The service I have is Sprint EVDO but through a 3rd party ISP that resells EVDO. The cool part is you do not have to pay for the CDU680 EVDO modem and there is NO CONTRACT, just month to month. They prorate your first month then it's a $50 setup fee. After that it's $49.99/mo for UNLIMTED mobile broadband. The comany is called Millenicom (http://www.millenicom.com).

You would need to check the DATA coverage map over at http://www.sprint.com to see if you are even covered by EVDO RevA.

I get pretty decent performance, here is a pretty representative speed test:



That is just with the modem connected to my laptop. The Cradlepoint CTR350 is about pretty small. I know it's smaller then the N800. It functions as just a wifi hotspot but also has a combo LAN/WAN port so you can connect it to your router or direct connect to the CTR350. But it is not battery operated. So I ordered the MP1550 plus the NiMH batteries. They are to power the router.

A couple pluses for this EVDO Modem (CDU680) is it functions and appears to the computer as an AT & AT+ command set dial-up device. All of the software and drivers for Ubuntu, XP & OSX are on the device already. But that was why I liked it, I had hoped the N800 USB port was a real port. But even in OTG mode I am not hopeful it can provide enough power to the device. So, I bought the router.

Buuuuuut, Cradlepoint also makes LiION powered pocket router PHS300. But it does not have the LAN/WAN ability so I decided on the slightly more complicated but more flexible option with the CTR350 and a battery pack.

I got the idea of a mobile HS from a truck buddy who has it setup in his rig. Works GREAT and he is never out of contact and Skype almost always works over the EVDO as does streaming video for the most part. Even during periods of a poor signal I have been able to stream. I did a test, we are in a rural area near VAFB here in California. I started the laptop and connection the played a streaming video and hit the road...for the entire 60mi round trip I had video playing. The only time to stopped was because I had the power settings enabled and it shut down...oops!

I found a couple places where info is really good. I prefer the Sprint Mobile Broadband forum & the new Millenicom forum over at DSLReports/BroadbandReports http://www.dslreports.com/forum/sprintmb or http://www.dslreports.com/forum/cover,3165~mode=shut

And there there is a lot of info over on http://www.evdoforums.com but you are not allowed to mention ANY other site but their 3gstore.com. Still the info and help can be really good. I just choose to spend my money elsewhere.

But you can kludge up a nice in-vehicle setup with limited range for under $300 and with quite a bit more range for about $400+

Sigh...that was a LOT of typing...