Verizon PC 5220 AirCard

**blazinlow** · 06-30-2006, 03:40 AM

In my next quest to add a new feature to my setup, I decided to go with an aircard. Im actually borrowing a friends Verizon PC 5220 EVDO card right now...to see if this is just a novelty thing that I'll stop using in a week instead of signing a 2 year contract and paying $60+ a month for....

anyway, its installed and i get terrible reception. I had envisioned it to be something I can leave on all the time and have an active connection - but all Im seeing is low signals and constant connection drops, especially from AIM.

the card is hooked up to a PCI-PCMICA adapter and sits in my center console. Its pretty much encased in the plastic of the center console.

Is this because of either RF interference or the fact its not out in the open? Would an antenna such as the one Verizon offers solve my problem?

Adapter Cable, $9.99

Mini Magnetic Mount Antenna $19.99

**gosmondson** · 07-18-2006, 01:02 AM

PC5220 with external antenna works great. My work uses one for the on-call person. While driving down the road at 60, it was great being able to use the internet, and it was somewhat speedy.. The problems we had were the tiny connector on the card, the first person broke about half the connector off and so it was always loose.. Find a good way to secure it..

**blazinlow** · 07-18-2006, 03:05 AM

I got the antenna and pigtail pictured above - Let me say my signal is SIGNIFICANTLY better. No more dropouts, great speeds.

Since the pigtail unscrews from the antenna, Im going to just leave it in the card and unscrew it when needed. It is a very fragile connection.

**chowda633** · 08-01-2006, 02:54 PM

Is it worth it? Im also thinking about adding this card to my plan. Any thoughts?

**gosmondson** · 08-02-2006, 12:19 PM

I would recommend it. I love sitting somewhere (Not moving of course) and surf the net, or hell, even post here..

**moahdib** · 08-02-2006, 01:20 PM

I have same card in my trunk hookedup to the PCMCIA slot in the laptop. Reception is mostly "ok". Just for web surfing, google earth, etc... I have heard great reviews about this antenna and you might wanna give it a try. I've contemplated buying it but my car internet usage is very light.

http://www.evdoinfo.com/EVDO_Product...na_2005022323/

**yrean** · 08-16-2006, 07:56 PM

the pc 5220 is the card i have at the moment. It doesnt work well with thr KR1 i found out, the KR1 doesnt support it. and the quality of grabbing a signal is crap on that card. Its decent if you use the external antenna. What you pictured is only the adapter that plugs into the card, you also need the antenna that plugs into that adapter. i see you have the magnetic mount. they also have a glass mount.

I just ordered the KPC650 from verizon Its supposed to be better then the 5220 card 70% of the time according to cnet reviews. if you havent got the card yet, you might want to get a different card with better quality. Just make sure whatever card you get can use an external antenna. itll be a life saver.

I just realized the start of this post is a couple months old. I hope you found what your looking for

**polo6979** · 08-16-2006, 11:15 PM

isnt an aircard about $80 a month??

**yrean** · 08-17-2006, 09:39 AM

somewhere around there.

i get a 15% corporate discount on verizon services so after taxes i think my bill is like 70 bucks.

but yes its not cheap.

If your not looking for speed just internet connection, look at the thread dealing with the boost mobile. its like 20 bucks every 3 months.