I have a situation that I haven't found on this forum. I work for AT&T and get a discount for Wireless Broadband (WBB) Service. They frown on me using anything but AT&T and may not reimburse me for it's use. I use VPN (Virtual Private Network) to access the company. I want to be able to work from my camper while located away from home as well as at home. This is so I don't have to have 2 HS Internet services one of which I will have to pay for. The work that I do for AT&T is Unix System Administration type of work. My camping area is mostly on the east cost centered around North Carolina with a several winter months stay in South Florida.
I'd like to know a is:
1. In general, is AT&T coverage good enough in most of the places to do?what I propose.
2. Does anybody know of any limitations that AT&T places on their WBB service?
3. Does anybody hav? experience with external amplification and antennas in regard to AT&T WBB?
I realize that some of you prefer other providers (Sprint and Verizon), but as an AT&T employee, I'm limited if I want them to pay for the service.
Doug & Mary Ann Van Dusen and Phoebe (the dog)
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I have a Sierra 860 aircard and ATT service. The coverage is ok, it's the actual service I have trouble with.
Your question is about the BB coverage, which is available only in urban areas, and works fine, usually. Where I have trouble is with the EDGE service. Unreliable, slow, and frequent disconnects. It's very difficult to predict just how it will behave, since I can have a strong signal and poor performance, and vice versa.
I'm writing this from downtown Las Vegas, where I'm on HSDPA, sometimes. My signal seems to vacillate between Edge and 3g. What's weird is, if I hook to my outside Wilson antenna, I get Edge. If I use my indoor 18" whip, I get 3g. That's a head scratcher.
Update: My HSDPA connect speed is 573 and 343. Acceptable, but not stellar performance.
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I realize that some of you prefer other providers (Sprint and Verizon), but as an AT&T employee, I'm limited if I want them to pay for the service.
If they pay for the service and it is not reliable, nothing prevents you from using a second service for backup. If you pay "out of pocket" for tools required for your trade or work situation, the cost is likely tax deductable. (check with your tax advisor)
Besides WBB, it is also possible to connect via dialup using a cellphone and adapter cable (select devices). Make them supply that device, too; for use as backup. You can likely use the same antenna/ booster.
I can speak to South Florida - the Keys anyway. I can work fine using AT&T service via my cell (3G in the Keys) service. I develop software for HP and work fulltime via a VPN. Most of my work is character-based and ftp for my editor - I presume being a Unix admin much of yours is too. If you're going to do X-windows or some other GUI over a VPN it may be a bit slow and patience will be required.
The entire East coast of Florida is listed as 3G coverage.
Dave
Life doesn't come with a safety fence around it... enjoy it anyway.
You probably know VPN is only available on plans that use the ISP gateway, which are the dataconnect plans, not the WAP gateway.
Look at their coverage maps, they are usually pretty accurate.
Wilson Cellular has the best solutions for cell antennas and amplification.
The only time an amplifier is needed is when you are a considerable distance from the coverage area. A good antenna will let you do data and voice when without the antenna you couldn't even connect. The link below is probably their best antenna. It is available it two models. One for mounting on the top of fiberglass RV/boat that provides it's own ground plane and one for mounting on metal roofs/mirrors that uses the ground plane of the vehicle. RV Antenna That is the one I have on my motor home. It works great.
Not all devices have external antenna connect ports. Check their adapter page to check for compatible devices. Wilson has adapters that connect their antennas to the various device ports.
If you have a decent at&t signal at home it should work out.
You might want to take a look at this forum to see what cards are working well with specific operating systems. at&t PC Card Forum
2000 Sea Breeze with 1998 CRV Toad in Dawson Creek - Start of Alaska Highway
Don't Forget - USS Liberty, June 08, 1967
I was using Millenicom Wireless Broadband for internet until today. Since Milliencom raised their rates last month, my connections have been getting slower and slower, plus getting dropped connections. Found out that Milleincom tech sends all problems to their main HQ in Oregon who then sends it to Sprint. Sprint will respond when they feel like responding. NOT a way to keep customers or get new customers.
Went back to Millenicom until this past Friday. Wireless Broadband Modem went out 20th of October. Contacted Millenicom and was told that they had problems in my area which somehow messed up everything and they were going to send me a replacement out over night delivery. After 1 week and no replacement modem, I called Millenicom who told me the modem was sent out and they gave me my old address as where it was sent to. Called my mail forwarding co and told them to send it back as refused. Called Millenicom and explained that they had sent it to the wrong address. They had my correct address and said they would sent me another also overnight delivery. One week later, same thing, wrong address. Again called Millenicom last Monday morning and was assured that another one would be sent out that very afternoon. Well, Nothing in the mail Wed or Thurs so I called Millenicom and told them that I was canceling my contract and wanted my payment reimbursed due to not being able to use the modem for almost 3 weeks. Was told that refund will be given when they receive the modem back. Friday saw a new replacement shipped out Wednesday, NOT Monday as they had assured me it was to have been shipped out. Told PO to send it back as refused. Had to get a new cell phone provider as T-Mobil was useless where I am and went for Alltel for both cell and internet usage. So far it seems to be faster than the Broadband modem and I have yet to be disconnected during calls. And it cost me $30 a month less than Millenicom.
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