TwistedPine
@twtelecom.net
| Need an alternative to Wildblue - Can Alltel do it?
I live WAY out in the sticks. I currently have Wild"laggy"Blue Sat service, and I'm really tired of >1500ms latency.
I have 2 bars of "X" Alltel service at my location (unaided) with a Blackberry 8703e.
A few questions -
Can I test the functionality of wireless internet access by tethering this phone to my laptop with a data cable? Will I have to get some new service from Alltel to try it out (currently have unlimited data plan for the blackberry)? The blackberry website lists a bunch of instructions about how to tether and use dial up networking to get connected.
Is the single X service enough to provide a usable internet connection, or will I have to wait for more advanced services in my area (ie. EVDO).
Thanks for any input. I have got to get rid of this Sat. connection. I came from high speed cable to this crap and a little part of me dies each time I use the computer now. |
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In_the_woods
join:2006-07-21
Rogers, AR
| I just came over from Hughes and had 1xrtt for the first week and it was still better than Hughes. The rest of it I do not know I am still learning myself.
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Athlon 64 3200+ Windows XP sp2 pro all| DW7000 with 1 watt radio| G3C 1420 mzh sig.87|Firefox |
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ChoP
@windstream.net
| reply to TwistedPine
1x is only 128 kbps down and if you can't obtain an EVDO signal then the Wild"laggy"Blue may still be your best choice. I’m not familiarly with the Smartphones and evdo capabilities, but I think most have it. An Amp and outside antenna may get you a usable EVDO signal if the Blackberry has an external antenna plug. |
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Max Signal
Premium
join:2008-03-07
Buffalo, NY | The fine folks at RIM do not put external antenna ports on their Blackberry Devices. They do not feel they are needed.I have spoken directly to Sr Product Managers at RIM about this issue.
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www.MaximumSignal.Net |
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ChoP
@windstream.net
| reply to TwistedPine
I would like to add that Alltel has been bought by Verizon and I expect Alltel users are going to be Capped at 5 gigs when the deal goes through. I think the Smartphone requires the full plan not the cheaper tethered plan. I am not sure it would not be better to simply go to Alltel and buy a Card or USB EVDO modem, this way you have 15 days to try it out, and you can return it if it does not work for you and get out of the contract. Also when the deal goes through, Verizon is going to have to give you the option to get out of the contract also because Alltel offers and advertises their service as unlimited or they will have to give you the same service agreement you bought from Alltel till the end of your contract. |
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MarthaG
join:2007-10-28
Kimbolton, OH | I wanted to mention that I had to call Alltel the other day and I asked them about a cap when Verizon is in control. He said that Verizon will honor all of Alltel's contracts. He made me believe no cap will happen if we are under an Alltel contract. |
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Jimmy Joe
join:2008-03-11
Hughes Springs, TX | reply to TwistedPine
I am very happy with my Alltel wireless. Tethered my phone for three months and upgraded to the UM 150 this week. |
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Brigrat
join:2003-09-01
Lovington, NM | reply to Max Signal
I have an external antenna on my blackberry...perhaps you should call your Sr. VP again... |
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Max Signal
Premium
join:2008-03-07
Buffalo, NY
edit:
July 4th, @02:54PM
| Only a few of their devices have ports under the battery cover they have said not to use them . You call them here is the number 519-888-7465 , And it was Sr product manager not VP .
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www.MaximumSignal.Net |
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tim_k
Buttons N Bows
Premium
join:2002-02-02
Stewartstown, PA
| reply to MarthaG
said by MarthaG  :I wanted to mention that I had to call Alltel the other day and I asked them about a cap when Verizon is in control. He said that Verizon will honor all of Alltel's contracts. He made me believe no cap will happen if we are under an Alltel contract. How long are Alltel contracts? One year? What happens then?
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RIP my baby Buttons 1/15/94-2/9/07 Buttons, Buttons video
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MarthaG
join:2007-10-28
Kimbolton, OH
 ·Alltel Axess
| The contract is for 2 years. I don't know what would happen after a contract is up. The way I look at it if I can get a year and a half that is left on my contract with no caps maybe something better will come along. I know that Ohio's Governor is working on getting broadband to rural areas and maybe he will accomplish it before too long. |
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jhoma
join:2002-12-29
Harrison, MI | reply to TwistedPine
I have used a Motorola razr and a Huawei Ec228. I get 300ms ping with both. I get 300-400 kbps down on the razr and 600-900 on the Huawei. |
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just2stoned
Just2stoned
join:2006-02-06
Spring Hope, NC
| reply to TwistedPine
At first I tried the $25 plan using my Motorola Razr V3a as a modem and it was really crappy 1x service. Then my friend brought over a huwaei ec228 usb evdo wireless access card (USB) and I had 2 bars of signal in rA coverage area. It connected and has been working great since day 1. The download speeds with 2 bars is only about 60-80kb/s but the latency is where it's at. My speedtest.net tests do not do the service justice though. It claims my pings are 4-500ish but when I ping -t www.google.com the latencies are always between 60-120ms. What a difference 1100ms can make coming from WB! OMG I cannot stress the importance on latency when it comes to a high speed connection! WB is, in my opinion, NOT a broadband service provider so much as they are a 'high speed download" service. I will take the hit in download speeds (soon to be fixed with antenna booster) any day for lower latencies.
You can 'try' out alltel's service for free for 15-30days if you order their package with their access card. I chose the USB one because it's going to only be used on my home PC and not my laptop. I didn't need the 15 days to make my decision, I only needed 1 day.
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Vista Ultimate 64bit, 4gb G.Skill DDR2 800mhz, Athlon X2 6400+ Black Edition, 2x Diamond HD3870 512mb DDR4 PCIe2.0 (xfire), 650w PSU, 2x 200gb HDD, Antec 900 Gaming Case |
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