Mobile internet options

[flyingcheesehead]

Question for those of you who keep up with this stuff...

Currently, I have my iPhone 3Gs on iOS 3.0.1 which allows me to tether my laptop for free on my unlimited data plan.

With iOS 4.2 coming out very soon, I'll have no reason not to upgrade my iPad, and I'll probably get spoiled enough with the new features that I'll want to upgrade the iPhone as well, which is going to hose my tethering ability.

So, I need to find something besides the iPhone for mobile data. And when I say "mobile data" I mean "Getting my laptop online when I'm away from a WiFi signal."

However - I want something cheap, as I won't be using it much. I'm not in the truck any more, I have WiFi at home and at school and both are hooked up to screaming fast connections, far better than any mobile option. So, it's not going to be used a whole heckuva lot, I just want to have the option there when I need it.

The options I've considered so far:

1) Verizon MyFi. At $60/month, this is pretty much a non-starter. I won't use it anywhere near enough to make that worthwhile.

2) Do "legitimate" tethering through the iPhone. That means I would have to give up my unlimited data plan and switch to the 2GB/mo plan (saving $5) but add another $20 for the tethering option. So, I'd lose my unlimited data and have to pay an extra $15/month, just to be able to upgrade to iOS 4. Obviously, this doesn't sit too well with me either.

So... Is there a cheap pay-as-you-go MyFi type thing? What other options are there?

 

[ScottM]

What type of coverage are you looking for?

Right now 3G or 1xEV-DO have the widest coverage maps. Clear's WiMAX is still growing and mostly centered around a few urban places. It is in Chicago and its burbs but very limited coverage north of the cheddar curtain right now.

If you are going places where AT&T has WiFi coverage you could add that option onto your current AT&T account. But other than that not a whole lot of choices. If I were you I would consider tethering your iPhone.

 

[flyingcheesehead]

What type of coverage are you looking for?

Well... The more places it works, the better. I do spend most of my time in southern Wisconsin, but obviously I fly all over too. So yeah, I'm pretty much looking for 3G connectivity. I'd go with any service provider except Sprint.

If you are going places where AT&T has WiFi coverage you could add that option onto your current AT&T account. But other than that not a whole lot of choices. If I were you I would consider tethering your iPhone.

Naah, I'm thinking of places like the airport (and I don't mean the pax terminal) where there is no WiFi at all, AT&T or otherwise.

 

[EdFred]

There's a tethering app for the Droid which bypasses the dataplan charge. Of course it's not available through the Droid marketplace. You can get apps for the iPhone not from the Apple store right?

*poke*
*poke*
*poke*

 

[flyingcheesehead]

There's a tethering app for the Droid which bypasses the dataplan charge. Of course it's not available through the Droid marketplace. You can get apps for the iPhone not from the Apple store right?

*poke*
*poke*
*poke*

Actually, yes.

(But it involves jailbreaking, which I don't want to do.)

 

[zaitcev]

There's a tethering app for the Droid which bypasses the dataplan charge.

My wife uses PDAnet on Verizon, but it has two downsides:
- it is still ridiculously expensive, because it needs at least some data plan ($80/mo: the data portion is only $30 but the catch is, you need $50 of voice).
- there is no guarantee that a sudden over-the-air update won't kill it.

 

[jason]

It's pretty much a mifi (from any provider) or paid iPhone tethering. I went with the second. I never ever got close to 2GB anyway because I'm always on wifi. Then, really, the difference between what you're paying now and the full tethering plan is only $15/mo (because your data plan will be cheaper).

I'd warn you to rethink upgrading your 3Gs to 4.x unless you need the features. I think they made it better with 4.1, but 4.0 made the 3Gs almost unusable.

 

[Arbiter419]

The only thing I have to add to this discussion is that I've used the Verizon option, and while it is on the pricey side, it gives a pretty decent connection...

But the real purpose of this post is to let EdFred know that his avatar is awesome! Bazinga!

 

[flyingcheesehead]

It's pretty much a mifi (from any provider) or paid iPhone tethering. I went with the second. I never ever got close to 2GB anyway because I'm always on wifi. Then, really, the difference between what you're paying now and the full tethering plan is only $15/mo (because your data plan will be cheaper).

