Laptop Cards that SUCK!

I would like to impart the following words of experience and wisdom to
those of you that are considering either Verizon or SprintPCS data service
for your laptop computer:

1. All laptop data cards are not created equal. Bar none, the best RF
performance is obtained with the Sierra Wireless Aircard 555. The other
laptop cards offered by Verizon do not compare to the RF performance of the
Sierra Wireless 555 card.

2. The Sierra Wireless 555 Card was initially offered with an antenna that
is approximately 3.5 inches long. This antenna provided respectable RF
performance. Verizon then began offering the 555 Card with a new antenna
that is approximately 5 inches long. There is a hugh difference in RF
performance between the 3.5 inch antenna and the 5 inch antenna. We have
tested many many different Verizon cards at my place of employment and have
a significant amount of data to back up our conclusions.

3. In the world of antennas, SIZE MATTERS!!!! I cannot overemphasize this!
The new data cards offered by Verizon have small stubby plastic antennas.
These antennas were designed as a matter of convenience because they are
easily concealable. Buyer beware!!!! The RF performance of these stubby
plastic antennas is ABYSMAL! About six months ago, I discussed this problem
with a senior technical support representative at Verizon and he admitted
that the 555 Card provides the ultimate RF performance and that the
performance of the cards with the stubby antennan is substandard.

The problem is that the 555 is a low speed card. The new high speed data
cards are only offered with the low performance stubby antennas. You almost
need to be sitting under the damn cell tower in order to use one of these
new high speed data cards. It does not appear that there is going to be a
new high speed version of the Aircard 555. Needless to say, I am very
disappointed in the existing high speed wireless card offerings. :-(

BUYER BEWARE!!

-mij

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› See More: Laptop Cards that SUCK!

I agree they need a longer antenna for the PC5220, but love my PC5220
and find it works anywhere.

My experience:

When areas go EVDO the PC5220 works fine even inside cars or buildings.
Better perf with the ext attn. but evdo is so fast it hardly matters.

In 1XRTT metro areas I usually need an ext. attn.

In rural areas I must use a ext. attn.

Also the ext. attn allows you to position it closer to a window etc..
so it will work where the 555 card will not work with its built in
attn.

"DoctorZ" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I agree they need a longer antenna for the PC5220, but love my PC5220
> and find it works anywhere.
>
> My experience:
>
> When areas go EVDO the PC5220 works fine even inside cars or buildings.
> Better perf with the ext attn. but evdo is so fast it hardly matters.
>
> In 1XRTT metro areas I usually need an ext. attn.
>
> In rural areas I must use a ext. attn.
>
> Also the ext. attn allows you to position it closer to a window etc..
> so it will work where the 555 card will not work with its built in
> attn.

I'm not up on the capabilities of the current cards. Are these SPCS &
Verizon Wireless cards currently offered EV-DO capable, and then eventually
EV-DV?

Bob

Bob Smith wrote:

> I'm not up on the capabilities of the current cards. Are these SPCS &
> Verizon Wireless cards currently offered EV-DO capable, and then eventually
> EV-DV?

The PC-5220 is EV-DO. EV-DO is up and running in about thirty Verizon markets
right now. I don't think the Sierra Sprint card is EV-DO, there's no reason for
it to be. Sprint is 1xRTT everywhere right now. They're not even testing EV-DO,
although I was told the San Bernardino area would be testing EV-DO by the end
of last year. (I didn't believe that. Especially since Los Angeles is only
about an hour away. I'm sure they'll test it in LA first.)


--
JustThe.net - Apple Valley, CA - http://JustThe.net/ - 888.480.4NET (4638)
Steven J. Sobol, Geek In Charge / [email protected] / PGP: 0xE3AE35ED

"The wisdom of a fool won't set you free"
--New Order, "Bizarre Love Triangle"

"Paul Miner" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Thu, 10 Mar 2005 23:03:29 GMT, "Bob Smith"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >
> >"DoctorZ" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> >news:[email protected]...
> >> I agree they need a longer antenna for the PC5220, but love my PC5220
> >> and find it works anywhere.
> >>
> >> My experience:
> >>
> >> When areas go EVDO the PC5220 works fine even inside cars or buildings.
> >> Better perf with the ext attn. but evdo is so fast it hardly matters.
> >>
> >> In 1XRTT metro areas I usually need an ext. attn.
> >>
> >> In rural areas I must use a ext. attn.
> >>
> >> Also the ext. attn allows you to position it closer to a window etc..
> >> so it will work where the 555 card will not work with its built in
> >> attn.
> >
> >I'm not up on the capabilities of the current cards. Are these SPCS &
> >Verizon Wireless cards currently offered EV-DO capable, and then
eventually
> >EV-DV?
> >
> >Bob
>
> The Sierra 580 is a single-band (SPCS only) card, designed for EV-DO
> but backwards compatible with 1xRTT. No mention of EV-DV that I could
> find. It's described here:
>
http://www.sprint.com/business/produ...ctionCards.jsp
>
>
> The Sierra 550, essentially the same as Verizon's Sierra 555, is 1xRTT
> compatible only. More info here:
>
http://www.sprint.com/business/produ...ctionCards.jsp
>

Thanks for the replies guys ...

Bob

"DoctorZ" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I agree they need a longer antenna for the PC5220, but love my PC5220
> and find it works anywhere.
>
> My experience:
>
> When areas go EVDO the PC5220 works fine even inside cars or buildings.
> Better perf with the ext attn. but evdo is so fast it hardly matters.
>
> In 1XRTT metro areas I usually need an ext. attn.
>
> In rural areas I must use a ext. attn.
>
> Also the ext. attn allows you to position it closer to a window etc..
> so it will work where the 555 card will not work with its built in
> attn.
>

There's a new Novatel that has gotten good reviews from one user who
prefers it to his former PC 5220. The posts are on Wirelessadvisor.com as I
recall.


--
Thomas M. Goethe

Paul Miner wrote:

> The Sierra 580 is EV-DO.

I may have been thinking the 550...

>>Sprint is 1xRTT everywhere right now.
>
> Officially, yes. Unofficially, no.

>>They're not even testing EV-DO,
>
> Oh really? :-)

Not in this area.

--
JustThe.net - Apple Valley, CA - http://JustThe.net/ - 888.480.4NET (4638)
Steven J. Sobol, Geek In Charge / [email protected] / PGP: 0xE3AE35ED

"The wisdom of a fool won't set you free"
--New Order, "Bizarre Love Triangle"