HSPA data for less than €5 per day is a great deal!

Mobile broadband roaming is insanely expensive. Using my AT&T iPhone overseas costs $20,000 per gigabyte, and that’s not a typo or a joke. So I always pick up a local 3G data SIM for my Huawei E585 mobile hotspot when traveling. Here’s documentation of my experience with T-Mobile in the Netherlands this week.

The Best Wireless Internet Overseas

First, it is absolutely essential to purchase an unlocked 3G mobile hotspot or hotspot-capable mobile phone if you plan to do much international travel. American mobile phones can occasionally be unlocked, but AT&T is notoriously reluctant to allow foreign SIMs to be used in their iPhones. And frequency differences can affect the ability of American devices to work in Europe, South America, and Asia.

You basically have two choices:

1. Do some research and locate a device to purchase when you land that can be easily unlocked. I picked the Huawei E585 from Three in the UK, though that device is no longer available.
2. Purchase an unlocked device before leaving. eBay is a great source of such devices, though you run the risk that it might not work when you need it most. But then you can always fall back on option 1.

Whatever you do, don’t plan to use your US device overseas. Most aren’t unlocked, so they won’t accept any SIM card but your own. And many won’t work with the high-speed 3G data frequencies in use outside the USA, so you’ll be limited to 2G speed.

There are also some rental services that will mail you a local “MiFi” or hotspot, but these often cost far more than just buying a device and a local SIM card!

3G Data Options in the Netherlands

This is the SIM card you want for T-Mobile's Netherlands data deal

There are a number of mobile phone operators in the Netherlands, but KPN, T-Mobile, Telfort, and Vodafone are the most popular. Of these, only T-Mobile offers an “unlimited” pre-paid data option, though all my Dutch friends recommended Vodafone for their superior coverage.

I considered Vodafone’s €14.99 prepaid 1 GB smartphone SIM but decided instead on T-Mobile’s option. The T-Mobile Laptop PrePaid SIM offering. At €0.30 per MB does not look cheap, but there’s a daily maximum charge of €4.50, which is very reasonable for travelers. Since I would only need access for three days, this was the cheaper option.

Buying the T-Mobile Laptop PrePaid SIM

You might also be interested in my experience with Wireless Internet Access in the UK

There are many T-Mobile outlets in the Netherlands, but the first store I visited (MediaMarkt in Utrecht) was out of stock. So I headed to the “high street” T-Mobile company store on Lange Elisabethstraat. After waiting a surprisingly long time, the salesman was able to sell me a Laptop PrePaid SIM for the advertised price of €9.95, which includes “€10 usage credit” (more about that in a moment).

I had previously looked up the local APN specifications for my hotspot, so I was ready to go. I inserted the SIM, entered the PIN through the E585′s web interface, and was up and running (for the moment!) The salesman discussed how to recharge the account (through SMS or in the store) and sent me on my way.

Here are the APN details when using a prepaid SIM with T-Mobile Netherlands:

• APN: Internet
• Username: tmobile
• Password: tmobile

Performance of the T-Mobile network in Utrecht was acceptable – a bit slow inside the Café-Restaurant Olivier, but almost 2 Mbps down and .5 Mbps up past the train station. And the UK Huawei E585 was 100% compatible with the T-Mobile NL frequencies, including HSPA speed.

Zero Account Balance and No Connectivity

After a short period of usage, I was surprised when every page I visited redirected to a T-Mobile portal. Something was not right. I located the proper page to view account credit and was shocked to see a balance of €0.04 – I had used up the entire account value already!

I was unable to call T-Mobile NL’s prepaid support phone number using my American mobile phone, and could not locate an online service guide in their (Dutch-only) web site (which was still accessible). I searched through the documentation and located an offer of €7.50 for registering the SIM online, along with a URL that worked.

After registering, the T-Mobile site showed €7.54 credit, so I timidly tried accessing a web site. Suddenly everything was working again! My credit steadily dropped until it hit €5.50, where it stayed even through a Speedtest.net session. I was back in business!

It turns out that the SIM does not come with €10 as advertised. It comes with €2.50 and an offer for an additional €7.50 after registering! See the problem? I used up all the credit before hitting the €4.50 daily max because I had not registered the card!

Stephen’s Stance

The T-Mobile NL Laptop PrePaid SIM card is a great choice for use with an unlocked MiFi device like the Huawei E585. But make sure to set up the APN first, and register the card online immediately to get the full €10 credit!

Update: One warning if you go with T-Mobile NL: Top up your card in the store with all the credit you will need! Although you can buy T-Mobile NL credit in convenience stores, you cannot actually use this credit without an NL bank account. I wasted €10 this way and never could get the credit applied. Purchase all the credit you will need (€4.50 per day) in the T-Mobile store. Also, the daily max is per calendar day, not per 24-hour period. So you lose your “unlimited” status at midnight.

© sfoskett for Stephen Foskett, Pack Rat, 2011. | Wireless Internet Access During My Trip To The Netherlands
This post was categorized as Deals, Personal, Terabyte home. Each of my categories has its own feed if you'd like to filter out or focus on posts like this.

The Clear PXU1900 WiMAX modem is acceptable, but the service isn't

As I discussed previously, my search for a mobile broadband solution for Tech Field Day led me to the nascent 4G networks springing up around the world. Here in the United States, two next-generation networks offered compelling performance: Clearwire’s WiMAX service (sold by Clear and Sprint) and Verizon Wireless’ LTE network. I purchased a modem on each network and tested performance and usability while traveling before deciding that the Verizon LTE network is the superior choice.

