Anyone Here Used Sprint's Data Plan w/USB Modem?

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Pegleg - 21 Apr 2008 23:59 GMT

Reason for asking is recently we had a contractor at our house who was
using a laptop with a USB connector and Sprint who was able to achieve a
solid connection in the house despite our metal roof. We have Verizon
and can't even make calls from in the house.

I thought Verizon and Sprint actually shared towers in this area. Could
it be that the USB device has a better antenna?

TIA

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Richard B. Gilbert - 22 Apr 2008 00:19 GMT

> Reason for asking is recently we had a contractor at our house who was
> using a laptop with a USB connector and Sprint who was able to achieve a
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> TIA

There could be any number of explanations:
a. Verizon and Sprint may not share all of their towers,
b. the contractor's phone may have a more sensitive receiver and/or a
more powerful transmitter,
c. a better antenna,
d. ????

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Peter Pan - 22 Apr 2008 05:25 GMT

> Reason for asking is recently we had a contractor at our house who was
> using a laptop with a USB connector and Sprint who was able to
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> TIA

Doesn't really matter, think about it, a metal roof is above you, and unless
you have a cell tower floating in the air over your house, it will usually
be horizontally (away), not vertically (above)... as a quick free test, sit
on the floor and try making a call instead of standing up (then the
roof/overhang usually blocks you).... laptops (ie laps and tabletops) are
lower and get a direct LOS under the metal roof above, unlike a person
standing with the antenna up high....

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Pegleg - 22 Apr 2008 16:41 GMT

>Doesn't really matter, think about it, a metal roof is above you, and unless
>you have a cell tower floating in the air over your house, it will usually
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>lower and get a direct LOS under the metal roof above, unlike a person
>standing with the antenna up high....

Not sure where you dug that theory up from...sitting on the floor I get
no bars in 1X, EVDO indicator doesn't even show-up. Standing with the
phone next to a window I get one bar in EVDO and two bars in 1X.

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Peter Pan - 22 Apr 2008 19:27 GMT

>> Doesn't really matter, think about it, a metal roof is above you,
>> and unless you have a cell tower floating in the air over your
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> with the phone next to a window I get one bar in EVDO and two bars in
> 1X.

At my place in Rathdrum Idaho with a metal snow roof... Phone worked when I
was sitting, but no signal when I was standing (cell tower was about 10
miles away, but a friend, that lived right next to/under the cell tower -
but blocked by his metal snow roof, couldn't get a signal at home, but could
at my place if he layed on the couch..... :)

Can you get a signal outside? Aside from metal snow roofs, have seen foil
backed insulation in the walls that also block signals (both cell and
wifi)... Seems if you can get a signal by the window, may be the foil backed
insulation in the walls problem......

At any rate, you may want to check into passive repeaters (ie non powered,
antenna outside repeats the signal on the inside antenna, they do have
active repeaters (expensive) for really stubborn cases
http://www.cellantenna.com/)

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Ness-Net - 23 Apr 2008 23:55 GMT

Passive repeaters rarely do any good.
The attenuation in the line almost always negates any gains...

The only case is when there is a very strong signal outside and
very heavy shielding blocking signals inside - essentially, the passive
device is a conduit for the signal.

If the signal is on the weak side outside, active is the only way.

>>> Doesn't really matter, think about it, a metal roof is above you,
>>> and unless you have a cell tower floating in the air over your
[quoted text clipped - 25 lines]
> active repeaters (expensive) for really stubborn cases
> http://www.cellantenna.com/)

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XS11E - 22 Apr 2008 16:57 GMT

> Reason for asking is recently we had a contractor at our house who
> was using a laptop with a USB connector and Sprint who was able to
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> I thought Verizon and Sprint actually shared towers in this area.
> Could it be that the USB device has a better antenna?

I think it's just who has the nearest tower, they may not be sharing in
your area. My sister's house in San Marcos, CA has an aluminum roof
and her Sprint cell phone works inside, my Verizon doesn't, I have to
go outside to make a call.

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XS11E, Killing all posts from Google Groups
The Usenet Improvement Project:
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Frankster - 22 Apr 2008 19:44 GMT

> Reason for asking is recently we had a contractor at our house who was
> using a laptop with a USB connector and Sprint who was able to achieve a
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> TIA

The reason this happens is because you can send/receive data reliably with
WAY LESS signal than is required for voice communication. The data will be
slower with a weak signal but still reliable, due to built-in error
correction and auto-resends when necessary.

-Frank

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Ness-Net - 24 Apr 2008 00:03 GMT

You are up Bellingham way, right?
North Puget sound...?

There is some tower co-location, but....

1. It is only some towers, certainly not all. I'd estimate
that it is less than 30%. If that....

2. Co-location is tower structure ONLY. Antennas, radios,
backhaul are all seperate. Not only will the height and position on the
mast itself differ, but the orietation of the antennas themselves would
probably be different as well - (remember, most antennas
being used nowadays are directional)

> I thought Verizon and Sprint actually shared towers in this area. Could
> it be that the USB device has a better antenna?
>
> TIA

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