Mobile Broadband!
 

I was wondering the best priced PREPAID mobile broadband (pref. unlimited access). I live in Europe BUT I will need it when I go to the US so can some recommend a good company to deal with please?

I know I will need a device so if the company won't mail one to me over here I can buy one on ebay (I took a peek and saw they have LOTS to choice from).

How long will you need it for
Are you looking for it for a laptop or some other device that is not usb?

There is only one company currently offering unlimited access that I am aware of, Virgin.


Virgin mobile probably has the best prices currently, you can get unlimited 3g for $40 a month with their mifi, though you need to buy the mifi (currently $130) or a usb stick for $80. If you only need it for ten days, they will do 100 megs for $10 for ten days.

Tmobile has three plans, $10 a week for 100 megs, $30 a month for 300 megs, or $50 for 1 gb.

AT&T offers the same three plans as t-mobile, but at $15, $30 and $50

Verizon same as AT&T, but they also offer an $80 one month plan that goes to 5 GB

XCom
 

I am not affiliated with this firm in any way, but have had good experiences with them:

http://xcomglobal.com/

Thanks for the info. Virgin sounds just what I am after.

I visit the US a few times a yr and atleast one of those times I'm there for 3 weeks. I always have my laptop with me and this will save the hassle of hunting down a hotspot when I need internet!!

I am guessing I just go to a store to "top up" but do I just buy any card or????

Sorry for the questions but I'd like to know what to do BEFORE I go there lol.

Robroy thanks but they aren't cheap at all AND you have to depart FROM the US it seems. I need something within the US and at 14.95 a day???? No thanks heh.

See this thread by the way for some additional discussion about it

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...mifi-wifi.html

You can pay online with credit or debit card, or you can buy a top off card from them.

Thanks for this....looks good.

Is there a way to just get them to give you the SIM cards you need instead of 'renting' the mifi device as well? I travel a fair amount so investing in a mifi device myself doesn't seem like a bad idea but it doesn't seem like you can just get the sims and pay for the data without renting the mifi along with it?

I have to second the XCOMGlobal recommendation, I have used them a few times now and the service has been flawless.

Dan

You can buy Virgin Mobile To Up cards/slips anywhere including CVS, Riteaid, Walgreens, and 7/11.

I have VM. Just be aware that the tech support is absolutely horrendous but once you get going, it's okay.

There is absolutely no comparison between speeds of Virgin and a Starbucks hot spot even when there are ten people at SBUX.

Did anyone get in on the CLEAR iSPOT promo yesterday? $20 for the iSPOT and $25 service is hard to beat.

Is it still available? Do you have a link?

No - it was a one day thing :(

MIssed it. Too bad, because I would have jumped on it.

I grabbed one. Using it in Chicago here without problem. My location is well covered. According to their coverage map, there are 4 towers 1 block away. Initial speed tests gets 3 to 6 megabit downstream depending on time of day and 1 megabit upstream. Pretty much the max possible on the plan.

The downside: On Clearwire and DSL Reports' forums, there are many threads about capping to 256 kilobits. Clearwire's customer service and tech support also leaves a lot to be desired.

The iSpot is intended for Apple's iDevices, enforced through an MAC OUI whitelist. It's simple to get around that with MAC spoofing or loading a config file that removes the restriction. See http://www.ispotunrestricted.com/2.0/

I find the speed in downtime chicago VERY GOOD, but the problem is our appt. in Downtown of chicago and mich, has double paned glass and it DOESN'T WORK AT ALL. I can look RIGHT AT THE TOWER and get literally NOTHING.

Clear as much has told me several times. "yeah, it won't work indoors with double paned windows"

first
 

I picked one up when they first came out, I think it was free for a day (but ended up to be a few days actually) and 25$ a month. I then let it expire since it didn't work in San Fran at the time (but it does NOW!!!)

It just cancels, and you click restart and boom, you're going again. Nice to have a turn on turn off switch. It was great down in LA last weekend, and I'll keep it running over the holiday as I'll be in DC and Palm Beach and Miami (GO CARDINALS!!!) so it should work everywhere there.

I am in the US at the minute and the Virgin Mifi is a godsend. I have a power adapter in the car and keep in there so have full wifi access for my iphone all the time (being from Ireland the cost to use data roaming make it impossible). The mifi device cost $149 and $40 a month unlimited. You may want to order the mifi device before you get to the US, they are in high demand, it took me 4 days and a 20 mile drive to get one, but it was well worth it.

I think that's pretty much BS. Unless you have metallic tint, double paned window should not noticeably attenuate wireless signals. Clearwire tech support is useless, but we know that already.

If you have stucco walls, it will act as a faraday cage around your house/apartment and block all EMF signals.

FWIW, my location is an older wooden construction with double pane windows in Lakeview.

well, I'm on a 36th floor just of mich and chicago, basically the NM building. All glass, looking east and north, I THINK the tower is towards the north.

I can put it on the window sill and still get nothing. It's a bummer, but I've got DSL in the domicile anyways.

XCom Global
 

Dan,

Thanks for your recommendation and use of our services. XCom Global works hard to provide an effective and reasonable solution for international travelers.

-Kenneth Herskind, President
XCom Global

Clearwire is back with another promo. This time you can get free home or usb modem, free activation and free 1st month: http://www.clear.com/devices?intcmp=home:t1:free_device

I'm 15 days into my service and am still satisfied with the speed and lateny.