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I have an unhealthy habit (well, according to my wife anyway ) of replacing my phones every 3-4 months. So far this year I had 8525 (excellent phone but a bit too bulky for my liking) and Nokia N75 which is my current phone. However, I am sorely missing a real keyboard and would like something a tad smaller/slimmer then 8525. So far my choices have been narrowed down to Dash and Blackjack. I was able to briefly fondle both phones and am now at the crossroads, which one to choose?
Both phones share many similarities but there are also major differences. Being a 3G user on at&t network I have been spoiled by both 8525 and N75, so as far as data is concerned Blackjack is a clear winner. However, BJ has some major annoyances that I am not sure I will be able to tolerate. First, whoever designed the keyboard on the BJ should be slapped with a live wet trout. To make d-pad flush with soft keys was a major oversight IMO. Second, I do not care for a proprietary charge/sync/audio port. I like Dash's keyboard much better and the curved shape feels really good in hand. Wi-fi is a bonus but is something I can definitely live without. Otherwise, both phones appear to be fairly similar.
I am leaning towards purchasing Dash, but am afraid that lack of 3g will frustrate me. Can anyone who's using or used both phones share their thoughts as to which one I should choose? Is at&t EDGE fast enough to handle streaming audio like Shoutcast? Money is not an object, both phones are about the same price.
Sounds like to me that you'll like the HTC Cavalier more. With twice the speed of the Dash at 400mhz, it also carries 3G capability. The only downside is that it's about $500+ in most sites. I use the Dash and I love it but don't count on EDGE streaming anything with decent quality. Depending where you are at, EDGE vary in speed. I get about 120kbps on average which is slow for me. It does the job and I won't complain since I'm only paying $5.99 for the internet access. As for Wi-Fi, it's a BIG PLUS. I know you mention that you don't care much for it but trust me, you'll want it if you purchase the Dash. Wi-Fi is a luxury feature at the moment since not many phones actually have it especially in such a slim factor like the Dash. Whenever I'm home, I turn on my Wi-Fi and hope one day when T-Mobile has officially set up their 3G network, I'll be browsing and zooming through my webpages without the Wi-Fi.
unknown123456 said:
Sounds like to me that you'll like the HTC Cavalier more. With twice the speed of the Dash at 400mhz, it also carries 3G capability. The only downside is that it's about $500+ in most sites. I use the Dash and I love it but don't count on EDGE streaming anything with decent quality. Depending where you are at, EDGE vary in speed. I get about 120kbps on average which is slow for me. It does the job and I won't complain since I'm only paying $5.99 for the internet access. As for Wi-Fi, it's a BIG PLUS. I know you mention that you don't care much for it but trust me, you'll want it if you purchase the Dash. Wi-Fi is a luxury feature at the moment since not many phones actually have it especially in such a slim factor like the Dash. Whenever I'm home, I turn on my Wi-Fi and hope one day when T-Mobile has officially set up their 3G network, I'll be browsing and zooming through my webpages without the Wi-Fi.
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Hmm, who is your carrier, and how is it you are only paying 5.99 for internet?
Do tell!
Thanks,
J
jta said:
Hmm, who is your carrier, and how is it you are only paying 5.99 for internet?
Do tell!
Thanks,
J
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He's talking about T-Mobile T-zones Internet which is $5.99 a month
The T-Zone internet access is sort of hit or miss. Everyone used to be able 'utilize' The TZones $5.99 plan for full internet access. Originally designed for limited web service on a vanilla cell-phone -- we all used to be able to use it's proxy settings on our WM devices and cheat our way into full Edge internet access. Over the past year T-Mobile has been working on ways to enforce this basic TZone access on WM devices. Seems these changes are being implemented by region, as it still works for many, but not all, T-Mobile WM device using subscribers. It stopped working for me about 6 months ago, with WM5. There's a bunch more about this here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=306361
WM6 includes a T-Zones update, which enhances with a separate WAP browser that gives you TZones limited access to the web (movie times, weather, news, etc) For a couple bucks more a month, you can sync your corporate or personal email accounts to TZones, and to your device. Messenger, IE, and anything else that connects to the Internet won't work with TZones.
If you're unable to jury-rig your Dash for unlimited access at the TZones rate, they want you to purchase the $30 per month 'Total Internet' plan that includes unlimited EDGE and HotSpot WiFi access. You can opt for the Blackberry plan, no WiFi -- unlimited EDGE for $20 -- comparatively pretty reasonable.
You asked about Shoutcast with EDGE. Don't know about AT&T, but with T-Mobile, not so great. Fine for lower bitrate voice audio like newscasts. Music skips >a lot< and video can be downright frustrating. What I find better is packing 20 hours or so of recorded Shoutcast streams from my laptop to the 2-gig MicroSD card in my Dash. Using ULEAD video products, I've converted about 10 hours of video into high quality files that all fit on my 2-gig card with a lot of room to spare. I'd say microSD card useage is a better consideration than streaming (with the Dash). There's a learning curve, but it pays off
As to which is better -- I'd say a overall a Dash is better, mainly as a hold-over device until all the new gadgetry that'll be out in 6 months, or better yet, a year. I helped someone set up their BlackJack. It's nice too. What I didn't like about the BJ: battery life. Without changing something in the registry, the broadband-service radio stays on, even if you aren't currently using, or just don't use, broadband. Prior to the registry change, the device barely made it through a day -- low battery alerts after 7-8 hours. After the change, it's on par with the Dash, however, will only use AT&T's EDGE service. The average user isn't going to think to Google this, or find the software that lets them make the change.
With a 2-year commitment, you can get a Dash for free via Amazon.com or LetsTalk.com. There are probably offers for the BJ, but I'm not familiar with AT&T.
As you have an interest in audio -- the 2.0 Bluetooth on the Dash produces amazing sound on a set of Motorola S9 headsets (also Bluetooth 2.0). I believe the BJ is Bluetooth 1.2 even after a WM6 upgrade.
jta said:
Hmm, who is your carrier, and how is it you are only paying 5.99 for internet?
Do tell!
Thanks,
J
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Click to collapse
Hi, some more thoughts about both phones... I own a Blackjack, my girlfriend a Dash, so I know them quite well.
Well, if you really are a 3G user... this is a big plus for the blackjack. I am from Germany, so I am not sure if it makes sense the German/American EDGE/3G networks, but here in Germany the blackjack is definitely much quicker with HSDPA (up to 1,8 Mbps) compared to EDGE.
But this is the only "objective" factor that I can mention. Oh, maybe one more: I like the Wi-Fi support omy Blackjack very very much. But here in Germany the Dash is also offered by O2 (called XDA Cosmo), and this version offers Wi-Fi as well. If you have the opportunity to get the Dash including Wi-Fi support (I think the original HTC devices support Wi-Fi as well) I would go for it...