Well, I may not use 2GB any more, but I was using 5 or 6 GB/mo before... Not sure where my usage is now. But, I do like having the unlimited plan... And not paying an extra $15/mo. So maybe I'll just have to leave the iPhone as-is.

I'd warn you to rethink upgrading your 3Gs to 4.x unless you need the features. I think they made it better with 4.1, but 4.0 made the 3Gs almost unusable.

No, that was the 3G. The 3Gs was fine. Word is, it's MUCH better in 4.1, and better yet in 4.2.

 

[Let'sgoflying!]

This is puzzling, why does an 'upgrade' result in loss of functionality?

 

[jesse]

This is puzzling, why does an 'upgrade' result in loss of functionality?

Because AT&T's network couldn't cut it and they were losing their ass and have to pay to upgrade it somehow.

 

[flyingcheesehead]

This is puzzling, why does an 'upgrade' result in loss of functionality?

The functionality was never theoretically there - It was hidden because AT&T wouldn't play nice. But, it was still fairly easily enabled in the 3.0 and 3.0.1 software (which is how I'm doing it now). That ticked off AT&T, who told Apple they would never support tethering unless Apple built a way into the OS for AT&T to charge for it - So they did, and that was part of the 3.1 "upgrade." But then AT&T still didn't support tethering until iOS 4 came out.

So, I'd be going from getting it for free under 3.0.1, to having to pay for it under 4.2 - And while I'm grandfathered in to my unlimited data plan right now, if I were to go to AT&T and offer them extra money to tether, they'd take away my unlimited data. So, I haven't upgraded and they haven't gotten a dime from me.

Seems a bit silly of AT&T to punish me for wanting to give them more money, doesn't it?

 

[jason]

No, that was the 3G. The 3Gs was fine. Word is, it's MUCH better in 4.1, and better yet in 4.2.

You're right. I went straight fromt he 3G to the 4. Not sure what I was thinking. Just remembered upgrading my iPhone and having nightmarish performance.

 

[Everskyward]

You're right. I went straight fromt he 3G to the 4. Not sure what I was thinking. Just remembered upgrading my iPhone and having nightmarish performance.

I have a 3G and it was pretty slow after the first upgrade to 4.0 but got better after subsequent upgrades. As far as mobile internet, I have Verizon USB stick but at about $60/month I'm sure it's more than Kent wants to pay. I have thought about getting a new iPhone with the $15 tethering option but I have about a year left on my Verizon contract. Maybe next near when the new iPhones come out.

 

[ScottM]

Well... The more places it works, the better. I do spend most of my time in southern Wisconsin, but obviously I fly all over too. So yeah, I'm pretty much looking for 3G connectivity. I'd go with any service provider except Sprint.



Naah, I'm thinking of places like the airport (and I don't mean the pax terminal) where there is no WiFi at all, AT&T or otherwise.

That is kind of what I thought you meant but wanted to be sure. I with Clearwire was up in your area as the price and dataspeeds are really nice. But that is not an option for you right now. Given that you really can only choose between the two 3G option. 1xEV-DO is at rev A and going to rev B in the Verizon network, I am not sure about Sprint's roll out of rev B. Both Verizon and Sprint are looking at LTE tests this year but that will not help you at all right now.

So I guess the question is 1xEV-DO or AT&T 3G with tethering.

You mentioned that you were not sure of your current data usage. There is an app that will let you see what data you have used thus far. http://appadvice.com/appnn/2010/06/check-att-data-usage/

Does your iPad have the 3G in it? Can you also do tethering with it?

 

[Let'sgoflying!]

Thanks, good explanation Kent.

 

[wsuffa]

The functionality was never theoretically there - It was hidden because AT&T wouldn't play nice. But, it was still fairly easily enabled in the 3.0 and 3.0.1 software (which is how I'm doing it now). That ticked off AT&T, who told Apple they would never support tethering unless Apple built a way into the OS for AT&T to charge for it - So they did, and that was part of the 3.1 "upgrade." But then AT&T still didn't support tethering until iOS 4 came out.

