Wireless Internet (Verizon) Help

[trancejeremy]

Thanks for the info. I did see that 5 gig cap, but that's the same as for Satellite (my only other option). It depends on how much they throttle you down to. Satellite apparently puts you back down to modem speeds (a neighbor of mine has it).

The real issue is sharing it. I need to have it split between 3 computers. Ideally, anyway. I guess I could live with simply swapping it to each computer that needed it.

 

[IanArgent]

Internet conection sharing and/or wifi in peer-to-peer (ad hoc) mode would work, I believe. (I think I set it up that way once as a lark - and shut it down shortly thereafter due to not wanting to push to then-extand T&Cs).

Here's a device that claims to chare USB devices - http://cradlepoint.com/ctr350/ctr350.php
Their compatibility list does not include VZWs latest modems (the UM150 and the USB727) - but this guy http://rodfathermobile.com/2007/10/08/just-ordered-a-evdo-reva-usb-modem-tiny-evdo-router/ says he's using a Sprint USB727 with it (and since they're the same hardware, it should work). In fact the spec lists shows the Sprint USB727 as compatible, so I don't know why they don't list the VZW one.

You're going to want to have at least one computer set up for direct access to be able to program the device and update coverage from time to time (and also if you run into a situation where you need support).

FWIW, all the VZW USB device can be used with USB extension cords as a sort-of jury-rigged antenna; or you can get an actual antenna module and cord as well. I don't know what your signal will be like, but broadband WWAN is rather signal-sensitive for speeds.

 

[Rackhir]

Here's a page on Engadget of router stuff for 3g cellular connections.

http://www.engadget.com/search/?q=3g+router

Looks like the Craidlepoint unit will run you about $150-170.

 

[IanArgent]

Speaking for myself; I'd expect 3G WWAN to be more reliable and rather lower latency than satellite. Satellite, after all, has to make the round trip from the ground station to the bird, and then from the bird to your dish. Whereas EVDO Rev.A has a latency of around 150-200 ms. You probably won't be playing Unreal Tournament on that connection (your ping times would be in the 300's minimum) but since you're on dial-up right now that's still an improvement.

 

[trancejeremy]

Well, I got it, thanks for the help everyone. It is faster. 10-40x faster than dialup. I get maybe 2kbps on dial-up (26.4 baud is what it connects at), this seems to peak at 80kbps

I can't figure out how to share it, though. I tried hooking up my Xbox 360 to my computer, then follow the steps to use "Internet Connection Sharing". But there's no option for that.

I might have to go wireless, but then I'd have to spring $100 for the 360 adapater (I dunno how they can build wireless into the DS and PSP for $130-170, but a $350 console can't have it)

 

[IanArgent]

It should be running at roughly 500-800 kilobits per second (about the speed of low-end DSL and 10x-20x the speed of dialup). Most speed test sites shoudl report in kilobits per second (not kilobytes - which should be in the 80 KBps range).

I can't help you with the Internet Connection Sharing, to be honest; I only used it the once, and fumbled my way through it at the time.

 

[trancejeremy]

Got it working with Xbox Live! Turned out the problem was with my ethernet port, I had never installed drivers for it (part of a package)

Anyway, it's a lot faster. And seems to work on Xbox Live okay enough. I tried some races in Forza, and while it seemed to be hard finding a race, when I did get one, it went well enough. Except for the first one, where everyone crashed into a wall.

 

[IanArgent]

You may be dropped for some games for having a high ping time - as latency on the connection will be higher than on a cable/DSL connection - but not a lot higher