DITCH YOUR ISP

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Ditching Your ISP and Switching to Clear 4G

Reviewed by John C Abell   ·  November 15, 2010

 

The concept is pretty clear: If you had high-speed internet in your pocket, chances are you would dump your home service provider, rethink your wireless plan and even hang out at Starbucks less often.
That kind of massively disruptive scenario defined the trajectory for the telephone. Landlines are on a death spiral, because phone calls went into your pocket. And then maybe, just maybe, you realized that your mobile phone worked just as well in your living room as it did in your travels.
The ‘Bring Your Own Internet’ business isn’t new. USB sticks and brick-like portable hotspots have been available for a long time. And, with an Android or WebOS handset (or a jailbroken iPhone) you already have yourself a personal hotspot you can share with other devices.
The trouble is that you probably don’t have an unlimited mobile-data plan (grandfathered iPhone owners notwithstanding). And you almost certainly don’t have 4G — the very new broadband standard which as a practical matter is every bit as good as the Wi-Fi to which you are accustomed.
So imagine how empowering it would be to have limitless 4G in your pocket. You could tell your cable or satellite company that all you need is TV, thank you very much. You wouldn’t have to depend on the kindness of Wi-Fi strangers on the road. You wouldn’t have to buy a separate data plan for your portable device. Heck — you may not even need a smartphone at all.
Keep imagining. We aren’t there yet, but we are slouching in that direction. And leading a very credible charge is Clear, a venture between Sprint and Clearwire that is expanding into three major tech-heavy cities: New York this month, Los Angeles and San Francisco in December.
It will take a while for 4G to become ubiquitous enough for lots of people to break old habits. But if you are lucky enough to live, work and or play in a Clear 4G coverage area you might begin to start questioning your faith for all the right reasons.
Coverage is the rub, of course. There are strangely located “not-yet-serviced” pockets on the Clear map, though the service automatically toggles to more-widely available 3G. Deep within an office building, like here at 4 Times Square, signal erodes. If you are near a window, though, it’s very clear sailing. And for those of us who commute out of the city, well, don’t make me laugh.
But I had an opportunity to actually need BYOI this past weekend when I visited a relative on Manhattan’s Upper West Side who doesn’t even own a computer. An amazing thing happened: Rather than bemoan the mixed blessing that my 3G USB stick always is, the Clear USB dongle that I was prescient enough to bring along served me up a blisteringly satisfying experience.
Webpages loaded as fast as on my home (wireless) or office (corded) networks. So, this is how cocky I got: I decided to watch my Slingbox. But first, I decided to update my Slingbox firmware. The update was working, though I had to leave my computerless kin before it could complete. But I watched TV with Slingbox and Clear 4G later.
Besides coverage, price will determine BYOI’s future. Clear’s plans range from $25 to $110 a month. It’s a bit complicated: There are plans with speed (but not usage caps), plans that are only for “Apple mobile devices,” plans that are meant for heavy home users, plans that include phone (VoIP) service. On most plans you can go month-to-month, but you have to buy your 4G device. With a two-year commitment the cost of the device is included. There are a range of devices, with some tied to specific plans. We tested the Clear 4G+ Mobile USB (Series S).
Bottom line: This is already a credible all-purpose internet option for some (read, single people). Your decision will depend on whether you can tap into 4G where you do most of your internet-ing — just the way you picked your wireless provider (iPhone devotees excluded).
WIRED Portable 4G has a cool factor that only the first cellphone users can appreciate. And there’s no better pick-up line than “Wanna tap into my 4G?”
TIRED Three things. Coverage: We know this is complicated. But until you can blanket at least the most densely populated areas, takers may be as spotty as a bad coverage map. Plans: Too many choices are a turnoff. Think Apple, not Dell. Prices: The sweet spot is $60. Just sayin’.

Read More http://www.wired.com/reviews/2010/11/clear_4g/#ixzz15PYNtFOT

WHAT IS A MAGIC PUCK?

WHAT IS A MAGIC PUCK?

Introducing MAGIC PUCKS

 

NOW AVAILABLE IN TAMPA /ST PETERSBURG FL

 

 

4G Communication System Fourth Generation (4G) Communications systems are for the newest generation technology. 4G technology is the latest technology after the 3G (third generation) systems. This 4G Communication systems still solving the remaining problems of 3G systems.

 

 

The main applications of this 4G communication system to provide a wide range variety of new services,

• high-quality voice
• high-definition video
• high-data-rate wireless channels

The 4G is used broadly to include different types of broadband wireless access communication systems.

 

One of the terms used to define 4G Communications systems is MAGIC - "Mobile multimedia, anytime anyplace, Global mobility support, integrated wireless solution, and customized service."

 

4G Communications systems that's cellular broadband wireless access systems have been attracting much interest in the mobile communication technology.

 

So, stop messing around with 3G, email me for more information on Wireless Internet. Start Pucking Around with 4G.

Sprint CEO: Our 4G Strategy Is WiMAX, Full Stop!

 

“Our 4G strategy is WiMAX, full stop,” said Dan Hesse, CEO of Overland Park, Kan.-based mobile phone company Sprint. In an interview, Hesse, a 33-year veteran of the telecom industry, said people should ignore all the talk about Sprint switching to LTE.