Just a few more points that I noticed:
- the standard battery of the Blackjack is really weak, the dash will work longer. But I got a 2nd, extended battery with my blackjack, and I am quite happy with it. Disadvantage: it is thicker than the standard battery, so the device is not so slim/elegant anymore. Anyway, I think it still looks great.
- in my opinion, the blackjack "feels" better - I think the keyboard is a little more solid (?), and - sounds stupid - I really like to touch the blackjack, don't know how Samsung did it.
- On the other hand, I prefer the display of the Dash/Cosmo (I think it is a little brighter/clearer)
I emailed HTC Support two days ago and told them how disappointed I am with the company for delaying the WM6 packages.
This is the response I got:
Hello Sir,
The Rom update for the Windows mobile 6 for the S620 has not been released yet. Please be a bit more patient. As soon as the update will be released (hopefully end of September) It should be available for download from the E- Club section of the HTC website.
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I'm seriously considering selling my S620 and buying a Blackjack because they HAVE actually made the s/w available already.
HTC's support has been very poor - I know this from earlier experience.
Hang in there ... I'm told by my contact at Microsoft the WM6 for S620 will be released by HTC on 17-Aug. Which means sometime within 2 weeks of that ;-)
So I finally checked out a Note2 in person at a T-Mobile store on Saturday & liked what I saw even if it doesn't have all the features that would have made it a more instant buy for me including the split-screen-multitasking- multi-view, screen recorder function, video maker app & higher capacities than 16GB (~10.9GB internal on this one). For the bezel I would have preferred black & the rest could be grey or white. The contrasting of the AT&T One X's black core bezel is nice.
I did notice the less alluring plasticky Samsung feel of it but will 99% likely put a case on it anyway & followed this video that did make it seem quicker The screen did not look so huge to me as it was noticeably narrower than the original Note1 & I seemed to be able to use it with one hand without issues except when using the S-pen obviously but it was in one of those central vise gripper holders sadly so I couldn't properly test it & pocketability yet. The central vise gripper holder did make the handset look larger & I admit I'm still curious to see the 5" 1080p HTC handset coming to Verizon soon but I think I prefer the versatility of the Note2's S-Pen functionality & large removable battery.
I liked the ability to change the screen mode to more natural etc & the speaker was thankfully strong but Note 3 should still go for stereo higher fidelity speakers & a brighter perhaps even full 1080p screen. The screen on the Note2 seemed just bright enough at max brightness but I did not get a chance to test it under sunny conditions. The camera & camcorder seemed great but not quite as amazing as the HTC OneX although the software features go a long way. I do hope a future update would be able to bring audio to slow motion video at 1080p however.
I installed Flash easily but did not seem to get the 1080p options on the desktop version of youtube.com & didn't have the time to look into it further there so while the "HQ" Iron Man 3 HD trailer looked good-my own 1080p video capture was noticeably sharper. My non 720p EVO does HQ, so shouldn't the Note2 play better HD youtube than "HQ"?
When I started using-drilling the Note2 at full brightness-full volume etc the battery was ~33% & I was able to shut it down in ~ 2 hours, doesn't that sound low?
I was also quite surprised by T-Mobile prices because according to online articles I wasn't expecting such a compelling case for T-Mobile but the HSPA+ speeds on the speedtest app were consistently impressive at over 20 Mbps down & ~ 2 Mbps up (although this store's location had excellent coverage compared to where I would use it most ~ 5 miles away with significantly more spotty map coverage (Verizon has best coverage here) with individual T-Mobile value plans starting at $50/mo (for 500whenevermin-unlimited text-unlimited plus data with 2GB high speed data-to unlimited everything for $20 more/mo. The Note2 was priced there at $250 + $20/mo for 20 months to pay off its $650 pricetag. Since currently the vast majority of the time I seem to have fast Wi-Fi access & I don't need more than 500 whenever min I think I should get by on that $50/mo plan & if I notice higher usage could go up to other plans depending on data & hotspot needs. I'm still evaluating the AT&T & Verizon plans but I don't see why I should put up with slow Sprint any longer when T-Mobile is flexible & fast but my use case coverage remains to be tested.. Thoughts on T-Mobile vs other carriers or my rambling comments above?
Time for more storm-prep here in NY metro area..
Nice lil' writeup.
I am not sure if the $250 + $20 a month extra is a good deal, but that's what I went with. They also gave me a $100 rebate, so... Hard to argue with that.
I figured being on WiFi most of my time, I'll just get the minimum minutes and dataplan I can get. Ends up being a bit cheaper than the $100+ I was spending with VZW.
Glad I made the move to T-Mobile even if the network here in Denver isn't as good as VZW.
Be safe out there!
Hey Smart.....
Don't put too much faith in T-Mobile's wi-fi calling app..... Although I have 100% wi-fi signal strength at home (same room as router), wi-fi calling only works about 50% of the time (doesn't let you answer calls.... even though phone is ringing, or you make a call and you cannot hear them but they can hear you, etc.). Per T-Mobile tech support, I've changed my SIM card twice now but that hasn't fixed any problems... Finally, the last tech support person I spoke to tells me, "Yeah, our Note's wi-fi calling app is buggy"
Sent from my SGH-T879 using xda premium
craighwk said:
Nice lil' writeup.
I am not sure if the $250 + $20 a month extra is a good deal, but that's what I went with. They also gave me a $100 rebate, so... Hard to argue with that.
I figured being on WiFi most of my time, I'll just get the minimum minutes and dataplan I can get. Ends up being a bit cheaper than the $100+ I was spending with VZW.
Glad I made the move to T-Mobile even if the network here in Denver isn't as good as VZW.
Be safe out there!
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How did you get a $100 rebate?
Sent from my SGH-T889 using Tapatalk 2
Interesting to hear about the WiFi. It's been pretty great for me so far, although sometimes I can hear the echo of my voice coming back to me a second after I stopped talking, but so far so good.
As for the rebate? I have no idea. They just said it was eligible for $100 mail in rebate. They took care of the paperwork there, submitted it, and they said all I have to do is just wait for the check in the mail. We'll see about that too.
craighwk said:
Interesting to hear about the WiFi. It's been pretty great for me so far, although sometimes I can hear the echo of my voice coming back to me a second after I stopped talking, but so far so good.
As for the rebate? I have no idea. They just said it was eligible for $100 mail in rebate. They took care of the paperwork there, submitted it, and they said all I have to do is just wait for the check in the mail. We'll see about that too.
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Ilk he have to see them because they didn't offer any rebates to me and I have the same deal. I assume you have the value plan?
Sent from my SGH-T889 using Tapatalk 2
craighwk said:
Nice lil' writeup.
I am not sure if the $250 + $20 a month extra is a good deal, but that's what I went with. They also gave me a $100 rebate, so... Hard to argue with that.
I figured being on WiFi most of my time, I'll just get the minimum minutes and dataplan I can get. Ends up being a bit cheaper than the $100+ I was spending with VZW.
Glad I made the move to T-Mobile even if the network here in Denver isn't as good as VZW.
Be safe out there!
