Hardware Review: Sprint BroadBand Access Card (PC-5740)

**whuber97** · 07-08-2006, 11:28 AM

Yes, it is the same!

**whuber97** · 07-08-2006, 11:45 AM

Originally Posted by Naamanf

You should also be able to get high speed if you have a Sprint or Verizon EVDO phone. I have a Sprint A900 and I use the EVDO over bluetooth to the computer. I think I pay $39 unlimited.

You pay $39 unlimited data? That's incredible. Does that include voice?

**Naamanf** · 07-08-2006, 11:50 AM

No, that's just for the data plan.

**r3volution11** · 07-11-2006, 03:31 PM

If I weren't such a internet geek I'd grab the card and use it as my primary internet service.

You know you can get routers that let you put the card in for the net access? Good stuff. Get 2 wireless routers, one for home, one for the car. Put in in your car router and you have net access on both the car pc and laptop. Cool stuff..

If the speeds were about 3x as fast I'd be all over it.

**blazinlow** · 07-11-2006, 03:38 PM

Ive been using Verizon's wireless broadband service. At first, I was disappointed because it would constantly drop out. I thought it was hardware related because I was using this no-name PCI->PCbus card. I just got my MII12000 yesterday, my internet is incredible now! I did 2 speed tests at different times last night, they were both over 1000kbps down! Instant messenger stays up all the time now, I can stream shoutcast uninterrupted...its amazing

The $39 plan is known as the PAM (Phone as Modem) I hear that bluetooth slows down the speeds.

**allanak** · 07-14-2006, 01:03 PM

The protocol limitation of bluetooth 1.0 and 1.1 is 723.1kbit/sec and bluetooth 2.0 is 2.1mbit/sec. So yeah, a PC card would probably be a little faster. I know when I tether my PPC6700 over bluetooth, it's not quite as fast. Impresses the chicks though lol

**RedGTiVR6** · 07-14-2006, 01:59 PM

yeup - that's why I'm into it...to impress the chicks...damn hotties

**Tidder** · 07-16-2006, 01:16 PM

Originally Posted by Red GTi VR6

yes, you can, but it's just not the same.

Red is right.

Mainly cause the card keeps a constant internet connection. Phones with this capability do not. It reconnects to the internet (pretty fast, hardly notice) everytime it needs to send information. If there's no activity for approx 5 seconds, the phone disconnects. Watch your phone the next time you use it to connect. The computer doesn't see a dropped connection, it's just the phone that does it. Instant messaging is almost impossible with this setup. I wrote a little batch file that pings an ip address every 4 seconds, so I don't drop connection. I think I'm gonna get a card too.

Both my LG PM-325 and my Samsung A900 display this behavior.

**thanatos106** · 08-11-2006, 05:18 PM

I just got back from changing my PC 5740 for the merlin s620 and this are the results:

With PC 5740 same speed than whuber97 pic...

and with the merlin s620 in the same spot:

Plus the merlin have a connector that allow you to use an external antenna

I'm so fricking happy that I returned that boots mobile phone!

Thanatos.