You should also read 4G Connectivity Options Proliferate and 4G: Is It Really A Standard If No One Cares? for more background, and Hands-On Review: Verizon 4G LTE (and the Novatel MiFi 4510l) to learn what I prefer over this device!

Note that T-Mobile USA also offers “4G” service in the USA. Although some rightly criticize the company for using this nomenclature on a 3G-derived HSPA+ network, it’s hard to argue with performance that meets or exceeds competing technologies. But AT&T’s pending purchase of T-Mobile USA throws the future of their network in doubt, since their spectrum will likely be repurposed as another LTE network in the coming year.

Clearwire WiMAX: Clear, Sprint, etc

After researching the 4G options, Clearwire’s WiMAX network emerged as an enticing option. The company has massive radio spectrum across the United States and has rolled out coverage in many major cities. And I appreciated the variety of devices and plans offered by Clear and Sprint, both of which use this network.

Clearwire was formed as a “super merger” of a diverse set of WiMAX supporters in the USA, and it inherited both their spectrum and infrastructure. This made Clearwire the global standard-bearer for WiMAX, which is why their recent announcement of an LTE network gave me pause. Is Clearwire really going to support both 4G network technologies long-term, or is WiMAX on the way out?

But Clearwire’s WiMAX coverage across the USA beats Verizon’s LTE, so I decided to give it a try. Since I am a long-time Cradlepoint user, I decided to purchase a USB “dongle” modem. But local resellers would not allow me to purchase one without a 2-year contract, and I was too skeptical about the long-term viability of their network to sign up for that. Instead, I turned to eBay, clicking “buy it now” on a brand new Clear-branded dongle for just $34 shipped.

Clear PXU1900

Apparently you can add two antennas to your Clear modem, but these holes give it an unfinished look

I selected a combination 3G/4G dongle, thinking that it would offer the best possible coverage with Sprint’s CDMA network acting as a backup if WiMAX was unavailable. But opening the package revealed a 4G-only PXU1900 USB stick. The eBay seller no longer offered the combo device and offered a refund or 50% rebate if I kept the alternative they had sent. I decided on the latter, since it’s hard to beat $19!

The PXU1900 is light and compact, with a bulbous appearance. It does not feel particularly sturdy, and the two exposed antenna connectors on the back gave me pause. The USB jack folds into the body but is more difficult to flip out than I would like, and the red/orange/green connection status LED is overly bright and distracting beside a laptop keyboard.

See also Building a Combination 3G/4G/Wired Wi-Fi Network

The box contained an odd-shaped USB drive with (outdated) drivers and software. I much prefer it when USB devices include these internally. Luckily, Clear offers downloadable beta drivers for 64-bit Mac OS X “Lion”, and Cradlepoint supports this modem with their 4G driver firmware for my MBR1200 and new CBR400. But 4G is too much for my trusty old first-generation PHS300: I would have to upgrade to the second-generation PHS300 to use it.

Clear Pricing and Service Options

The basic Clear plans are fairly simple. Clear obviously wants to sign customers up for 2-year contracts, but the company offers more options if you are persistent.  If you purchase your own hardware, you can sign up for month-to-month service at the same price, though a $35 activation fee applies and local resellers refused to sell me this option. This is an attractive option since WiMAX hardware is widely available and the future of the network is not at all secure.

I was surprised to learn of a third service option once I launched the Clear connection manager in Denver. If you own your own hardware, Clear offers a $10 “day pass” with no activation or cancellation fees. This is not available through Clear’s web site or by phone, though it is apparently possible to set up a day pass account in certain Clear stores. This is by far the best option for me, especially since Clear hasn’t bothered to turn the service off or re-bill me!

The easiest way to get a “day pass” is to simply launch the Clear Connection Manager and sign up through your browser. The modem will connect to a captive portal if service is available and you have no contract. From there, select “Click here to view your message” then select the 24 Hour Pass for $10.00. You will need to create an account with a credit card, and you’re set.

I was prepared to sign up month-to-month, but felt that the day pass was a better option for my needs. Since I don’t live in a WiMAX area, I would only use the device while traveling. And since I also purchased the Verizon LTE modem, I wouldn’t need Clear service except perhaps during Tech Field Day. As I mentioned, the Day Pass has remained active for almost a month anyway!

Real-World WiMAX Experience

The Cradlepoint CBR400 just loves the Clear modem (as long as there's coverage!)

I’ve now used the Clear service in Denver, Austin, Atlanta (airport), and Cleveland and feel I can pass judgement. And my decision isn’t positive: I rate the Clear service as questionable at best, and recommend looking for an alternative 4G option if possible.

What’s wrong with Clear’s WiMAX?

1. Unless you’re in a solid coverage area today, don’t sign a long-term contract. Although coverage is fairly good today for major cities, Clearwire and Sprint are adopting LTE, and this calls the long-term future of their WiMAX network into question. Clearwire will likely continue to maintain existing WiMAX sites and service for quite a while, but I doubt they will aggressively expand the network.
2. Clearwire has massive spectrum across the USA, but it’s in the 2.5-2.6 GHz “IMT-E” range, which is ample but doesn’t penetrate buildings well and is a total mess licensing-wise. My own experience shows throughput cut in half or more by moving inside a concrete-block building. Note that Sprint or AT&T LTE at 2.5/2.6 GHz will face the same limitations. Verizon’s 700 MHz “upper SMH band C” licenses include less spectrum but better coverage in my experience.
3. 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi causes interference with 4G at 2.5 GHz, forcing users to separate modems from Wi-Fi antennas or just use Wi-Fi channels 1 or 2, increasing contention in an already-crowded range.
4. The Clear Day Pass (and most Clear hardware) is 4G-only, so if you’re out of range you’re out of luck. All of Verizon’s LTE equipment and plans support both EVDO and LTE.
5. Clear appears to severely throttle upload speed in many areas. I was able to get over 10 Mbps in Cleveland, but all other locations were limited to 300 Kbps even as real-world download speed was competitive with LTE at 5 Mbps and above!
6. My USB modem is very sensitive to orientation, explaining the curious inclusion of a fancy USB angle adapter in the package. This isn’t as much of a problem with a fixed installation, but mobile users will see fluctuating speed and even dropped connections from moving the modem a tiny bit.

