Is mobile broadband worth it?

Sorry if this has been answered before or if this is a stupid question however I am a little confused as I am new to the paid wireless card world. I have done some searching but I get so much other stuff regarding just normal wireless cards. I am talking specifically about paid cards: Sprint, Verizon, at&t etc. Where you pay so much a month (Sprint is $59.99 a month for unlimited at the time of this post).

I am really confused about the speed of these cards. It doesn't make since so maybe someone could help me out.

Right now I use a netgear wireless adapter and I am pulling signal from across the street of my work (I have been given permission by my boss, since I work on stuff alot at home) and I usually have a signal of about 7mbs. It seems to work pretty well since my lappy is pretty solid in it's specs it moves pretty good even with that low of a connection.
Where I am confused about the mobile broadband cards is there upload and download speeds.
It says the average download speed is 600kbs - 1.4mbs
and the average upload speed is 350-500kbs

I am not quite sure how to read those #'s. Should I be comparing those #'s to the 7mbs that my neatgear adaptor is running at 'cause if so that is rediculously slow! If anyone could help me that would be great.

We are wanting to get wireless at our house so that my wife can get on websites that are blocked at work (like myspace). I would really love to get a mobile broadband card so then I can use it almost anywhere, including while on the road or in flight, however if the true running speed is on average less than 1mps then I don't see how anyone could deal with that slow of a speed. I mean I know that now with wireless N 300mbs is possible, so is it possible that the mobile broadband could be up to 300% slower than that?

I am just really confused on the true speed of mobile cards. So if anyone could shed some light or give me input I would greatly appreciate it. And just to let you know the info I got was from Sprints website on the Sierra Aircard 597e. Thanks again.

If you personally own a card and use it please let me know of your opinion on it's performance.

 

Depending on service and coverage:

Mobile broadband - 0-300 Kb/s with bursts up to 2+ Mb/s
DSL - 512 Kb/s to 5 Mb/s
Cable - 2 Mb/s to 10 Mb/s

Mobile broadband is made for people who are constantly on the move that require internet access, such as traveling businessmen. Compared to DSL and Cable, MB is not an economic choice for most people.

 

That's not true, I consistently get above 300k, with bursts up to 900+k, and that's with an EVDO Rev0 phone, it would probably be double that if I had a revA phone.
It depends on the carrier, load on the towers, signal strength, many factors.
I personally love mobile broadband, but keep in mind, it is more expensive, and you sacrifice speed compared to a landline.
I've had days, where I can barely download anything at dialup speeds, so keep in mind that the network can have hiccups now and then.
Best of luck!

 

It seems to me that you are much better with your current work-home link, EVDO is not faster, not yet, perhaps WiMAX will bring the huge improvement, even LTE, but right now keep what you have especially is FREE

 

What I can tell you is if you do decide to get a mobile wireless card, go with Verizon or Sprint's EVDO network. It is perfect for webbrowsing and youtubing. I actually bluetooth DUN through my Treo's wireless internet and watch youtube or remote desktop when I'm not at a wireless spot. Plus I trust my bluetooth DUN's security than those public WiFi spots.

 

the speed can depend on signal strength and coverage

 

mobile broadband uses different technology than wireless ethernet commonly used with pcs. Mobile broadband uses cellular technology for example if you are using sprint mobile broadband you want to be in an area where the towers support evdo you can connect if the towers do not have evdo but your speeds will be slower. Sprint has powervision and vision the powervision is evdo
with normal wireless broadband you normally have your router connected to an ethernet connection and the router transmits radio waves to your wireless connection

 

If you really want to give it a try, check out Millenicom. They use CDMA technology, so they utilize the Sprint and Verizon lines, but there is no contract. It is the usual $59.99, but you can cancel at any time, and you only have to pay for the month you used and then return the USB modem to them.

It is a Franklin Wireless CDU-680, and it works pretty well, IMO. If you really want to share, you can get a router that will allow you to plug in the USB modem, and then it becomes a wireless hotspot for anyone else to use, as well (I haven't gone this route, just have read about others that have).

Millenicom is also working on a new service, which they have been very hush-hush about. Supposedly better than the current service, and much faster, but time will tell.

 

When you say you get 7mbs, are you talking about your download speed? Or talking about your wireless connection speed? As in, take your mouse and put it over the wireless connection icon in the system tray.

 

Considering LTE won't even begin its basic roll out until 2010 (most likely to be pushed into 2011/2012), I won't hold out much hope in having many other options until WiMAX launches (supposedly) later this summer.

 

I agree, WiMAX will supposely support WMAN, but, will WiMAX live up to its promise?

I personally have big doubts about WiMAX, I think that we'll have to wait until LTE to get serious broadband capacities to compete with current WMAN services (e.g. gprs, EVDO, etc.)

 

BTW, Sprint no longer has an unlimited plan for PC cards. 5GB/month limitation now.

 

Is been like for a while already.

You want to know something worst than this? In Canada is like that even for home broadband, so let's hope the US doesn't follow.

 

Since broadband is what you obviously need and can't really wait, look into the options currently available that were spelled out for you. You didn't say if it was her work place that blocked MySpace, etc, or your's.

 

jlcamp7,
I've had the same questions as you. From what I've read, Mobile Broadband in its current form is similar in speed as DSL, not cable broadband. However, I just read an article in PC World that Sprint and Clearwire have formed a joint venture for providing WiMax. WiMax is supposed to provide wired broadband speeds to mobile users, and this is supposedly by late 2008. AT&T and Verizon will be rolling out their LTE (Long Term Evolution) about the same time and is expected to have comparable speeds. Since I was looking to buy a notebook with an integrated broadband card, but I think I won't since the technology is changing so fast. Also stated in the article, Intel will be building Centrino chips that will have WiMax and WiFi capability built in. So at this point, I'll wait for WiMax since mobile broadband is not a necessity for me.

 

good information for OP

+1 rep

 

Current no-mobility throughputs are not nearly DSL capacities.

No-mobility throughputs for LTE will bring up to 172Mbps DL.

No-mobility for WiMAX 132Mbps DL. Mobility will bring up to 16Mbps DL depending on the bandwidth.

 

the point about mobile broadband is not to compare it with DSL nor cable (it is not as quick) but with your options when outside of the home or office environment when you are looking for a free hotspot or paying for wifi with Boingo or similar service: then mobile broadband does make sense as you get internet service, good speeds and you don't have to wander around looking for a free hotpsot. Depends on how much travel you do.

 

I agree, and WiMAX/LTE is trying to extend the coverage from WiFi to WMAN.

 

This is an informal set of results from speedtest.net. The S @ were Sprint EVDO and the V were Verizon DSL.

 

I wish i could afford it!

 

Yeah, no way mobile broadband will be as fast as DSL or cable. But at the slow friggin pace the US Telecom companies are upgrading their infrastructure compared to Verizon, I would not be surprised if Mobile broadband surpasses the sorry speeds we in the US get.

 

LTE will be, trust me.