Travel Technology - Att 3g Vs Sprint EVDO Rev A Data Cards

Hello All,
I currently have a Sony TX 11" laptop with built in Sprint EVDO Rev 0 Data Card. I want to upgrade to Rev A or ATT 3g (have Cell phone service w/ Att). Which service is the fastest and most relible. The service will be used mostly in south florida and atlanta. I dont like the usb style, I much rather perfer the pcmia cards.

Thanks

This is an endless religious debate even though the numbers are well publicized.

My company develops mobile phone software on a contract basis, and I can say from extensive experience that if you're in an EV-DO Rev A area, that's your best bet for flat out data speed in a real life scenario vs AT&T 3G.

I also dislike Sprint and am indifferent about Verizon, so I'm not biased to say EV-DO is better. I just happen to think it is, for data speed and reliability under normal circumstances anyway.

Your mileage will absolutely vary based on a number of factors. But having used both technologies around the country, if you're literally just talking about speed and reliability under typical operating conditions, I'd go EV-DO.

Mind you that 3G networks are more pervasive worldwide, and going EV-DO eliminates a lot of roaming options. 3G technology also has an upgrade path to much higher data speeds that should blow current EV-DO tech out of the water, and these upgrades are coming. Doesn't matter now of course, since whatever card you buy would probably need to be replaced to support the network upgrades anyway.

Go check them out for yourself and see what you think. Just hit your local Sprint/AT&T stores and try it out.

You'll get a lot of different opinions on this.

I was leaning towards Sprint because I have heard mixed to bad reviews on att and the 3g roll out. I also have had pretty good service with sprint.
Thanks

I can't compare since I only have the AT&T, but the performance has been quite good when I've used it in a variety of places. Could the EV-DO be faster? Quite possibly, but I also have AT&T for cellular and it was convenient to bundle.

Cheers.

I'm more concerned about domestic coverage than speed. I use Verizon because Consumer Reports says they have the best network coverage in every area they tried (surveyed?) in the U.S. That was a voice-related report, I'm assuming the same is true for data.

I've heard that Sprint coverage tends to be more metro-centric, but I don't know if that's true.

I use Verizon because Consumer Reports says they have the best network coverage in every area they tried (surveyed?) in the U.S. That was a voice-related report, I'm assuming the same is true for data.

This is highly location-specific. Verizon certainly is the best at marketing their network, but that doesn't necessarily mean their network is hands down "the best". "The best" network is the one that gives you coverage where you use it most. When I had Verizon (in the inner suburbs of Chicago), I had to stand in my driveway to make a call. T-mobile and AT&T worked in my basement. Everyone's usage patterns and needs are different.

I've heard that Sprint coverage tends to be more metro-centric, but I don't know if that's true.

It used to be, but the reality now is that Verizon and Sprint get much of their rural coverage from small regional roaming partners (as do AT&T and T-mobile).

This is highly location-specific. Verizon certainly is the best at marketing their network, but that doesn't necessarily mean their network is hands down "the best". "The best" network is the one that gives you coverage where you use it most. When I had Verizon (in the inner suburbs of Chicago), I had to stand in my driveway to make a call. T-mobile and AT&T worked in my basement. Everyone's usage patterns and needs are different.+1 ... or as I like to say, "All cellular carriers suck, but they suck in different places. You need the one that doesn't suck where you need it to work." I've got an AT&T data card and it works great pretty much everywhere I need it to work.

Verizon and Sprint have by far more 3G coverage than AT&T. While I use AT&T for my voice, I use Sprint for data.

I have driven from Miami to western texas with EVDO most of the way and only faling back to 1xRTT for about 45 minutes during the nearly 24 hour drive(only stops for fuel)

This is with sprint, Verizon does NOT work in my home market and will not buy roaming with sprint here for some reason, even though they are the landline company.

So for me the choice is clear, if I was only traveling the eastern seaboard Verizon would be my next best choice.

I’ve been with Sprint for over five years now, and the EV-DO coverage around population centers and Interstates is pretty good these days. I have a home in 1xRTT land, but it still beats dialup.

I occasionally have some trouble connecting to my FTP server when uploading files, even in EV-DO areas, so I’ve had to revert back to hotel Wi-Fi. Sprint imposed a 5GB/month cap last summer, but that doesn’t apply to me since I have a legacy business account.

I’ve been with Sprint for over five years now, and the EV-DO coverage around population centers and Interstates is pretty good these days. I have a home in 1xRTT land, but it still beats dialup.

I occasionally have some trouble connecting to my FTP server when uploading files, even in EV-DO areas, so I’ve had to revert back to hotel Wi-Fi. Sprint imposed a 5GB/month cap last summer, but that doesn’t apply to me since I have a legacy business account.
The FTP issue is probably due to some changing IPs and making the active ftp session die, try seeing if passive ftp will work. ;)

The FTP issue is probably due to some changing IPs and making the active ftp session die, try seeing if passive ftp will work. ;)

Thanks for the tip! I also just downloaded the latest version of FileZilla that was released last week.