Stephen’s Stance

I know lots of folks who are happy with Clear or Sprint WiMAX service, and I applaud them for their no-contract Day Pass option. In fact, I wouldn’t hesitate to suggest that others go the same route I did: Buy a Clear modem on eBay and pay $10 per day whenever you need connectivity. But I strongly discourage readers from signing up for a long-term contract with Clear. Sprint subscribers will likely be upgraded to LTE eventually, but the future of Clear is very, very cloudy.

And Verizon’s LTE service is so good, there’s no reason to go for WiMAX at all. But that’s a story for another day!

Next, read Hands-On Review: Verizon 4G LTE (and the Novatel MiFi 4510l) for my preferred device!

© sfoskett for Stephen Foskett, Pack Rat, 2011. | Hands-On Review: Clear WiMAX Service (and PXU1900 USB Modem)
This post was categorized as Everything, Personal, Terabyte home. Each of my categories has its own feed if you'd like to filter out or focus on posts like this.

Mobile network towers have become a fixture worldwide, and the trend is only going to get worse with 4G rollouts!

After years of faithful service, 3G mobile “broadband” appears to be giving up the ghost. Perhaps its new applications that demand more performance, or maybe the network is overloaded and the carriers are unable or unwilling to fix it, but 3G data service has become unusable lately. I set out to find something faster.

Not Quite 4G, Really

You should also read 4G: Is It Really A Standard If No One Cares?

Although many mobile phone carriers are advertising their new 4G networks, none is quite as speedy as that term was designed to describe. Even so, the “4G” mobile broadband services I tested were head and shoulders above any 3G system I have ever experienced, and I feel that they deserve the name even though they’re nowhere near the 100 Mb per second suggested by the ITU.

Here in the United States, there are three networks called “4G”:

• T-Mobile USA operates an HSPA+ network with broad coverage and good performance, even though the underlying technology is really an evolution of 3G data.
• Clearwire is the sole operator of a WiMAX network that is up and running in many cities. This same network is sold under the Clear and Sprint brand names.
• Verizon has been aggressively rolling out an LTE network, and has been aggressively marketing the service.

All three networks boast maximum speed of over 100 Mb per second, with typical real-world performance around 5 Mb per second. The WiMAX and LTE networks also boast incredibly quick “data call” setup time and very low latency thanks to an all IP network design.

Changes Afoot

Much is changing in the mobile broadband industry, however. The future of WiMAX is looking increasingly shaky, with all American and most international carriers planning or deploying LTE networks. And AT&T’s pending acquisition of T-Mobile USA is all about spectrum, which will become the most important commodity in a 4G world.

A few years ago, it looked like WiMAX might be the standard for 4G data, with strong support from Intel and many major telecom providers. But actually implementing WiMAX networks proved incredibly costly, and most trials have wound down or stalled at launch.

In the USA, all WiMAX providers joined forces to form Clearwire in an effort to consolidate their spectrum and build a seamless national network. Now, Clearwater has announced that they will build out an LTE network in that same spectrum. Although they claim continuing support for WiMAX technology, this announcement calls its future into question.

In contrast, LTE has been phenomenally successful. Verizon’s deployment continues unabated, AT&T is committed to the standard, and newcomer LightSquared is building out a national network in the USA. Aggressive build outs of also been seen in Australia, Asia, Canada, Germany, and other areas.

The most valuable commodity for any network buildout is radio spectrum, and high-performance communication requires lots of it. Verizon has a strong head start in the US, with plenty of spectrum in the upper 700 MHz band, and Clearwire has plenty of capacity between 2.5 and 2.6 GHz. But AT&T needs more spectrum, explaining their pending purchase of T-Mobile USA.

No LTE Portability

LTE is the likely winner for global 4G network technology, but don't get too excited about portability!

Although LTE networks will share some common technology, those hoping for “4G world phones” will likely be disappointed. Like 3G data, 4G spectrum is widely distributed based on availability of spectrum in local areas. And 4G networks are built without voice support, so actual phones will fallback to incompatible 3G or even 2G networks for calls. Portable devices must support multiple bands and underline networking technologies.

I wrote about 3G data portability in An Inexpensive Mobile Broadband Alternative When Traveling in the UK

LTE networks are being deployed wherever sufficient bandwidth is available. In North America, most LTE networks will use spectrum in the 700, 1700, and 2500 MHz bands. European networks will be deployed at 900, 1800, and 2600 MHz. Asia will likely see 1800, and 2600 MHz deployments. A true world phone would need to support at least six different frequency bands, not to mention a variety of signaling technologies.

Since it is entirely packet-switched, LTE has no provision for carrying voice traffic currently. Today’s 4G mobile phones fall back to a carrier’s legacy network when it comes to making a call, and some even have multiple radio chipsets to make this possible. Future devices will use voice over IP (VoIP) technology, but these are still a ways off.

