request for advice on aircards

[John Farley]

I just returned my AT&T aircard, for reasons I explain below, and am now in the market for a new one. I would welcome any advice. Here are a few things I already know either from experience or other threads here:

1. Avoid AT&T. This is based on my experience of intermittent/weak connections at home in Edwardsville, at the St. Louis airport, and near downtown Santa Fe, NM. I am pretty sure that if it won't work reliably in these urban areas, it won't work out in the middle of nowhere. So I returned it while I still could without paying the $175 early cancellation penalty.

2. Most people here seem to think that Sprint is the best. I have seen several say it works even in remote areas, and is better than Alltel, which may have problems connecting with the Sprint network.

3. It is helpful to have a card with the ability to plug into an external antenna.

Beyond this, I know virtually nothing. I thought AT&T would be good because I have heard they have the widest network, but my experience suggests otherwise. So assuming I go with Sprint, is there some particular kind of aircard I should get? Or are they all pretty much the same? If not, what characteristics should I look for? Sorry if these sound like dumb questions, but I really don't know much about these. Basically I want something that will be reliable in most rural areas and that will certainly not let me down in urban areas like Edwardsville, St. Louis, and Santa Fe. Any help will be appreciated!

[David Drummond]

I can't say enough good about the Sierra Wirless 597E card. Has the added benefit of a built in GPS unit too.

You're most likely going to want to the an express card slot card, even if you only have pcmcia on your current laptop. Adaptors are available. PCMCIA slots are quickly becoming extinct on new laptops, so if you don't have one and upgrade later, already having an express slot data card would save you having to upgrade both.

There are some usb options too, although I haven't tried them. Sierra Wireless for me performs much better than the Novatel cards. I have had a couple of cards from both and overall the SW cards just seem to hold signal better. The GPS unit in the 597E card astounds me, getting signal even inside 2 story buildings when I was on the ground floor. It gives you the basic data on the Sprint Connection Software (the new version) but creates a COM port which can be used by other software, including Spotter Network, GRLevelX software and Delorme software. I have the Delorme GPS unit too, so I can effectively use 2 GPS receivers with that setup.

External antenna port is an absolute MUST, with an external antenna of course. Gotta get that signal up and out of the car for best performance. I have this setup with Sprint and have data 98% of everywhere I go. If I were to get an amp I could probably up that to 99% on some of the few fringe areas I have some issues with.

Sprint roams seamlessly on Alltel btw.

[Jason Boggs]

SPRINT, SPRINT, SPRINT! I have the 595U version which plugs into the USB port of the computer. It also has a port for an external antenna. I have had this card for about a month or so and I love it.

[J Kinkaid]

I would avoid Sprint and go with Alltel and be contract free. 2 year contracts are the devil and should be outlawed . There is no reason for a contract if you bring your own card or phone . And ATT's edge is great down here in the SE and I can stream better because of the quick handoffs and better network than I can with alltel or roaming on Sprint. If you do go with Sprint I would check out this thread as this seems to be the only way to go contract free with Sprint . http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/showthread.php?t=15418

Why not teether with your cell phone with Alltel ? It will save you $20 a month that you could use for other storm gear . As long as you have the right PRL 40000 and above you will be able to roam on Sprint evdo and Verizion 1rtt data.

[Scott Weberpal]

as Jason said, SPRINT SPRINT SPRINT! I also have the Sierra 595U and it is wonderful. I was down your way John some time ago (East Alton), and the EVDO Rev A signal was very strong and very fast.

Sprint also offers a 30-day no questions asked return policy if you don't like the product or service - might as well give it a shot.

[Jerry Prsha]

I just returned my AT&T aircard, for reasons I explain below, and am now in the market for a new one. I would welcome any advice. Here are a few things I already know either from experience or other threads here:

1. Avoid AT&T. This is based on my experience of intermittent/weak connections at home in Edwardsville, at the St. Louis airport, and near downtown Santa Fe, NM. I am pretty sure that if it won't work reliably in these urban areas, it won't work out in the middle of nowhere. So I returned it while I still could without paying the $175 early cancellation penalty.

2. Most people here seem to think that Sprint is the best. I have seen several say it works even in remote areas, and is better than Alltel, which may have problems connecting with the Sprint network.

3. It is helpful to have a card with the ability to plug into an external antenna.

Beyond this, I know virtually nothing. I thought AT&T would be good because I have heard they have the widest network, but my experience suggests otherwise. So assuming I go with Sprint, is there some particular kind of aircard I should get? Or are they all pretty much the same? If not, what characteristics should I look for? Sorry if these sound like dumb questions, but I really don't know much about these. Basically I want something that will be reliable in most rural areas and that will certainly not let me down in urban areas like Edwardsville, St. Louis, and Santa Fe. Any help will be appreciated!
Mark me in the Sprint corner as well. I get Sprint EVDO, with my Novatel U720, in places where I can't get voice access.