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Click to collapse
Thnx I lived in beautiful Boulder a couple years..:highfive:..what kind of speeds are you getting out there? I'll ask about any rebates but their pricing seems reasonable & flexible assuming service isn't significantly inferior for the user. I didn't ask about their return policy yet but Sprint is down to 14 days before ETF I think kicks in..? The manager also mentioned that she just got back from a meeting where NY could be getting LTE by March (won't hold my breath there but the in store HSPA+ downloads speed tests seemed great already unlike Sprint) & Note2 will get enabled for their LTE deployment.
I wonder if Skype+online# at $60/yr is better than T-Mobile's Wi-Fi calling in how posters here describe it? I've set Skype online # + unlimited world subscription up for family traveling abroad & while certainly helpful they still manage to complain about its imperfections..:fingers-crossed:
I think I jinxed myself with WiFi. As soon as I posted that, I got a call from Dad that went straight to voicemail. Didn't hear the phone ring. Called him back and the call dropped immediately. He called me back and he couldn't hear me when I said hello. Went into settings, disabled Wifi, and everything was perfect. Oh well.
Speeds here aren't crazy or anything I checked two days ago and I was getting about 5 Mbit/sec when I was getting 9 with VZW. I guess that's not too bad considering this isn't true LTE, right?
As for the rebate I got, yes, I selected the value plan. Apparently it's because I ported a phone number over. I'm looking at the rebate and it says "Mountain Plains Port in Online Promotion". $100 rebate card mailed to me 4-6 weeks.
craighwk said:
I think I jinxed myself with WiFi. As soon as I posted that, I got a call from Dad that went straight to voicemail. Didn't hear the phone ring. Called him back and the call dropped immediately. He called me back and he couldn't hear me when I said hello. Went into settings, disabled Wifi, and everything was perfect. Oh well.
Speeds here aren't crazy or anything I checked two days ago and I was getting about 5 Mbit/sec when I was getting 9 with VZW. I guess that's not too bad considering this isn't true LTE, right?
As for the rebate I got, yes, I selected the value plan. Apparently it's because I ported a phone number over. I'm looking at the rebate and it says "Mountain Plains Port in Online Promotion". $100 rebate card mailed to me 4-6 weeks.
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Gotcha. I ported mine a month ago so I dont think I qualify. Thanks for the info and sorry to the OP for changing the subject of his thread.
Sent from my SGH-T889 using Tapatalk 2
craighwk said:
I think I jinxed myself with WiFi. As soon as I posted that, I got a call from Dad that went straight to voicemail. Didn't hear the phone ring. Called him back and the call dropped immediately. He called me back and he couldn't hear me when I said hello. Went into settings, disabled Wifi, and everything was perfect. Oh well.
Speeds here aren't crazy or anything I checked two days ago and I was getting about 5 Mbit/sec when I was getting 9 with VZW. I guess that's not too bad considering this isn't true LTE, right?
As for the rebate I got, yes, I selected the value plan. Apparently it's because I ported a phone number over. I'm looking at the rebate and it says "Mountain Plains Port in Online Promotion". $100 rebate card mailed to me 4-6 weeks.
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Good to know about the relative unreliability of T-Mobile's Wi-Fi calling. It's happened with Skype setups too going to voicemail after not really ringing, video calls almost seem more reliable at certain times perhaps because everyone is using some kind of computer (includes smartphones).. Hey 5 Mbps is fast enough to stream quality video right..can't say that with Sprint's 1Mbps avg 3G here..Vs my 75 Mbps dwnld / 35 Mbps upload FIOS network connections
I wouldn't be surprised if Google disrupts internet telephony beyond their Google Voice eventually..too bad they had to cancel flights to the NYC Android event tomorrow because of this frankenstorm forecast that I'm still hoping will not really happen or at least not really affect up to 60 million:fingers-crossed: Got an emergency call from local gov warning of possible power loss for up to 7-10 days which would obviously suck & to secure property before tonight
I'd ask about any porting promotion but by that cited name it may be regional.. Any ETA for a similar update that brought the intl model split-screen-multitasking- multi-view? People otherwise happy with their Note2 on T-Mobile?
SMARTPHONEPC said:
Any ETA for a similar update that brought the intl model split-screen-multitasking- multi-view? People otherwise happy with their Note2 on T-Mobile?
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No ETA on the multiview feature. I'm quite happy with mines . Battery life if phenomenal... had a 50 minute skype call last night (with video on wifi at 70% brightness) and my battery only dropped 17%... that would've been the end of my Sensation.
Oh, one issue with Samsung... they need to get more accessories in stock on their site... I can't buy anything with my 50% off coupon... =.=
craighwk said:
I think I jinxed myself with WiFi. As soon as I posted that, I got a call from Dad that went straight to voicemail. Didn't hear the phone ring. Called him back and the call dropped immediately. He called me back and he couldn't hear me when I said hello. Went into settings, disabled Wifi, and everything was perfect. Oh well.
Speeds here aren't crazy or anything I checked two days ago and I was getting about 5 Mbit/sec when I was getting 9 with VZW. I guess that's not too bad considering this isn't true LTE, right?
As for the rebate I got, yes, I selected the value plan. Apparently it's because I ported a phone number over. I'm looking at the rebate and it says "Mountain Plains Port in Online Promotion". $100 rebate card mailed to me 4-6 weeks.
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Hi Craig, you might want to check your router settings. I was having problems with my Wifi Calling too, but since I played with some settings, it works perfectly now (both on my Sensation and my Note II)
Geo411m said:
How did you get a $100 rebate?
Sent from my SGH-T889 using Tapatalk 2
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My local TMO store offered only a $50 rebate. I'll have to press him harder.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda premium
I think you're right on the money. IMO, the Tmo Note II on value plan is the best option for any phone lover right now. That is assuming of course you have decent reception where you need it. I'm in SoCal and Tmo gets great reception here. I "only" get 12-16mbps down here so far, but feel that LTE will light it off pretty good next year. While I'd love a 1080p display, I wouldn't love an HTC so the Butterfly variants are out. Plus, the expandable memory and tremendous battery life are great. Lastly, Touchwiz on this phone is pretty decent. This is my first TW device, but compared to Sense or even Vanilla, I gotta say I like what Samsung has done here.
farfromovin said:
I think you're right on the money. IMO, the Tmo Note II on value plan is the best option for any phone lover right now. That is assuming of course you have decent reception where you need it. I'm in SoCal and Tmo gets great reception here. I "only" get 12-16mbps down here so far, but feel that LTE will light it off pretty good next year. While I'd love a 1080p display, I wouldn't love an HTC so the Butterfly variants are out. Plus, the expandable memory and tremendous battery life are great. Lastly, Touchwiz on this phone is pretty decent. This is my first TW device, but compared to Sense or even Vanilla, I gotta say I like what Samsung has done here.