One imagines that truly portable devices will eventually appear, perhaps using software defined radio (SDR) or simply by employing extremely full-featured chipsets and antennas. But 4G networks are more about mobile broadband and voice calling at this point, and this is their sweet spot anyway.

Stephen’s Stance

I set out to find a faster mobile broadband service than the AT&T and Sprint/Virgin service I currently use. But exploring the world of LTE and WiMAX was a real eye-opener. I didn’t purchase a device (two, actually), but discussion of those will have to wait for my next post.

Read my follow-up posts:

• Hands-On Review: Clear WiMAX Service (and PXU1900 USB Modem)
• Hands-On Review: Verizon 4G LTE (and the Novatel MiFi 4510l)

© sfoskett for Stephen Foskett, Pack Rat, 2011. | 4G Connectivity Options Proliferate
This post was categorized as Personal, Terabyte home. Each of my categories has its own feed if you'd like to filter out or focus on posts like this.

The Huawei E585 on the Three network in the UK is an excellent deal for travelers

Traveling overseas is challenging in many ways, but mobile phone and data service is especially difficult. While it’s fairly easy to find a reasonable deal locally, it’s almost impossible to transfer these deals abroad. The best way to avoid a huge ripoff is to use a local provider, and this is exactly what I did during my recent trip to the UK. I picked up a Huawei E585 “MiFi” on the Three network for half what AT&T charged me for modest use on my last trip.

Introducing the Huawei E585

The E585 is the latest “MiFi” device from Three in the UK. Like the familiar Novatel MiFi devices in the USA, the Huawei includes a 3G modem, Wi-Fi access point, and runs for hours on an internal battery.

Note: MiFi is a trademark of Novatel in the USA, but Three registered the “MiFi” trademark in the UK years before Novatel, so they are able to use the term for their 3G Wi-Fi service there, regardless of hardware maker.

Unlike my Novatel 2200, Huawei includes an OLED display on the E585, which clearly shows relevant information including battery charge and 3G and Wi-Fi connection status. The device is controlled with a single button and includes a Micro SD slot for local data sharing.

I found the battery to last at least four hours of casual use, which is nice since it takes quite a while to power on and off. But at least it isn’t eager to power itself on without my input – I often find my Novatel on and running down the battery for no reason!

The default WPA password is unique and printed on the inside of the device. Like Novatel’s “admin”, Huawei set the administrative password to “Admin”, leaving something to be desired. I quickly changed the SSID, and WPA and administrative passwords.

The Three network was widespread and speedy in my travels through the south of England. I was pleased by their £71.99 offering, which included the modem and 3 GB of data good for 3 months. I walked into one of their High Street stores and walked out with Internet access in less than 15 minutes.

Traveling Outside the UK

The E585 supports five GSM bands: 850, 900, 1800, 1900, and 2100 MHz. It is possible to unlock the E585 using free tools, as noted below, and this makes it potentially useful in many European and Asian countries.

But high-speed 3G HSPA is limited to 900 and 2100 MHz, and AT&T uses 950/1900 for 3G HSPA in the USA. It definitely does not support the 1700 MHz band required by T-Mobile USA’s 1700/2100 MHz 3G network, either, so it won’t be useful there. The same problem crops up in Canada, where most providers use 1900 MHz for 3G HSPA.

Providers that offer 2100 MHz HSPA service (see also list of UMTS networks):

• Africa  - Most GSM providers
• Asia – Most GSM providers
• Australia/New Zealand – Telstra, Optus, Vodafone AU & NZ, Three Mobile AU, 2° and Telecom NZ
• Brazil – All five GSM providers
• Europe – Most GSM providers
• Israel – Cellcom, Orange, Pelephone
• Japan – NTT DoCoMo, SoftBank Mobile
• Middle East – Most GSM providers
• Thailand – TOT

On returning to the USA, I followed steps I found online to unlock the E585. When an invalid SIM is inserted, the device’s unlock code becomes visible in its EFS memory, which can be dumped by a utility called PSAS. My modem hid the code later in memory than earlier revisions, but I was able to locate and use it.

I tested the E585 on the AT&T network using the SIM from an iPhone. It worked fine after unlocking, but was limited to 2.5 G “EDGE” performance. This limits its attractiveness to US buyers somewhat, though it’s still useful in many other countries.

Stephen’s Stance

I would not hesitate to recommend the Huawei E585 for use in the UK, especially with Three’s generous prepaid data offer. Since it can be unlocked for use in other European countries, it becomes all that much more useful. But it is disappointing it’s not more useful in the USA!

Update, November 2011

In November, I traveled to Germany and the Netherlands with my E585 MiFi. I’m happy report that it works just fine with GSM networks in both countries. As reported in my follow-up post, Wireless Internet Access During My Trip To The Netherlands, issues that I experienced were due to the idiosyncrasies of local billing, not the device or the unlock detailed above.

I would recommend looking up the APN and username/password combination of whatever provider you intend to use before purchasing a SIM card. On the E585, you can set up a new network configuration and preset the device for the local APN. That way, the device will work as soon as you insert the SIM. Just don’t forget to set the network configuration correctly when traveling to the next country.

Update, January 2012

As I prepare to return to the UK this month for Dell Storage Forum, I’ve been working through the process necessary to reactivate my Three MiFi device. It seems that Three does not allow non-UK post codes to be used for accounts or credit cards. Perhaps this is some sort of security measure, but it makes it difficult for travelers like me to top up their account.

