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Laptop Magazine Reviews XOHM
So far speeds are as advertised...

Laptop Magazine gives Sprint's new XOHM mobile WiMax network in Baltimore a test run using a Nokia N810 WiMAX tablet. The reviewer put XOHM head to head with Verizon EVDO service, and not too surprisingly, XOHM came out on top across the board. That includes price, with unlimited mobile XOHM costing $35 (after six months it's $45) and EVDO costing $39.99 (50MB cap) or $59.99 (5GB cap). The review cites expected coverage issues, but found speeds to be as promised (2-4Mbps downstream 1-2Mbps up), with setup a fairly simple process.

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"So far we love XOHM," says the reviewer. "The file transfer speeds are far superior to 3G, and we are big fans of the option to subscribe for just a day, or share it across multiple devices." For now it comes down to coverage, particularly if XOHM wants to light a competitive fire under Verizon and AT&T's digital derrieres.

The XOHM Chicago and Washington DC markets should go live shortly, with Boston, Philadelphia and Dallas/Ft. Worth on deck. Once the Clearwire/XOHM merger gains regulatory approval, the company expects to offer the service to an estimated 140 million people by the end of 2010. Sprint executives have stated they'll spend an upfront $2.5 billion to build up the network, and an additional $2.5 billion closer to that 2010 deployment target.
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xenophon
join:2007-09-17

xenophon

Member

More speedtests...

Xohm test results are showing up on dslreports archive..
»/archi ··· ?cid=265

Slashgear..
»www.slashgear.com/sprint ··· 0117834/
xenophon

2 edits

xenophon

Member

Chicago, DC, Dallas, Philly already have Xohm

The networks are already available to some degree in these cities, just not 'officially' available or marketed to consumers. Some posted results from the DC area already. If you register a device in Baltimore, it very well may work in the other cities that are being worked on.

Might want to wait until combo EVDO/WiMAX cards come by the end of the year.

en102
Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA

en102

Member

Re: Chicago, DC, Dallas, Philly already have Xohm

Lets hope they get their butt in gear. Los Angeles could use this.
xenophon
join:2007-09-17

xenophon

Member

Here's how to register for Xohm in cities other than Baltimore than have Xohm.

From 4ginfo.com...

»www.4ginfo.com/wimax-new ··· dem.html

proefain
Premium Member
join:2000-05-08
Millersville, MD

proefain

Premium Member

Coverage


not my location
I was under the assumption that 1 WiMAX tower would cover a bigger footprint than the coverage map shows. The screenshot I attached shows a coverage area less than 1/2 a mile. Also how is the map different for modem and mobile coverage? I've got an order in for a modem but I'm not sure if it will work in my location.
xenophon
join:2007-09-17

xenophon

Member

Re: Coverage

said by proefain:

Also how is the map different for modem and mobile coverage?
'Modem coverage' means the coverage if you are fixed with a good antenna (such as what is included in the current fixed modem being sold. 'Mobile coverage' means if you are using a laptop card that doesn't have as strong of an antenna.

XOHMGUY
@comcast.net

XOHMGUY

Anon

Re: Coverage

The coverage locator is showing less then what actually is available.. We want to be modest with a new launch..
jasher
join:2006-09-15
New Orleans, LA

jasher to proefain

Member

to proefain
Wikipedia says you can get long distances or fast speeds, but not at the same time...

"Limitations
A commonly-held misconception is that WiMAX will deliver 70 Mbit/s over 31 miles/50 kilometers. In reality, WiMAX can do one or the other — operating over maximum range (31 miles/50 km) increases bit error rate and thus must use a lower bitrate. Lowering the range allows a device to operate at higher bitrates."

»en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WiMAX

Unlimited? Sort of.
Gigaom points to verbage on the Xohm site that says it's not how much bandwidth you use, but how you use it...

"To ensure a high-quality experience for its entire subscriber base, XOHM may use various tools and techniques designed to limit the bandwidth available for certain bandwidth intensive applications or protocols, such as file sharing."

»gizmodo.com/5056447/spri ··· nloaders

And what, 2 years before this is available nationwide anyway.

wimaxr
@spcsdns.net

wimaxr to proefain

Anon

to proefain
Yeah, it's really disappointing that WiMAX isn't getting several miles of coverage per site. Are those very hilly areas?

proefain
Premium Member
join:2000-05-08
Millersville, MD

proefain

Premium Member

Re: Coverage

said by wimaxr :

Yeah, it's really disappointing that WiMAX isn't getting several miles of coverage per site. Are those very hilly areas?
I'd say the area has a slight grade bit not too bad.

»maps.google.com/maps?f=q ··· t=h&z=16

This should be centered on the tower I'd assume its broadcasting from.

