T-Mobile upgrades their 3G network to HSPA 7.2

At 01 Feb 2010 12:37:27 -0800 Steve Sobol wrote:


I should point out that I'm never likely to hit a 10Gb limit, or even a
5Gb limit, on a 3G handset.

The real question, since I can buy a USB dongle and connect my laptop
to
the internet via T-Mo 3G, is whether the restrictions apply to that
type
of connection also.

Worse- T-Mo's laptop plan has a 5GB cap, same as the other carriers.
You're better off getting a 3G phone that can tether via USB, and (ab)
using T-Mo's "don't ask, don't tell" tethering policy.

In article ,
says...

At 01 Feb 2010 12:37:27 -0800 Steve Sobol wrote:


I should point out that I'm never likely to hit a 10Gb limit, or even a
5Gb limit, on a 3G handset.

The real question, since I can buy a USB dongle and connect my laptop
to
the internet via T-Mo 3G, is whether the restrictions apply to that
type
of connection also.

Worse- T-Mo's laptop plan has a 5GB cap, same as the other carriers.
You're better off getting a 3G phone that can tether via USB, and (ab)
using T-Mo's "don't ask, don't tell" tethering policy.

I looked at their laptop plan, it doesn't have the 5GB cap. The terms
say it has the same 10GB cap as their other plans do.

--
Steve Sobol, Victorville, California, USA

John Navas wrote in
:

Or tether over Bluetooth PAN (e.g., Sony Ericsson TM506).


N800's do BT PAN. Works great.


--
"iPad is to computing what Etch-A-Sketch is to art!"

Larry

"Steve Sobol" wrote in message
.. .
In article ,
says...

At 01 Feb 2010 12:37:27 -0800 Steve Sobol wrote:


I should point out that I'm never likely to hit a 10Gb limit, or even a
5Gb limit, on a 3G handset.

The real question, since I can buy a USB dongle and connect my laptop
to
the internet via T-Mo 3G, is whether the restrictions apply to that
type
of connection also.

Worse- T-Mo's laptop plan has a 5GB cap, same as the other carriers.
You're better off getting a 3G phone that can tether via USB, and (ab)
using T-Mo's "don't ask, don't tell" tethering policy.

I looked at their laptop plan, it doesn't have the 5GB cap. The terms
say it has the same 10GB cap as their other plans do.

The plan itself disagrees with that:
http://www.t-mobile.com/shop/plans/cell-phone-plans-detail.aspx?tp=tb1&rateplan=T-Mobile-webConnect-Data

"Our data plan includes:
a.. E-mail and Web browsing up to 5GB usage per month
b.. Additional Web access beyond 5GB at $0.20/MB"

"John Navas" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 01 Feb 2010 21:57:20 -0700, Todd Allcock
wrote in
:

You're better off getting a 3G phone that can tether via USB, and (ab)
using T-Mo's "don't ask, don't tell" tethering policy.

Or tether over Bluetooth PAN (e.g., Sony Ericsson TM506).

What's the connection speed limitation with BT PAN these days? Is it still
a bottleneck in 3G connections?

"John Navas" wrote in message
...

You're better off getting a 3G phone that can tether via USB, and (ab)
using T-Mo's "don't ask, don't tell" tethering policy.

Or tether over Bluetooth PAN (e.g., Sony Ericsson TM506).

What's the connection speed limitation with BT PAN these days? Is it
still
a bottleneck in 3G connections?

Bluetooth 2.0 EDR supports data transfer speeds up to 2.1 Mbps.

In theory, yes, but I've seen a few complaints online from those who've
claimed they lose throughput using BT vs. USB. I was just wondering what
your experiences were.

Also, some folks on HoFo claimed to have hit 3Mbps in T-Mo's HSPA 7.2 test
market (Philly, IIRC.)

"Todd Allcock" wrote in news:SU5bn.17502
:


"John Navas" wrote in message
...

You're better off getting a 3G phone that can tether via USB, and
(ab)
using T-Mo's "don't ask, don't tell" tethering policy.