[Jay McCoy]

Have experimented with the CIngular/ATT setup, The Verizon setup, AllTel, And Sprint and by far the best coverage in tornado alley is Sprint. YOU may bet coverage with the others 80-85% but Sprint is at least 95% coverage. Most data plans cost about the same for unlimted. Using your cell phone has drawbacks since you cant use it while getting data and you have to also buy a data cable and may have to keep it hooked to a charger. Data cards are the only goof option and Sprint is the best choice. Which type depends on whether you have an express slot or want to use a USB port.

And an external antenna is a must. It makes all the difference in reception.

[Nick Parker]

Running Verizon here and love it. You can't beat thier coverage in ILL..trust me. I usually leave it on at work running GR3 so nothing sneaks up on me while im slinging wrenches and it has never given any problems. I have a Cingular work phone and as soon as I cross the Ohio river back into IL...I've had them call my verizon cell due to the lack of signal around here. Only bummer is the 2 year contract...oh well though. Internet everywhere has its price and im willing to pay it! (especially when my home internet back in STL cost me almost 55 a month!)

Nick

[Mark Blue]

John,

I'm also a Sprint man. I'm about one year into my contract and they even give me a 15% discount on my monthly fee for being a federal government employee. I also have the Express Card style and it's the Novatel Merlin EX720 model. I have also experienced good coverage when out chasing, but as a side note I use an amplifier which helps immensely. Check out http://www.maximumsignal.net for all of your amplifier and antennae needs.

Thanks,
Mark

[Johnathan Brouwer]

DD, does the 597e have an external antenna port? I do not see it on the specs, can you clarify?

[David Drummond]

DD, does the 597e have an external antenna port? I do not see it on the specs, can you clarify?

Yes, absolutely. It's also one of the more substantial connections, rather than that tiny little one my last Novatel card had.

[John Farley]

Thanks for the helpful input, everyone. I should clarify that I am looking for the USB style. Sounds like Sprint with the 595U might be the one for me. Because of commitments the next few days it will probably be next week before I get around to ordering it, so of course additional opinions would be welcomed. Again, thanks!

John

[J Kinkaid]

USB model you can not force to HDR mode and you should not buy this model data card!

HDR mode is forcing the card to lock into an EVDO signal and not 1RTT

If you still want this card I know where it can be purchased with no contract for $75 plus ship

[Scott Weberpal]

I've been able to force the 595U to EVDO and only connect to EVDO no problem. Often if I'm in a native Sprint 1xRTT area with EVDO roaming on alltel, it will want to connect to the 1xRTT, but all I have to do is force the card to EVDO and it works great. Usually it automatically picks EVDO roam over native 1x, and I've only had to force it into EVDO in one area.

[J Kinkaid]

I should point out that I was talking about the UTStarcom um 150 pc card that can not be forced to EVDO and not the 595U card

[Bill Tabor]

I've been able to force the 595U to EVDO and only connect to EVDO no problem. Often if I'm in a native Sprint 1xRTT area with EVDO roaming on alltel, it will want to connect to the 1xRTT, but all I have to do is force the card to EVDO and it works great. Usually it automatically picks EVDO roam over native 1x, and I've only had to force it into EVDO in one area.

I'll have that card in a few days Scott. How do you go about forcing it - assuming I need to?

[J Kinkaid]

I'll have that card in a few days Scott. How do you go about forcing it - assuming I need to?



From the tools menu you can access the SMS composer/reader, call log, connection manager and options. Under Options there is access to the network menu. My suggestion is to set the 595U to 'EVDO Only' when in EVDO coverage. This way the 595U never checks for a 1xRTT network. I believe that continually 'looking for' a 1x network can affect performance.

[Bill Tabor]

From the tools menu you can access the SMS composer/reader, call log, connection manager and options. Under Options there is access to the network menu. My suggestion is to set the 595U to 'EVDO Only' when in EVDO coverage. This way the 595U never checks for a 1xRTT network. I believe that continually 'looking for' a 1x network can affect performance.

J, my setup is up and running and works well. However I can't get to the settings you mention. Mine are greyed out. I don't see the Tools Menu in the Connection Manager. In Connection Manager I have a menu I can click on and from the pull down I go to 'Settings' and then 'Sprint Mobile Broadband - Sierra Wireless'. That pulls up a Settings page and under 'Network Mode' and 'Roam Mode' everything is greyed out and unable to be selected. Does anyone know how to enable these settings?