So, I'd be going from getting it for free under 3.0.1, to having to pay for it under 4.2 - And while I'm grandfathered in to my unlimited data plan right now, if I were to go to AT&T and offer them extra money to tether, they'd take away my unlimited data. So, I haven't upgraded and they haven't gotten a dime from me.

Seems a bit silly of AT&T to punish me for wanting to give them more money, doesn't it?

Verizon did much the same thing when the upgrade to 2.2 Android came out. Tethering was available, but it requires that you take a 2 GB/month dataplan. What, you want the 5 GB plan? Then you CAN'T do wifi tethering, but you CAN do hardwire tethering (which requires that you install their management software on the PC). So what's the difference between wifi tethering and wired tethering? , just, it seems, a way to gouge you or limit your use.

That is kind of what I thought you meant but wanted to be sure. I with Clearwire was up in your area as the price and dataspeeds are really nice. But that is not an option for you right now. Given that you really can only choose between the two 3G option. 1xEV-DO is at rev A and going to rev B in the Verizon network, I am not sure about Sprint's roll out of rev B. Both Verizon and Sprint are looking at LTE tests this year but that will not help you at all right now.

Clearwire is available in my area, but it doesn't cover everywhere and it's my understanding that Clearwire has been throttling back datarates because they can't support all the users at some sites & they're cash-short (crimping expansion).

Kent, you might take a look at Virgin Mobile's prepaid option. Supposedly unlimited data, runs on Sprint's EvDO network, MiFi unit, $40/month no contracts. Walmart is selling the MiFi units or you can get one online or at most Sprint outlets.

I'll put in a good word for the MiFi unit. I was in Italy a couple of weeks ago. I picked up a MiFi 2352 unit before I left (ebay) and updated the firmware. I got a prepaid SIM from TIM (Italian carrier) and activated the prepaid data option. It worked like a charm. Saved me the hotel internet costs ($$$) and allowed me to use my VZ Android for mobile data while walking around Rome. With judicious use of the unit (not on all the time), I coaxed a full day out of the battery. Excellent operation, and avoids the overhead of using installed data management software on the computer.

I'm very likely to dump my Sprint USB card in favor of the Virgin MiFi.

 

[JeffDG]

My wife uses PDAnet on Verizon, but it has two downsides:
- it is still ridiculously expensive, because it needs at least some data plan ($80/mo: the data portion is only $30 but the catch is, you need $50 of voice).
- there is no guarantee that a sudden over-the-air update won't kill it.

Really?

I already have an unlim. data plan on my Droid, and PDAnet (which BTW is available from the Market) has worked great for me without any additional charges. And if you don't need HTTPS, PDAnet is free.

 

[flyingcheesehead]

So I guess the question is 1xEV-DO or AT&T 3G with tethering.

Yep, pretty much.

You mentioned that you were not sure of your current data usage.

Just looked on the AT&T web site. Tethering definitely makes a difference! In May, June and July, I used 5.5GB, 2.7GB, and 3.7GB. In August (the month that I came off the road, so only a partial month of tethering) I used 2.1GB. September and October? 0.6GB and 0.3GB, which is all just phone data usage, I haven't tethered at all.

Does your iPad have the 3G in it? Can you also do tethering with it?

Yes, the iPad has 3G. No, it does not support tethering.

Verizon did much the same thing when the upgrade to 2.2 Android came out. Tethering was available, but it requires that you take a 2 GB/month dataplan. What, you want the 5 GB plan? Then you CAN'T do wifi tethering, but you CAN do hardwire tethering (which requires that you install their management software on the PC). So what's the difference between wifi tethering and wired tethering? , just, it seems, a way to gouge you or limit your use.

Yup. FWIW, there's no difference on the iPhone - The plans are the same whether you tether with a wire or without.

Kent, you might take a look at Virgin Mobile's prepaid option. Supposedly unlimited data, runs on Sprint's EvDO network, MiFi unit, $40/month no contracts. Walmart is selling the MiFi units or you can get one online or at most Sprint outlets.

Hmmm. Beats Verizon's price for sure, but $40/month is still pretty steep for something I'm only gonna use as a backup.

