freedompop free wimax on iphone/ipod???

[Apex]

It's default to Short. Will change it to Long make it better?

Did not know it's only a 802.11b/g device when ordering.

Yep, I can get it across the house through 3 walls on long.

 

[mxnerd]

Just tested. Change it to Long does not make any difference. I have to be within 25ft to be able to connect. 50ft and it's one bar and no connection at all.

I don't even have any brick wall in the house.

 

[OBLAMA2009]

You have to enter your email and zipcode on homepage and check availablity, then you will get the option.

I think because the device sucks so they don't put it on the home page.

so does it only suck because of the wifi range? if youre using it with your ipad 5 feet away its fine right?

 

[Apex]

Just tested. Change it to Long does not make any difference. I have to be within 25ft to be able to connect. 50ft and it's one bar and no connection at all.

I don't even have any brick wall in the house.

Wow, that sucks. I wonder what the issue is. The WiFi chips in my tablets are pretty mediocre (the one in my laptop is better), but the connection distance seems ok here.

 

[mxnerd]

Wow, that sucks. I wonder what the issue is. The WiFi chips in my tablets are pretty mediocre (the one in my laptop is better), but the connection distance seems ok here.

It really sucks.

My original plan is I want to switch to T-Mobile's 1000 minutes/$100/year prepaid plan and compensate it with FreedomPop 500MB/monthly data plan ( I do choose the $2.99 priority traffic monthly plan), and use Google Voice with Groove IP app to make most phone calls.

I guess if I want to have good signal around the house then I need to buy a wifi repeater to pair with the Photon device.

The same Optimus V can connect to my WiFi router without problem, but not this Photon device.

 

[mxnerd]

so does it only suck because of the wifi range? if youre using it with your ipad 5 feet away its fine right?

You bet.

The 4G signal is good for my area.

 

[mxnerd]

Shut down the hotspot for several days and I tested it again last night 10 PM.

Tested the mobile hotspot on PC and via smartphone through speedtest.net and the max download speed is 2 Mbps! Most of the time it hovers around 1-1.5Mbps.

I really don't see how the $2.99 buys me priority traffic. Very disappointed.

 

[dagamer34]

The amount of traffic on the 2.4Ghz spectrum from numerous WiFi access points, cordless phones, Bluetooth, and microwaves means that WiFi tethering is fine in a pinch, but to rely on it for consistent throughput is a huge gamble. Maybe when we get 5Ghz AP mode on most phones, it'll be better, but I'd stick to wired or built-in cellular.