Probably the best method is to have a friend in the UK by some top up credit at a petrol station or small shop and send you the top up code. You may then enter this online to reactivate your device before entering the UK. I had a friend purchase top up credit on my behalf, so my account should be ready to go as soon as I touched down at Heathrow.

If you don’t have a local to help you out, it is possible to buy a top up code with a foreign credit card at many shops and petrol stations in the UK. Once you have the code, you’ll need to get online somehow (public Wi-Fi?) and enter it into your 3 account.

Accessing your Three account online requires you to have registered with them. They use an SMS to send you your password, so it’s best to do this in the UK before your allowance runs out. But I found that the device would happily receive their password even with an un-funded SIM in the USA! I requested my password, turned on the MiFi with the Three SIM in it, and the SMS came through about half an hour later. I was then able to activate my account, though I couldn’t enter my information (address, credit card) since I don’t have a UK post code. Everything still worked fine, though.

Also, Three no longer sells the Huawei E585 device I purchased. The replacement E586 looks identical, but probably has somewhat different specs. Hopefully, the new device supports American GSM bands and is just as easy to unlock. But I’m really not sure if this is the case, so your mileage may vary. Regardless, I’m still happy with my Huawei E585 and the Three service in the UK.

© sfoskett for Stephen Foskett, Pack Rat, 2011. | An Inexpensive Mobile Broadband Alternative When Traveling in the UK
This post was categorized as Deals, Everything, Personal, Terabyte home. Each of my categories has its own feed if you'd like to filter out or focus on posts like this.

Symptoms of an Outage

"There is an issue with your modem or your Virgin Mobile account"

I first noticed the Virgin Mobile USA outage around 11 AM on Monday. I was in Las Vegas for Cisco Live 2011, and could not get online to prepare for and report from the event.

The MiFi refused to connect (not that unusual in the wide open spaces of the USA) and shortly began reporting an error message (shown above) when I tried visiting web sites in Safari on the iPhone.

One of hundreds of identical tweets sent by @VMUcare on July 11

AT&T was also having 3G issues in Las Vegas at the same time, so I had to disable 3G to get my iPhone online. Once it was running, I headed over to Twitter to check what Virgin’s @VMUcare account had to say. Sure enough, there were hundreds of messages about a “national 3G and text/MMS outage“.

Alarmingly, the Virgin customer service line +1(877)877-8443, was busy or could not connect. They were totally unable to assist customers!

This outage lasted most of the day, with no official status updates beyond “our engineers are working to resolve it as soon as possible.” In fact, I’m not sure Virgin Mobile USA even has a network status update page!

The Fix: Reset and Reboot

"Not Activated" is not a good sign the day after an outage

This morning, I contacted Virgin’s social media customer support email again, asking for a status update. The brief response suggested I should “perform a master reset on your device located in the bottom.” I had no idea what that meant, but presumed they were suggesting some sort of factory reset.

Rather than poking a paperclip into the hole by the battery compartment (since I didn’t have one and didn’t notice that hole), I decided to reset it in software.

The "Factory Reset" button is located in the "Advanced" menu's "System Status" tab

I logged into the device’s administrative interface, then clicked “System Status” under the “Advanced” menu. At the bottom of the page is a button to “Reset to Factory Defaults”, which I clicked.

You have to "lose everything" to get back online!

After a warning, the MiFi rebooted. I reconnected to the admin interface (after remembering that the password is “admin”) and reset it to my taste. I was finally back online!

Stephen’s Stance

As an IT guy, I know that outages sometimes happen. But a nationwide data outage that lasts almost a day and leaves devices unable to reconnect is serious. And a complete lack of any customer service availability or system status notification is absurd.

Virgin must immediately build better customer support processes and create a system status page; not everyone uses Twitter after all! And I expect a credit from them, since I just lost a substantial amount of my paid service at a critical time!

© sfoskett for Stephen Foskett, Pack Rat, 2011. | How To Reset Your MiFi and Get Back Online with Virgin Mobile USA
This post was categorized as Everything, Personal, Terabyte home. Each of my categories has its own feed if you'd like to filter out or focus on posts like this.

The CradlePoint MBR1200 forms the heart of my new mobile Internet system

The Tech Field Day events I run are hotspots of social media, but it has been hard building an Internet presence to keep up. Constantly on the move, I need a flexible network with scalability and failover (and fail-back) between 3G/4G and wired Internet. My latest design relies on CradlePoint’s MBR1200 “Failover Router”, which can load-balance across multiple 3G and 4G data cards.

Introducing the CradlePoint MBR1200

My trusty CradlePoint PHS300 has been a constant companion at my events, from Tech Field Day to trade shows, conferences, and seminars. I set my SSID to “AskFoskett” and share 3G data to any who need it. But Tech Field Day has outgrown the bandwidth of a single 3G card, so I am stepping up my network hardware.

The MBR1200 is designed to be an always-on network access point, offering Wi-Fi and wired Ethernet connectivity and both wired and multiple 3G/4G WAN ports. It will use wired Ethernet connectivity when available and fails over to the 3G or 4G mobile network whenever required.

Perhaps the coolest trick of the MBR1200 is its ability to use multiple 3G or 4G modems at once. It load balances connections across up to five such devices, even over multiple networks. In my experiments, the MBR1200 did indeed balance fairly across a Novatel U720 on Sprint and a Novatel MiFi 2200 on Virgin. Though both use Sprint’s CDMA 3G network, throughput appeared to double when I brought the second modem on line.