In this second part of a three-part interview series, Hesse addresses Sprint’s next-generation wireless broadband options, the future of Clearwire and what it plans to do with the spectrum that will free up when the company eventually shuts down Nextel’s iDen network.....Read the rest of the story

THE RESULTS ARE IN

Here's a link to a speed test using the Clear HotSpot and the iphone.
Check it out     iphone running on 4g

This video shows how much better an iPhone is when running on a 4G vice 3G network. It shows a side-by-side comparison of two iPhones trying to do the same things, but one is connected to Clear using a Clearspot WiFi-WiMAX gateway. To make it even more fun, all the testing is down while driving around.

WIMAX - What does it stand for?

In English    ---- WIFI makes the internet available in a building, WIMAX makes the internet available to cities, indoors and outdoors.
Geekspeak ---- WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access)

Clear Explains Throttling

Clearwire explains new 4G throttling

Clearwire has finally explained the system that manages data on its 4G network, following criticism from customers complaining of throttling. Representative Rob Lenderman has reminded customers that usage data is processed using several algorithms, rather than focusing on certain content or placing a specific cap on monthly data use.

The system is said to be based on current utilization for each tower, while many low-use towers are completely omitted from the program. For high-use towers, throttling will only occur during peak-use times.

A customer's maximum speed is based on the GBs of data transferred in the past seven days and the download speeds for the past 15 minutes. Speeds are recalculated every 15 minutes, at which point a throttled customer will be bumped up to a higher speed. Rather than implementing one speed for throttling, the calculations will move customers between 48 different speed brackets.

"The reality is that a very small percentage of users are being set at very low D/L speeds for hours at a time," said Lenderman. "Our data shows that running a torrent is one of the reasons that people start to experience slower speeds."

Customers have criticized the company for its lack of disclosure regarding the mysterious throttling system that controls the "unlimited" 4G network. An explanation of the algorithms is unlikely to completely quell the unrest, however, as customers still lack specific information surrounding the weekly GB limits before throttling.

Many complaints have focused on the throttle speed, which is said to fall as low as 0.25MB/s in some instances. Lenderman suggests the company is still reviewing its speed policies to ensure usability when watching streaming videos or browsing the web if a connection is throttled. Without using concrete numbers, he suggests users may be throttled to a speed that requires buffering after watching one Netflix movie each night and browsing the Internet for a few hours each day during a week. "This limit is one thing we are evaluating changing."

Aside from the potential policy changes surrounding the throttle speed, the company is also working to upgrade many high-use towers to accommodate heavy traffic. Clear's website will eventually show upgrade information and performance data for each tower.

By Electronista Staff

Read more: http://www.electronista.com/articles/10/10/05/policies.still.under.review/#ixzz11fTfI2en

How WiMax could be the solution for your business

First, there was dial-up. Then there were network cables. More recently, Wi-Fi has taken over.

Now, there's a new contestant in the Internet connection space, 4G WiMax.
WiMax is like Wi-Fi on overdrive.  It has a greater distance of coverage, with wireless networks spanning miles, not just several hundred feet.

WiMax, or a competing standard, LTE, will be responsible for giving us Internet coverage everywhere – from trains, planes, and coffee houses to your business.  As WiMax gains steam, more and more small businesses are turning to it as an Internet solution.
Why are they turning to WiMax?
Companies are using WiMax for coverage, protection, and speed. WiMax is a good solution if service in your area is spotty, or you just want backup for your wireless. WiMax offers a snappy 2-5 Megabits per second.
Other businesses are simply looking to switch from traditional service providers, and WiMax is the new, best thing.
Because WiMax uses licensed radio signals from the government (Wi-Fi relies on unlicensed signals), its coverage is more vast, spanning roughly 10 miles per tower.  This can be appealing for companies that do a lot of business via the web or need to link remote employees to their connections.
The pros:

Perhaps the best benefit for small businesses, besides speed and range, is the ability to have a backup connection. Right now, if your company loses power due to a storm or an unexpected disaster, your Internet goes down.  If WiMax is backing up your company, your Internet connection won't be interrupted, which will save productivity and in some cases protects the consumer experience.

There is only a limited number of WiMax towers, but that won't be an issue for long.  Clearwire is a backer of this new technology, and it wants to bring WiMax nationwide.  If all goes according to plan, small businesses, and every company for that matter, can expect to receive their Internet connections with the speed of wired broadband and the convenience of mobile access.
It could completely change (and improve) your home office and business experience by making Internet available quickly, anytime, anywhere.
The cons:

As previously noted, there is a limited number of WiMax towers. WiMax is still expanding, with 53 cities operating on it so far. This obviously limits its range and capabilities.  As more WiMax locations come online, its adoption will accelerate.
According to smSmallBiz.com, "While providers are working on products to enhance WiMax, wider coverage and true mobility won't be realized until the larger players -- Sprint Nextel Corp. and Clearwire Corp. -- build out their networks."
Also, because WiMax is fairly new, it isn't as widely tested as older technologies. Affordability may be an issue due to switching costs.
The bottom line:
Time will tell on most of these issues.  But overall, small businesses that have tried the new Internet connection have been pleased with the results. Small business Silver Star Motors made the switch, and they've been happy with the decision. "[Our Internet has] never gone down since," says their IT manager.
Once a few more towers go up, it may be time to evaluate making the switch at your company, too.


Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/how-wimax-can-be-a-solution-for-your-business-2010-9#ixzz10sGhfZ60