Is there a wireless ISP that doesn't suck?

OK, well, AT&T pulled a credit card company trick and unilaterally changed my contract. I should-a gone to law school so I can write contracts where I get to do whatever I want and the other party gets to do what I say. Anyway, instead of unlimited internet (y0), they now limit me to 5 GB/mo, and will be happy to sell me more at a nickle a megabyte, or $50/GB.

We have no cable. We have no DSL. We have no fiber. All we have is what comes over the air. Satellite internet sucks even worse than AT&T's new wireless rules. I mean, 150MB/day, you can barely read GRM with that. My congress critter, who is going to get booted out in a couple of weeks, thank God, is making a big deal of stealing money from YOU people so we can get some kind of better internet (y0), from porkulous funds, but I'm not holding my breath on that one.

So, is there a wireless ISP that doesn't suck? I can't find anything. Kricket seems to have a good deal, but they are 7.5GB/$60 and then they put you in "punishment mode" and crank down your bandwidth for the rest of the month. Any ideas?

No.

the closest one to not sucking MIGHT be Clear/clearwire... but thats very dependent on where your house is (not likely for you) and stuff like that

When clearwire first moved into my area they seemed pretty crappy. I've heard they don't punish you for not having a contract these days at least.

cell companies are berkeleying E36 M3heads

I mean, can someone please explain to me the cost to the company of increasing minutes from 600/mo to 1000/mo ?

IMO phones should be unlimited everything and cost $35 a month

the big profit margin would still be there...

The problem is ATT hasn't upgraded their system for a while and when the iphone came out every one got the unlimited plan and poof instant pileup on the internet super highway. Now they limit every one to make up money so they can upgrade and charge you more.

I've gone over my 5 gig "limit" tethering my Palm Pre to my laptop and Sprint hasn't charged me any extra or said a single thing about it. I get about 1.1 megs down, too, which isn't too shabby.

My advice is to get a phone and tether with that. Like I said, Sprint hasn't said a thing to me (yet). Then again, they also assume it's my PHONE using that much data, not a computer.

Derick Freese wrote: I've gone over my 5 gig "limit" tethering my Palm Pre to my laptop and Sprint hasn't charged me any extra or said a single thing about it. I get about 1.1 megs down, too, which isn't too shabby. My advice is to get a phone and tether with that. Like I said, Sprint hasn't said a thing to me (yet). Then again, they also assume it's my PHONE using that much data, not a computer.

I know with my formally Alltel now Verizon the 1.2 down on the first speed test turns into .48 on the second, and third, and fourth, etc... I haven't checked to see how long you have to wait to get back to 1.2.

Not sure how the service is in your area, but Virgin Mobile has unlimited for $40/mo.

http://www.virginmobileusa.com/mobile-broadband/broadband2go.html

I'm considering their all in one wireless router to connect my iPad and my son's iPod to when we are at the track.

-Rob

The Virgin Mobile looks interesting. And Wally World sells it, which is a plus, as anything that's good for Wally World is good for me. $40/mo unlimited, and you have to buy the gizmo for $80.

Dr. Hess wrote: anything that's good for Wally World is good for me

Does that include Cosmopolitan magazine?

In reply to MrJoshua:

Like I was telling you, they don't give 2 craps on mine. Then again, Sprint assumes it's a phone using the data, not a dongle. Yay for hacked phones!

Sprint advertises unlimited data for $70per month here

In reply to Taiden:

As long as Wally World sells it, then yeah.

Interesting on the Sprint. From my surfing, Virgin Mobile uses the Sprint network. I see Sprint in my future either way.

Now, as I'll be dumping AT&T, removing my $112/mo revenue stream from their corporation (DIE, AT&T), I'll want to use a cell phone for my home phone. Where do I get a thing that hooks the cell phone into my home land lines so I can use the regular extensions? I've seen that somewhere, but I didn't need it then.

Sprint tethered on a Blackberry gets me by when I am on the go. Works great. Fast, reliable, no appreciable ceiling to data use. You can use QCDMA to edit the NAM profiles in your Blackberry and enable free tethering that is indistinguishable from standard smartphone data.

In reply to Dr. Hess:

I got a wireless system with 3 handsets that connects to my "house" cell phone via Bluetooth. $70 or so at BestBuy. Works great. I couldn't find an adapter to hook the existing wired home phone in via Bluetooth that didn't have crappy reviews.

Buy the Virgin USB style plug in or the cooler MiFi version. The service will cost you $40 for 30 days but if you find you do not like it, the hardware can be returned to Walmart, Best Buy, Radio Shack, etc if done within 30 days with a receipt.
There is no refund for the $40 service but if you return it on the 29th day you can get the most out of the experiment.
There is even a small $10/10day/limited service if you just want to sample.