The old PHS300 was battery powered, but the MBR1200 requires a wall AC or 12 volt mobile supply. This is not ideal for my use, but I imagine my Field Day delegates will tolerate a few minutes’ outage as we set up and tear down. They will likely appreciate the improved throughput of the MBR1200, though, with its more-powerful CPU and dual 802.11N radios.

3G and 4G Modems

My events have all been in the USA so far, so this section will be very location-specific.

I had previously used a 3G USB modem on the Sprint network through reseller Millenicom. They offered true unlimited data (unknown elsewhere in the US) for just $69. But the throughput of this service grew progressively slow lately, so I finally gave up.

Virgin Mobile has the best mobile broadband offering in the USA currently. I purchased a Novatel MiFi 2200 at Wal-Mart for $129. Although I’m no fan of the big-box chain, purchasing it there made me eligible for an “unlimited” (in reality, 5 GB per month) plan at $40 with no contract. The MiFi tethers to the CradlePoint routers for broad sharing or allows independent use by up to five users. The service uses the Sprint 3G network, just like my Millenicom plan, but seems faster.

There are three higher-speed mobile broadband offerings in the USA currently. Although none offers the performance once promised by 4G, all easily beat older 3G CDMA and GSM offerings.

Clearwire and Sprint share a WiMax-based network, and this is my first target. They have solid coverage and inexpensive unlimited data options. I have heard that Sprint does not throttle or cap heavy users like Clear does, so I’ll start looking there. The Sprint 250U looks like a good choice – widely available and supported by CradlePoint.

Next up is Verizon, which is building out an LTE 4G network. Although like Sprint Verizon requires a 2-year contract, they also offer a supported modem, the Pantech UML290.

Then there is T-Mobile USA, which brands its HSPA+ network as 4G. Although perhaps not technically 4G, this network offers higher performance than either competing network. The ZTE MF691 is supported by CradlePoint.

Shopping List

CradlePoint donated an MBR1200 to the cause after presenting at Networking Field Day, but I am still working on securing adequate 3G and 4G connectivity. Here’s my setup so far:

1. Failsafe Gigabit N Router for Mobile Broadband – The router itself
2. External Wifi Antennas for MBR1200 – Dual extended antennas
3. MBR1200 Modem Security Enclosure – A snap-on cover for the modems
4. Auto power adapter (5v, 2a) – Power on the go
5. Virgin Mobile Novatel MiFi 2200 – Virgin Mobile’s 3G modem

They support many, many modems, but not all. I’m also considering one of the following:

1. Sprint 3G/4G USB 250U modem
2. Verizon Pantech UML290 LTE 4G modem

Update!

As noted in the comments, CradlePoint suggests considering the following hardware instead:

1. MBR1400 Business Series N Wireless Router – This adds Wi-Fi to Wi-Fi “WiFi as WAN” to the MBR1200′s already impressive capabilities. Cool!
2. They suggest using an extension cord to place any WiMax modem a bit apart from the Wi-Fi radio since they tend to overlap. I know they’ve done extensive testing with radios, and I appreciate the advice!
3. CradlePoint suggests the Novatel 551 LTE modem, which is available from Verizon.

I went out and bought Clear’s PXU1900 WiMAX modem and Verizon’s Novatel MiFi 4151l to test these services. Read my follow-up posts:

Stephen’s Stance

This is very much a work in progress. The CradlePoint is great, but I’m not sure about the modems. I’ll post more once I have more experience. Until then, your bandwidth may vary!

© sfoskett for Stephen Foskett, Pack Rat, 2011. | Building a Combination 3G/4G/Wired Wi-Fi Network
This post was categorized as Everything, Personal, Terabyte home. Each of my categories has its own feed if you'd like to filter out or focus on posts like this.

With 18 (!) models to choose from, which iPad is the best choice?

Apple may make their product lines easy to understand, with simple and consistent names, but there sure are a lot of iPad 2 models. Which iPad is the best choice? I picked the 32 GB Wi-Fi model personally, but I can see cases where others might prefer a 3G or base model. Let’s consider it.

The iPad 2 Model Lineup

There are no less than 18 different iPad 2 models:

All of these are iPad 2′s, and selecting one comes down to four basic questions:

1. How much storage do I want?
2. Do I want black or white?
3. Do I want Wi-Fi or 3G?
4. If I pick 3G, do I want GSM (AT&T) or CDMA (Verizon)?

Let’s take these questions in turn.

How Much iPad Storage Is Enough?

I bought a first-generation iPad the day they came out, and it’s seen heavy usage in my house. It was a base model with just 16 GB of capacity, and that’s really put a crimp on the media we could carry around with us. It was plenty for apps, but not enough for music or (especially) movies.

The iPad capacity decision really comes down to a single question: Do I want to store movies on this thing?

If you intend to carry around much video, get more than 16 GB capacity. 32 GB is enough for a few movies and 64 is enough for a few more. Most buyers pick the largest capacity point (no doubt they want to carry around enough to be entertained wherever they go) and a good number pick the smallest (they must not want to watch stored video). I split the difference and bought a 32 GB iPad 2 and it’s been plenty for my use, and I’m a fairly heavy air traveler. But apparently the rest of the world doesn’t agree, since 32 GB is by far the least-common size!

One reason I didn’t go for 64 GB is a new feature in iOS 4.3: AirTunes. It’s now possible to stream video and audio to the iPad and iPad 2 from a computer running iTunes. Since my desktop acts as an iTunes server at home and my laptop contains over 100 GB of music and video, I didn’t feel that I needed as much capacity as in earlier iOS versions. If I want to watch something at home, I can always stream it.

