What is EVDO? |
| Friday, 20 March 2009 | |
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Getting online and being able to connect with friends, family, news, and the office is more important now than ever, but what happens if you're one of the millions of Americans without access to traditional broadband like cable or DSL, stuck in a hotel without WiFi, or cruising at 65mph down the highway in your Winebago? Looking for information on HSPA, the 3G mobile broadband technology used by AT&T? Click here! What is EVDO? Just the Basics:
How does it work? EVDO works similarly to the way your cell phone operates in that it relies on signal from a wireless tower rather than a physical connection like a phone line or cable. An EVDO modem (often referred to as an "aircard") receives the signal and allows you to connect to the internet - it's as simple as that! EVDO modems come in several formats: USB dongle, ExpressCard, and PCMCIA card and you can use them either directly in your computer OR in a 3G router. Of course, like your cell phone, the modem alone doesn't provide internet access - you must subscribe to the service from an EVDO provider. Verizon and Sprint both offer EVDO service for $59.99/mo with a 5GB per month allowance, and both charge overage fees for usage exceeding 5GB. For most people, 5GB is plenty of data for surfing the web, emailing, and the occassional YouTube video. For more information on what you can do with 5GB, read this article .
Who uses EVDO? There are countless reasons to use EVDO and we have helped customers get set up for a huge variety of applications! Below are just a few common ways people use EVDO:
Who offers EVDO? Currently Available Modems From Verizon:
Currently Available Modems From Sprint:
ALL of the currently available modems from both Verizon and Sprint are Rev-A capable and feature external antenna ports where you can add an antenna or amplifier. They are all compatible with at least one 3G router. We have performed extensive tests on all of the modems and can confirm that there is ZERO difference in performance between the available form factors; the various form factors simply provide options for different preferences. You can read more about why there is no performance difference between form factors here. In the early days of EVDO, Mac users were often "left out in the cold" as companies failed to provide support for their computers. Here at EVDOinfo and our sister site, 3Gstore.com, we have been providing tips and support for using EVDO with Mac computers since the beginning - even when Sprint and Verizon said it wouldn't work! Now, most new devices are Mac-compatible right out of the box, but support for Mac users is still weak. We are proud to offer comprehensive support to our Mac-loving customers! For more information on EVDO and Macs, read this article.
Is there EVDO service at my home/office/destination? Both Verizon and Sprint offer EVDO in many areas of the USA, Puerto Rico, Canada, and Mexico (note: using EVDO in Canada and Mexico requires specific devices and plans). To check coverage at your location, you can enter your zip code on 3Gstore's coverage tool and compare Sprint's and Verizon's coverage. If EVDO is NOT available in a particular location, 1xRTT (aka "National Access"), may be available. National Access is the 2G mobile broadband technology used by Sprint and Verizon that can provide average upload and download speeds of about 50Kbps - 100Kbps with bursts up to 144kbps, slightly faster than a standard 56K dial-up connection. In areas where EVDO is not available, your EVDO-enabled device (including aircards, USB modems, ExpressCards, phones, or embedded devices) will attempt to connect to the 1xRTT network. Generally, if your carrier has cell phone coverage in a particular area, there should be 1xRTT coverage even if EVDO has not yet arrived there. Another excellent resource is EVDOmaps.com, a free service hosted by the EVDOinfo experts that compiles actual test results from EVDO users around the country. This is NOT a coverage map but a place where users can post actual speed test results and descriptions of their gear, so that others can see what service was like at that moment in time, from that user's location.
How fast is EVDO? EVDO Rev A has a peak data rate of 3,000 kbps, but realistic speeds average around 600Kbps-1,400Kbps Download with bursts to 2.0Mbps and 500Kbps-800Kbps Upload with bursts to 1.8Mbps. Here is a real-world speedtest done using a USB760 on Verizon's network in Dallas, Tx with a very strong signal: 
How does EVDO compare to other technologies? The best aspect of EVDO (to most users) is the mobility it offers, but EVDO is also FAST! With a good signal, EVDO Rev A averages about 600-1400Kbps download with upload speeds averaging between 500-800Kbps. Here is how it stacks up to other common internet technologies:
Create a Hot Spot and share your EVDO connection with multiple computers EVDO modems are made to plug directly into your computer's USB port or card slot, but what if you have two computers that need internet access? You do NOT need a separate device and second line of service - simply plug the modem into a 3G router and share the connection! 3G routers like the ones sold by 3Gstore work just like the average cable/dsl router you might have used in the past for a home/office DSL or cable-modem connection, but 3G routers have the unique ability to support cellular modems as their source of internet connectivity. With a router that supports your cellular device, you can plug your USB modem, ExpressCard, PCMCIA card, or even your EVDO-capable cell phone into the 3G router and instantly create your own WiFi network! You can read more about the various routers and which one might be right for you in this article. What about antennas and amplifiers? Signal strength can influence your modem's performance greatly. If you have a weak signal, an antenna and/or amplifier can improve your signal and thus your download and upload speeds. All of the currently available Sprint and Verizon EVDO modems feature ports where you can attach an external antenna and a wide variety are available, from the classic super-portable Booster Antenna to larger antennas that you mount to your home or office. If you need to provide a signal boost to multiple ceullular devices at once, this is possible as well with a wireless amplifier (AKA "repeater"). If you already have an EVDO device and you are experiencing weak signal, we advise reading the following article before selecting an antenna: Will an Antenna Help Me? EVDO Phones Many Sprint and Verizon phones now feature EVDO capabilities, allowing for speedy web browsing and emailing on your cell phone or PDA. Additionally, many phones support "tethering", which means that you can use your phone as a modem - rather than connecting a dedicated EVDO modem (USB, ExpressCard, or PCMCIA card) to your computer or router you can connect your tether-capable phone and connect that way. Not all phones are tether-capable (even if they have EVDO) and tethering incurs additional monthly fees. It is also important to remember that most phones only support EVDO Rev-0 (all of the currently available data devices support Rev-A), and if you plan to tether often you should consider an EVDO Rev-A phone. Click here for a list of Verizon phones/PDAs, and click here for Sprint phones/PDAs. Can I use EVDO overseas? Most of Europe uses GSM, which is not compatible with EVDO, so EVDO will NOT work overseas. Both Verizon and Sprint offer service in some areas of Canada and Mexico, however (requires appropriate international plan at additional cost). Need Help? Other Resources:
Are you writing an article on EVDO for your newspaper, magazine, or blog? Link to this page to give users additional information on EVDO: http://evdoinfo.com/what |
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| Last Updated ( Thursday, 05 November 2009 ) |
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