Looking to replace (supposed) DSL line with Mobile BB

[Carole Wright]

OK, so our "landline" DSL speed tests at a whopping 1.2 Mbps. Yes, you read that correctly. For this, we are paying Century Link $40 per month as a stand alone service. We are not interested in bundling anything, as we don't need a landline and LOVE our Dish TV.

SO, I am exploring the possibility of replacing the "DSL" completely with Mobile Broadband. I don't want to try and get away with tethering one or more phones, because my kid games on XBox way too much. I saw this plan, and am wondering what else the rest of you have found that's competitive. Also looking for feedback from anyone who has used Millenicom.

http://www.millenicom.com/page/plans

I STRONGLY prefer pay-as-you-go, since so many services don't seem to deliver their promises...

TIA!

[TheCellphoneGuy]

OK, so our "landline" DSL speed tests at a whopping 1.2 Mbps. Yes, you read that correctly. For this, we are paying Century Link $40 per month as a stand alone service. We are not interested in bundling anything, as we don't need a landline and LOVE our Dish TV.

SO, I am exploring the possibility of replacing the "DSL" completely with Mobile Broadband. I don't want to try and get away with tethering one or more phones, because my kid games on XBox way too much. I saw this plan, and am wondering what else the rest of you have found that's competitive. Also looking for feedback from anyone who has used Millenicom.

http://www.millenicom.com/page/plans

I STRONGLY prefer pay-as-you-go, since so many services don't seem to deliver their promises...

TIA!

Keep in mind that Millenicom uses Sprint's native network, so speeds may vary based on your location, however Sprint has a bad reputation when it comes to their internet speeds on a nationwide scale.

Since it will use an EV-DO Rev A. network, latency would most likely be poor, which would result in a lot of lagging when gaming online. (Trust me when I say that, I tried it).

Still, if you have good Sprint coverage and speeds in your area, this may actually be faster than your current internet.

BTW, Clearwire doesn't have any coverage in your area, right? They would offer much better speeds, though the network will be disassembled in 2015.


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[Carole Wright]

Those plans sound fantastic!!! I entered my zip code, Fargo, ND, 58102, and it said "not available". HOWEVER, on their site, they say "You can also take your laptop, tablet or any other device on a business trip to stay connected. CLEAR provides 4G service in more than 80 cities and many more small towns across the country. Whether you’re in Chicago, Sheboygan, WI, or Fargo, ND, you’ll be able to access the internet at amazing speeds."

So is this like Straight Talk GSM, not available here, but works here? Just order from another zip code and voila???

[TheCellphoneGuy]

Those plans sound fantastic!!! I entered my zip code, Fargo, ND, 58102, and it said "not available". HOWEVER, on their site, they say "You can also take your laptop, tablet or any other device on a business trip to stay connected. CLEAR provides 4G service in more than 80 cities and many more small towns across the country. Whether you’re in Chicago, Sheboygan, WI, or Fargo, ND, you’ll be able to access the internet at amazing speeds."

So is this like Straight Talk GSM, not available here, but works here? Just order from another zip code and voila???

They sometimes put what are known as "protection sites". Basically the FCC tells them that if they don't do it, then they will lose their license, so they might not sell service in that area, but they may have service and if you order from another zip code it will work.

Keep in mind though that if the coverage map still says that you don't have service (even when using a different zip code and, zooming on on your town), then they likely don't have service.

You might also find this useful:

http://mobile-broadband-services-rev...enreviews.com/



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[Carole Wright]

So it looks like they use only a few of Sprint's towers, here and there? Just my luck, some of my neighbors can get it, but looks like we can't, according to the map. It's all around us, but a couple of blocks away. I know my son gets Virgin Mobile just fine here, because when he's not gaming, he's glued to YouTube. So I would assume they don't use all of the Sprint towers.

[TheCellphoneGuy]

So it looks like they use only a few of Sprint's towers, here and there? Just my luck, some of my neighbors can get it, but looks like we can't, according to the map. It's all around us, but a couple of blocks away. I know my son gets Virgin Mobile just fine here, because when he's not gaming, he's glued to YouTube. So I would assume they don't use all of the Sprint towers.

If you're on good terms with your neighbors, then you could always tell them that you're thinking about getting Clearwire and, whether they would let you borrow their mobile broadband equipment for an hour or so to test reception and speeds.

Keep in mind that coverage maps are never 100% accurate.

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[Carole Wright]

OH, I'm sorry...I didn't mean to say that my neighbors HAD Clear...I meant that the map shows them as able to receive service. Mea Culpa. Otherwise, that would be a GREAT idea...

According to a Sprint info page, Bismarck, ND and Fargo, ND each got a 4G/wimax tower recently. However, Sprint's 4G coverage page doesn't reflect this...weird! Too bad it doesn't just use Sprint 3G, and switch to 4G only where available. I'd probably be fine with that...and we get Sprint 3G at the lake, too, so would not have to use a phone for internet there.

Aw, well, thanks for the suggestion. If I can find any of my neighbors using Clear, I will certainly ask if I can try it at my house. Not too likely, though. Most are 45-65 in age, and like their bundles and their landlines.