I also purchased the iPad Camera Connection Kit, which makes it possible to watch movies from an SD card. But it’s really finicky, and I’ve never actually done it in practice.

Black or White?

I don’t really care as much about the color decision. It’s up to personal taste, really.

• Black is more understated and traditional, and I feel that the black bezel “works better” when watching movies.
• White is new and different, drawing attention that this is an iPad 2. I felt that the white border was distracting when reading and watching movies, though.

I chose black.

Wi-Fi or 3G?

A 3G iPad is an amazing thing: Pull it out and use it anywhere, any time. It really transforms the use case of the iPad, making it a mobile companion for people on the go.

But many of us are always within range of Wi-Fi, whether it’s our home router, business access point, Starbucks or McDonald’s, or a MiFi. It’s not quite as seamless to use (you have to tell it to use this or that Wi-Fi network) but it’s faster and unlimited. It’s also $130 cheaper.

I picked Wi-Fi only, since I already carry three 3G devices (a Virgin Mobile MiFi, Cradlepoint router, and iPhone 4) and didn’t want another expensive radio. But I’m disappointed with the Wi-Fi range and sensitivity (it’s much worse than the MacBook Pro or any iPhone) and find that, because of a lack of always-on connectivity, I often turn back to the iPhone rather than using the iPad.

I recommend spending the extra money and getting a 3G radio, but which one?

GSM or CDMA?

This seems like a no-brainer, but it’s not so simple. Every Apple owner loves to hate AT&T, so going with Verizon for the iPad sounds great. But the Verizon CDMA model isn’t at all portable outside the United States, while the AT&T GSM model is unlocked and ready to use anywhere. This means the GSM iPad 2 is much more in demand and will likely hold its value better. Plus, AT&T’s network seems to work fine for most users I know.

On the other hand, Verizon’s data plans are somewhat cheaper than AT&T’s for many users. As CNN money reported, AT&T starts cheaper, but Verizon wins past 4 GB per month. This could really add up as time goes by!

Stephen’s Stance

I recommend getting the AT&T iPad 2 in either 16 or 64 GB capacity. Decide if you will want to take a lot of media with you and, if so, opt for the bigger iPad. It’s funny – my own choice was the exact opposite of this recommendation!

© sfoskett for Stephen Foskett, Pack Rat, 2011. | Which iPad is the Best Choice?
This post was categorized as Apple, Ask a Pack Rat, Everything, Features, Personal, Terabyte home. Each of my categories has its own feed if you'd like to filter out or focus on posts like this.

It's like a MiFi, only way better!

Amazon is offering the PHS300 for just $79 with free shipping available. This is $100 off the retail price!

My PHS300 has been a constant companion for me for two years, providing Internet access for me and my friends wherever I go. I’m using it right now, in fact!

The PHS300 is a battery-powered box with a USB port and Wi-Fi radio. Attach almost any 3G or 4G modem or smartphone (other than the iPhone) and you’re online and sharing. It’s better than a MiFi: You can customize the experience, it’s faster (in my experience), and it scales to support way more users.

I love my Cradlepoint PHS300 router, and I love saving money. If I didn’t already have one, I’d be all over this deal!

Note: Some of these links include affiliate codes that help pay for this blog. For example, buying an Amazon Kindle with this link sends a few bucks my way! But I don't write this blog to make money, and am happy to link to sites and stores that don't pay anything. I like Amazon and buy tons from them, but you're free to buy whatever and wherever you want.

© sfoskett for Stephen Foskett, Pack Rat, 2011. | Get a Cradlepoint PHS300 Portable 3G WiFi Router For Just $79!
This post was categorized as Deals, Everything. Each of my categories has its own feed if you'd like to filter out or focus on posts like this.

It's like a MiFi, only way better!

I love my Cradlepoint PHS300 router. It’s been a constant companion for me for two years, providing Internet access for me and my friends at just about every conference I attend (and organize!) It’s a battery-powered box with a USB port and Wi-Fi radio. Attach almost any 3G or 4G modem or smartphone (other than the iPhone) and you’re online and sharing. And it’s better than a MiFi: You can customize the experience, it’s faster (in my testing), and it scales to support way more users.

I bought my PHS300 for about $180, which is kinda pricey compared to the alternatives. So I was pleased to receive an email from Cradlepoint (who I’ve come to know) letting me know about a sale they have going on right now. For a limited time (how long?), you can get the latest PHS300 router (updated with 4G support) as well as an extra battery for just $99! Compare this to Amazon’s lowest price of $100 for just the router plus $25 for the battery. Note: Use promo code “HOLIDAY” when you check out to receive the discount!

I suggest also picking up the “padded travel case” (which is more of a sleeve) since it holds the router, the extra battery, and a 3G stick. It’s just $15 from Cradlepoint or about $14 from Amazon.

Virgin Mobile offers the best unlimited mobile broadband deal in the USA

Speaking of 3G sticks, I’ve been experimenting with Virgin Mobile’s prepaid wireless here in the USA. It’s the best deal going – $40 for unlimited EV-DO data with no contract! I grabbed the Novatel MiFi 2200 for testing, but it is, as I mentioned, much slower than my old Novatel 727 and both use the same Sprint airwaves. I suggest getting the Ovation MC760 and Cradlepoint router instead. It seems quicker than the MiFi, though it could be that Sprint is throttling Virgin customers on their network…

This isn’t some kind of paid Cradlepoint ad – I don’t get a dime if you buy a PHS300 from them, and they’re not paying me for anything. I just like their products.

