Ubiquitous Internet Finally (sort of) with Sprint EVDO Broadband

I just got Sprint EVDO service today. It took about 15 mins in total to get it. The card comes in a box that reminded me of a DVD case. I couldn’t wait to get home and watch youtube with this card.

I did alot of research and Sprint claims 400-700K connectivity with peak upto 2MB so it was an ideal solution for my work enabling me to work anywhere – a mixed blessing.

I’m primarily using it for work and I was hoping for at least a 250-300K connection. I was pleasantly surprised. It was easy to setup. Took about 10 mins to install the software and setup my card with my credentials provided by my Sprint rep. My research showed the Merlin S620 was one of the better cards. I did not want a card with a flip up antenna so it fit the bill.

Being technically inclined, the first thing I did was do some bandwidth tests to see if the claims were true. After all I have a 30day trial period if I don’t like the service. I went to the CNET Bandwidth Meter website and was pleasantly surprised. I live in the Dallas Metroplex and from my house I got 986K. Performing the tests over a 1hr period I got a minimum of 880K in my house. I’m consistantly getting between 880-986K in my house, mostly skewed toward the upper end of that range. I am more than pleased. After all I used to have SBC (now AT&T) DSL and the max I ever got with that service was 430K (barely over their minimum guarantee of 384K at the time). It didn’t help that I was paying $40/month for that service that only worked at my house. Now I am mobile and paying $59.99/month for unlimited service.

I can’t wait to drive around town and see what kind of bandwidth I get and if I am even able to stay connected. Sprint claims they have the largest mobile broadband coverage. I’ll definitely be testing it out. Most of the large cities in Texas that I would be going to have coverage. In addition they have extensive airport coverage. I also have a T-Mobile hotspot account I received for doing some IT Consulting so I have no excuse to not have internet access, the lifeblood of the IT professional. The only downside with the T-Mobile Hotspot is if you’re trying to give up coffee. Somehow you’ll keep ending up at Starbucks. I’d say Starbucks is making out well in that business relationship.

So far so good. By the way, this whole post was made with the EVDO connection. ) No dropped connection so far, knock on wood.