With a tower like that I would have thought you could put a wireless G AP up there and got better coverage.
SD6
join:2005-03-26
Pittsburgh, PA

SD6

Member

Re: Coverage

If the map is based on actual measurements, you can sometimes get anomalous results due to reflections, power lines, etc. A small stand-alone circle area probably does not have a tower in it.

powerspec88
Premium Member
join:2007-03-11
Lees Summit, MO

powerspec88

Premium Member

What would like to see.

is Sprints own EV-DO VS XOHM as Sprint's EV-DO is faster than Verizon's EV-DO.

Now after watching the videos it is faster as the max i've seen is 250-300KB/s not the 400KB/s they where getting. I would also like to see if those speeds will be the same in lets say a year when more people have it and put more load on the towers.

Current speed im getting is and durning the day, it will dip below 1Mbps if not more.

But that was a very good read/watching.
ydoucare
join:2003-03-12
Lafayette, IN

ydoucare

Member

Re: What would like to see.

Latency on Xohm will be significantly lower than EVDO as well.

Nerdtalker
Working Hard, Or Hardly Working?
MVM
join:2003-02-18
San Jose, CA

Nerdtalker to powerspec88

MVM

to powerspec88
Sprint is generally really fast, I don't know why they get such a bad rap compared to Verizon. I guess that's the magic of pervasive 24/7 advertising.

tested right now with marginal signal tethered from my HTC Mogul. Rev A. market.
papi4baby
join:2008-01-19
Callaway, MD

papi4baby

Member

Re: What would like to see.

I agree, Sprint is a decent company.

Would anyone care to coment on latency, that is my biggest concern with EVDO, i find EVDO plenty fast for wireless(it is not my primary HSI connection). But playing FPS games on EVDO is very iffy. Thanks to anyone.
ydoucare
join:2003-03-12
Lafayette, IN

ydoucare

Member

Re: What would like to see.

I generally average in the 110 - 130 ms range on Sprint EVDO. Xohm should be comparable to cable and DSL.

powerspec88
Premium Member
join:2007-03-11
Lees Summit, MO

powerspec88

Premium Member

Re: What would like to see.

I've seen Sprint EV-DO as low as 50-60ms on the first hop and ~80ms to google. Im guessing 30-40ms on the first hop on XOHM but still no where nere 8ms as like my DSL line. I would like to see how much better his is for gaming also.

XOHMGUY
@comcast.net

XOHMGUY to papi4baby

Anon

to papi4baby
I was quite impressed with how fast the pages where loading last night when we were setting up kiosks..

Grimmace
@spcsdns.net

Grimmace to Nerdtalker

Anon

to Nerdtalker
Ahh, Sprint is all about the area your in, and the tower your on. Here in Northern California, Sprints EVDO RevA services tend to feel way over subscribed. This test is with full 5 bar signal (200 Yards from the tower out my office window)Using the Novatel Express Card in a laptop:



And that is a good speed, as its still early in the day here.

ninjatutle
Premium
join:2006-01-02
San Ramon, CA

ninjatutle

Member

Yes its fast

when you're the only person on the network
xenophon
join:2007-09-17

xenophon

Member

Re: Yes its fast

said by ninjatutle:

when you're the only person on the network
Sprint is supplying over 12Mbps to each site, maybe much more. Some testers before it was released said they've seen that much. WiMAX also doesn't have the infrastructure limitations of 3G. Managing load on each site will always be a challenge, but not as much as a challenge with 3g, which is also sharing with voice.

en102
Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA

en102

Member

Re: Yes its fast

said by xenophon:
said by ninjatutle:

when you're the only person on the network
Sprint is supplying over 12Mbps to each site, maybe much more. Some testers before it was released said they've seen that much. WiMAX also doesn't have the infrastructure limitations of 3G. Managing load on each site will always be a challenge, but not as much as a challenge with 3g, which is also sharing with voice.
Managing Voice + Data on 3G is where AT&T currently blows chunks. Unlike EVDO or WiMAX, UMTS is pushing both voice and data across the same pipe, which in theory works ok. AT&T hasn't put up enough spectrum though, and its dropped calls R us.
On the name point... is it 'Sprint' or 'Xohm' ?
I know people get offended when I call Nextel Sprint, but do not have issue calling Xohm Sprint.
ricep5
Premium Member
join:2000-08-07
Jacksonville, FL

ricep5

Premium Member

Latency vs. Usage

If they run Xohm like Clearwire, it will get oversubscribed between 3PM-10PM when the highest amount of subs come online. Latency will go up.

Another thing, try testing Xohm when there are more subs on at the same time. It would be interesting to see how they are aggregating the links to their backhaul.

Xohm had mentioned they were having problems finding backhaul at prices within their business model, so where did they cut corners?

There is much more to flesh out on Xohm performance.