Anybody use the Sprint Wireless card?

JuneBug · 08-31-09, 10:11

OK, finally getting away from dial-up at home, there is no chance for cable modem or DSL due to me living in the boonies. But, the guy at the store showed me a cool gizmo that I can run up to 5 computers with, costs 99 dollars for it and then 59.95 per month with 5 gig a month. Sound like a deal? Comments?

Thanks

JB

Candor · 09-02-09, 12:30

5 gig is not a lot. You can easily blow through that in an hour, especially with 5 computers that an average of 1gb a month. If you only need one PC online check out a smart-phone and "tether" it to your computer. Take it you have SAT for TV? If i recall right there is also SAT for Internet.

rjstaaf · 09-02-09, 12:43

Definitely would NOT use something like that for a home network. I imagine anything over that 5 gig limit will cost you an arm and a leg!

I use my Blackberry (Sprint) tethered to my laptop 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. I am posting this from my laptop over the Blackberry tethered connection right now. I probably hit about 3 gig in a month. That is with minimal internet use. I primarily use it for email, minimal web browsing and some remote desktop access.

Candor · 09-02-09, 12:51

"There is a 5GB limit though on total bandwidth per month, and a 300MB limit for roaming usage. If you go over, overage charges are at $0.05/MB"

Based on how rjstaaf uses his Internet which is very very minimal. @ 5 computers you will be paying $512 a month in overage fees. Another thing I just noticed is a 300mb limit on roaming usage, depending on how far into the "boonies" you are, that might apply to you. In which case the overage fee is insane @ $752 a month.

riceguy · 09-02-09, 09:34

I am currently under a unlimited data plan with sprint on my phone. A very awesome feature that may or may not violate the sprint contract is using your phone and connecting it to your PC. "Tethering" allows your phone to act as a modem on your laptop or PC, the internet is shared to via USB, Bluetooth etc. There are thousands of sprint customers taking advantage of this, some more then others.

I haven't seen any recent customers being flagged for this but few years ago, many were being charged extra for using it so much.

I find it just very convenient when I am in an unknown city/area and need internet to check my emails. And on occasion when my dsl goes down I will use this as a backup (I've even managed to download some videos using it, dl speed maxes at approximately 150kb/s).

For more info g00gle "tethering" and your phone model to find out how to do it.

JuneBug · 09-03-09, 08:05

Well, it will handle 5 computers, but for my use - it's just a way to escape A O Hell and dial up, we don't do that much on the net, just reading this forum and the kids with their Ipods getting songs - from what Sprint says, I'm sure they'll never go over the limit getting a few tunes a week. It's going to be mostly my desktop, what the hey - I just ordered it today, I'll keep a check on the account and let ya'll know.

riceguy · 09-03-09, 01:35

good luck, awesome part is if you ever travel, the cards portable for laptops.

themightytimmah · 09-04-09, 11:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by JuneBug

Well, it will handle 5 computers, but for my use - it's just a way to escape A O Hell and dial up, we don't do that much on the net, just reading this forum and the kids with their Ipods getting songs - from what Sprint says, I'm sure they'll never go over the limit getting a few tunes a week. It's going to be mostly my desktop, what the hey - I just ordered it today, I'll keep a check on the account and let ya'll know.

I've got one at work at I love it. Just keep an eye on the usage and if you need to download something huge, go use the wi-fi at a coffee shop or something.

JuneBug · 09-10-09, 05:18

Well, tried it and hot damn - I love it!

Candor · 09-11-09, 10:49

Just watch the usage, it adds up really quick