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I Want my EVDO

by Laurie A. Duncan Apr 8th 2005 at 11:15AM

evdo plus 12inch powerbook = nirvanaVerizon offers an EVDO (Evolution Data Only or Evolution Data Optimized, if you prefer) service called BroadbandAccess. They don’t officially support it for use with the Mac or OS X, but it works beautifully, with typical speeds of 400-700 kbps (theoretically capable of reaching speeds up to 2 Mbps) and decent coverage in major markets. Apple even has plug-and-play drivers for Verizon’s PC 5220 card.

With EVDO, you get seamless, always-on internet connectivity without being tied down to a HotSpot or having to suffer the comparatively slow connection you get with a cellphone or PDA.

I want it. It’s $80 bucks a month and worth every penny to me. There’s just one problem. My mobile computing platform is a 12-inch Powerbook, which lacks the PCMCIA slot required to use the PC 5220 card.

I use a 12-inch Powerbook because I regularly carry 20-30lbs of gear around on my back and every ounce counts. If I didn’t live and work in New York City, the schlepping capital of the world, I would have a 15 or even a 17-inch Powerbook because I could load up my car with as much gear as I wanted without caring about how much it weighed. But I do live here and I’m not moving.

There has to be a way… Here’s where you come in. Is anyone aware of a USB, Firewire or even Ethernet PCMCIA adapter that would make this work? I don’t mind the extra dongle (an extra ounce in my bag won’t kill me), I just want the speed without added size and weight of a 15-inch Powerbook.

As a reward for anyone who can lead me to a solution that works, I will personally guarantee you a week free of C.K. using the acronyms PSP or DRM. Actually, make that 5 contiguous days. After all… I’m only human.



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Verizon offers an EVDO (Evolution Data Only or Evolution Data Optimized, if you prefer) service called BroadbandAccess. They...
 

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Phil

Just found a good interim solution for those of us not yet willing to upgrade to a 15" or ::gasp:: buy a MacBook Pro. Google Kyocera KR1. Just released, fairly inexpensive, and cross platform. Its a WiFi router with 4 10/100s in the back, which accepts the PCMCIA card and re-broadcasts.

February 16 2006 at 1:29 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Mr. G

Buy the UTStarCom XV6600 PDA/Smartphone. Dump the car the XV6600 is EVDO capable and bluetooth. I have my PC and PowerBook G4 to connect to the internet using bluetooth as the modem. It works on both. It takes about 2 minutes to setup but it will be cruising...I have a Data Card slot on my G4 but I rather use the bluetooth connection...You see EVDO is cheaper on a PDA only $44.99 a month.

August 13 2005 at 10:49 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Edwin

and by the way... bluetooth is not too slow for EVDO. With class 1 bluetooth dongle you may get speeds of up to 400Kbps and with a class 2 bluetooth you will get up to 700Kbps. I know. I tested them.

July 08 2005 at 5:31 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Edwin

What about getting a EVDO Router? cost about the same as the xv6600 in fact you can then share your evdo connection with just about everyone or no one . This specific router is used by the swat and Metro Police in Washinton DC so you know its secure. https://evdo.sslpowered.com/secure-wi-fi-wifi-sharing.htm

July 08 2005 at 5:20 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
cecil

The Moto v710 does not support EVDO, only 1xRTT. Wait a couple weeks to a month for the updated model, the Moto E815, essentially the v710 w/EVDO and a few other improvements. After that it's simple, just pair it with your PWBook, and select the Verizon Wireless(PC 5220) dialing profile in Tiger. #777 as the number to dial, your 10-digit phone number + @vzw3g.com as the login ex. 1112223333@vzw3g.com and vzw as the password. This will use your minutes if you are not on a data plan, however so make sure adjust your plan if you want to really use it for more than a lifeline.

July 01 2005 at 3:20 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Michael Ginsberg

Should be getting a demo unit in a few weeks. Will report on how well it works, and if we can get it working with Mac OS X.

June 22 2005 at 11:06 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Michael Ginsberg

One issue with using a BlueTooth phone, is that bluetooth built into the phone is TOO slow for EVDO. The new PBs have BlueTooth 2.0, not sure if any available phones have that yet. You would be limited yourself with BlueTooth - so a USB cable and your PB12 may be the answer: http://www.evdoforums.com/about144.html

May 13 2005 at 12:24 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Laurie

Michael - I was just getting ready to offer up my first born to you. Then I read "currently under development." ARGH! I WANT IT NOW!!!!!

May 03 2005 at 9:22 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Michael Ginsberg

Here is a product that is a USB EVDO modem. This is the answer. http://www.EVDOinfo.com/EVDO_Products/PC_Cards_%26_Antennas/EVDO_USB_Modem_by_Falcom%2C_Samba_3G_20050426259/

May 03 2005 at 2:07 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Michael Ginsberg

This is the main reason, I upgraded from my PowerBook 12 inch to PowerBook 15, I could not live without EVDO.

April 10 2005 at 10:24 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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