[TheCellphoneGuy]

OH, I'm sorry...I didn't mean to say that my neighbors HAD Clear...I meant that the map shows them as able to receive service. Mea Culpa. Otherwise, that would be a GREAT idea...

According to a Sprint info page, Bismarck, ND and Fargo, ND each got a 4G/wimax tower recently. However, Sprint's 4G coverage page doesn't reflect this...weird! Too bad it doesn't just use Sprint 3G, and switch to 4G only where available. I'd probably be fine with that...and we get Sprint 3G at the lake, too, so would not have to use a phone for internet there.

Aw, well, thanks for the suggestion. If I can find any of my neighbors using Clear, I will certainly ask if I can try it at my house. Not too likely, though. Most are 45-65 in age, and like their bundles and their landlines.

Oh I see, they used offer the 3G/4G option, however they don't appear to do so anymore. But, Millenicom also offers a 3G/4G plan for $69.99 and if I had a farm, I would bet it that it uses Clear's 4G network where available and has Sprint's 3G to fall back on where 4G is not available.

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[TheCellphoneGuy]

Also, if you do decide to go with Millenicom, you can easily check what kinds of speeds you would get, before actually getting the service.

You said that your son has a Virgin Mobile phone. If it's an Android phone, there is an app in the Play Store called "Speed Test" by Ookla to see how fast the 3G is.

That would tell you if the 3G is actually better than your current home internet.

[Carole Wright]

Great idea about the VM phone app...I didn't think of that...and didn't know if their phones were throttled or anything. Seems to me that people complain about VM's data speed more that Boost or Sprint...but maybe not. Seems to me that when we first moved here, I had Boost, and had no complaints. It was just that any time I left the Interstate (and might actually REALLY NEED a cell phone) Sprint was DOA.

Yeah, we might end up going with Millenicom...and just hope that the 4G expands a bit, making it a better value for the $$. Actually, those devices would actually work in many more places, like at the lake, than the Clear devices do...so maybe not SUCH a bad deal, after all, if they pull in 4G where available. I'm sure you're right about them using Sprint's 4G/3G towers...who else's would they be using? NOT Verizon's, T-MO doesn't HAVE any...

[TheCellphoneGuy]

Great idea about the VM phone app...I didn't think of that...and didn't know if their phones were throttled or anything. Seems to me that people complain about VM's data speed more that Boost or Sprint...but maybe not. Seems to me that when we first moved here, I had Boost, and had no complaints. It was just that any time I left the Interstate (and might actually REALLY NEED a cell phone) Sprint was DOA.

Yeah, we might end up going with Millenicom...and just hope that the 4G expands a bit, making it a better value for the $$. Actually, those devices would actually work in many more places, like at the lake, than the Clear devices do...so maybe not SUCH a bad deal, after all, if they pull in 4G where available. I'm sure you're right about them using Sprint's 4G/3G towers...who else's would they be using? NOT Verizon's, T-MO doesn't HAVE any...

I know for a fact that they use Sprint's network for 3G. As for 4G, Clearwire is really the only company that would be willing to offer unlimited* 4G Internet in that price range.

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[Carole Wright]

Well, here's what Millenicom returns when I enter my complete physical address and zip code, as far as coverage, eligibility

Advanced 20 GB Plan: Yes
Hotspot Plan: 3G Yes, 4G Yes
Unlimited Plan: 3G Yes, 4G No
BYOD Plan: Yes


The availability of 4G, but not UNLIMITED 4G, smells of Verizon. Makes sense, since we live in a Verizon LTE coverage area, per the map. Also, in another forum, someone interested in Millenicom was questioning how good her reception would be, as she lives in a Verizon "extended coverage" LTE zone.

Here's my guess...they are kinda like Straight Talk..a little of this, a little of that, whatever works...for 3G, obviously Sprint...cheap unlimited, and if I can qualify for it, it would almost HAVE to be. A verizon 3G phone gets about .12-.15 Mbps down, here, and yes, I put the decimal in the right place!<G>. For 4G, must be Verizon, according to maps, I could have great LTE coverage (just can't afford it), but appear to fall out of range of Sprint/wimax/Clear.

Make sense? I suppose ATT or T-Mobile could factor in there, I won't have a clue about their speeds or coverage at my house until early next week when my new Straight Talk phone gets here. I did manage to find a Millenicom thread on a forum:

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/millenicom

Well, lots to think about.

[HF305]

Can you downgrade your DSL to a slower speed class and save money by not buying the speed you never get anyway? 3G is really not good for online action games, the technology has unavoidable long ping times.

[Conan Edogawa]

1.2 on a 1.5mb/s dsl plan sounds about right. According to Century Link's website, they do offer a 7mb/s plan and different 5yr price lock guarantee plan. Those are probably too expensive if you are not considering those. Anyway, note that the unlimited plan for that Millenicom is 50gb which might not be enough for family use.

[@CenturyLinkHelp]

Hello,

We can check both for speed availability and future provisioning for upgrades coming to various areas. If you would like us to help you out, please check us out on twitter or fb and message us on either with your address or account information to and we can assist you.

Regards,

Steve