WIFI on the truck

dabluzman1

Veteran Expediter
Retired Expediter
Yesterday, Linda and I were at the Christiana Mall in Delaware
( side note, the new Visitor Rest Area at the border of Delaware and Maryland is a great place to spend a layover.)
While Linda went into a store to look around I stopped and spoke to the ATT rep in a kiosk.
My home and cell service is with ATT. My USB internet is with Verizon. For the most part Verizon has done us well, but on occasion the past two years I have run over the 5gig limit and paid a hefty overage fee.
My contract is up and I have been looking at my options.
I told the rep my story and he said for me to follow him.
He directed me to the "CLEAR" kiosk. Telling me that ATT would
mirror the Verizion program.
But, CLEAR may have what I need.
The rep, Mia, said they had a program that would give me
UNLIMITED internet for $55/month.
This is a 4G system, usb, that will automatically switch to 3G if in an area not under 4G coverage.
She explained that the company wanted to offer a plan that worked on the same principle as a cell phone plan. Searching out tower signals as you move across country.
CLEAR is an Canadian company. SO, Canada coverage is included in the $55/m fee.
That was enough to sell me as we go into Canada 15 to 20 times a year and always are searching for a FJ or TA to connect to the internet.
As we were getting ready to sign up I asked Mia if there was any way my wife and I could be on line at the same time with their program.
The answer was YES,
She showed me a router, about 4"X4", that works the same way
as the USB 4G/3G hook up, but will allow for 5 devices to connect to it.
She said "put the router in your pocket and sit in the park and be on line via WIFI or any where else for that matter where cell phone connections are available".
WOW, that was what I was looking for.
How much for that device and program
WELL................$55/m was the reply.

So for $55/m we now have , UNLIMITED 4G/3G Internet, WIRELESS WiFI connect and CANADIAN coverage.:D

Check em out. It might be of service to you.
 
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cheri1122

Veteran Expediter
Driver
It's what I'm considering, consolidating the cell [AT&T] with the aircard [Verizon]. But I wonder whether the coverage is as good, with AT&T? It used to be very much less - has it improved that much?
 

chefdennis

Veteran Expediter
I just seen a CLEAR ad on TV last night and was going to check it out ...not sure when my verizon contract expires, but I will look into this...thanks for the reminder...
 

Turtle

Administrator
Staff member
Retired Expediter
4G is still in it's very early stages, same as 3G was at one time. 4G should be much more widespread by the end of the year.
 

pjjjjj

Veteran Expediter
I couldn't see anything about Canada coverage.
I would like to check out whether things have changed (they probably have), but I used to have that kind of 'portable internet' and it would work anywhere... except it worked as a cellphone would... I might have been able to connect, however I'd be in for some NASTY roaming charges as a result.
 

Turtle

Administrator
Staff member
Retired Expediter
The 4G is limited, but growing.
What is to be considered is that it automatically will switch to 3G coverage just as a cell phone would.
Well, that's the advertising selling point, but more of a consideration is just how good of coverage that fallback 3G has.

Verizon has an astounding 3G coverage footprint, no one else even comes close. By the end of the year Verizon is set to be in 30 markets, twice that 6 months later, and 75 or so by the end of 2011. By 2013 Verizon should have full 4G LTE coverage (very different than WiMax) by the end of 2013 that is the same as their current 3G coverage, with a significant coverage map increase for 4G.

WiMax coverage is set to be in the 75 major markets by 2016, and currently has almost no 4G coverage in the Midwest, so you'll be on that 3G coverage map a lot.

One big benefit of 4G LTE versus WiMax is, both Verizon and AT&T will be on LTE.

Incidentally, CLEAR (Clearwire) is a Kirkland, WA company, not a Canadian company. Calls to Canada are free, but I'm not sure about calls made from Canada.
 

dabluzman1

Veteran Expediter
Retired Expediter
Well, that's the advertising selling point, but more of a consideration is just how good of coverage that fallback 3G has.

Verizon has an astounding 3G coverage footprint, no one else even comes close. By the end of the year Verizon is set to be in 30 markets, twice that 6 months later, and 75 or so by the end of 2011. By 2013 Verizon should have full 4G LTE coverage (very different than WiMax) by the end of 2013 that is the same as their current 3G coverage, with a significant coverage map increase for 4G.

WiMax coverage is set to be in the 75 major markets by 2016, and currently has almost no 4G coverage in the Midwest, so you'll be on that 3G coverage map a lot.

One big benefit of 4G LTE versus WiMax is, both Verizon and AT&T will be on LTE.

Incidentally, CLEAR (Clearwire) is a Kirkland, WA company, not a Canadian company. Calls to Canada are free, but I'm not sure about calls made from Canada.

I asked specific questions about the coverage.
I was very clear that I needed to get online wherever i was
at (conceding there are dead zones).