Or tether over Bluetooth PAN (e.g., Sony Ericsson TM506).

What's the connection speed limitation with BT PAN these days? Is it
still
a bottleneck in 3G connections?

Bluetooth 2.0 EDR supports data transfer speeds up to 2.1 Mbps.

In theory, yes, but I've seen a few complaints online from those
who've
claimed they lose throughput using BT vs. USB. I was just wondering
what
your experiences were.

Also, some folks on HoFo claimed to have hit 3Mbps in T-Mo's HSPA 7.2
test
market (Philly, IIRC.)





If your BT 9.9 is operating in a total RF vacuum it's fairly fast and
doesn't cause troubles. But, alas, those days are over. Your BT 9.9
device is inundated with BT packets its sharing time slots with from all
the headsets, A2DP stereo, passing cars, that damned guy with the BT
mouse that makes your BT stereo headset lock every time he drags the
mouse across the screen, and every unsecured printer broadcasting
incessantly in all the offices around you.

I use a Motorola S9HD stereo headset with a Motorola ROKR Z6m phone
playing stereo A2DP over the BT, which hogs a LOT of available data time
sending music to the headphone. Walk into any computer department like
Best Buy and the damned headset might as well be turned off because you
cannot use it in that very busy environment of laptops, printers, car
stereos, phones, etc., inside the big box store. USELESS. It will even
fail to run smoothly if you hold the damned phone antennas right up
against the headset antennas!

BT PAN sucks compared to a PAN on wifi to swap files and stuff over. I
stick my Cradlepoint 350 tiny router and its home made battery pack in
my coat pocket to connect everyone to to share files in a public place.
That never balks, even if the restaurant has free wifi. BT sucks in
comparison.


--
"iPad is to computing what Etch-A-Sketch is to art!"

Larry

On 2010-02-06, Larry wrote:
If your BT 9.9 is operating in a total RF vacuum it's fairly fast and
doesn't cause troubles. But, alas, those days are over. Your BT 9.9
device is inundated with BT packets its sharing time slots with from all

There aren't any time slots, they all try to talk over each other.
It is spread spectrum so that works sometimes, but if there are a lot
them sharing the band in a small space the littlest guys begin to lose
out.

BT PAN sucks compared to a PAN on wifi to swap files and stuff over. I
stick my Cradlepoint 350 tiny router and its home made battery pack in
my coat pocket to connect everyone to to share files in a public place.
That never balks, even if the restaurant has free wifi. BT sucks in
comparison.

I guess that would be the difference between 2.5 mW Bluetooth and, what,
maybe 20 or 50 mW WiFi. Power is your friend, though it makes the batteries
heavier to carry around.

There is a lot to be said for wires, with wires you can get by with
microwatts.

Dennis Ferguson

John Navas wrote in
:

Your problem is probably your device, not the technology -- I'm not
seeing such problems with my Bluetooth devices (e.g., Microsoft
Bluetooth Notebook Mouse).


Have you ever walked around a busy Best Buy computer department using a
bluetooth mouse?

I didn't think so....

Try it sometime.....


--
"iPad is to computing what Etch-A-Sketch is to art!"

Larry

"Todd Allcock" wrote in
:

Bluetooth 2.0 EDR supports data transfer speeds up to 2.1 Mbps.

In theory, yes, but I've seen a few complaints online from those
who've claimed they lose throughput using BT vs. USB. I was just
wondering what your experiences were.

Also, some folks on HoFo claimed to have hit 3Mbps in T-Mo's HSPA 7.2
test market (Philly, IIRC.)



BT sucks in a busy environment where there are lots of BT devices in the
same area. Hell, at any Best Buy, my BT Motorola S9HD stereo headset
starts balking and locking as soon as I enter the front door from all
the noise of the open printers, car radios, laptops, etc., all
broadcasting away looking for a connection. Walk outside and all
returns to working fine.



--
"iPad is to computing what Etch-A-Sketch is to art!"

Larry