that bought a Slingshot modem at a Pilot Center truck stop who would agree with you.
Edit: Had a thought when I wrote that...I checked on a Trucker's Forum. Sure enough there was a long Slingshot thread. Apparently a trucker got through to customer service and Slingshot said Sprint cut off service and they are trying to get it restored...which is a long shot because it was cut off due to a legal dispute. |
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| I'm sick of these legal disputes messing up my Internet experience. Because of legal disputes, technological advancements get stalled, services get shut off and the end user is the one who suffers.
The Internet should be run by its end users, not lawyers, corporations and governments. |
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| Agree the end user is the one who winds up suffering the most. Slingshot gave no advance notice to customers Sprint was cutting service off due to a legal dispute..would have been easy to send an email or a message pop-up explaining the situation, that they anticipated a service interuption, and how they hoped to resolve it in a timely fashion. It's also unfortunate that the truckers who bought the modems at Pilot Center truck stops (before they were reportedly yanked off the shelves)are suddenly without mobile broadband service...not good if mobile internet access is critical to their trucking business.
I'll occasionally try to reboot the Slingshot modem to see if they restore service but I think the chances are slim at this point. Right now it looks like I'll probably go with a Verizon USB key once I buy a new laptop in a few months. Probably would get service either through Millenicom or a local Verizon reseller. |
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| May I have a link to that trucker board so I can read what they're saying about Slingshot? I bet it's nothing good. You don't want to mess with truckers.
I'm going to smash my Slingshot modem to bits after I get the Millenicom one. |
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1 edit | »www.thetruckersreport.com/trucki···s-6.html
Maybe donate it to a cellphone recycler that benefits a charity such as »www.collectivegood.com/ or sell it for a few bucks on ebay for pocket money?
...although I agree a rock or a sledge hammer would feel real good. |
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| I could probably donate it to Collective Good, if they send envelopes. |
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| They have postpaid printable labels for some of the charities. After clicking donate, look for a charity that has "$ free shipping" next to it. Reuse a mailing box or padded envelope. They also send a receipt via email for a tax deduction after they receive the package.
You may want to wait a few days to see if Slingshot restores service though (I am guessing a very very slim chance). |
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| I don't care if they do renew it. They have violated my trust. |
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| I know the feeling. If they suddenly went back on the air, I would probably just use the remaining credit (about a week) and then reflash the modem for another carrier, or donate it to charity. People need something they can depend on that's up 99%+ of the time and has good customer service and technical support to back it up(definitely not where Slingshot is at right now). |
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| When I get my Millenicom, I'll let you know what it's like so you can make a good choice about it. |
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| Thanks. Look forward to your review in the Millenicom forum. |
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