Mobile Internet sticks, hubs, and the like

[Anynym]

Does anyone who has experience with Bell and/or Rogers current offering of Mobile Internet (USB) sticks, hubs, portable hotspots, and the like care to share their experience?

I'm particularly interested in higher uplink bandwidth (at least 5Mbps uplink, sustained, and preferably 10Mbps or more).

Is coverage fairly good around the city (Toronto, Ottawa, Kitchener, London, etc) or does it rapidly degrade within the city and within buildings?

Any other advice from your experience?

 

[benstt]

I've used hubs. Older rogers hub was good, their current one is crap. Bell's is better, for now. They do leapfrog.

I've used the hub in many places, including up north paired with an external antenna. If your cell phone gets good throughput, the hub should also. If the cell reception is crap, adding the external antenna can help.

 

[The Options Menu]

Wind Mobile used to have ones with really good data plans that were CHEAP, but the coverage was basically only urban centres.

 

[GameBoy27]

Better wait for otb to chime in on which company is more profitable before you make a decision. You also need to know which company is most viable in the long run. After all, these are the only things to consider when purchasing electronics.

 

[simon482]

get the unlimited data on your phone and get the pdanet app or foxfi which is a free app that turns your phone into a hotspot. i did that when i was with verizon and had unlimited 4g data, filled up a 1.5 tb hd with movies.

 

[onthebottom]

I've had a few and have given them all up for simon482's suggestion of using my phone as a hotspot...

 

[onthebottom]

Better wait for otb to chime in on which company is more profitable before you make a decision. You also need to know which company is most viable in the long run. After all, these are the only things to consider when purchasing electronics.

http://news.google.com/newspapers?n...6pWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=J-gDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5871,4452131

 

[GameBoy27]

http://news.google.com/newspapers?n...6pWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=J-gDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5871,4452131

Your point for citing a 29 year old newspaper ad is?

 

[onthebottom]

Your point for citing a 29 year old newspaper ad is?

That was funny, touting the superior technology of betamax.... it's a classic case.

 

[GameBoy27]

That was funny, touting the superior technology of betamax.... it's a classic case.

Pretty much everything will become obsolete. Anyone use VHS these days? You entirely missed my point. Reread post #4.

 

[djk]

Better wait for otb to chime in on which company is more profitable before you make a decision. You also need to know which company is most viable in the long run. After all, these are the only things to consider when purchasing electronics.

I'm sure customers of the Palm Pre and Touchpad wish they did some research about its long term viability.

 

[GameBoy27]

I'm sure customers of the Palm Pre and Touchpad wish they did some research about its long term viability.

yes, I'm sure those people are heartbroken after having to declaring bankruptcy due to their lack of research into their purchases. It's pointless to reference 20-30 year old technology.

So based on examples of Batamax (VCR's or even CD's for that matter) and Palm products, can any of you geniuses with vast knowledge into the viability of said companies and products point the OP in the right direction? Surely otb must have all the answers.

My point is read the reviews, see what other people think of the different products and make a decision. Remember, whatever you choose is likely to be either obsolete or replaced by something better in a very short time. We're talking about such a small investment here, it's not a big deal.

 

[djk]

yes, I'm sure those people are heartbroken after having to declaring bankruptcy due to their lack of research into their purchases. It's pointless to reference 20-30 year old technology.

The Palm Pre is 20-30 year old tech? News to me..

 

[GameBoy27]

The Palm Pre is 20-30 year old tech? News to me..

I thought you referring to the Palm Pilot. Anyway, let's take the Palm Pre for example. It was released mid 2009 and it's safe to say people have since upgraded to a newer smartphone. However, the same could be said for the iPhone 3 which was available in 2009. Most people have since upgraded to a newer smartphone.

Since most people upgrade their smartphones every couple years for next to nothing and considering the amount of choice these days, profitability and long term viability of the manufacturer is almost meaningless (unless you own stock). You really thing anyone who bought a Palm Pre or a Batamax is losing sleep over their purchase? Nobody buys an inexpensive piece of electronics with the hopes it last a decade or more.

Your argument is weak at best!

 

[xenonian]

get the unlimited data on your phone and get the pdanet app or foxfi which is a free app that turns your phone into a hotspot. i did that when i was with verizon and had unlimited 4g data, filled up a 1.5 tb hd with movies.

Are these apps for iOS or Android? I couldn't find them in App Store...

 

[djk]

I thought you referring to the Palm Pilot. Anyway, let's take the Palm Pre for example. It was released mid 2009 and it's safe to say people have since upgraded to a newer smartphone. However, the same could be said for the iPhone 3 which was available in 2009. Most people have since upgraded to a newer smartphone.

Since most people upgrade their smartphones every couple years for next to nothing and considering the amount of choice these days, profitability and long term viability of the manufacturer is almost meaningless (unless you own stock). You really thing anyone who bought a Palm Pre or a Batamax is losing sleep over their purchase? Nobody buys an inexpensive piece of electronics with the hopes it last a decade or more.

Your argument is weak at best!

Palm Pre 2 was released between 2010-2011. HP shut down Palm in 2012. So, anyone who got a Palm Pre 2 subsidized would been in a contract when Palm went under. And it wasn't surprising for any industry watchers that Palm was on its last legs. So, yeah, doing a little due diligence on the solvency of the company you're buying from is a good idea.

 

[GameBoy27]

Palm Pre 2 was released between 2010-2011. HP shut down Palm in 2012. So, anyone who got a Palm Pre 2 subsidized would been in a contract when Palm went under. And it wasn't surprising for any industry watchers that Palm was on its last legs. So, yeah, doing a little due diligence on the solvency of the company you're buying from is a good idea.

Look, I agree anyone who purchased a Palm Pre etc. in the first place was an idiot (they were crap to begin with), but when HP shut down Palm in 2012 the devices didn't suddenly stop working.

Now go back and read the OP's original question.

Does anyone who has experience with Bell and/or Rogers current offering of Mobile Internet (USB) sticks, hubs, portable hotspots, and the like care to share their experience?

He's talking about products offered by Bell and Rogers here. So go ahead, do your due diligence on the solvency of those companies.

 

[djk]

Look, I agree anyone who purchased a Palm Pre etc. in the first place was an idiot (they were crap to begin with), but when HP shut down Palm in 2012 the devices didn't suddenly stop working.

Of course, they won't. But they won't get critical updates for things like Heartbleed either. Warranty probably goes bye bye too, should anything happen.

He's talking about products offered by Bell and Rogers here. So go ahead, do your due diligence on the solvency of those companies.

My point isn't about Bell or Rogers going kaput. My point is one should give thought about the viability of the company of ones product they plan to buy.

 

[GameBoy27]

Of course, they won't. But they won't get critical updates for things like Heartbleed either. Warranty probably goes bye bye too, should anything happen.

Like I said, whatever you choose is likely to be either obsolete or replaced by something better in a very short time. Sure, do a little research but hell, we're talking about peanuts here. It's not a big deal.

 

[onthebottom]

Hope this helps...

Look, I agree anyone who purchased a Blackberry etc. in the first place was an idiot (they were crap to begin with), but when RIM collapsed in 2012 the devices didn't suddenly stop working. (well, sometimes it did due to service outages)

Now go back and read the OP's original question.



He's talking about products offered by Bell and Rogers here. So go ahead, do your due diligence on the solvency of those companies.