Wireless Broadband
My schedule for the coming months includes some business travel. Rather than worry about finding wireless hotspots, or hotels which actually know what broadband is, I purchased a Maxon MiniMax EV-DO device and signed up with Telstra’s Wireless Broadband service.
The MiniMax is basically a CDMA mobile phone in a matchbox, with an antenna and USB connector. Installation was a breeze on Windows XP. The process went exactly as set out in the full colour user guide.
When the MiniMax connects to the CDMA network in EV-DO mode I should be able to get data download rate of around 200kbps to 600kbps, or better. If it has to drop back to 1xRTT mode the data download rate should still be slightly better than dial-up. Connections should be available from anywhere within the coverage of the CDMA network.
For those who commute by train from Wollongong to Sydney, out of curiosity I watched the signal strength meter during this morning’s journey.
- Wollongong to Austinmer: Continuous coverage, signal strength peaks at Corrimal and Thirroul. It dropped down to 1xRTT mode for a few seconds somewhere near Woonona.
- Austinmer to Heathcote: Very patchy 1xRTT reception. Very brief full strength 1xRTT signal at Stanwell Park. Nothing at Helensburgh. Naturally, tunnels cause signal loss, and the MiniMax takes a while to find signal again.
- Heathcote to Sutherland: EV-DO signal of varying strengths, and a short break with no signal at Engadine.
- Sutherland to Mortdale: Patchy EV-DO and 1xRTT signal due to all the cuttings.
- Mortdale to Redfern: A few black spots, but mostly good strength signal (4, 5 or 6 bars, out of a possible 6).
Telstra’s time based billing is a little scary. Connections are billed in 15 minute blocks, or part thereof. That is, a one second connection gets counted as 15 minutes, as does a 14 minute connection. I did not attempt a connection until after Hurstville. This post was made just after Sydenham while moving, so it works.
Overall, not bad for wireless broadband from within a big metal tube that is moving quite fast (usually).
Note: This was a quick and dirty test, so your mileage may vary.