I think I can turn the AT&T tethering on and off - So I guess I'll simply do the "upgrade" and then if/when I need tethering I'll get it turned on for a month. I guess I'm not gonna do any better than that... And hopefully I won't use more than 2GB of data again.

 

[ScottM]

BTW Kent you may start to hear about 4G from T-Mobile. Just and FYI that is not LTE it is what other call 3G.

All of the G's 1G, 2G, 3G and 4G are marketing terms. THERE IS NO OFFICIAL G GIVER. The ITU-R WP5D actually calls things that most people call 3G, IMT-2000. There are technologies in IMT-2000 that are marketed under the 4G umbrella like WiMAX and T-Mobile HSPA+.

The latest explosion about naming is 4G. Sprint and Clearwire started calling WiMAX 4G so now T-Mobile is doing that with their HSPA+. The Canadian delegation to the ITU-R, along with the US and Japan, all agreed and passed a resolution in WP5D that 4G was not to be mentioned at all. But the chair of the group, an AT&T employee, decided that in a press release made by the ITU that WP5D would decide who is the official naming authority. This has several groups gearing up nasty letters to the ITU stating that this declaration was in violation of a passed resolution and that it needs to be rescinded.

Just so you know AT&T is not the only people playing games with names. The whole Verizon 'more 3G coverage' is also just marketing hype. The 3G that Verizion has, CDMA 1x, was barely considered worthy of inclusion in IMT-2000. The full variant that was considered IMT-2000 technology was CDMA 3x. That is to say 3X the amount of bandwidth than 1x (1.25MHz channels).

 

[flyingcheesehead]

BTW Kent you may start to hear about 4G from T-Mobile. Just and FYI that is not LTE it is what other call 3G.

Yeah, T-Mobile seems to be far behind in the data department.

All of the G's 1G, 2G, 3G and 4G are marketing terms. THERE IS NO OFFICIAL G GIVER. The ITU-R WP5D actually calls things that most people call 3G, IMT-2000. There are technologies in IMT-2000 that are marketed under the 4G umbrella like WiMAX and T-Mobile HSPA+.

I'm shocked, SHOCKED, that this is happening! (not. )

The latest explosion about naming is 4G. Sprint and Clearwire started calling WiMAX 4G so now T-Mobile is doing that with their HSPA+.

And isn't that what AT&T has already? (Wait - I think I'm confusing that with the HSUPA that was added to the iPhone 4 in addition to the HSDPA that's in mine.)

 

[ScottM]

And isn't that what AT&T has already? (Wait - I think I'm confusing that with the HSUPA that was added to the iPhone 4 in addition to the HSDPA that's in mine.)

Th best way to answer that is: yeah sorta. Close enough.

A little history is that when the 3G spectrum auctions happened in Europe a lot of companies paid way too much for some 3G aka WCDMA spectrum. It took years to deploy because no one had much money left to buy equipment. But hey, the regulator aka government got a good pay off. Our regulator saw this and the FCC started doing spectrum auction as well, SIGH. I shall not go further with my feelings about spectrum auctions.

In the meantime the European carriers started deploying enhancements to their GSM networks while they saved their pennies for 3G. Work on Systems Beyond IMT-2000 started in the ITU-R (that is what I was working on at the time) and the term 4G was verbotten. As 3G finally started to deploy and things like EDGE were already out there doing some data, the real need was not so much voice capacity as data support. So a whole bunch of 3.5G, 3.6G, 3.8G, etc. stuff started being developed. The HSPA (HSUPA/HSDPA) stuff was sort of called 3.9G in order to avoid the scary 4G tag. When WiMAX came along out of another evolutionary path and needed to be perceived differently the carrier had no issues calling it 4G. And thus a marketing war has started. Now every one wants to be called 4G. Except for those that made a big deal about branding their networks around the 3G label. SIGH!

 

[RJM62]

I pull 4G on my Sprint MiFi in about half the places I go (mainly in NY and PA), and 3G in the rest. Unlimited bandwidth on 4G, 5 GB/mo on 3G. $60.00/month. YMMV.

-Rich