Thursday, December 16, 2010

Signal Strength - CINR

When validating the strength of the signal at a location you can check the CINR - Carrier to Interference-plus-Noise Ratio.

This will help you figure out how strong the signal will be at a location. But be careful. This is just an estimate of the speed. A site survey is always recommended.

The CINR score is shown on the Clear order entry screen after you enter a valid address and zipcode.

Any questions give me a call.
Gen

Android-iPhone App for locating 4G coverage

Want to know if you have CLEAR 4G coverage wherever you might be or go? Got CLEAR? quickly tells you if you’re in CLEAR 4G coverage with access to the blazing fast CLEAR 4G network. No more pulling out your laptop and booting up to see if you can get a 4G connection. With Got CLEAR? it’s one click and done.


Features
• One click CLEAR 4G coverage check
• Check coverage for any address or location
• Track yourself en-route to check coverage along the way
• Purchase CLEAR service
• Requires online mode to show coverage

Works on Android phone with Google OS 2.0 or better
Apple version requires iPhone OS 3.0 or better

Where can I find it?

The Apple app can be located at: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/got-cl... (or via iTunes)

The Android app is on the Android marketplace which can only be accessed via an Android phone. If you have an Android phone, you can search for "CLEAR" in the marketplace. The app name is "Got Clear?"

Monday, December 13, 2010

A little about the Competition


Verizon looks for data users New LTE wireless network super fast for downloads but it's costly for use as your primary Internet access
By Dwight Silverman
Houston Chronicle




Lowell McAdam, president and chief executive officer of Verizon Wireless, introduces the new 4G LTE on the Verizon network during a news conference at the CTIA Enterprise & Applications conference in San Francisco, California, U.S., on Wednesday, October 6, 2010. Verizon Wireless, the largest U.S. mobile carrier, will introduce its fastest wireless network in 38 markets by the end of the year, including Boston, New York and Washington, to lure more users for data services.

LTE
Verizon Wireless has begun selling access to its next-generation wireless data network, joining competitors in boosting speeds for those who connect to the Net on the go. Verizon is using a technology known as ''Long Term Evolution,'' or LTE. For now, the only devices that can talk to the LTE network are modems that use a USB connection to plug into a computer. Verizon's first device is LG's VLW600, which only works with Windows PCs. (Mac support is on the way.) It costs $100 after a $50 rebate, and you'll need to sign a two-year contract for one of two data plans.
Smartphones  Smartphones that work with Verizon's LTE network will come early next year.

Costs
You can pay $50 and get 5 gigabytes of data each month, or spend $80 for 10 GB. If you go over either amount, you're charged $10 per gigabyte. Unfortunately, there's no all-you-can-eat plan.
Equipment
The LG modem is surprisingly large. A cap over the USB plug snaps up, and when you plug it into a port on your notebook, it will almost certainly block other ports. Fortunately, the package comes with a USB extension cable so the modem can be used without hogging so much space. If you've used Verizon's broadband data products before, the VZAccess Manager software will be familiar. It can handle Wi-Fi and Verizon's data network connections, including both LTE and the company's established EVDO service. It also provides you with usage statistics, so you can quickly see how much data you've slurped. That's very important, as I'll address later.


SPEED
And yeah, this network is fast. I did a variety of speed tests from both Speedtest.net and Speakeasy.com and averaged around 11 Mbps down and 5 Mbps up. My best test was on Speakeasy, connecting to a server in Dallas, where I got an astounding 41 Mbps down and 7 Mbps up. Keep in mind that Verizon's LTE network just launched, so there are relatively few people using it. Speed test results that high won't be typical for long, and you won't see them in all areas. Verizon executives say early adopters will enjoy extraordinary speeds, but download speeds around 8 Mbps will be the norm once the network is better-populated, with a range of 5-12 Mbps.
How fast is LTE in practical terms? I was able to download a 700-megabyte file in about 5 minutes. A download of Google's Chrome browser, about 8 MB, took just a few seconds. I spent about 15 minutes streaming the 1973 film The Exorcist via Netflix's Watch Instantly service, and the quality of the video was excellent.



CAREFUL
However, Verizon's LTE network isn't priced to be used as your primary Internet access. In about 30 minutes of tests, I blew through more than a gigabyte of data, or 20 percent of the allotment for Verizon's lowest-tier LTE service. Obviously, I was downloading large files for testing, and that's not something most users will do regularly. But if you're a road warrior relying on your notebook for work during the day and entertainment at night, you'll want to keep a close eye on how much data you use.
Some of your usage can come in unexpected ways. For example, Netflix varies the quality of the video it streams based on the speed of your connection. Faster speeds mean a better image, but also more data coming down the pipe.



Let's Compare
So how does Verizon's LTE compare in terms of speed and price with its competitors' 4G offerings?
Sprint has rolled out a network it shares with Clear, using a technology called WiMax. In my tests on both Clear's and Sprint's services, I averaged around 6 Mbps down and 3 Mbps up.

