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

RedGTiVR6 · 07-04-2006, 07:58 PM

I just purchased this card under 2 hours ago, and I'm already up and running (within 20 minutes of activating it actually).

I ran a CNET scan and currently have a speed of 220 kbps.

That's in the Plano area of Dallas. Meaning I should be getting their high speed services.

While in the McKinney area, which is technically a 'dial-up' speed area I was getting roughly 180 kbps.

Surfing the MP3Car.com site is pretty fast IMO. Very reasonable.

I just priced all of the different plans and as it turns out the Sprint one is currently the cheapest, by about $20. With a 2 year plan, the $200+ card was free, and serice is $59.99 a month (- our 20% discount).

Link to the card

So far, very happy with it. I have yet to lose a connection on the drive from McKinney down to Plano for dinner with some friends.

RedGTiVR6 · 07-05-2006, 10:28 AM

Would just like to note that I am currently streaming Internet radio (525.com - Power Tracks) over this card. I've been on for about 30 minutes so far and haven't missed a beat.

Even more kudos!

pepsibobby · 07-05-2006, 10:54 PM

but whats the monthly cost for internet in your car, seems kinda outrageous.

RedGTiVR6 · 07-05-2006, 10:56 PM

$60 a month for unlimited, but I don't only use it in my car.

For the longest time I would have agreed with you.

However, now I can plug it into my laptop and work from anywhere, meaning I can work anywhere now.

When I'm at a car show, when I have to sit and pass the time with my car open for people to see, I can bill time to work and not have to claim an entire day as PTO (vacation).

At $60 for unlimited, it's the best price I've seen so far.

It's all relative too mind you. To some college/high school kid it's pointless, sure, I can definitely see that train of thought.

coach · 07-06-2006, 10:13 AM

Most seem to be for around $60 to $80 a month unlimited and that is what i was going to shoot for instead of pay broadband at home and for the car seperate. But, the old hacks of using a Power Vision phone and so on still work to get unlimited internet broadband through the phone. I am still tossing both up, but to see how well this works has me leaning toward the PC card side of things.

Brent

RedGTiVR6 · 07-06-2006, 10:18 AM

From what I saw

Cingular was $80 a month and had the worst coverage
Verizon was $70 a month and had the best coverage
Sprint was $60 a month and had the middle coverage

Since we're already with sprint and we get a 20% discount on our entire bill, and since the card was free ($225 value) with a 2 year subscription. I went ahead and went with Sprint.

coach · 07-06-2006, 12:32 PM

I have to go with Verizon. I am in the country now (New Job took me out to the boonies) and I have to use Alltel which uses the Verizon network. They charge about the same and offer the card for $50 with a two year. I think it is a viable option and of course there will be wireless and bluetooth availble on the carpc if I need something else.

Brent

RedGTiVR6 · 07-06-2006, 05:16 PM

Just another quick update.

I am able to remote into my computer at work and work from anywhere. The speeds are great enough for that.

Liking this card more and more!

blazinlow · 07-06-2006, 05:25 PM

I have the verizon card im borrowing from a friend. Not too impressed.. dOnt know if its something with my setup or not...I see you're using the mII12000, nice...im using a PCI-PCMCIA converter card...blah

RedGTiVR6 · 07-06-2006, 05:26 PM

I have yet to use it in my car, only using it on my laptop currently.

in the car I will have to use a USB > PCMCIA adapter since my PCMCIA slot is taken up by my sound card and since it's not easily accessible for me to remove the card everytime I get in and out of the car.

coach · 07-07-2006, 05:09 AM

What adapter are you going to go with? The one that MP3Car sells looks pretty nice, just haven't seen any reviews of it.

Brent

RedGTiVR6 · 07-07-2006, 10:02 AM

So far that's the only adapter I've found for a card like this, which is strange.

I've started another thread to find out if anyone knows of any others.

http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/wireless-communications/80438-pcmcia-usb-adapter-wireless-cards.html

whuber97 · 07-08-2006, 08:43 AM

See my screenshot below... I'm on Verizon's wireless network with the Audiovox PC5740 PC card. I've seen this burst to as high as 1.2mbps, however I usually average in the 300 - 600 kbps range. I'm in the Philadelpha area - and I couldn't live without it. Currently I pay the same as you, $59 a month for unlimited access to the wireless broadband network.

I'm a network engineer up here, so I take my laptop with me to client sites every day... I could never live without it again.

whuber97 · 07-08-2006, 08:45 AM

LOL - 2 seconds after I posted that I saw a commercial on ESPN for the Sprint mobile card....

Naamanf · 07-08-2006, 09:09 AM

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.

User Name		Remember Me?
Password