I guess to reassure me, I was given a 2 week test run, which she expanded to a full month ( in writing) so I could make sure the needed coverage was available.
As far as roaming, I was told, $55/m period, unlimited usage.

I get my wireless modem this week, as I had it shipped to my home.
I will update what I find when I start to use it.

Hopefully it will be as advertised.
If not, well I am on month to month with Verizon thru the 30 day test run.

We shall see, at least I am hoping I will.
 

pjjjjj

Veteran Expediter
I hope you get a trip to Canada so you can check it out before your month is up!
On the bright side.. when I used that technology (just over 2 years ago), I found that I complained a whole lot LESS about my internet speed, even though I was anticipating it would be worse than DSL or cable. I got it for reasons other than speed but was pleasantly surprised.
Looking at that coverage map though, it looks like an awful lot of areas aren't going to have service, or am I not understanding how the map works?
 

Turtle

Administrator
Staff member
Retired Expediter
Looking at that coverage map though, it looks like an awful lot of areas aren't going to have service, or am I not understanding how the map works?
No, you see it right. If you look at the map at full out-zoom, all you see are the cities with the 4G pushpins. If you zoom in a couple of levels you begin to see more 4G detail. Then, if you click the 3G button the map changes to show the 3G coverage. Click and drag the map around. You'll see 3G coverage in some places, like about half of Indiana and 2/3 of Ohio, hardly any of New York outside of I-90 and near the City.

Zoom in three levels and take a look at Evansville, IN and the surrounding area. It's very spotty once you leave an Interstate. And west of the Mississippi, doesn't much matter where are you unless it's a major city. The Dakotas, Montana, Wyoming, forget it. I've been in places like Bismark and Beach, ND and Belgrade, MT with 4 bars of 3G coverage. But that's with Verizon. I've also been in way rural Oregon and Nevada and Colorado where no 3G existed, and thus no Internet or Droid apps that used broadband data (like Google Maps).

The thing about 4G is, it's so new, like 3G was when it first started rolling out, that you can't really count on it or expect it to be there when you need it, and are surprised and happy when you get it. It'll be that way for a while. In the meantime, you have to count on 3G, which you should expect to be there when you need it. If you have Clear and your travels take you to where they have decent 3G coverage, you're good to go, and will be happy those few times you get 4G coverage. But their 3G coverage isn't what it should be (or at least not as comprehensive as Verizon), so if you spend a lot of time in areas where no 3G coverage exists, you'll be less than pleased.

The benefit of 4G for people, at this point, will be for those who live in cities where 4G coverage exists, and do not travel outside the coverage area. For those who travel, they'll be living on existing 3G the vast majority of the time, so it's the 3G coverage that matters most, with 4G being a bonus when you come up on it.

But like where I am now, beautiful downtown Gadsden, AL (well, at the Petro, anyway), there is no 3G coverage for Clear and a lot of other cell carriers, but I've got full bars on Verizon.

Also keep in mind that these 3G/4G coverage maps are for broadband data, and have nothing to do with voice cell coverage. Voice is a different map.
 

roadeyes

Veteran Expediter
Charter Member
yeah, I only see U.S towers as well, closest being the south side of Lake Ontario. Would be interested as well to see if you have any coverage on the north side of the border.
 

Turtle

Administrator
Staff member
Retired Expediter
turtle was that on just your cell or the mifi?
If you're referring to Gadsden, that was the 3G broadband signal on both the Aircard and the cell phone. I wasn't talking about the voice connection on the cell.

and has anyone used the clear system yet?
Well, yeah. Every carrier (Sprint and smaller third party resellers for Clear and Sprint at this point) that's using WiMax for 4G is using Clear's infrastructure.
 

Phoenix4774

Seasoned Expediter
Thanks, I'll check out the Clear service, but wanted to also mention Virgin's Mobile's new no contract plan. It's 3g at $40/mo. for unlimited usage, for both Mac and PC.

Ovation MC760 (Virgin Mobile) Preview | PCMag.com

Not sure about Canada with its coverage.

I was wondering if anyone was using the Virgin Mobile plan (which uses Sprint's nationwide network). Any updates on users of the Clear service?
 

hwteam

Seasoned Expediter
We have Clear, works great!!! Make sure you get the 3g/4g card. The 4g is very spotty and the 3g seems to be faster.
 

Phoenix4774

Seasoned Expediter
The $40 Virgin Mobile plan doesn't include Canada.

I was wondering if one could buy a pay as you go type thing with Virgin Mobile Canada for when one is there. That might work out.

I'm still skeptical about Clear's coverage until I hear some testimonials of people who are using it in Canada and USA.

Not really another solution then for affordable mobile broadband in both USA and Canada with good coverage?
 
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