Ditching the home ISP, using XV6800 as modem instead?

[crobs808]

I just did a speedtest on my home internet connection, then did the exact same speedtest using my phone as my internet connection, and sinc eI have crappy DSL at home, my phone actually beat it. Home connection was around 1000/400kbps and phone was around 1500/600kbps.

So, my question is, since I never use my internet when I am away from home, can I ditch my home service and use my phone as the modem all the time when I am home?

I have the unlimited data plan from verizon, just added it a week ago...is there a limit? I heard back in 2007 there is a 5GB limit that they dont tell you about, but is there still an unspoken data limit on the unlimited plans? Thanks!!

P.S. - I download like 10-20GB a month of music (all legal through a paid subscrition service) and another 20-30gb a month via IRC transferring large project files when I work at home. Will that much data be a problem?? Will Verizon cut me off?

[cleanser]

There is a 5GB limit on VZW's data plans.... So i would either upgrade services or change providers, but that wont help if you are far from the central office for your DSL service.

[aledc78]

I spoke to a friend that works at verizon, he explained that after reaching the 5GB mark, there wont be any extra charges (as long as you have the unlimited data plan). But they will slow down the connection to something similar to a dialup speed.

I am not sure of the accuracy on this, but this is what they were instructed to say regarding it. Basically cellphone companies dont want you using their bandwidth to replace their home isp...

I am with sprint now, and so far I don't think they have added the 5GB cap... so I continue to use my cell as my isp, but if I see they slow the connection down, I will have to steal a wifi connection from one of my neighbors!!! :D

[jewishmafia]

from what ive seen, they just cut your off completely. You dont get any more data that month if you break the 5GB limit. That is if you have their 5GB plan, if you have unlimited they cannot cut you off. period.


Also, i was not made aware of this 5GB landmark they set for unlimited users....

[crobs808]

I have unlimited. Verizon does not have a "5gb plan", they only have 10mb and unlimited.

[aledc78]

I have unlimited. Verizon does not have a "5gb plan", they only have 10mb and unlimited.

Check this out Yodaman,
http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/store/controller?item=planFirst&catId=409&action=viewPlanDisplay&planId=46740

they have a 5GB plan but i think its for wireless broadband and not necessarily for pda/smartphone browsing... i hear much talk about the national carriers moving to the 5GB cap... but I cant find anything solid on the subject...

[crobs808]

Check this out Yodaman,
http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/store/controller?item=planFirst&catId=409&action=viewPlanDisplay&planId=46740

they have a 5GB plan but i think its for wireless broadband and not necessarily for pda/smartphone browsing... i hear much talk about the national carriers moving to the 5GB cap... but I cant find anything solid on the subject...

the 5gb plan is stand alone and apart from your phone service...you can get that if you have a VZcard for your laptop...but as far as "phone data plans" there isnt a 5gb one.

[aledc78]

the 5gb plan is stand alone and apart from your phone service...you can get that if you have a VZcard for your laptop...but as far as "phone data plans" there isnt a 5gb one.

cool...thanks...

I have considered to move to verizon based on the phone selection... but i pay so much less with sprint... so im sticking to them for now...

[Big Dawg 23]

All of Verizon plans have a 5GB cap. I believe same with ATT and now soon to be Sprint. You cant run to anyone any more. My home connection is 10MB so going to Rev A VZW is not worth it. I use WIFI at home and VZW every where else.

[prepsssuck]

Only tethered to laptop a few times...once with titan and once with friends 3G TILT... UNCOMPARABLE... took forever on TITAN...couldnt rely/put up with it daily..maby if i had 3g but i dont so I would stick having a seperate ISP

[Splitter]

Only tethered to laptop a few times...once with titan and once with friends 3G TILT... UNCOMPARABLE... took forever on TITAN...couldnt rely/put up with it daily..maby if we had 3g but we dont so I would stick having a seperate ISP

Interesting.

