Wireless Air Cards Verizon or Sprint

Hey rd,

I first saw reference to Millenicom on this thread over on the electronic connections forum here. Then I did some net searches on them. Here's another discussion about the company. I really like the no contract deal. Then, if I'm not happy, I can switch to another provider whenever I want. I also like the idea of supporting any company that will help to break the cell phone company monopoly and their #$%&* contracts! Safe journey down to SoCal, rd. Looking forward to your broadband report.

PTX, thanks for all your great info. It sounds like you use your connection at home mostly. Have you done any driving with it?

HG

 

I *think* that's what I have? I've put a piece of velcro on the back of mine so i can stick it to the back of the screen A) to get it up a bit for a little clearer signal, B) so I can plug it in w/ a cable and avoid the probability of breaking it or my laptop if I snag it on something... alas, the velcro strip completely covers the back, and I don't want to peel it off to see.

It *does* have an external antenna port on it, which I've never used. (so does my PDA phone... which typically does not ring, but tells me when I have voicemail and claims that I'm typically roaming even though I'm 3 miles off a major freeway in a very popular and upscale suburb(my neighbors typically own BMW's and Porsche's, I collect junk vehicles. THEY LOVE ME))

That's the story of my life these last 6(?) years with sprint. They are ALWAYS behind the game compared to verizon and cingular, at least in the areas I operate.

I would wonder if they are like Verizon reports say, and they just stop you if you exceed the number? I can't find an answer to that anywhere... but 5GB is NOTHING for a $50+/mo internet service... that's ripoff, actually. read the contract carefully before you sign it.

 

Home, office, hotel, in the car, at places where everyone else is paying to access the wifi, over at friends houses whose wifis don't like my laptop, etc...

It has a GPS built in (which will not activate unless it can make contact with a tower to validate that you have 'gps service' enabled on the account) which I use with Google Earth. Again, Google Earth requires access to a tower to download the images and maps and do route planning and such... but it also provides traffic and weather information as well... which is great... so long as it has access. Because of all this, I'd recommend using a real USB GPS if that's a feature you're looking for. Also, if you're a driver, you should probably check out the 'co-pilot' programs targeted at drivers. You can even have it plan your routes per PC Miler if so desired, but it takes into consideration minimizing route miles for dead/bobtail and such, save o/o fuel and get you to the next load in the shortest time/distance. Never used the program, but it seems to be quite well made from the reviews I've read. Am planning to have a copy when I go OTR.

Before my next trip back home (possibly this weekend if my truck is back from the shop) I will try to pick up an external antenna and see if that makes life any better for me.

 

The Franklin CDU680 that comes from Millenicom has built in GPS and an antenna port. I'm hoping it comes before I go OTR next week. Otherwise I'm stuck with hotspots.

Here's a neat site that maps Sprint and Verizon EVDO coverage nationwide. People add their own info on coverage wherever they are. Cool.

I'm a new driver, so I'm not real familiar with the co-pilot software. I have looked at Microsoft's package on their website. Pricy. Does anyone have a recommendation about one over another?

HG

 

the key think to keep in mind with any gps, software or hardware, is that unless it lacks the ability for you to tell it not to route you over restricted roads, you'll find it telling you to take you into something you shouldn't pull a big heavy long trailer through.

anything with the letters 'gps' associated will be expensive, regardless.

my best recommendation for gps is one of the top of the line garmin units which is designed for truckers, but they cost about 800 bucks. the big advantage here is that they only cost one time (unless you subscribe to a traffic/weather service along with it) and they work regardless of if there is cell coverage.

keep in mind also, there are different types of GPS - the type we all think about, which uses the satellites, and the type most people don't know about, which triangulates your position based on signal strength from cell towers nearby. The latter doesn't work at all in the middle of nowhere, and my sprint card, while being a satellite gps setup, will not activate the satellite gps receiver in the card unless it can communicate with the tower. the longest it's ever stayed active that i can recall when out of spring service area is about 30m to an hour, then it's useless- possibly leaving you stranded w/o directions in the middle of nowhere.

A real usb GPS receiver is recommended if you want to use GPS with a laptop as your navigation system. in either case, i seriously recommend always carrying a motorcarrier road atlas as a backup- never can be too careful.

if you're going to buy a gps mapping software for a computer, and you're serious about trucking, look into the trucker-specific ones like co-pilot. i've never used them, but have read good things. may be cheaper than microsoft. keep in mind also, microsoft is not a map/navigation company- if you don't want the co-pilot software, buy software from a company that is in the business to be the best in that niche, not a company that buys up the little guys and puts them out of business so their product looks better (microsoft) LOL

best of luck!

 

I have the sprint card my coverage is hit or miss I lose the higher speed in texas as a rule even in big city except around houston.Everywhere else I am fine sometimes even places I didnt expect to have high speed coverage.It is 59 a month and unlimited realy means unlimited for me.They gave me the seirra wireless card that plugs in my usb port I got the wrong card at first but they exchanged it for me no problem.

 

^I have sprint also. sprint and verision are the best but waht sealed the deal for me was my phone dosent have coverage in parts of WY. I still had service on the air card. may not be broadband speed all the time but internet nonetheless as stated by others

 

After reading about Millenicom on this forum, my son went with them. He placed the order on Wednesday night and paid extra for overnight delivery. Received the air card on Friday morning. Customer service seemed to be very good. He did the online customer service Wednesday to ask a few questions and got immediate response. Will let you all know how is coverage is after he's out on the road.