Review: Verizon BroadbandAccess - Page 2

austin138 · 04-06-2006, 11:14 AM

has anyone tried Clearwire? That's only 19.95 a month. Just curious

Splash-X · 04-07-2006, 11:35 AM

Because this is not aimed at a mobile solution I don't think it will work the way you are thinking. This type of service requires a modem device plugged in and an antenna of some sort. In a few cases where my company has installed smiliar devices for another carrier they require a static location (not driving).

I'm not saying ot wont work I'm just saying it isn't likely.

yrean · 04-11-2006, 12:44 PM

hey all, i just started looking into putting a pc etc in my 06 SI, so i started looking around getting info on things. I have been using verizons 3g network in my laptop now for a little over a year. and have found a few things out. i know this thread started a while ago, but i figured i would post a couple of tips on the service. 1st thing, you have is the software. you either have vzaccess or the MCM. the vzaccess had some compression agent with it that really sucked. the MCM is allitle more stable. also with the MCM software, if your having problems with being passed between the national and broadband connections theres a fix for it. I came accross this little bit of info when i first got the card and it wasnt always in broadband.

1. open MCM (mobil connection manager) (note: be sure you're running
ver. 2.5)
2. click on the Help button
3. click the about tab, and Double right click in the "about" box. A small input window will open in the lower part of the About box.
4. enter ##DEBUG (all uppercase) in that input box and hit enter.
This will open the engineering menu (the debug module)
5. Click on the TEST tab
6. Check to on "enable test mode"
7. Click on HDR only
8. Click the UPDATE TEST MODE AND RESET button
9. Enter 000000 (6 zeros when it asks for your code)
10. Wait til the modem resetting message at the top of the test screen
finishes and then click OK button
11. Click OK button on the MCM help window
12. Let mcm finish initializing and when READY go ahead and connect.

Note: you will need to select hybrid or CDMA mode using the same
proceedure as above in order to function in non evdo areas. HDR is
High Data Rate ONLY and forces evdo only mode.

depending on where your at you can make sure the software only utilizes the band you want. enjoy.

RPM_VR4 · 04-13-2006, 09:03 PM

FYI: You can use any Sprint Vision/PowerVision phone as a modem (with a USB cable or over BlueTooth if your phone supports it). Most people with Sprint phones already have Vision/PowerVision because you need it to upload Pictures/Videos, send Pictures/Videos, send SMS text-messages, browse the web, download ringtones/games, watch SprintTV, etc.

The best part is it only costs an additional $15/mo for unlimited access. That's a hell of a lot easier to swallow than Verizon's $80/mo. If you have a normal Vision phone it will be about twice as fast as a 56k modem. If you have a PowerVision (EVDO) phone, then it's Broad-Band (DSL) like speeds.

If you tell Sprint you want to use the phone as a modem they will try to charge you extra fees and have you install their connection software. However, if you just plug in a USB cable, find the modem driver for your phone on Google, and then setup a dial-up connection to dial "#777", it will work fine without paying any extra fees.

I don't think Verizon/Cingular/T-Mobile/others have anyway to get unlimited internet for so cheap. Am I wrong?

randomjohn · 04-24-2006, 04:20 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by RPM_VR4

I don't think Verizon/Cingular/T-Mobile/others have anyway to get unlimited internet for so cheap. Am I wrong?

Cingular MEdiaNet Unlimited is $19.95/mo

webrover · 05-07-2006, 11:58 AM

Hi all I am new to this forum and I just wanted to give my input, but preface it by saying that I am very novice at this stuff so excuse me if I say something you already know. I have been testing all the hardware and software for my project on my Compaq laptop to make sure its what I want before I decide on the pc (because it will cost the most on my very tight budget). Anyway I purchased the Verizon Broadband card but took it back before the trial period was up. I was very dissapointed with its performace.
I live in the East Bay in California and you would think I would get great coverage but I didnt. The only time it would connect was when I got to a place where signal strength was high (which was not that often). I assumed that it would work like my cell phone with constant coverage as I was driving around but was wrong. Did I miss something? I am now looking at a cell phone direct cable connection but alas my cell doesnt have a cable made yet so I am back to reasearching my next connection method whic I would like to be the Treo 700. Any help would be greatly appreciated with that regard.

Wiredwrx · 05-07-2006, 04:47 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by randomjohn

Cingular MEdiaNet Unlimited is $19.95/mo

True, and with my T-Mobile Blackberry service and my BB8700, I get unlimited EDGE for 30 bucks, or 20 with a phone plan.

Michael

yrean · 05-07-2006, 10:11 PM

webrover. I had this same problem when i first got the card, instead of using the vzaccess software i started using the mobile connection manager MCM 2.5 i think it is. then i went and changed the settings so it would only look for the broadband signal and it wouldnt switch back and forth between the bands. and the #1 thing i did to improve it was i needed to use an external antenna. without the antenna I would have 3% signal in my office. with the antenna I recieve 75% to 90% signal strength. if you have tried an external antenna try one. i bought mine thru verizon. also. you can go off the signal in the store. they use a signal amplifier in there buildings.

webrover · 05-08-2006, 10:12 AM

I was referring to being in my truck and moving. When I was driving I would lose the signal more often or not all. My point was that the signal was very bad compared to a cell signal. I had better luck pulling into Starbucks! with just the laptop and built in WiFi. As for external anntena there was no place to connect one (PC 5740). BTW Oakland Ca is a Broadband area but I never got broadband speed.

RPM_VR4 · 05-08-2006, 03:27 PM

My friends Verizon EVDO card works great here in LA. It does have an external antenna connector, but we did not connect an external antenna.

FYI: I use an external GPS antenna in my setup that connects to a repeater module (since my GPS device doesn't have a connector). I just put the broadcast antenna right up against the GPS device and it works perfect. The same thing probably exists for GSM (maybe even my repeater would work if you plugged in an external GSM antenna instead of the GPS one). The repeater which came with a GPS antenna cost about $40.

suncam · 05-25-2006, 10:34 PM

guys try this http://www.suncam.tv/car-cam-set-up.html I have a amp on my air card! with a external antenna! yes it cost about $400 big ones but man i hols 5 bars all the time... its a 50 mile increases with 3 watts.. and it dose work perfect! note it dose draw 3 more watts.. but i have 200 amp hours of jell cells! I carry them in every night to change them.. I know the feeling of hard work for tech fun... Ross from www.suncam.tv