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Great answer, I switch from sprint to tmobile and never looked backed over 2 years ago. I really enjoy my gn2 I bought and my wife the gs3 and switched my plan to the value plan. Saving about 80 dollars a month. I can go a whole day with out charging my phone even though I keep my charger around my neck as a habit from previous phones. I can live with out some features that tmobile gn2 has left out. When they'll come I'll update as for now, I'll waite. Half of the people don't use half of the features some phones have anyway.
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda app-developers app
farfromovin said:
I think you're right on the money. IMO, the Tmo Note II on value plan is the best option for any phone lover right now. That is assuming of course you have decent reception where you need it. I'm in SoCal and Tmo gets great reception here. I "only" get 12-16mbps down here so far, but feel that LTE will light it off pretty good next year. While I'd love a 1080p display, I wouldn't love an HTC so the Butterfly variants are out. Plus, the expandable memory and tremendous battery life are great. Lastly, Touchwiz on this phone is pretty decent. This is my first TW device, but compared to Sense or even Vanilla, I gotta say I like what Samsung has done here.
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I'm good with HSPA+... I get 24mbps on a good day, and average 15 mbps around town. Considering that T-Mobile has DC-HSPA that goes up to 41mbps, if that saturate that network, then I'm fine. Heck, 15mbps is faster than the home internet of at least 75% of the nation.
I don't mind the touchwiz, but the 5x4 icon layout is just plain dumb. it's an ENORMOUS waste of space, other than that, no real gripes here.
achusaysblessyou said:
I'm good with HSPA+... I get 24mbps on a good day, and average 15 mbps around town. Considering that T-Mobile has DC-HSPA that goes up to 41mbps, if that saturate that network, then I'm fine. Heck, 15mbps is faster than the home internet of at least 75% of the nation.
I don't mind the touchwiz, but the 5x4 icon layout is just plain dumb. it's an ENORMOUS waste of space, other than that, no real gripes here.
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Yeah that's what I was thinking!! Why the heck would Samsung give us a 5x4 layout in a 5.5in screen-_- I'm positive they could of managed a 5x5. Besides that I'm in looooove. Just want that Damn multi Window feature already!
I thought it might be helpful to share my experience getting my (now rooted, stock, with Google stuff added) Kindle Fire HD 8.9" 4G working on the T-Mobile network.
Getting the SIM card to eject using a paperclip was a royal pain in the ass.
You need a paperclip that's thin enough to fit LOOSELY in the hole. If you try to squeeze one in that's fat, it will jam the SIM edges to the case. Once you find one that'll work, it'll bend...and bend some more. I finally managed to get enough of an edge to stick out that I pried it the rest of the way with a screwdriver, with some minor scarring in the process. It's not really noticeable, but *I* know it's there. (To be clear, you poke the paperclip into the hole, push, and it'll eject. Theoretically anyway )
Once it's out though, things get easy. Just pop in the SIM, insert, change APN info as appropriate, done. APN settings can be found easily with Google. Removing it later was easy as pie. Paperclip, poke, eject. I have no idea why, maybe it's initially glued in or something. Nothing came out stuck to the SIM tray though and it's since popped in and out with no problems.
Now, here's the REAL kicker... I had planned to put the SIM from my T-Mobile hotspot in it. It just didn't occur to me to check to see if the Kindle used the same size, it doesn't. It uses a Micro SIM. Well, I didn't want to cut my hotspot SIM (I'm not yet sure if I'm keeping the Kindle or not), but I do have a Nexus 4...with a Micro SIM. So I figured, what the heck...
Damn if the thing didn't work. As far as I understood things, you aren't supposed to be able to use a phone SIM with a tablet in T-Mobile land. Maybe it's because I'm using a T-Mobile reseller, Solavei, but it worked fine with the Solavei phone SIM and APN settings. No issues at all. (Solavei is great, exact same service as I got from T-Mobile as a contract customer, but no-contract, cheaper, with more data.)
I happened to have to drive to Webster today, so I kept running SpeedTest.net every so often as I was driving across Houston mostly down I45. Here are the results:
Code:
Down Up Ping
1704 2157 110
1053 2102 102
1391 988 111
2872 943 914
4641 2145 100
5794 2370 115
11191 2267 139
2228 1335 113
1219 1401 90
144 96 802
18755 995 25
The 11k and 18k are not typos. I don't think they are glitches in the SpeedTest.net app either.
To give it some context, I was driving through rush hour which might explain a couple of the download speeds being lower than the upload speeds (busy towers) I also WAS moving, anywhere from 10-70 depending on how bad the traffic was.
Houston is in the process of being "refarmed" for the iPhone. So I think the 2 particularly high numbers may have been towers that were completed. Although, I suppose that it's possible that I roamed onto AT&T. (I can roam with Solavei) because the 18k number with the really low ping time looks like what I'd expect from LTE. T-Mobile IS doing LTE in Houston, but I haven't checked to see if the Kindles bands are compatible.
Anyway, while the numbers are not spectacular, if you have some reason to want to use the Kindle HD on T-Mobile's network, the speeds are certainly usable for email, web browsing, GPS, etc. My hotspot is paid for by work, so "Free" is a good enough reason for me , and saving the hassle of having yet another device to make sure is charged, doesn't get lost, etc. while roaming all over the city is MAYBE worth the reduced speed. (I usually get numbers in the mid to upper teens with my hot spot.) The less stuff I have to plug and unplug from cigarette lighters each time I stop at a client the better.
Oh, a note on GPS. I initially had problems with it. It took a while to lock, and then wasn't accurate. After I let it update from 8.14 to 8.3 things worked fine. (I had rooted, installed Google stuff, etc, but not blocked updating figuring to just re-root at 8.3.) Google Maps / Navigation worked fine my whole drive. I'll try Co-Pilot tomorrow. (MUCH better live traffic data, or at least use of that data, than Google. Worth the $10 a year just for reasonably accurate ETA's.)
A couple further thoughts....
1) If the ability to use a phone SIM was NOT specific to my situation, that could give the Kindle some great options for mobile data service. T-Mobile has a $30 a month prepaid plan with 5GB of data, unlimited low speed data, and at the other extreme, a $70 plan with unlimited high speed data. Neither are offered for tablets.
2) It took a phone SIM. Gotta wonder... with the right ROM could you make calls? A data SIM blocks calls at the carrier level, but a phone SIM, well, as long as the hardware is there and the software supports it....
And before anyone goes off on the idea, OBVIOUSLY holding a 10" tablet up to your face doesn't work. But I don't hold my 4.8" phone up to my face either, it's called Bluetooth. The "tablet as phone" works as a second line. For example, as a work line. I have a couple of clients that do the "on call" thing, with a cellphone that get's passed from person to person at the start of each shift. That could actually work better with a phone-tablet, since they'd then have email, remote security camera access, etc. along with the ability to make calls. (Again, Bluetooth or just speakerphone works fine.) If you're going with the phone SIM for some other reason (cheap or unlimited data), why NOT take advantage of the ability to make calls?
