Filed under: Wireless, PowerBook
Testing EVDO
After reading my post last week where I was musing whether or not EVDO was worth it, Mike from EVDOinfo contacted me and offered to send me a loaner card complete with service to test for a week. The Kyocera KPC650 just arrived, and I had it up and running on my 15-inch PowerBook in about 10 minutes (the installer required a restart and the boot time ran a bit slower than normal; I'll have to test and see if this happens again, or if it was a one time after-installation slow down). So far so good.I'm running the PowerBook over the Verizon connection right now, while I am posting this and I plan on putting the service through the full ringer this week, reporting back here with what I find, so stay tuned.
UPDATE: Here's the first benchmarks, taken during my lunch break inside a building at work.
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
tophfisher said 12:40PM on 10-03-2005
VERY Intrested in your results... I too am looking at this serivce... I have to make things more complicated by using the service in Windows, OS X, and Linux... I guess I love the punishment?
At any rate, look forward to your update!
-tophfisher
http://bin-false.org
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cameron aka desk003 said 1:43PM on 10-03-2005
Think I could get one of those to test out?
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johnwillo said 1:53PM on 10-03-2005
I've been using Sprint's EVDO ("High Speed Wireless") using a Novatel S620 card and an external antenna and got this:
Your download speed : 529316 bps, or 516 kbps.
A 64.6 KB/sec transfer rate.
Your upload speed : 102259 bps, or 99 kbps.
This is in Reno, NV. I'm quite happy with the service. There's some latency, so don't plan on playing twitch games. It adds something like 500ms to latency in WoW, for instance.
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iFelix said 3:10PM on 10-03-2005
Here in the UK I have been using Vodafone's equivalent 3G service for over a year now.
When it works it is quite incredible, I have even managed to share the connection via Airport to create a portable wireless network.
However here in the UK coverage can be patchy, for example there is 3G coverage on one side of Starbucks at Glasgow Airport but not the other side.
Using it on the train can be fun as well, as you move from areas of 3G coverage to GPRS to areas with no connectivity.
Having said that I would recommend it.
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EVDO Guy said 3:15PM on 10-03-2005
Glad it is working well for you, keep us (and everyone else) updated with your results and comments.
BTW, the first time you install the card, the first time you startup, there is an extra 2-3 minute process while the card does a first time activation. This only happens the first time you use the card.
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Avi Flax said 3:16PM on 10-03-2005
I just tested internet access through Bluetooth to the Verizon Motorola E815 over EVDO. I wasn't sure whether the Bluetooth DUN method would enable full EVDO speed, but I was pleasantly surprised with the speed. Didn't test uploads, but downloads seemed quite fast, with various files coming in at 50Kbps - 150Kbps. Very nice! A great option for 12" owners, or for anyone that could use occasional remote net access and doesn't want to shell out $60 a month for unlimited access.
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Justin said 3:59PM on 10-03-2005
I'm pretty sure you don't even need Verizon's access manager app, as Tiger has Verizon EV-DO card drivers built-in (for certain cards at least - the Novatel one with the flip antenna is one of them I'm pretty sure). There's even a menu extra that gives you a cellphone-like signal strength reading. Haven't set any of this up, but Joel Johnson had this set up on his 15-incher when we were doing some work down in NOLA. Quite a bit more elegant than the VZN Access Manager - just pop in your card, your account info (phonenumber@vzn3g.com) and the password (which I think is 'vzn'), and the phone number (777), and bam! =)
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EVDO Guy said 4:24PM on 10-03-2005
Actually, the only card that is supported in Mac OS X is the PC5220. Apple built drivers in from 10.3.5 - 10.4.2. You stick in a PC5220 and you see the "magic menu" and it works. The PC5220 is no longer available from Verizon and it was the first card (been out 2+ years). We have drivers for the Novatel V620 at our web site (we are the only ones), BUT you do not see signal strength, you do not see what network you are on (EVDO vs. 1xRTT), and you cannot activate the card, so you need a PC and you need to insert your card in a PC every few months. The Kyocera KPC650 doesn't require this, it is fully supported (you see signal strength, network, and it can activate a card without needing a PC).
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EVDO Guy said 6:23PM on 10-03-2005
The average speed (that Verizon claims) is 400K - 700K download and 50K - 100K uploads, so yo are actually getting above what the averages are. However, that depends on your location, terrain, etc. I once benchmarked EVDO at my home at 1.9mb (now I get 700K - 1.1mb).
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Jason Golod said 7:44PM on 10-05-2005
Where are you located? I am trying to find people in San Francisco, Pacific Heights specifically, who are using EV-DO service.
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EVDO Guy said 1:18AM on 10-14-2005
I am located near Chicago. If you are looking to talk with users using EVDO, post your question on http://www.EVDOforums.com, you will get a response up there.
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