At the office I tether my laptop to my XV-6800... it's faster than my companys' network. I've used it at hotels too. I don't know where you are located, but the places I've used it, it was as fast or faster than the networks I was sitting at.

I have spoken to VZW's tech reps in the past several months, they do have new data plans. BUT, our (or at least my) unlimited data plan is just that: Unlimited.

[prepsssuck]

Interesting.

At the office I tether my laptop to my XV-6800... it's faster than my companys' network. I've used it at hotels too. I don't know where you are located, but the places I've used it, it was as fast or faster than the networks I was sitting at.

I have spoken to VZW's tech reps in the past several months, they do have new data plans. BUT, our (or at least my) unlimited data plan is just that: Unlimited.
Im in a NON-EVDO NON REV-A craphole...Everwhere 10 miles around the city I live in has EVDO...just not in the city. But even when I tried with evdo It still wasnt comparable.

When I got service at alltel they asked if I wanted to use as a modem for pc and if I was they wanted to charge an addition 9.99 a month for the service...even with my unlimited plan.... I have always heard that if they start seeing huge data downloads from your account they will try charging for it.....KEYWORD "HEARD"

[gTen]

I am actually having good luck using it as a modem. I still have landline internet thats faster. But for my laptop I use my titan with wifi to send internet to it. Seems okay..with download speeds of 50 kilobytes to 200 kilobytes a second depending where I am downloading from.

My biggest issue with it though is since its getting to summer..my phone is overheating from the strain so I gotta put a fan on it so it don't run out of battery.

[ccuser]

I hope we won't be having this conversation in a year once sprint Wimax is available. Your Cable ISP is suppose to be providing wireless Wimax access for less ( I don't think greedy Communistcast will give it away for free). I heard one of the Cable ISP is already doing it in tri-state area. I can't recall their, read in paper few weeks ago. This way hard lined ISP will have fighting chance as oppose to fixed phone versus cellphones...

[leedawg]

I seriously cant believe people think about replacing their home connections with their cell phone. I mean the phone is great and it is fast. But how quick we forget at least on verizon unless your paying near 60 a month for just the data plan with the 15 dollars for modem usage rights that we are teathering illegally. I teather my phone all the time with the hacked os its running but I dont abuse the connection I just browse the internet download smaller files and pictures and msg on it. ITs more of a connection for when your out traveling on the road or not at home and need an internet connection. I think its straight abuse of the connection to be pulling through 10 to 20 gigs a month on a cell phone network and its just asking for them to redflag your account and look into how your using all of your data. Id save my big downloading for a cable connection thats what they are designed for.

[crobs808]

I seriously cant believe people think about replacing their home connections with their cell phone. I mean the phone is great and it is fast. But how quick we forget at least on verizon unless your paying near 60 a month for just the data plan with the 15 dollars for modem usage rights that we are teathering illegally. I teather my phone all the time with the hacked os its running but I dont abuse the connection I just browse the internet download smaller files and pictures and msg on it. ITs more of a connection for when your out traveling on the road or not at home and need an internet connection. I think its straight abuse of the connection to be pulling through 10 to 20 gigs a month on a cell phone network and its just asking for them to redflag your account and look into how your using all of your data. Id save my big downloading for a cable connection thats what they are designed for.

whoa buddy....you are getting taken to the cleaners, or duped by some customer service rep if they are charging you that....

quote: "60 a month for just the data plan with the 15 dollars for modem usage rights"

The national rate for VZW customers is $29.99 for unlimited data, including the use as a modem. The actual VZW repguy told me that he uses his as a modem to download stuff from rapidshare, and maxes out both his rapidshare premium accounts (which by the way have a 25gb limit every 5 days)...so that is a TON of data.I am here to dispell all the myths that they will cut you off if you use 'X' amount of data, or use it as a modem (which the rep also said many people do, which is fine)

FYI - the stock verizon rom came with internet sharing by the way, so it isnt a ROM hack to be able to use it as a modem, it is part of WM6!