Zanthexter said:
I thought it might be helpful to share my experience getting my (now rooted, stock, with Google stuff added) Kindle Fire HD 8.9" 4G working on the T-Mobile network.
Getting the SIM card to eject using a paperclip was a royal pain in the ass.
You need a paperclip that's thin enough to fit LOOSELY in the hole. If you try to squeeze one in that's fat, it will jam the SIM edges to the case. Once you find one that'll work, it'll bend...and bend some more. I finally managed to get enough of an edge to stick out that I pried it the rest of the way with a screwdriver, with some minor scarring in the process. It's not really noticeable, but *I* know it's there. (To be clear, you poke the paperclip into the hole, push, and it'll eject. Theoretically anyway )
Once it's out though, things get easy. Just pop in the SIM, insert, change APN info as appropriate, done. APN settings can be found easily with Google. Removing it later was easy as pie. Paperclip, poke, eject. I have no idea why, maybe it's initially glued in or something. Nothing came out stuck to the SIM tray though and it's since popped in and out with no problems.
Now, here's the REAL kicker... I had planned to put the SIM from my T-Mobile hotspot in it. It just didn't occur to me to check to see if the Kindle used the same size, it doesn't. It uses a Micro SIM. Well, I didn't want to cut my hotspot SIM (I'm not yet sure if I'm keeping the Kindle or not), but I do have a Nexus 4...with a Micro SIM. So I figured, what the heck...
Damn if the thing didn't work. As far as I understood things, you aren't supposed to be able to use a phone SIM with a tablet in T-Mobile land. Maybe it's because I'm using a T-Mobile reseller, Solavei, but it worked fine with the Solavei phone SIM and APN settings. No issues at all. (Solavei is great, exact same service as I got from T-Mobile as a contract customer, but no-contract, cheaper, with more data.)
I happened to have to drive to Webster today, so I kept running SpeedTest.net every so often as I was driving across Houston mostly down I45. Here are the results:
Code:
Down Up Ping
1704 2157 110
1053 2102 102
1391 988 111
2872 943 914
4641 2145 100
5794 2370 115
11191 2267 139
2228 1335 113
1219 1401 90
144 96 802
18755 995 25
The 11k and 18k are not typos. I don't think they are glitches in the SpeedTest.net app either.
To give it some context, I was driving through rush hour which might explain a couple of the download speeds being lower than the upload speeds (busy towers) I also WAS moving, anywhere from 10-70 depending on how bad the traffic was.
Houston is in the process of being "refarmed" for the iPhone. So I think the 2 particularly high numbers may have been towers that were completed. Although, I suppose that it's possible that I roamed onto AT&T. (I can roam with Solavei) because the 18k number with the really low ping time looks like what I'd expect from LTE. T-Mobile IS doing LTE in Houston, but I haven't checked to see if the Kindles bands are compatible.
Anyway, while the numbers are not spectacular, if you have some reason to want to use the Kindle HD on T-Mobile's network, the speeds are certainly usable for email, web browsing, GPS, etc. My hotspot is paid for by work, so "Free" is a good enough reason for me , and saving the hassle of having yet another device to make sure is charged, doesn't get lost, etc. while roaming all over the city is MAYBE worth the reduced speed. (I usually get numbers in the mid to upper teens with my hot spot.) The less stuff I have to plug and unplug from cigarette lighters each time I stop at a client the better.
Oh, a note on GPS. I initially had problems with it. It took a while to lock, and then wasn't accurate. After I let it update from 8.14 to 8.3 things worked fine. (I had rooted, installed Google stuff, etc, but not blocked updating figuring to just re-root at 8.3.) Google Maps / Navigation worked fine my whole drive. I'll try Co-Pilot tomorrow. (MUCH better live traffic data, or at least use of that data, than Google. Worth the $10 a year just for reasonably accurate ETA's.)
A couple further thoughts....
1) If the ability to use a phone SIM was NOT specific to my situation, that could give the Kindle some great options for mobile data service. T-Mobile has a $30 a month prepaid plan with 5GB of data, unlimited low speed data, and at the other extreme, a $70 plan with unlimited high speed data. Neither are offered for tablets.
2) It took a phone SIM. Gotta wonder... with the right ROM could you make calls? A data SIM blocks calls at the carrier level, but a phone SIM, well, as long as the hardware is there and the software supports it....
And before anyone goes off on the idea, OBVIOUSLY holding a 10" tablet up to your face doesn't work. But I don't hold my 4.8" phone up to my face either, it's called Bluetooth. The "tablet as phone" works as a second line. For example, as a work line. I have a couple of clients that do the "on call" thing, with a cellphone that get's passed from person to person at the start of each shift. That could actually work better with a phone-tablet, since they'd then have email, remote security camera access, etc. along with the ability to make calls. (Again, Bluetooth or just speakerphone works fine.) If you're going with the phone SIM for some other reason (cheap or unlimited data), why NOT take advantage of the ability to make calls?
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I discovered my t-mobile sim from my nexus 4 works in my kindle too. Not sure about the phone ability but it should work.
ant178 said:
I discovered my t-mobile sim from my nexus 4 works in my kindle too. Not sure about the phone ability but it should work.
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That's not too shabby a deal. Assuming you're on a T-Mobile family plan, you could add another line and get 2.5GB of medium-speed data for $20 or so a month. (less discounts, plus taxes and fees of course)
As they roll out the iPhone upgrade, the speeds ought to improve too.
Shame the phone ability isn't there. Nice to have it as a backup line, office line (Bluetooth/Speakerphone), or a "kids" line.
I ended up returning mine, and am just waiting on the refund to process before snagging a Nexus 10. I decided I could live without the Amazon Prime videos/books and just use the Sonic 4G hotspot (with better speeds). I also figure the sharper and larger screen will do better for Zinio, which is a big part of what I want to use it for at home. Why they insist on translating paper magazines to e-format as basically PDF files I do NOT understand....
Zanthexter said:
That's not too shabby a deal. Assuming you're on a T-Mobile family plan, you could add another line and get 2.5GB of medium-speed data for $20 or so a month. (less discounts, plus taxes and fees of course)
As they roll out the iPhone upgrade, the speeds ought to improve too.
Shame the phone ability isn't there. Nice to have it as a backup line, office line (Bluetooth/Speakerphone), or a "kids" line.
I ended up returning mine, and am just waiting on the refund to process before snagging a Nexus 10. I decided I could live without the Amazon Prime videos/books and just use the Sonic 4G hotspot (with better speeds). I also figure the sharper and larger screen will do better for Zinio, which is a big part of what I want to use it for at home. Why they insist on translating paper magazines to e-format as basically PDF files I do NOT understand....
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I wish I could return mine LOL.
I think the $50 for 12 months 250mb is okay, I just don't do anything but browse the web aside from when I am home. The development for this Kindle is also lacking as it's not very popular. If development was at a great place, I wouldn't be tempted to consider another device. Nexus 10 specs are definitely better but I like the screen size of this tablet more than 10 inch tablets but I still would prefer the nexus 10. I don't think the nexus 10 has much more over this tablet besides OS and screen resolution.