Note: Some of these links include affiliate codes that help pay for this blog. For example, buying an Amazon Kindle with this link sends a few bucks my way! But I don't write this blog to make money, and am happy to link to sites and stores that don't pay anything. I like Amazon and buy tons from them, but you're free to buy whatever and wherever you want.

© sfoskett for Stephen Foskett, Pack Rat, 2010. | Get a Cradlepoint PHS300 Portable 3G WiFi Router For Just $99!
This post was categorized as Deals, Everything, Personal. Each of my categories has its own feed if you'd like to filter out or focus on posts like this.

The battle for 4G is heating up, but no one's actually using 4G technology!

Americans have terrible mobile broadband network infrastructure, yet our service providers make it sound awesome. Now that 2 of our 4 national wireless providers now offer 4G service, one might conclude that the United States is awash in mobile broadband. But neither of these supposed 4G offerings is anywhere near fast enough to meet the ITU standards for 4G, and even our 3G networks woefully under-perform vendor promises. With no teeth in “truth-in-advertising” laws, it begs the question of what these supposed standards really mean.

Flashback: The 3G Rollout

When EDGE was added to existing GPRS networks by “2G” GSM carriers, many chose to advertise it as “3G”. For example, Cingular (forerunner of today’s AT&T Wireless) called their nationwide EDGE rollout a “third-generation” technology, clearly trying to capitalize on the buzz created by competitors Verizon and Sprint with their EV-DO 3G network. Cingular responded that EDGE was theoretically fast enough to be considered 3G, and this argument was eventually accepted, with EDGE added to the official list of 3G standards.

But EDGE wasn’t fast. Although theoretically capable of 1 Mbit/s throughput and 10 ms latency, the Cingular EDGE network was barely faster than the old GPRS network it replaced. Customers weren’t fooled, and although EDGE equipment became widespread, it wasn’t much of a selling point.

Then Cingular (now AT&T) decided to roll out HSPA technology, which offered “real” 3G speed. Suddenly, the EDGE network wasn’t 3G anymore (though they still call it “third generation” today). They began another nationwide 3G rollout, this time using HSPA for “up to” 14 Mbit/s downloads and 5.8 Mbit/s uploads once they turned on HSDPA and HSUPA. Although real-world performance lags, AT&T 3G is faster than their competitors. This is the 3G network that iPhone customers love to hate, and it still hasn’t reached the mid-American city where I live.

Sprint/Clear WiMAX: New Technology, Old Performance

Sprint and ClearWire got together in 2008 to launch a ”4G” network using WiMAX technology. This is the network that supports the Google Android-powered HTC EVO 4G phone, currently the darling of many technology folks who read this blog.

WiMAX is clearly a new technology, and the Sprint/Clear rollout has already cost billions. Yet WiMAX isn’t actually all that fast: The US network is limited to 6 Mbit/s download and 1 Mbit/s upload. This is slower than the HS(D|U)PA “3G” networks of AT&T and T-Mobile, and not much faster than the existing EV-DO Rev A networks of Verizon and Sprint itself.

Indeed, WiMAX isn’t anywhere near the 100 Mbit/s target set by the ITU-R as a minimum standard for mobile 4G networks, and will be hard-pressed to reach the ITU’s 1 Gbit/s fixed-location mark. Although WiMAX is a fourth-generation wireless technology, the ITU says it isn’t “4G”. But Sprint and Clear don’t care – they’re rapidly rolling ahead with sales of their “4G” hardware.

T-Mobile 4G: Play It Again

Then there’s the T-Mobile USA “4G rollout”. In light of the WiMAX push, T-Mobile decided to upgrade their existing network with HSPA+ technology. The company is aggressively selling this as 4G, and claiming they have the largest 4G network in the country.

HSPA+ definitely isn’t 4G according to the ITU. And it’s not a fourth-generation technology, either. HSPA+ is an evolution of the HSPA 3G technology already used around the world. But it works.

Unlike WiMAX, HSPA+ generally out-performs existing 3G networks by a wide margin. T-Mobile USA (and Telstra in Australia) are using a 21 Mbit/s variant that is noticeably faster than HSPA 3G, EV-DO Rev A, and Sprint/Clear WiMAX.

Stephen’s Stance

Neither WiMAX nor HSPA+ are true 4G networks according to the ITU, but it really doesn’t matter what some standards body says. Both are faster than existing technology, and both have the potential to benefit mobile broadband customers. Every technology under-performs its theoretical limits, and this is especially true with wireless networking gear. Perhaps the ITU should take what it’s calling 4G and rebadge it 5G – although LTE will be introduced next year, it won’t reach official 4G speeds any time soon.

It is frustrating to see consumers confused about naming, however. Cingular was insincere with their “third-generation” EDGE campaign, and this became obvious when they deployed real 3G technology. Although I can understand AT&T, Verizon, and Sprint getting upset about T-Mobile’s “4G” campaign, they don’t have as much to complain about this time around. T-Mobile is delivering blazing fast technology that beats everyone else in the industry and they deserve credit for that. As for me, I’d be happy with plain old 3G coverage!

Image credit: Cell Tower by live w mcs

© sfoskett for Stephen Foskett, Pack Rat, 2010. | 4G: Is It Really A Standard If No One Cares?
This post was categorized as Apple, Computer History, Everything, Personal. Each of my categories has its own feed if you'd like to filter out or focus on posts like this.