T-Mobile has turned on its HSPA+ network. In my tests, I saw between 3-5 Mbps down and about 3 Mbps up.
AT&T won't have its own HSPA+ network up and running until sometime in 2011.
Pricing and data limits vary greatly, and you should check the carriers' Web sites for details. But Sprint and Clear are the only carriers with truly unlimited 4G service with $50 and $45 a month plans, respectively. Both also offer higher-priced plans for modems that fall back to 3G when 4G isn't available, and the 3G part is capped at 5 GB. T-mobile has a $40 plan with a ''soft'' cap of 5 GB, but rather than being charged for going over, your speed might be slowed. It's essentially unlimited, but after 5 GB, it could be frustrating to use.
And because these networks are new, they are not available everywhere. Each carrier's site has a feature that lets you check whether you can get the service where you are.



ROVER
You might also want to check out the pay-as-you go mobile broadband service called Rover, which is owned by Clear.
At the moment, Verizon's LTE network is the speed winner, but it's pricey and could be very costly for heavy data users. Competition should impact pricing over time, but for now, you'll need to keep a close eye on the meter.

Friday, December 10, 2010

NEW CLEAR MODEM OPTION

Clear 4G Home Modem delivers home WiMax

Clear is rolling out a 4G modem/router for the home that connects to their WiMax network. The cost of the device if purchased is $120.  Monthly service plans start at $35 and the modem provides the latest in WiFi connectivity (802.11N) as well as Ethernet ports for any boxes that aren’t wireless.

You'll receive unlimited 4G usage.  This is great for home users. It provides the modem and the router in one piece of hardware. The 4G modem picks up the 4G tower signal and then allow other in your home to connect their wireless devices.

"Why live in a Brighthouse??? When you can have WIMAX everywhere you go."

Monday, December 6, 2010

CATCH THE WAVE

As you have undoubtedly heard, 4G wireless communication has now hit the market
Dec. 6, 2010 01:56 PM
As you have undoubtedly heard, 4G wireless communication has now hit the market. Other than sounding really cool, what is this 4G thing all about? Simply put, 4G wireless technology is the fourth generation of wireless communication standards. 4G networks offer a wider band of secure digital data transmission. In plain terms, this translates to extremely fast data transmission speeds. Utilizing wireless 4G technology companies can offer some of the fastest wireless internet communications possible.
In order to really understand 4G wireless technology you must have some grasp of the history wireless development. First generation cell phones provided us with nothing more than an analog wireless connection to make phone calls. As technology progressed second generation wireless options came available. 2G wireless connection was the upgrade to digital transmission as opposed to the then antiquated 1g analog transmission. The switch to 2G made possible all the wonderful cell phone features that we enjoy today. Second generation wireless technology afforded us for the first time limited internet connectivity, but more importantly, the ability to transmit text messages. This quickly gave way to expanded bandwidth transmission capabilities which later became the 3G standard that we most commonly utilize today. Now, with the introduction of fourth generation wireless connectivity we offered even faster data transmission.
Technically speaking, 4G wireless data transmission requires a data connection rate of 100 megabits per second. While there is yet to be a provider that can truly offer these speeds, 4G does offer significantly greater connection speeds than its predecessor 3G.
So right about now you are probably thinking to your self, "okay I get it 4G is really, really fast. So, what does that mean to me?" As wireless data transmission capabilities increase, the limitations on wireless applications decrease. 4G technology will allow massive amounts of data to be transmitted very quickly. For the first time, 4G technology offers up the very real potential for seamless video calls. Many of the projected 4G phones will come equipped with not only a standard front facing camera, but also will offer a back facing camera. Capitalizing on the fastest wireless data transfer rates, you can be assured to transmit a live video while simultaneously receiving a live video from the person you are calling. For me just the prospect of real time video calls is enough to get me excited about 4G. However, the 4G prospects do not stop there.
4G offers wireless internet speeds that will rival most of our home internet connections. Using a 4G wireless hot spot function, you can transform your phone into a very portable 802.11n wireless router. No matter where you are you will have the ability to connect your laptop, Ipad, or kindle reader to the internet, all of which utilize 802.11 connection standards. While connected on your laptop to your 4G phone, you will experience the internet almost as if you were plugged directly in to your cable modem.
For the avid gamer, 4G wireless connection service will allow the development and implementation of multi player games. You can rest assured that in the near future you will see a whole slew of new and inventive multi-player games made exclusively for your 4G mobile phone.
4G wireless technology is simply the next evolution in wireless communication standards. Every wireless generational upgrade has brought with it a transformation of the entire wireless industry. Rest assured that the fourth generation wireless standard upgrade will be no different. With companies like Clear pioneering the way in the 4G market, you can bet that everything you know about wireless is going to change.
Published Dec. 6, 2010
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