Too bad i had to return my galaxy note 10.1 2014 just because of a screen bug :| . I got a refund though so am happy but now i am thinking as to why i should get a 3g tablet and just get a wifi version which is cheaper. Is it possible to just set up mobile hotspot on my blackberry q10 and get the wifi note 10.1 and connect to it ? :|
I personally wouldn't own a Wi-Fi tablet and have been using a 3G Note 10.1 since last August when the N8000 was released. I now have a SM-P601.
It's always connected. If you're at an airport you can just pull it out and you're online. Boarding called? Just stuff it back in your bag. The whole concept of pulling out my phone, turning on tethering, connecting the tablet and then having to do the same thing in reverse is just tedious. Leave tethering on your phone on accidentally and your phone's battery is toast.
Battery maximization. Why use Wi-Fi from your phone with a small battery to power your tablet with a massive one? I always use my tablet for long conference calls and video calls because its battery is enormous and I can count on my phone being charged enough when I need it.
Syncing. I have nine syncs running in addition to any apps that may need syncing too. When you turn on a Wi-Fi tablet that's been offline tons of syncs all hit the now available connection at the same time to update themselves. Your device will move like sludge until their done.
Convenience. I have my phone and tablet configured the exact same way so I can get the same information from either. The phone's convenient for fast things like short MMS and quick calls. The tablets great when you're reading or composing longer items like e-mail. I sync bookmarks, Scrapbook, and S Note between my tablet and phone so I can start something on one and pick up where I left off on the other.
Wi-Fi isn't everywhere and where it is available it can be weak and inconsistent. I can send an e-mail via 3G faster than I can find a Wi-Fi AP and sign in to it. Overseas, Wi-Fi isn't free and isn't as readily available as it is in the U.S. A PayG data card can be cheaper than Wi-Fi in a lot of countries.
Adding an unsubsidized device like a 3G N10.1-14 to your plan has dropped in price on both AT&T and T-Mobile. The additional price difference for the 3G vs. the Wi-Fi N10.1-14 cost me about $120 which is like $10 a month if I keep it a year. The freedom of being always connected is worth the extra cost, monthly and upfront, for me. And if you're on a shared data plan the same amount of data is consumed whether your device is connecting directly or being tethered via your phone.
YMMV.
Interesting!! my main concern would be gps pinpointing my location since i do a little traveling here and there but my q10 can do that... :/ Any kind of ratio as to which model has the most problems? i developed a little phobia of recieving problematic devices :| this is the first time i had to return a device. I am leaning on to the wifi version now Thanks btw .
I would go with 3g like Barry_GEG said.
I almost bought the wifi only but the Samsung Store here in South East Asia had the 3g for $600 so I couldn't pass it up.
I use it as a home phone now also.
I would never buy a wifi only in the future.
Sent from my SM-P601 using Tapatalk
I bought (and love) the Wifi version and use a Karma device when I need non-wifi connectivity.
Po678 said:
My main concern would be gps pinpointing my location since i do a little traveling here and there but my q10 can do that
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Tablets, especially large ones, make great navigation devices. Here's mine showing a route in Garmin. That's another advantage of a 3G tablet. You don't have to cache maps in Google Maps and Google Now and S Voice which require Internet access to work are always available. I wouldn't mount a 10" tablet on my windshield but I'll prop it up in the seat next to me or allow a passenger to be navigator.
Hmmmmm .....i checked in one of the stores and it seems there is a 4g version available here and there is a hype about snapdragon in the forums. is the snapdragon worth the extra bucks? because the wifi only version is alot expensive than it is worth in the middle east , i might as well pay high for the 4g version? what do you guys think?
Where I live 3G contracts are way too expensive... It takes me one second to turn on the hotspot on my phone and im not travelling that often to really make use of another 3g contract.
But i can see the arguments in the first post
This looks pretty interesting, just noticed that a few news aggregators that I check had some info about the "Uncarrier 7" announcement. Apparently, starting on 9/17 for only a $25 DEPOSIT (easily reclaimed if I understand correctly) for what they're calling a "Personal CellSpot" wifi router. I'm super curious about the specifics of this device, this article http://www.geekwire.com/2014/t-mobi...nal-cellspot-wifi-router-boost-call-coverage/ reports that in the announcement Tmo said that it could even replace your current router... which is not something I'm at all interested in doing, but adding it to my network to get max LTE inside is something that I'm most definitely interested in doing. So just wanted to let you all know about this news, which I find quite interesting (particularly the literally unbeatable price). Anyone feel free to post any details that you can uncover about the device; I'll continue researching and do the same.
jazzmachine said:
This looks pretty interesting, just noticed that a few news aggregators that I check had some info about the "Uncarrier 7" announcement. Apparently, starting on 9/17 for only a $25 DEPOSIT (easily reclaimed if I understand correctly) for what they're calling a "Personal CellSpot" wifi router. I'm super curious about the specifics of this device, this article http://www.geekwire.com/2014/t-mobi...nal-cellspot-wifi-router-boost-call-coverage/ reports that in the announcement Tmo said that it could even replace your current router... which is not something I'm at all interested in doing, but adding it to my network to get max LTE inside is something that I'm most definitely interested in doing. So just wanted to let you all know about this news, which I find quite interesting (particularly the literally unbeatable price). Anyone feel free to post any details that you can uncover about the device; I'll continue researching and do the same.
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This actually looks pretty cool. Reminds me of the AT&T 3G thingy that they have, except full LTE
Just thought "Hmm, I wonder if there's any info about it on the TMo site... durrr." Here's a like to the overview of the device on their support site: https://support.t-mobile.com/docs/DOC-15754
After looking through that info: the setup instructions basically tell you to replace your current router with it (plug into modem, web setup gui), but there has to be a way to set it up as a bridge. Interestingly, In the troubleshooting section they link to the Asus support page for the (newer version) of the router that I have for advanced configuration, which seems promising. The device itself definitely has solid specs though: AC wifi, dual band, USB input etc. If my current router didn't have the same features, I'd definitely consider upgrading to it (after learning about it's firmware, config capabilities) if I didn't currently have an Asus RT-AC66U running Merlin's custom AsusWRT firmware (adds many features to the router, and I actually thought the stock AsusWRT wasn't bad... builds of DD-WRT ect. seem kind of iffy for it though). Anyways, if putting it in bridged mode isn't possible, I would look into attaching it via an ethernet splitter at my modem... that would actually work well (if it would work, continually trying to expand my knowledge in the complex realm of networking) because I almost always connect to a VPN client on my desktop machine... if I could set up an additional router, then I could just connect all the devices I wanted on the VPN to the Asus router which I would configure with OpenVPN, and my phone on other devices that I prefer I straight connection on to the T-Mo router.
