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One of the challenges of a mobile worker is connectivity when you’re not at home. Sure at home I have a higher-than-average cable internet connection, but when I go on the road, even to a friend’s house that’s a different story. Looking for WiFi can be a pain, even when it’s offered by a cafe or something, not to mention the potential security risks. The solution for many folks, in the US especially, is to get a wireless broadband card (EVDO or HSPA). In Canada though, it’s a different story. I’ve made the jump to one and so far I’m really happy with it.
Making the jump to EVDO mobile broadband
Previously I’ve been using my Blackberry tethered to my laptop as a modem. Which worked rather well, but a little fiddly, but the data speeds were capped to the 1X level (few hundred k of download/upload). This gave me decent connectivity in Canada, but in the US, I didn’t even try. Why? Because the data rate for that level of connection would just be prohibitively expensive. Canadian data plans didn’t provide for Canadian roaming, not affordably and certainly not as an unlimited data plan. That is until now.
Unlimited data, IMHO, is the only thing that really makes sense for a mobile broadband card. The idea is anywhere, anytime mobility and internet access. Keeping an eye on your bandwidth is a pain. So much to my surprise, and geeky glee, I found this limited-time offer plan from Telus called Connect 100. What do you get? Unlimited data in Canada and the US and unlimited access to the Telus wifi HotSpots around Canada. All for $100/mo (actually $107 with access fees).
In a later post I’m going to talk about my experience buying the card–a great lesson in customer service–but let’s get into the nuts and bolts of this EVDO card (at least my first day of having it).
Which EVDO mobile broadband card?
I opted for the Sierra Wireless AirCard 595. It’s a PCMCIA card (full-size) because that’s what my laptop has. Yes, I could have gone for the USB model and I happen to have an x54 adapter, but I just wanted the convenience of a slot-based card (once it’s in, it stays in).
This card is ready for (and looks like I don’t have to update) EVDO Rev A and even comes with a nice little case for it. Sure it’s big, but hey that’s okay with me. One thing I didn’t think of is that this bugger has it’s own phone number. Of course it does, you answer, it’s a freakin’ cell phone essentially.
The software install, as I would expect under Vista, didn’t go smoothly. The install on the CD didn’t work, but I figured I’d have to download the latest software from Sierra regardless. So with the latest stuff and the little vbscript dll registration that is often required for Vista, I was off and running.
Activation was no problem. The auto worked just ducky (I did have an activation code just in case) and I was ready to connect.
Connection, easy. One button click on the Sierra Wireless Watcher and I was golden.
How fast is EVDO in the real world–the connection question
The big question is performance, of course. On the EVDO Rev A network I’m looking at about a meg down and a few hundred k up which is about DSL speed. Thus far I’m happy with the experience for my day to day stuff.
IM, email, surfing, all pretty good. I haven’t done much RSS yet on this connection and this is the first post through the connection.
I’m not the only one looking at this at either. WirelessNorth had a post yesterday on how good, affordable mobile broadband can be a gamer changer for connectivity:Wirelessnorth.ca » Blog Archive » Mobile broadband is a revelation. BTW, on a three year contract I only paid $49 for this card. Which is a sweet deal.
I went through Tom Harris Cellular and because of their tell a friend promotion you can get $10 off from them if you mention my name and cell number. I also, disclosure here, get a $10 gift card and they donate $10 to charity to boot. If you want to take advantage of this deal, leave a comment and I’ll email you the number for this card so you can use that.
Update Apr 15: Wow. Just wow. I’ve been putting this bugger through it’s paces for a week now and yeah it rocks. I’ve even done voice calls over Skype … not a problem. Even connecting to a POTS toll-free number. This was a great decision.
Image source Telus Mobility
Hi everyone
Today is July 13/09. I just got a letter from Telus–saying they are changing the rate plans and my “unlimited” for 100.00 month is changing to 3GB/month for $60.00 (this is what they are suggesting the best plan for me). I looked on their site and they have a plan for 5GB/month for 80.00. Too bad I have to go down twenty bucks to get a 5GB cap and loose my “unlimited”.
I probably wouldn’t be so bitter–but last spring (2008) I had a huge fight with Bell aobut their so-called”unlimited” plan. Needless to say finally I found someone to help me at CBC Radio in Ontario. I did a taped interview they played on air. Finally they refunded me the price of the modem and the 3 months they charged e 100.00/month (that I never used any usage). The name BELL sends shivers down my spine–as well as Xplornet. Bell lost so many customers due to this so called “unlimited” plan and I bet most people (what choice is there in Alberta?) went straight over to Telus.
As someone mentioned earlier–when you live in the country and are fed up with “dial-up” what choices do you have?
I knew the Telus “unlimited” wouldn’t last forever and I guess I will just enjoy my “high speed” while I can (until they take it away too).
You would think in this day and age Telus would have got their act together and made it possible for people in rural areas to have access to high speed. They have been promising me for about 8 years that “they are working on it”–ya right!
I have a large stack of papers to go with my fights–one with xplornet and one with Bell.
Both of these companies make my hair curl.
Take care
Char
I bought one of these a month ago. I live in Alberta Canada and because high speed internet is not available on farm land I went with one of these babe’s..NOT ONE SINGLE REGET! fast download, some what fast uploads. only thing i don’t like is where i just got mine the highest plan package was connect 65, 1GB free the rest is 10$ an extra GB, and for a person like me who has 2 kids going to school and need the internet for school research and what not’ and myself playing around on it you know very well the 1GB isn’t lasting.
I signed up for the unlimited plan a few months ago for a full 3 year contract which is now grandfathered.
Now I’m not sure if I really need it.
If anyone is interested I could transfer the contract to them.. which would still give you unlimited data + unlimited roaming anywhere in the US for $100/month.
tmkogler@yahoo.ca
Just FYI, the unlimited plans from Telus are now gone.. Just when I needed one.
I recently purchased the Sierra 595. I ordered the USB one but was shipped the PCMCIA one. Sine i am using it for a desktop setup I was mad at first. I went and bought a PCI-PCMCIA adapter for my PC which worked fine (however had quite a lot of issues with the aircard creating conflicts with my soundcard. if i plugged in the aircard i got a BSOD and sound would not work on reboot – fixed by work-around (disable and re-enable sound card in vista).)
Experience: Great speeds. Great latency. even at weak signal. at -100dB im still getting 60kb/s down. at higher signal levels it improves dramatically. I also purchased a YAGI antenna and a dual-band amp which gives me around 40dB gain.
I can totally see this service becoming very popular. for better or worse.
1474 days ago
[...] but when I go on the road, even to a friend??s house that??s a different story. Looking for WiFihttp://www.mapleleaftwo.com/buying-a-telus-evdo-rev-a-mobile-broadband-card-first-experiences/Cellphone shopping goes high tech at AT&T store Atlanta Journal-ConstitutionTouch-screen fanatics, [...]
Dan I’d keep a close eye on this deal. Bell had something similar and pulled it recently. Even this Telus deal isn’t long for this world.
Looks like MTS has a $75/month “unlimited” EVDO offering, which is Canada-wide. Anyone have any Manitoba Friends?
Though it is not North America wide…
1492 days ago
[...] blogged about my new Telus EVDO card this morning, I’ve been using it all day and been very much enjoying it. Okay I think I’ve [...]