magicbus
LBI, NJ or Nantucket, MA
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Joined: 06/16/2002
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Fed Ex delivered my GC83 GMS/GPRS/EDGE card and software today. Installation was a snap - install the CD and keep clicking next until the Finish Button showed up. Next step was to install the card.
I got good signal almost immediately but no service. Finally after about 10 minutes I connected to the network. After doing some tests I shutdown. When I tried to reconnect it only took about 30 seconds and my guess is I was going through some registration process the first time.
I ran a speed test at C-Net and came up with 166KbS which is more than I expected. Next I connected to work using my VPN, to my MS Exchange server, and then the computers I work on, with no problem.
As a final test tonight I did a speed test with and without the VPN. Went from 166KbS without, to 88KbS with the VPN connected. No real surprise here but it's faster than I was led to believe satellite VPN would be so that's not so bad.
So far so good - time to take this card on a road trip!
Dave
Life doesn't come with a safety fence around it... enjoy it anyway.
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ocexpress
Just Roaming
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Joined: 06/29/2003
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What network does it say you are connected to? That is twice the speed I get here on the Oregon coast. I have installed the Nettgain software provided on the ATT support page, and it does help some. Roaming here I get about 20k.  I am hoping that when we get off the coast, the speed will increase greatly.
American Tradition with Saturn SL2 toad
Husband of 29 years and our boys Poncho and Cisco
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2oldman
Moses Lake
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Thanks.
I'm upgrading to GSM/TDMA dual mode nationwide with a Siemens S46 phone, and was wondering if ATT internet would work.
I've been relying on wifi, but not sure if that'll always be available.
"If I'm wearing long pants, I'm too far north" - 2oldman
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Dick A
Spokane
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Am I correct or mislead in understanding GSM (Global System for Mobile – the prime European standard ) is used primarily by Cingular and AT&T (which are slated to merge) and CDMA (code division multiple access - a Qualcom standard) is used primarily by Verizon and the two standards do not reside simultaneously in the same currently manufactured handsets?
2009 Tiffin 43QBP
US Gear UTB
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magicbus
LBI, NJ or Nantucket, MA
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Joined: 06/16/2002
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Quote:Am I correct or mislead in understanding GSM (Global System for Mobile – the prime European standard ) is used primarily by Cingular and AT&T (which are slated to merge) and CDMA (code division multiple access - a Qualcom standard) is used primarily by Verizon and the two standards do not reside simultaneously in the same currently manufactured handsets? Yes and no. Verizon uses CDMA, Cingular also used TDMA (time division) but it is being phased out for GSM, but Samsung does provide a phone that supports GSM/GPRS and CDMA.
My high-level understanding is that GPRS and EDGE are ways of combining multiple GSM channels for higher speed access - but don't take that to the bank!
Dave
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magicbus
LBI, NJ or Nantucket, MA
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Quote:What network does it say you are connected to? I believe I'm connected to an AT&T tower although it could be Cingular - I'm not sure what it will indicate when I roam (other than force me to reconnect my VPN according to the documentation). Interesting to see the note about the NetGain software - I was thinking about downloading that today.
On edit - I just read where Netgain is NOT recommended when using a VPN which I do most all the time.
Dave
* This post was
edited 09/03/04 08:47am by magicbus *
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ocexpress
Just Roaming
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Magicbus, the connection manager shows "unknown" under the ATT proxy banner. I dont know who it might be roaming to, but it is terribly slow here on the Oregon coast. But at least I have service. I considered satellite but wanted to wait awhile to see if we are happy with the rv lifestyle before purchasing the motosat. The wireless card seemed to be the best option for us at the time. Maybe when we get to California the speed will increase. 
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WayneLee
Out West Somewhere
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For a good article comparing Verizon's EVDO and AT&T's EDGE technologies, here is a link to an article in PCWorld:
PCWorld Article
According to the article, AT&T's EDGE is rated at 100 - 130 kps with bursts up to 200 kps. This is lower than magicbus actually experienced!
Verizon's EVDO technology is true wireless broadband, high speed, internet access. According to another article I read, Verizon plans to roll out EVDO to everywhere it has digial coverage by the end of next year.
Presently, you can get "Nationwide Access" from Verizon that gives you EVDO technology where available and "dial up" speeds when you are not in the EVDO areas.
Wayne Lee
Out West Somewhere
2007 36' Class A HR Endeavor | 2006 Hummer H3 Dinghy | DataStorm Satellite Internet
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magicbus
LBI, NJ or Nantucket, MA
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Quote:Presently, you can get "Nationwide Access" from Verizon that gives you EVDO technology where available and "dial up" speeds when you are not in the EVDO areas. Well, from what I see on the InternetbyCellPhone group, Verizon data "dialup" speeds of 14.4 aren't all that uncommon.
What really turned me off from Verizon - other that a fundamental (although possibly entirely incorrect) distrust of their planned rollout schedule - is the incredible gyrations poeple seem to have to go through to use the service. I've read a lot of the posts on the InternetByCellPhone board and there seem to be a lot of hoops to jump through to get connectivity in one place, voice in another, not use minutes, etc., etc. Don has done a great job identifying these hoops and publishing helpful tips, but I feel badly for all the people who haven't found his site and are trying to use Verizon's service!
Anyway, I wanted a solution to fit what I needed - turn it on and it works with my VPN requirements. I asked about VPN at the yahoo group and received ZERO responses. I do NOT require Internet access everywhere I travel, only when I want to work.
I guess if there was a single solution for motorhomers we'd all be driving Country Coaches! 
Dave
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WayneLee
Out West Somewhere
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To magicbus: I too belong to the Yahoo Group, I am with Verizon and I currently using my cell phone, data cable, and laptop to access the internet. Speed wise - if you use Verizon's Q2N network, the speeds are very slow. However, as Don points out, if you use the Express Network, you will get higher speeds. I have clocked mine at up to 80 kps (with Venturi software compression) which approaches the AT&T EDGE speed and virtually no cost, only MOU's!
I am holding out to find out what will happen with Verizon's EVDO technology before I take the plunge. So far, Verizon has exceeded expectations by rolling out EVDO before they had planned! Probably because of the competition! According to the technical articles, to upgrade cell towers to EVDO requires only putting a new "card" into the tower's electronics - so the roll out of EVDO should not require much in the way of captial expenditures.
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