Sprint Overdrive WiFi Issues with iPhone/iPod Touch

Many users of the new Sierra 3G/4G Overdrive hotspot have noticed that their iPhone or iPod Touch do not work as well as one might hope with the Overdrive - the i-device will connect to the WiFi hotspot, but performance is slow. 3Gstore has also confirmed these issues in our extensive testing.

Our sources at Sierra Wireless have now confirmed that these WiFi issues are a known problem. The problem appears to be related to the wireless chipsets, and Sierra Wireless has confirmed that they are working on a new firmware release to address the problems this week. The firmware will likely first be released to Sprint before becoming available to consumers, but we will make sure to keep you posted as news about the firmware fix becomes available!

You can discuss the firmware fix and watch for developments on the EVDO Forums. If you'd like to be notified when updates become available, we recommend following that forum thread (to "follow" the thread on the EVDO forums, log in and then click the "watch this topic for replies" link beneath the thread).

We are very hopeful that the new firmware will be available soon so that iPhone and iPod Touch users can take full advantage of the 3G and 4G speeds the Overdrive is capable of providing!

Related links:

• Discuss the Overdrive + iPhone/iPod Touch WiFi issues on the EVDO Forums 
• Read more about the Overdrive
• Purchase the Overdrive for $99.99 after rebate with new Sprint contract
  

EVDOinfo.com has long been your source for tips, tricks, hacks and suggestions for getting the most out of your EVDO service, and each week we will be highlighting a particularly interesting or popular topic in the "Tip of the Week" feature. To suggest future Tips of the Week, contact us at suggestions@evdoinfo.com or post your suggestions in the EVDO Forums.

Using OpenDNS With Your Cradlepoint Router

What is a DNS Server? A DNS Server is like a phone book for the internet. When you go to an address like www.google.com, your web browser doesn’t know where to find google.com, so it will query the DNS server to find out. The job of a DNS server is to look up the domain web address (www.google.com) and provide the IP address of Google's server (72.14.204.99). Once your computer knows the IP location of a web domain name, it opens the website in your browser.

DNS plays a very important role on your mobile broadband browsing experience, as the DNS server can prove to be the slowest link in the process of loading a web page. If the DNS server of your ISP is slow, the time it takes to resolve the web address adds up to the overall loading time of the website. This becomes even more of a problem with more complex web sites, as there may be images, Flash video, or other items that are stored on different servers. This means that the DNS server has to look up several different domains before it can locate all of the servers that the content is stored on, and it can only begin to download all the information on the page after it resolves the IP addresses for each server.

By default, your router uses your ISP's DNS servers (such as Sprint or Verizon). IPS's DNS servers tend to be a lot slower compared to dedicated DNS servers like the ones from OpenDNS. This is because your ISP's DNS servers don't cache the IP address for most domains, so it takes longer to find the IP address for the domain that you are trying to get to. OpenDNS servers store the IP addresses of millions of websites in their cache, so it takes significantly less time to locate the server that you are trying to access.

In addition to providing a faster browsing experience, OpenDNS provides better security by blocking phishing websites that often pretend to look like other commercial websites to steal your information. OpenDNS has a database of these websites, and will prevent you from accessing the known phishing scams on the internet. This is a feature that could really help you sleep more comfortably at night!

Now, with Google recently offering their own free DNS services, you might ask why we recommend OpenDNS instead of Google DNS. First of all, Google's DNS service doesn't provide the extra security features that OpenDNS does, such as blocking phishing scam sites that try to steal your paypal, banking, and other important login information. On top of that, we did some extensive testing to determine overall which DNS service is faster. Since our audience is all over the United States, we had our employees in California, Illinois, and Virginia perform these tests, so we have results from the East/West Coast and the center of the country. Each employee noticed that OpenDNS was faster than Google at resolving almost every domain name. We averaged all of the times together, and our results are shown in the graph below. (Keep in mind that lower times are better [faster]):

click the image to view the full size version

Using the OpenDNS service is free, provides better security, and faster performance - and it's very easy to use with Cradlepoint routers! Below are the steps to configure your Cradlepoint router to use OpenDNS:

1. Connect to your Cradlepoint router and access the web admin by navigating your web browser http://192.168.0.1 (the default password is the last 6 characters of your MAC address located on the bottom of the router)
2. Once you're logged in, select the Basic tab at the top of the page.
3. From the "Basic" menu on the left side of the page, choose WAN.
4. Scroll down to the bottom of the page. Under the DNS Settings section, click Use the following DNS Servers.
5. Enter the following settings (Also pictured below):
       Primary DNS Server: 208.67.222.222
       Secondary DNS Server: 208.67.220.220
6. Scroll back up to the top of the page, Click Save Settings, and then Reboot The Device.

