Archive for the ‘Mobile Broadband’ Category

Clear modem

I signed up for Clear.com service nearly 6 months ago. You can read my initial review here. I thought that I would do a little progress update since my review receives a lot of traffic here on my site. There are a lot of people looking for reliable mobile broadband service not only because we’re on the go, but because we want to have internet access no matter where we find ourselves. Not to mention, those employers who have their Internet on lock down. I love to say, “I don’t care.” with my own connection.

I heard a whisper that Clear had started using caps meaning that they intentionally set your Internet at a slower speed so you can’t slurp too much bandwidth especially during peak times. Now, I’m not sure about the validity of these claims as I have not experienced any problems myself; however, my situation is somewhat unique. I work 3rd shift and utilize my Clear service between Midnight and Noon about 4 days per week. The rest of the time, I use my home wireless network. I got Clear specifically for use at work since my job is basically to warm a chair overnight. I chose Clear because they were touting that you could freely use their service for streaming media and games. Here’s a quote from their website:

What makes 4G different?

All you have to do is experience the speed of 4G for yourself and you’ll know. Today’s 3G networks were built for making phone calls. But CLEAR’s 4G WiMAX network was built just for the internet, wherever you are. That means you have the bandwidth you need to download movies, upload videos, stream games and more—all at ridiculously fast speeds.

I have found this claim to be completely true. I have used Clear the last 6 months to watch ridiculous amounts of Netflix movies, as well as, Hulu and YouTube without any notable issues. The minor issues I have experienced are:

• Interruptions in Internet connection – maybe 6 times over the duration of my usage
• Some minor fiddling required to get online – mainly having to obtain new IP settings when I’ve used my wifi at home between Clear sessions
• Dropped connection over extended use – usually after I’ve been connected for HOURS…this entails restarting the Clear software and the connection and movie picks right back up without any problems

With any Internet connection, minor issues are to be expected. Things go down…it’s a given. I’ve never had Clear go down for any extended period of time. The websites I utilize go down more often than my Clear connection.

Recently, I’ve noticed that the Clear coverage area has expanded. I haven’t done a lot of testing, but I noticed 4G coverage near where my parents live in The Sticks…and I do mean rural. Clear also recently updated their connection software and the service works much smoother now with more automated tasks and less clickage.

The Multitudes Speak

I’m not here to convince you one way or the other. I can only relay my experiences with Clear which have been positive. However, it seems like I might be in the minority. The forums at Clear.com speak for themselves. They are rampant with dissatisfied customers complaining about speed and coverage problems. When the staff responds to complaints in the forums, it appears to be canned responses that aren’t really solving the problem:

“Michael Staal, Official Rep, replied 3 months ago

Clear Customer Service Chat 110710

So…either they don’t cap usage, or their representatives are lying.

Conclusion

I still hold to what I said in my original review: Clear is a gamble that you take for the great pricing on unlimited use. Other companies charge at least $20 more for mobile broadband and cap usage at 5GB per month. That’s about 1-3 YouTube videos and you’re done for the MONTH. Since I opted for the month to month, I can stop paying at any time and find a more viable and most likely more expensive option should Clear fail me at any time.

Sources:

http://qubestream.com/?p=336

http://qubestream.com/?p=312

https://www.clear.com/discover

I set out to research mobile broadband providers a little over a month ago after I acquired a new job where I’d be able to utilize my laptop. I have used Verizon and Sprint mobile broadband in the past and they worked wonderfully with an expansive coverage area. The problem with them are the 5GB per month limits. This makes it impossible to use their broadband for any streaming media, and well let’s face it, the internet is all about streaming media these days.

Being that as it may, I quickly ruled out any company with a limit from the running. This left me with three options to consider in my area: TimeWarner, Cricket Wireless, and Clear.com.

• TimeWarner was simply too expensive. Even if I bundled the service with other services I currently utilize, it was just too much money.
• Cricket Wireless had some decent consumer reviews out there, but there was a major problem with their service. They advertise their mobile broadband as unlimited, but they put a soft cap on it after you reach 5GB. This means they throttle your internet speeds and slow down your browsing to limit your use in a different way. This allows them to advertise unlimited use and to profit from the fact that they do not charge a per MB overage like other cell companies. The price was right, but I just can’t deal with the limits.
• Clear.com, also known as Clearwire, didn’t have the best reviews online. It seemed that people were saying the same things. The Clear coverage map showed service in their area, but they had a heck of a time picking up a signal. However, they advertised their service as the one to use if you are interested in streaming media from videos to gaming.

I had a decision to make. I decided to take a gamble and go with Clear. It seemed to be my only viable option at this point. I didn’t feel that researching deeper would bring out any more reliable companies or services in my area. The benefits of having internet access from my workplace overruled the risks. I had to give it a fair try before settling in for a long wait for another service to come along, settling for limited service, or shelling out more dough.

Clear.com Evaluation

Pros

• FAST shipping. I had my equipment within 2 days of placing my order.
• Chat. Clear.com has representatives available via chat to answer any questions you have. They also post their customer service phone number prominently in multiple places on their website.
• Easy setup. The Clear modem is virtually plug and play.
• Able to stream ANYTHING. I’ve been watching Netflix without any problems.
• Full reception. I have all 10 bars at work inside 4-hour firewalls with NO windows.
• Low price. It’s $40 per month for unlimited access.
• Additional options. Clear offers packages for more than one mobile device, home internet, and hotspot devices that support multiple connections. No package is over $55 as of this writing.

Cons

• Freezing. If you plan to leave your computer, close down Clear and remove your device. Otherwise, you will have to do it anyway. It doesn’t work well as a continuous connection that is not constantly being utilized.

Additional Observations

When I received my equipment, I installed and then plugged in the device for about 5 minutes to run an initial test. I had one bar and trouble with reception in my home, but I didn’t move around with the computer. I just unplugged it and decided to check it out at work. I have ‘net at home, so I really only car that it works at my job. The only problem I have had with the service is Netflix adjusting streaming because my connection had slowed. I’ve watched a week’s worth of shows, approximately 20 hours, and this has happened TWICE.

Overall Impressions

I’m EXTREMELY happy with the service so far. It has delivered on all fronts and I can do exactly what I want online. The device is compact, and the software is streamlined. It’s actually much better than the Verizon and Sprint equipment I used before. I would recommend the service, but keep in mind based on other reviews, it may end up being a bit of a gamble for you.

Links and Resources

Yelp.com Clear Reviews

Gizmodo Review

Please Note

This is not a paid review of any kind. There are no affiliate links posted here. This my honest experience. I hope it helps you make a decision. If you found it helpful, please leave a comment. Thanks for reading.