However it ends up working, getting a device with those specs that also gives you strong LTE for approximately zero dollars and zero cents flat out kicks ass (unless it has some kind of backdoor to intercept all packets or something, that's my fear about using it as a solo router). Keep on un-carrying TMo!
toastido said:
This actually looks pretty cool. Reminds me of the AT&T 3G thingy that they have, except full LTE
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Yeah, back during the lengthy time that I paid ATT excessively due to the flat out false impression that my "grandfathered unlimited" plan still resembled the plan that I initially signed up for in any way... AT&T actually sent me one of those ($300 I believe) devices completely gratis because inside my old apartment, my phone could barely touch a mobile network other than AT&T's and still, the signal was super weak. They never asked for it back after I ditched them after finding out in an emergency situation just how "unlimited" my data plan really was, when I hit 5 gigs for the first time in years, and was immediately throttled down to "can't load a webpage" unusable. Calling CS several times, I had NO option to regain usable data until the month rolled over short of changing to a new plan where I would be *allowed* to buy additional data (and of course, signing a fresh contract, when my prior two years had just ended). But wait! there's more! Despite no-longer being an ATT sucker.. er, customer, I still receive a monthly bill for $16 from them. It's because of the fact that at one point, I had to buy a new un-subsidized phone, and they had this deal where you could get an S4 or something and an LTE tablet for the price of just the phone (but the tablet needed a data plan). That sounded pretty good, so I grabbed a Note 8 (i467, not realizing how crippled it was vs. the wifi 5110 version). So that tablet got stolen soon after purchase, and I replaced it with the wifi only model (in retrospect, MUCH better device... quite dev friendly vs AT&T model w/ obligatory locked bootloader which took forever to even find a working root method but custom ROMs pretty much out of the question). So I obviously didn't need want the tablet data anymore... well, they did me a huge favor, and changed my tablet plan to this one that costs $16 / month, which they clearly plan on charging me for the duration of 2 years, unless I can figure out how to void it or something.
Man, a totally OT tirade in my own thread! Actually that thought was sparked by your mention of the AT&T device, which I seriously need to sell on eBay! That could quite possibly cover this BS data-less data plan that AT&T insists that I owe them...
Slightly back on topic, this device appears to beat the pants off of the AT&T thing on every level. Spec-wise, it really does look like a very solid router available for only a refundable deposit! Good job TMo, this is definitely one of the more interesting un-carrier announcements...
This could be T-Mobile's replacement for their cell phone signal booster. They were $500 but giving them away free if you were in a bad area. Idk how much these cost to make but at least they arent giving them away for free.
A little more relevant detail (bolded) from a BGR link w/ more info about the whole announcement:
"T-Mobile’s second big announcement is a clear effort to work past any real or perceived indoor coverage issues by offering subscribers a free WiFi cell tower of sorts that can be used in their homes or offices.
Dubbed the “T-Mobile Personal CellSpot,” the device is basically a WiFi router that can work alongside or in place of your existing router. The CellSpot will allow all devices to connect to it, but it will prioritize WiFi calling voice traffic in order to ensure that calls are always as clear as possible.
A free Personal CellSpot can be obtained from a T-Mobile store or by calling the carrier’s customer service department, and a refundable $25 hardware deposit will be required."
http://bgr.com/2014/09/10/t-mobile-wifi-unleashed-announcement/
This would be great if your home network is good. Pointless if it's not. It sucks that I get LTE in one part of our house and then 4g/2g in another. An lte signal Booster would be more useful. I have an older signal Booster but it only boost 4g.
Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk
Please don't get me started on ATT, it took 4 months, about 8 calls and 4 trips to different att stores to cancel expired contract account. Spoke to many different agents and managers, so it was company wide. On top of that they stole $150 (overpayments on cancelled account they promised refund, never did). I would take those gangsters to court, but just too busy and not worth my time. However I will never ever use their service, even if it was for free. Got great satisfaction when they paid billions to support my current cell company, T-mo. Sorry for my rant, couldn't resist.
Back to topic: Let us know how it works, I have LTE service at home, (about 10Mb down, 2Mb up) but this could speed things up a little.
jazzmachine said:
Yeah, back during the lengthy time that I paid ATT excessively due to the flat out false impression that my "grandfathered unlimited" plan still resembled the plan that I initially signed up for in any way... AT&T actually sent me one of those ($300 I believe) devices completely gratis because inside my old apartment, my phone could barely touch a mobile network other than AT&T's and still, the signal was super weak. They never asked for it back after I ditched them after finding out in an emergency situation just how "unlimited" my data plan really was, when I hit 5 gigs for the first time in years, and was immediately throttled down to "can't load a webpage" unusable. Calling CS several times, I had NO option to regain usable data until the month rolled over short of changing to a new plan where I would be *allowed* to buy additional data (and of course, signing a fresh contract, when my prior two years had just ended). But wait! there's more! Despite no-longer being an ATT sucker.. er, customer, I still receive a monthly bill for $16 from them. It's because of the fact that at one point, I had to buy a new un-subsidized phone, and they had this deal where you could get an S4 or something and an LTE tablet for the price of just the phone (but the tablet needed a data plan). That sounded pretty good, so I grabbed a Note 8 (i467, not realizing how crippled it was vs. the wifi 5110 version). So that tablet got stolen soon after purchase, and I replaced it with the wifi only model (in retrospect, MUCH better device... quite dev friendly vs AT&T model w/ obligatory locked bootloader which took forever to even find a working root method but custom ROMs pretty much out of the question). So I obviously didn't need want the tablet data anymore... well, they did me a huge favor, and changed my tablet plan to this one that costs $16 / month, which they clearly plan on charging me for the duration of 2 years, unless I can figure out how to void it or something.
Man, a totally OT tirade in my own thread! Actually that thought was sparked by your mention of the AT&T device, which I seriously need to sell on eBay! That could quite possibly cover this BS data-less data plan that AT&T insists that I owe them...
Slightly back on topic, this device appears to beat the pants off of the AT&T thing on every level. Spec-wise, it really does look like a very solid router available for only a refundable deposit! Good job TMo, this is definitely one of the more interesting un-carrier announcements...
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pete4k said:
Please don't get me started on ATT, it took 4 months, about 8 calls and 4 trips to different att stores to cancel expired contract account. Spoke to many different agents and managers, so it was company wide. On top of that they stole $150 (overpayments on cancelled account they promised refund, never did). I would take those gangsters to court, but just too busy and not worth my time. However I will never ever use their service, even if it was for free. Got great satisfaction when they paid billions to support my current cell company, T-mo. Sorry for my rant, couldn't resist.
Back to topic: Let us know how it works, I have LTE service at home, (about 10Mb down, 2Mb up) but this could speed things up a little.
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Yo, strictly on topic man! JUUUUST KIDDING! Actually, it's rather shocking how many topics "Yes, AT&T seriously pulled this BS" stories are at least tangentially related to! I imagine that I would have had a similar experience, had T-Mobile not only kindly handled the entire process for me, but then also gave me money! That has worked out VERY well.