That's it - your router will now be configured to use OpenDNS, for a faster and safer browsing experience!

Related links:

• Discuss this Tip on the EVDO Forums
• View/Purchase Cradlepoint Routers
• View previous Tips of the Week

New CLEAR 4G WiMAX Devices and Plan Changes 

CLEAR is kicking off the month of February with some very exciting changes to their lineup of 4G modems and service plans!

New CLEAR Devices:

CLEAR "Series M" Home Modem (left): The new "Series M" modem is the successor to the original Home Modem and features an enhanced internal antenna for improved reception. The "Series M" modem is available for $79.99 or it can be leased for $4.99/mo if you select a 2-year contract. 

The "Series M" modem is only available to customers in Portland, Atlanta, Milledgeville, Salem, Chicago, Bellingham, All Texas Markets, Boise, Honolulu, Maui, Kitsap, Seattle, Snohomish, Tacoma, and Houston - customers in other markets should consider the original home modem.

CLEAR 4G Mobile USB Modem (PXU1900) (right): This is the successor to the CLEAR USB modem, and offers some nice benefits over the original. Its internal antenna has been improved for better reception, and it consumes much less power (very important if you're using it in your laptop and your laptop is not plugged in). It also has a hinged/swivel design, meaning you can flip it up instead of having it stick straight out of your laptop. The most exciting aspect of the PXU1900, though, is that it can be used with the optional USB Performance Dock, which also debuted today, for better signal (see more below)!

Like the original CLEAR USB modem, the PXU1900 is compatible with both Macs and PCs. As far as routers go, st launch it is only compatible with the PHS300 and MBR1000, but we anticipate that it will be compatible with other Cradlepoint modems in the near future.

The PXU1900 is available for $59.99 or it can be leased for $4.99/mo if you select a 2-year contract.

CLEAR USB Performance Dock (left):  This is a great accessory for the new PXU1900 USB modem, and the first of its kind for WiMAX! The Performance Dock provides increased signal and performance to the PXU1900, and is super portable and easy to use. Instead of connecting the modem directly to your computer, you simply place it in the Performance Dock and then connect the Dock to your computer via USB. Best of all, the USB Performance Dock is a bargain at just $9.99!

IMPORTANT: the Performance Dock is ONLY compatible with the new Mobile USB WiMAX Modem; it is NOT compatible with the original CLEAR USB modem or the 4G+ (U300) modem.

CLEAR Plan Changes:

• CLEAR has responded to Sprint's new 3G/4G pricing by lowering their price for 3G/4G service, too: CLEAR users can now get unlimited 4G access and 5GB of 3G access for just $55/mo (the price was previously $70/mo)!
• CLEAR has also added a new promo just for customers in the Portland/Salem market - these lucky folks can get the "Pick 2" service plan (service for either two USB devices or home modem and one USB modem) for just $45/month (regular price is $65/month)!

4G Routers for CLEAR/Sprint Modems

4G wireless internet service available from CLEAR's w100 or u300 (AKA the "4G+" modem) USB modems and Sprint's U300 and the new u301 USB modem, can be a perfect solution for folks who live and work on the road in areas with 4G coverage... but what if you want to share that internet connection with multiple devices when you back at home or at the office?

Now that 4G coverage is spreading to many more cities, we're getting this question more often: how can I share 4G service from my USB modem with multiple computers, or other devices that need internet access?

The great news is that there are several 4G routers available that allow you to do just that!

Read more on our sister site: http://4ginfo.com/routers

EVDOinfo.com has long been your source for tips, tricks, hacks and suggestions for getting the most out of your EVDO service, and each week we will be highlighting a particularly interesting or popular topic in the "Tip of the Week" feature. To suggest future Tips of the Week, contact us at suggestions@evdoinfo.com or post your suggestions in the EVDO Forums.

Using Field Test Mode with VZAM or QLM

 

    

Related links:

• Discuss this Tip on the EVDO Forums
• Considering an antenna for your Verizon or Alltel EVDO device? Read more here
• View previous Tips of the Week

Sierra Overdrive 3G/4G Portable Hotspot Now Available at 3Gstore!

As a follow-up product to the success of their first mobile hotspot -- the MiFi 2200 -- Sprint has launched a game-changing product called the Sprint OverDrive. The Sprint OverDrive (aka Sierra Wireless W801) is a mobile hotspot that allows high speed connections to Sprint's nationwide 3G network as well as their faster 4G WiMAX network, for as many as five wireless devices.

