Sprint vs Verizon data cards

[SaoFeng]

I need to get one for work..

What carrier should I go with?

 

[uli2000]

I believe your high speed EVDO coverage will be better with Sprint (due to their data roaming agreement with Alltel). Also, Sprint has EVDO rev. A on in many areas, not sure if Verizon does or not. But Sprints CS is a joke. Give each one a try (you should have 15 to 30 days with each carrier). See which one works better where you work.

 

[intogamer]

Sprint

/thread

 

[corkyg]

I have Sprint with the Merlin S720 Connection Card. I recently took a trip from Tucson to Cleveland, and was able to use it, but only in major metro areas.

Apparently, it does not throttle back to non-EVDO when EVDO is not available. It would not work in Santa Rosa, NM although Sprint PCS had 5 bars. It worked beautifully in Tulsa, but not in Terre Haute, IN. It worked perfectly in Columbus, OH and Cleveland, OH.

I have used non-EVDO Sprint in Central Oregon in the Bend area - Verizon has nothing there.

I guess the best answer is, it really depends on where you are.

So, where is work?

 

[SaoFeng]

i travel all over the usa....so work is everywhere!

 

[corkyg]

Well, I mostly travel in the Western US, with occasional forays back East. Sprint is pretty good - this map shows all their towers.

Map

There are links there which will give you specific PCS and BB coverage maps.

Another good consideration is that all Holiday Inn Express's and most all Best Western motels now have free broadband access. It is pretty good.

If I had a professional budget that was expensable, I would get BOTH Sprint and Verizon.

 

[erwos]

Sprint is the better choice, but corkyg does make a rather good point: if you're expensing it, and internet access is do-or-die, grab both.

 

[2canSAM]

Another thing to keep in mind is Verizon actually has a 5GB per month cap. Even though they say it is unlimited they will drop you if you go over. I use Sprint and have always had good luck and speeds.

 

[SaoFeng]

i got the sprint service....
595u card (usb).

so far, it sucks in the san diego marriott....we'll see how it is here in the OC

 

[corkyg]

Last Marriott I stayed in had free broadband (wireless.) Many have Cat 5 cables - and that is better than wireless.

When I stayed 2 weeks in the Intercontinental Suites Hotel in Cleveland, BB Internet was $9.95 a day - but my Merlin S720 rocked with 5 bars - and it paid for itself on that one stay.

According to the S720 literature, if EVDO is not aavailable, it is supposed to throttle back to regular PCS speed. Anyone know how to force that? Would that be the 1Xrtt setting?

 

[intogamer]

Originally posted by: SaoFeng
i got the sprint service....
595u card (usb).

so far, it sucks in the san diego marriott....we'll see how it is here in the OC

Its probably because you have USB?

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: intogamer
Its probably because you have USB?

That's a valid point. USB has always been somewhat flaky.

 

[uli2000]

Originally posted by: corkyg
Last Marriott I stayed in had free broadband (wireless.) Many have Cat 5 cables - and that is better than wireless.

When I stayed 2 weeks in the Intercontinental Suites Hotel in Cleveland, BB Internet was $9.95 a day - but my Merlin S720 rocked with 5 bars - and it paid for itself on that one stay.

According to the S720 literature, if EVDO is not aavailable, it is supposed to throttle back to regular PCS speed. Anyone know how to force that? Would that be the 1Xrtt setting?

Im not sure what the setting would be, but 1x runs max 240 kb/sec. Most of the time I get 100-150 kb/sec. YOu may have had trouble connecting in NM because you may have been roaming on Alltel. Ive heard of athorization issues for cross network connection (mostly Alltel customer roaming on Sprint, though).

To the OP, if its avalible in your area, have you looked at Alltel? Like Sprint, unlimited means unlimited, and Alltel's CS in light years ahead of Sprints. Plus, full EVDO roaming on Sprint when Alltel isnt avalible, though I hear if you are in a Sprint EVDO rev A area, you will only get rev. 0 service even if you have a rev. A capable card (Alltel hasnt activated rev. A service anywhere yet, so they havent updated their cards with it).

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: uli2000
Im not sure what the setting would be, but 1x runs max 240 kb/sec. Most of the time I get 100-150 kb/sec. YOu may have had trouble connecting in NM because you may have been roaming on Alltel. Ive heard of athorization issues for cross network connection (mostly Alltel customer roaming on Sprint, though).

OK - I dropped by the Sprint store and found a knowledgable tech, and I was right. There are three mode settings for the S720. They are EVDO Only; Auto; and 1xRTT.

EVDO only is just what it says. Auto is supposed
to figure it out. 1xRTT is the basic PCS data mode - same as if you used your cell phone as a modem.

The reason it did not work in Santa Rosa, NM was because that was not a PCS data area - just the phone. And, I don't allow roaming on anything - cellphone or connection card unless it is a bonafide emergency or urgency.

I'm cool!

 

[SaoFeng]

Originally posted by: corkyg

Originally posted by: intogamer
Its probably because you have USB?

That's a valid point. USB has always been somewhat flaky.

no it wasn't the usb.

I was at an event where sprint was actually there, and i cornered a sprint engineer. he said that the one i got has better reception since it is actually powered (it has a battery in it). he also stated that it's better to be lower on the ground (i was staying on the top floor of the hotel).

anyway, i tried this out at home, and i'm getting some decent speeds...1.4mbps!

 

[uli2000]

Originally posted by: corkyg

Originally posted by: uli2000
Im not sure what the setting would be, but 1x runs max 240 kb/sec. Most of the time I get 100-150 kb/sec. YOu may have had trouble connecting in NM because you may have been roaming on Alltel. Ive heard of athorization issues for cross network connection (mostly Alltel customer roaming on Sprint, though).

OK - I dropped by the Sprint store and found a knowledgable tech, and I was right. There are three mode settings for the S720. They are EVDO Only; Auto; and 1xRTT.

EVDO only is just what it says. Auto is supposed
to figure it out. 1xRTT is the basic PCS data mode - same as if you used your cell phone as a modem.

The reason it did not work in Santa Rosa, NM was because that was not a PCS data area - just the phone. And, I don't allow roaming on anything - cellphone or connection card unless it is a bonafide emergency or urgency.

I'm cool!

Roaming is just operating on a carrier other than your own. You may be roaming and never even know about it. Unless you get a solid roaming indicatior, roaming is usually free due to agreements between cell phone companies. It's very rare anymore to have to pay to roam with most carriers national plans.

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: uli2000
Roaming is just operating on a carrier other than your own. You may be roaming and never even know about it. Unless you get a solid roaming indicatior, roaming is usually free due to agreements between cell phone companies. It's very rare anymore to have to pay to roam with most carriers national plans.

Yes, I know that. And in each cell phone there are settings to prevent the use of roaming. There is a feature called "Roam Guard" that is on or off.

 

[Jawo]

Get the Sprint card! I have had one for months and it rocks...I get ~100kbps nearly everywhere and up to 1.5 mbps in EVDO areas. Let me know if your interested in Sprint

 

[corkyg]

One other tip - when using an aircard, disable your Wi-Fi and do not connect a cable. Either can interfere with the aircard's function.