People on here need to stop spreading rumors about how verizon will cut you off, and having limits on the unlimited plan, etc...they do no such thing.

[crobs808]

...My biggest issue with it though is since its getting to summer..my phone is overheating from the strain so I gotta put a fan on it so it don't run out of battery.

You gotta put a fan on it? what??? I live in Texas....it was 102 yesterday and 97 today and my phone is fine...do you live somewhere hotter?

[defaultdotxbe]

whoa buddy....you are getting taken to the cleaners, or duped by some customer service rep if they are charging you that....

quote: "60 a month for just the data plan with the 15 dollars for modem usage rights"

The national rate for VZW customers is $29.99 for unlimited data, including the use as a modem. The actual VZW repguy told me that he uses his as a modem to download stuff from rapidshare, and maxes out both his rapidshare premium accounts (which by the way have a 25gb limit every 5 days)...so that is a TON of data.I am here to dispell all the myths that they will cut you off if you use 'X' amount of data, or use it as a modem (which the rep also said many people do, which is fine)

FYI - the stock verizon rom came with internet sharing by the way, so it isnt a ROM hack to be able to use it as a modem, it is part of WM6!

People on here need to stop spreading rumors about how verizon will cut you off, and having limits on the unlimited plan, etc...they do no such thing.
here is a quote from the old terms of use:

Anyone using more than 5 GB per line in a given month is presumed to be using the service in a manner prohibited above, and we reserve the right to immediately terminate the service of any such person without notice.

here are the new terms:

If your usage on a Data Plan or Feature that does not include a specific monthly Megabyte allowance or that is not billed on a pay-as-you-use basis exceeds 5 Gigabytes per account line during any billing period, we reserve the right to reduce throughput speed to a maximum of approximately 200 Kilobits per second for up to thirty days.

currently vzw chrages 49 cents per mb over 5gb, this doesnt appear to be a rumor, as theyve recently been sued over it
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2008/07/06/c1b_cellphonesuit_0707.html


supposedly sprint is going to start a similar billing system sometime this month


also, besides all this, using the data plan as a replacement for a landline connection is specifically against the terms and conditions

Data Plans and Features: Prohibited Uses.
You may not use our Data Plans and Features for illegal purposes or purposes that infringe upon others’ intellectual property rights, or in a manner that interferes with other users’ service, interferes with the network’s ability to fairly allocate capacity among users, or that otherwise degrades service quality for other users. Examples of prohibited usage include: (i) server devices or host computer applications, including continuous Web camera posts or broadcasts, automatic data feeds, automated machine-to-machine connections, or peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing applications that are broadcast to multiple servers or recipients such that they could enable “bots” or similar routines (as set forth in more detail in (iii) below) or otherwise denigrate network capacity or functionality; (ii) as a substitute or backup for private lines or dedicated data connections; (iii) “auto-responders,” “cancel-bots,” or similar automated or manual routines that generate amounts of net traffic that could disrupt net user groups or e-mail use by others; (iv) generating “spam” or unsolicited commercial or bulk e-mail (or activities that facilitate the dissemination of such e-mail); (v) any activity that adversely affects the ability of other users or systems to use either Verizon Wireless’ services or the Internet-based resources of others, including the generation or dissemination of viruses, malware, or “denial of service” attacks; (vi) accessing, or attempting to access without authority, the information, accounts or devices of others, or to penetrate, or attempt to penetrate, Verizon Wireless’ or another entity’s network or systems; or (vii) running software or other devices that maintain continuous active Internet connections when a computer’s connection would otherwise be idle, or “keep alive” functions, unless they adhere to Verizon Wireless’ requirements for such usage, which may be changed from time to time. By way of example only, you may not use a Data Plan or Feature for web broadcasting, or for the operation of servers, telemetry devices and/or Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition devices.

