Recommended Tests

OK, better pings. I already own my equipment now. And no weather problems. What about slowdowns during the day? Did it require a contract? How is the support with it? I am really interested. (I think) 

Here's a trace route result from my Treo 700p using EVDO, ill post my speed test result in a second. Verizon Wireless is my provider.

Traceroute Results:
1 3.24.1343.static.theplanet.com (67.19.36.3) 0.616 ms 0.309 ms 0.391 ms
2 vl7.dsr01.dllstx4.theplanet.com (67.18.116.65) 0.401 ms 0.779 ms 0.262 ms
3 vl41.dsr01.dllstx3.theplanet.com (70.85.127.81) 23.884 ms 203.238 ms 6.184 ms
4 et3-1.ibr04.dllstx3.theplanet.com (70.87.253.9) 0.530 ms 0.509 ms 0.531 ms
5 te-3-1.car4.Dallas1.Level3.net (4.71.122.1) 0.672 ms 0.650 ms 0.531 ms
6 ae-12-55.car2.Dallas1.Level3.net (4.68.122.142) 1.073 ms ae-22-54.car2.Dallas1.Level3.net (4.68.122.110) 1.235 ms ae-22-52.car2.Dallas1.Level3.net (4.68.122.46) 1.296 ms
7 4.79.182.22 (4.79.182.22) 17.730 ms 2.506 ms 2.419 ms
8 66.sub-66-174-98.myvzw.com (66.174.98.66) 2.018 ms 2.263 ms 2.285 ms
9 2.sub-66-174-99.myvzw.com (66.174.99.2) 44.526 ms 44.764 ms 45.547 ms
10 162.sub-66-174-31.myvzw.com (66.174.31.162) 44.900 ms 45.011 ms 44.794 ms
11 100.sub-66-174-31.myvzw.com (66.174.31.100) 45.545 ms 45.286 ms 45.047 ms
12 137.sub-66-174-31.myvzw.com (66.174.31.137) 45.187 ms 45.553 ms 45.305 ms
13 116.sub-66-174-217.myvzw.com (66.174.217.116) 45.855 ms 47.196 ms 45.695 ms
14 198.sub-75-211-71.myvzw.com (75.211.71.198) 46.338 ms 46.071 ms 46.395 ms
15 198.sub-75-211-71.myvzw.com (75.211.71.198) 211.912 ms 196.615 ms 213.950 ms

Remember this speed test was done by a PDA/Smartphone not a wireless card. But I think its the same speeds you might get in a wireless card... hopefully.

::::::::::.. Download Stats ..::::::::::
Download Connection is:: 1997 Kbps about 2 Mbps (tested with 2992 kB)
Download Speed is:: 244 kB/s
Tested From:: http://testmy.net/ (Server 1)
Test Time:: 2007/01/28 - 12:17pm
Bottom Line:: 35X faster than 56K 1MB Download in 4.2 sec
Tested from a 2992 kB file and took 12.27 seconds to complete
Download Diagnosis:: Looks Great : 16.65 % faster than the average for host (myvzw.com)
D-Validation Link:: http://testmy.net/stats/id-493JDI85M
User Agent:: Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows 98; PalmSource/Palm-D052; Blazer/4.5) 16;320x320

Again >>>>>>>
  
Warning ---
Some of the modems/cards will not work
with PCMCIA to PCI adaptor cards
Their is a CONFLICT

Make sure you can return the adaptor card if this fact happens to you


And, tommie, others,
I would assume that there is a contract requirement with all the providers, there is with Sprint.
1 Year Contract and $62.00 Monthly

And the support with Sprint?
I have had a problem, ping loss at step 2
and support from Sprint was ok if you could get a past the 1st level
and to the 2nd level of tech support

I don't test speeds on it much

Adverage 800K Down 200K Up

I use it all over Sin City and so far no connect problems
Casinos, Bars, In Car on I-15 & Local Streets, Home , Office , All Over Sin City -- Las Vegas
 
I Quote from below url ::
Cingular and T-Mobile both offer EDGE  (no HSDPA yet)
Alltel and Sprint Nextel offer EV-DO
http://www.thewirelessreport.com/2007/01/26/wireless-data-speeds-who-is-the-fastest/

Well thats my 2 cents

Good Luck and Enjoy

Hopefully the EVDO solution makes things better for both of you.......good luck.

Looks like the best way to network will be this Linksys that has limited availability at 3rd party resellers but, $249 it is available from Sprint. It will eliminate the need for the pci to pcmcia adaptor $20.

Now I just need to figure out what card I need. PX500 or Merlin s720. Probably the Merlin since all web sites say it is compatible with the Linksys mobile broadband router and several say the PX500 isn't compatible.

http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Satellite?c=L_Promotion_C1&childpagename=US%2FLayout&cid=1156806496246&pagename=Linksys%2FCommon%2FVisitorWrapper

dn0 and Jeffwalker thanks so much for your input.
Tommie, I know how you feel about satcom and it seems to be the trend.

When it comes down to it, dialup really doesn't bother me except for the online gaming experience is nil. Satcom will not help, so whats the use since I really don't care how fast web pages open(dialup is plenty)

I first looked at  satcom 15 years ago when I first moved to the lake of the ozarks and continuously come to the conclusion that I do not want it.

Now I have these cell phones which are through cingular until oct 07. I have no need for phone line. $45 per month, service $25+ dialup $10 + callwave $8 + tax= 45 per month. So really the service will only cost me $15 more per month minus landline. No one uses it and the only calls are from sales people. This is why the soar subject is back at the surface.

I don't know if you guys have heard of VSAT or not but, they sale and install satcom systems with 40watt radio and higher and a cost of thousands. I have seen them on ebay for $3k and $6k. Hughesnet commercial dish is 2watts and I'm sure wildblue is only 1 watt radios.

Anyway, the VSAT guy told me to go with EVDO, quote, "on line gaming and that satellite internet and on line gaming mix as well as oil and water".

I first considered EVDO when I caught my neighbor who lives in KC, MO comes down for the weekend, sits on her dock with her laptop, surfs faster than me, by a large margin. I asked her last summer what carrier, Sprint.

I know this will be a long thread but, may help others in the future and since you guys have been so helpful, I might as well try to lull you to sleep. lol

For your trouble of reading this thread I will end with the punchline. Digital cable  tap is only 400' away, 250' being the longest digital cable can go. Thats right two houses down has digital cable. I bought this house 2 years ago and cable was a requirement when looking for new homes. When I asked the seller if it had cable the answer of course was yes. It was only when I had been moved in a got the cable guy out here that I found out I can only get analog cable because of the weak signal. So the previous owner had cable it just wasn't digital cable.
Thanks
Simpleman

It looks like the grand total will be:

Merlin s720 wireless card:       99.99
Linksys mobile brband router:  249.99
                                        =   349.99
 + service                                 59.99 per month
on line gaming/ highspeed internet= priceless

The cost appears to be the same as satcom w/ 1 watt radio. EVDO will have the advantage since I could use the service away from home with a laptop anywhere service is available, clearly this is a huge difference. Also the networking equipment can also be used with cable/ dsl nor is it required and satcom equip is required. So the intial costs could be cheaper for someone else.

thanks
Simpleman