No need for this of you have a asus rt-n66u or higher router with qos(quality of service). If your have a cheap comcast or att router this is for you.
Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk
How would a router increase your LTE signal? I don't think it's a cell phone reception booster so it wouldn't increase our signal strength. I think T-Mobile would rather give out cheap routers so we will leave our wifi on for wifi calling/texting/surfing instead of using their cell towers.
It's both. LTE and Wi-Fi. At least that's what I got out of it.
Sent from my leanKernel 3.8 powered stock 4.4.2 (NF9) SM-N900T
Here's a hands-on account: http://www.phonearena.com/news/T-Mobiles-Personal-CellSpot-hands-on_id60587 In addition to a little more hardware info (USB 2 & 3 port... not too shabby), there's some decent discussion, particularly re: QoS being configured heavily for optimal VoIP, and who knows if that can be re-configured. It also answers a question that I couldn't help but wonder about...
So you throw down $25 bucks for this thing, then strip it for parts that you need for your legit A.I. quantum computer... are there any consequences other than being down $25 (and obviously the inevitable outcome which follows the Terminator movies plot lines precisely, including dialogue)? This article states that you can just straight up buy the device for $99, so I imagine that you'd be on the hook for an additional $75 if you can't return it... when the time comes (? whatever than ends up meaning). That is unless you use that new QC to travel back to before you ever picked it up... as long as you're willing to risk almost certainly causing several tears in the space / time continuum in order to save $99 (which could VERY possibly actually be worth $99.01 due to reverse inflation). Either way, you win!
If I'm not mistaken that tmo-ac1900 is a asus rt-ac68u(that I own) selling for real cheap.... The only router better on the market is the rt-ac87u
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Folks, this is a QOS modified Asus router. IT does NOT increase or rebroadcast ANY cell frequencies. LTE, 3g, 4g, nada.
It's purely QOS enhanced to give you WIFI calling QOS settings which most NORMAL users have no clue how to set up.
That being said, if you do not have a quality sim dual band router or only B/A/G/N and want a high quality router with AC standards, this is an extremely nice device.
For those of us who are professional engineers in the field and already have a quality router, you can always get this and add it as a signal repeater for wifi elsewhere in your home/office.
I shall probably get it just to have it on hand in case Netgear dumps a bad firmware and wipes my current router.
Admiral2145 said:
If I'm not mistaken that tmo-ac1900 is a asus rt-ac68u(that I own) selling for real cheap.... The only router better on the market is the rt-ac87u
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OK, hmm... thanks for that interesting info! I have the previous model of that router (rt-ac66u). Have you ever come across Merlin's AsusWRT firmware? I found it it because the stock gui tool to update the download and flash firmware upgrades is just broken (at least for my model). Apparently AsusWRT is open-sourced, which is pretty excellent, particularly for router firmware, and I later came across other customized builds but it looks like Merlin's is the most popular (at least that was what Google told me when I was inquiring about that built-in firmware update tool constantly failing), and it adds some nice additional settings. The hardware itself is also solid; only power-cycled it a handful of times over several months of ownership (it was pretty new when I got it), and that likely wasn't even the issue some of those times. Well, actually, I suppose it did kind of start resetting itself at one point... the power adapter is crap for some reason, and I eventually noticed that a little bit of the wire had gotten stripped, so i put electrical tape around that part, but if I touched the wire after that point the messed up part would lose alignment until I messed with it and saw the router reboot. The adapter I replaced that with feels much better; plug connection (in router) is perfectly tight vs. stock which is slightly loose, and it's both significantly longer and thicker. Actually, that Just reminded me that that I had broken one of the stock antennae, so I bought a replacement set (made for the router) that are a bit longer/thicker and did improve the signal strength. So, two thumbs up for the router itself, but just one sideways thumb for the quality of the included additional components.
This deal would be particularly killer if you're able to flash alternative firmware, which I would imagine they at least attempt to prevent, particularly if you just drop the temporary $25 to use it vs. the $99 to own it. However, even if it requires a JTAG and some skills, one can now get a high end router for only $99. If you want to experiment, ya think you could just throw down $25 to grab one, brick it quickly, return to store, "The one I got is defective, I tried to set it up and it won't turn on! Now I can't even access the cloud tube!! Blah, blah, obviously I'm not technical enough to have messed it up, can I get a different one?" So I guess we'll find out how locked down this thing is... using a router that needs to be "rooted" is a major red flag IMO...
jazzmachine said:
OK, hmm... thanks for that interesting info! I have the previous model of that router (rt-ac66u). Have you ever come across Merlin's AsusWRT firmware? I found it it because the stock gui tool to update the download and flash firmware upgrades is just broken (at least for my model). Apparently AsusWRT is open-sourced, which is pretty excellent, particularly for router firmware, and I later came across other customized builds but it looks like Merlin's is the most popular (at least that was what Google told me when I was inquiring about that built-in firmware update tool constantly failing), and it adds some nice additional settings. The hardware itself is also solid; only power-cycled it a handful of times over several months of ownership (it was pretty new when I got it), and that likely wasn't even the issue some of those times. Well, actually, I suppose it did kind of start resetting itself at one point... the power adapter is crap for some reason, and I eventually noticed that a little bit of the wire had gotten stripped, so i put electrical tape around that part, but if I touched the wire after that point the messed up part would lose alignment until I messed with it and saw the router reboot. The adapter I replaced that with feels much better; plug connection (in router) is perfectly tight vs. stock which is slightly loose, and it's both significantly longer and thicker. Actually, that Just reminded me that that I had broken one of the stock antennae, so I bought a replacement set (made for the router) that are a bit longer/thicker and did improve the signal strength. So, two thumbs up for the router itself, but just one sideways thumb for the quality of the included additional components.
This deal would be particularly killer if you're able to flash alternative firmware, which I would imagine they at least attempt to prevent, particularly if you just drop the temporary $25 to use it vs. the $99 to own it. However, even if it requires a JTAG and some skills, one can now get a high end router for only $99. If you want to experiment, ya think you could just throw down $25 to grab one, brick it quickly, return to store, "The one I got is defective, I tried to set it up and it won't turn on! Now I can't even access the cloud tube!! Blah, blah, obviously I'm not technical enough to have messed it up, can I get a different one?" So I guess we'll find out how locked down this thing is... using a router that needs to be "rooted" is a major red flag IMO...
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Already asked merlin he said no lol... Even still I would get it and try flashing merlins on it. I use the fork version for my ac68u (it allows all channels and unlimited power). http://forums.smallnetbuilder.com/showthread.php?t=18914
[Fork] Update for 374.43 available
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This was listed under the "Personal Cellspot" section as well:
http://support.t-mobile.com/docs/DOC-14947
toastido said:
This was listed under the "Personal Cellspot" section as well:
http://support.t-mobile.com/docs/DOC-14947
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ya who knows but we all here will know soon I know i will get one as soon as i can :silly:
Tried to con the rep into pre-ordering the Cellspot today but no luck. Said they will be up for ordering on the 17th.