If coverage is good in your area, I am very confident that you will like the service but try it and see. Visit www.virginmobileusa.com to check coverage.

Also note that the $40 Virgin charges includes the telecom taxes and fees. You may pay state sales tax if your area does that, but that is it. The other taxes which in this case would be almost $5 still get paid to the gov't but are backed out of the $40 and paid by Virgin. I point this out because if you were to compare Virgin's pre-paid service to a typical post-paid - billed later service you would have to find something for $35 to compare because that $35 will then have nearly $5 in taxes added to it to equal $40.

Taiden wrote: cell companies are berkeleying E36 M3heads I mean, can someone please explain to me the cost to the company of increasing minutes from 600/mo to 1000/mo ? IMO phones should be unlimited everything and cost $35 a month the big profit margin would still be there...

Oh, I could write you volumes on this topic if you like but I will just hit here with the quick and easy answer.
Your statement of:

the big profit margin would still be there...
To that, the answer is, no, that profit margin would not be there.

Please keep in mind I come to this sight to avoid work and overall I am very shy to admit around here that cell phone is the business I am in.

jrw1621 wrote: Please keep in mind I come to this sight to avoid work and overall I am very shy to admit around here that cell phone is the business I am in.

GET A ROPE!!!

Sorry, couldn't help myself there. I'm sure you are the only non-'tard in the cell phone industry. I also note that Verizon just got their hands slapped for something I discovered 2 years ago. I got a new Motorola Razor. You open it up, push the menu button, push the wrong button from fat fingering or just double pushing and it automatically connects to the internet (y0), and you get charged A DOLLAR for that accidental button push. I called them up 2 years ago and turned off all internet access on the phone, all texting, etc. and made them give me my dollar back. Last week, they had to give everyone else their dollars back too. I submit that Verizon got with Motorola and deliberately designed the phone to access the internet at any fat fingering to get Verizon dollars each time.

Oh, they turned Texting back on on my phone without telling me. I got a text, they charged me a QUARTER. I called and made them give it back. Probably cost them $5 to charge me that quarter.

OK, back on topic, I'm gonna hit wally world today and see if I can get that dongle. If they have the MiFi, I'll look at it. I'd really like something with an external antennae jack.

Consider the MiFi if you think coverage may be an issue.
Follow this logic:
The MiFi box (which contains the signal receiving antenna) can be placed on the window sill on the side of the house that gets the best signal. The MiFi box will then broadcast that signal another 30 feet or so around the house.
If you are using the USB style version then the receiving antenna is connected directly to the computer so then the computer itself may need to be near the window for best reception.

If you want an external antenna consider this:
Buy the USB version and run a USB long extension cord from the computer to the best reception spot - or buy the MiFi.

Oh, yes. I get the stupidity, hippocracy and otherwise idiotic behavior of this industry that I have been in for 13 years.

For a fine sample see the following:
http://www.verizonmath.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zN9LZ3ojnxY

I was going to suggest sprint, too.

BUT- find someone who has it, and invite them to your home.

No idea why, but Sprint has had issues with coverage holes- even in highly populated areas. Check before you commit.

Still- they do seem to have a good deal now. Even though you have to hack to be able to tether. Well, at least according to thier sales people- none of their smart phones can tether.

Anyway, like a car- check it out before you buy.

Agreed with Alfa to try first.
Virgin USA is now a wholey owned division of Sprint. The Virgin product is run on the Sprint 3G towers while Sprint is now positioning itself for 4G offers.
As noted above, the Virgin products can be tested for as little as reversible credit card charges for the hardware and $10 non refundable for a service sample.

Teathering:
Yes, effective for some basic computing while on the road but this does not provide a real home-based solution if you plan to run all your computing this way. Unless, of course, you are okay with the idea that you only have computing capability while your phone is stationary and connected to computer. This means that if that handset leaves the desk (either to walk around the house or go to the grocery store) then there is no internet connection to the computer at the same time.

USB device will run one computing device at a time. MiFi unit will run 4 devices at the same time. This will be helpful if there is more than one computer in the house.

I'll look at both devices, if they're there. But my internet server is a Acer netbook (bought at wally world), in the corner, and I use a USB extension cord, so I could put the dongle on either window in the corner if I wanted to. I actually use my existing dongle like that with an external antennae in the window.

That Verizon Math site was funny. Typical, but funny, and unfortunately a sign of our education system. I wonder if they outsourced the billing support to India if they would have had the same comprehension problem. Probably not, but unless it was written in the script, they wouldn't have said it.

Both devices are sold at Wally, BestBuy, Radio Shack. Check google for this weeks best price. Sales have been brisk and some locations "out of stock" is not uncommon.
Also sold at many independent retailers and the virgin website can help you find one in your area. Retailer markup on this hardware is about 24% if you plan some price negotiation with local retailers.