....of course i use my sprint connection as a backup when my cable is out, im just making sure people understand that they are in fact breaking rules and shouldnt get pissed if they get nailed for it

[crobs808]

Data Plans and Features: Prohibited Uses.
You may not use our Data Plans and Features for illegal purposes or purposes that infringe upon others’ intellectual property rights, or in a manner that interferes with other users’ service, interferes with the network’s ability to fairly allocate capacity among users, or that otherwise degrades service quality for other users. Examples of prohibited usage include: (i) server devices or host computer applications, including continuous Web camera posts or broadcasts, automatic data feeds, automated machine-to-machine connections, or peer-to-peer (P2P) file-sharing applications that are broadcast to multiple servers or recipients such that they could enable “bots” or similar routines (as set forth in more detail in (iii) below) or otherwise denigrate network capacity or functionality; (ii) as a substitute or backup for private lines or dedicated data connections; (iii) “auto-responders,” “cancel-bots,” or similar automated or manual routines that generate amounts of net traffic that could disrupt net user groups or e-mail use by others; (iv) generating “spam” or unsolicited commercial or bulk e-mail (or activities that facilitate the dissemination of such e-mail); (v) any activity that adversely affects the ability of other users or systems to use either Verizon Wireless’ services or the Internet-based resources of others, including the generation or dissemination of viruses, malware, or “denial of service” attacks; (vi) accessing, or attempting to access without authority, the information, accounts or devices of others, or to penetrate, or attempt to penetrate, Verizon Wireless’ or another entity’s network or systems; or (vii) running software or other devices that maintain continuous active Internet connections when a computer’s connection would otherwise be idle, or “keep alive” functions, unless they adhere to Verizon Wireless’ requirements for such usage, which may be changed from time to time. By way of example only, you may not use a Data Plan or Feature for web broadcasting, or for the operation of servers, telemetry devices and/or Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition devices.

Ha...did you read that ENTIRE section of what is prohibited? Nowhere in there does it talk about restricting modem use. In fact, it only talks about the most extreme stuff like copyright infringement, bots, using it to HOST a p2p sharing protocol, or using it for security/suveilance services, etc...

The reason they do not address modem usage is because it is 100% ALLOWED!

There is actually a verizon advertisment where a guy is frustrated in an airport and cannot get a wireless connection. He pulls out his WiFi PCMCIA card, throws it in a trash bin, and hits a button on his phone. Verizon is SELLING the fact that you can use their phones as internet connections. For crying out loud, the slogan on the ad was "Internet. Anywhere. Anytime." and it shows the guy still there at night browsing the net, in a dark airport and nobody is around.

I mean obviously they have changed their policy since NOTHING in that paragraph you wrote talks about limiting data usage, and the Verizon Rep specifically told me that there is no 5gb cap anymore, and there hasn't been since November. That case you linked is a year old now. Data usage and plans have evolved a TON in a year...plus, that is when the case was filed...they were suing over something that happened well OVER a year ago, so even more has changed.

Get with it bud ;) Things have changed, no 5gb cap/limit, and unlimited = use however you want as long as it isn't illegal (same as the rules on a home ISP connection)

[defaultdotxbe]

Ha...did you read that ENTIRE section of what is prohibited? Nowhere in there does it talk about restricting modem use. In fact, it only talks about the most extreme stuff like copyright infringement, bots, using it to HOST a p2p sharing protocol, or using it for security/suveilance services, etc...

The reason they do not address modem usage is because it is 100% ALLOWED!
did you read the bit i bolded about it being used a replacement for landlines?

how about the part about it being cut to 200k after 5gb?

The reason they do not address modem usage is because it is 100% ALLOWED!

im not talking about tethering charges, im talking about data usage regardless of how its being used


Get with it bud Things have changed, no 5gb cap/limit, and unlimited = use however you want as long as it isn't illegal (same as the rules on a home ISP connection)

did you read the news article about the guy who got a 9500 dollar bill for going over the 5gb cap? can you explain that? or is that just a risk everyone should be willing to take?