The Sprint OverDrive is available from 3Gstore.com right now for $99.99 after rebate with a new 2-year contract. 3G/4G service is available for just $59.99/mo; this plan provides unlimited 4G data use and 5GB of data use on 3G network with overage charge of $0.05/mb. Since the 3G/4G data plan for the OverDrive is the same price as Sprint's 3G-only service, users thinking about 3G service may want to look at the OverDrive as an option, even if they aren't in 4G coverage. You'll be able to use 3G now, and when you travel to a 4G area or when Sprint launches 4G in your area, you'll be set!

Read more about the Overdrive in our "Product Spotlight"

Order the Overdrive for $149.99 - $50 mail-in rebate securely from 3Gstore

The recent speculation about the touch-screen table computer Apple is rumored to be introducing in the near future (iPad, iSlate, iTablet, or whatever the rumor of the day calls it) has brought an old debate about embedded mobile broadband chips back into conversation. Many insiders have speculated that Apple's tablet will include an embedded mobile broadband chip for Verizon and/or AT&T, an option that's been available on some laptops for several years now. Since we anticipate that the Apple tablet will likely be a very popular device, we think it's important to discuss the embedded mobile broadband feature that is available on so many laptops, and why - despite the seeming convenience - we recommend dedicated mobile broadband devices (aircards/modems) even when your computer gives the option of activating an embedded device. Below are 8 reasons why a dedicated mobile broadband device may be a better option:

1. Carrier: The embedded mobile broadband devices in laptops/netbooks are locked to a specific carrier, so you won't have the freedom of choosing between different carriers. If you buy a laptop with an embedded AT&T mobile broadband chip and AT&T doesn't have coverage in your area (or if you move to a new area without coverage), you will be out of luck - you won't be able to activate it on any other carrier.

2. External Antennas & Amplifiers: Improving signal strength and signal-related performance issues to an embedded device is much more difficult and costly than with a dedicated device. If you experience signal strength issues with your embedded device, directly connecting an antenna or amplifier is NOT an option - your only option for improving signal to an embedded device is with a wireless repeater. Most dedicated devices from Sprint, AT&T, Verizon, and others have antenna ports which allow you to directly connect an external antenna and/or amplifier.

3. Other Computers: With an embedded 3G mobile broadband device, you can only use the 3G service on the laptop with the embedded device. If you have a dedicated device, like a USB/Expresscard/PCMCIA mobile broadband modem, you can use the service on ANY computer with the appropriate port/slot, or use with a router (see below).

4. Routers: Embedded devices only provide internet access to the computer its embedded in - if you want to share the connection with multiple computers or other internet-capable devices (gaming consoles, DVRs, etc), you will not be able to (at least, not easily). With a dedicated device, you can connect it to a 3G/4G mobile broadband router and share the connection to all of your computers via WiFi or ethernet. For the most portability and flexibility the Cradlepoint PHS300 even has a built in battery. Devices such as the Mifi and 3G/4G Sprint Overdrive even act as routers and mobile broadband modems all in one.

5. 4G Mobile Broadband: Sprint and Clear already have 4G Wimax service in some areas (check coverage here), and Verizon's and AT&T's 4G LTE will be rolling out at some point in the next couple of years. Sprint even offers their 3G/4G plan for $59.99, the same cost as their 3G-only plan. With an embedded 3G device, you'll be stuck with 3G service (an embedded 3G chip cannot be upgraded to support 4G) when faster service may be available!

6. Long Term Use: You can only use the mobile broadband connection on the laptop with the embedded device. When you buy a new computer in a few years, you will have to buy a dedicated device (unless your new laptop just happens to have an embedded device as well).

7. Replacement: If your embedded mobile broadband chip dies or need to be replaced for any reason, you will be wishing you had purchased a dedicated device instead! Having an embedded chip replaced is a big ordeal - when one of our employees contacted Sony Vaio support about having the chip on his laptop replaced, they suggested that he purchase a service & repair manual to manually replace the chip himself! Most users would not want to open a laptop computer which has very small and delicate parts to replace an embedded chip (not to mention the fact that it proved impossible to even find a replacement chip online to purchase!).

8. Connection Manager & Firmware: With an embedded mobile broadband chip, you can't use the carrier's connection manager. You must use the connection manager that is provided by the manufacturer. This means that you will have to wait for the manufacturer to make updates to the connection manager and firmware, and thats not a top priority for them! With a dedicated device, you use the carriers connection manager, and its a top priority for them to have the latest features and support available (This can be a support nightmare!).

The bottom line: Using the embedded mobile broadband option available for so many laptops/netbooks is convenient, but that is essentially the only benefit. For long term use, flexibility, and performance, a dedicated device is by far the better choice!

Related links:

• Buy Sprint 3G and 3G/4G products and service from 3Gstore
• Buy CLEAR 4G products and service from 3Gstore