CDMA2000 1x for Home Internet Access?

Clueless User asks: "Due to the lack of any wire based broadband solution in my area, I have been looking at using a CDMA2000 1x 3G wireless solution for Internet access. Verizon is offering an unlimited access solution over their cell network, and with a cell tower within visible distance of my home this seems almost feasible. Does anyone have any real life experience with CDMA2000 for home Internet access? (ie. gaming, P2P, large downloads, etc.) The only other option available is Satellite, but the high latency takes it off my list." This question basically boils down to which high latency solution has the least performance hit. Could you squeeze a faster-than-modem pipe thru such a link and have it be more cost effective than using a modem?

Currently exploiting something similar

[Gruturo]

Hello,

I live on the other side of the pond, so no CDMA here, but GPRS instead.

I've been using a GPRS phone (4+1 - more or less 40Kbit to receive, 9.6 on transmit) to give connectivity to my brother, since the house he's in has no telephone lines, and GPRS, although being the most expensive thing you can imagine (around 7/megabyte) is often offered free for whole seasons (unlimited traffic for 30 days at some 10, renewable).

It's not incredibly reliable (the house is in a godforsaken area) but heck it works. MSN messenger and a few downloads go just fine if You take into account that it's costing you nothing. But DO get a download manager because you're guaranteed to be disconnected before you can get that 30MB download finished.

Still have to figure out why there is a 700-800ms latency (heck satellite is 250), maybe it's been artificially introduced to discourage voip :-)

Basically, my experience is:
OK: Web surfing, Instant messaging, email

Don'ts: P2P sharing, realtime games.

Just my 0.02

Re:Currently exploiting something similar

[afidel]

Satelite is more like 500ms each direction for geosynchronous orbit.

Re:Currently exploiting something similar

[Gruturo]

Satelite is more like 500ms each direction for geosynchronous orbit.

Ehm, no, sorry.

It's around 280ms, and believe me, since i work in a satellite ISP [orbitplus.net].

Clarke's belt is at 36.000km of height, which, considering we're not exactly below the satellite (like at 19.2 East longitude, exactly on the equator, aiming straight up at an Astra bird), we must increase to some 40-42.000 km. Once for going up, once for going down = 80-84.000 km total.
Now speed of light, last time I checked, was roughly 300.000km/s, which means that 84.000 km are covered in 0.280 seconds. Your mileage may vary by a tiny fraction depending on where you live on the crust planet surface and how far (latitude/longitude) the Bird you're aiming at is, from your location. Let's say between 240 and 320 ms

....and if you don't believe me, I have pings!!! :-)

Terms of Service

[IdleMindUI]

As long as you're familiar with the TOS for their unlimited plan...
From their Terms of Service [verizonwireless.com]

Unlimited Express Network: Express Network data sessions may be used with wireless devices for following purposes: (i) Internet browsing; (ii) e-mail; and (iii) intranet access (including access to corporate intranets, e-mail and individual productivity applications like customer relationship management, sales force and field service automation). Express Network Unlimited Service and Calling Plans cannot be used with server devices or with host computer applications. Examples of such prohibited uses include, without limitation, web camera posts or broadcasts, continuous jpeg file transfers, automatic data feeds, telemetry applications, automated functions or any other machine-to-machine applications. Such data sessions cannot be used as substitute for private lines or frame relay connections. "Always On" capabilities and static Internet Protocol addresses are not available in connection with Express Network Unlimited Service and Calling Plan. We reserve right to deny or terminate service, without notice, to anyone who uses Express Network in any manner prohibited above or whose usage adversely impacts our network or service levels. We also reserve right to terminate service upon expiration of Customer Agreement. You will not see Express Network data session information on your bill.

Re:Terms of Service

[Old Uncle Bill]

or any other machine-to-machine applications

Doesn't that pretty much cover ALL network based activity? No more lawyers writing TOS please.

limited application, and not what is advertised

[n9hmg]

A coworker has gotten that service (I presume you mean verizon wireless expressnet), as he is about to lose his dedicated ISDN connection to our intranet. The speeds are rarely above 30kbps, and the latency makes it very difficult to do things like editing files. I haven't seen it, but the latency sounds about like my Sprint Broadband Direct (though I commonly get downstream 1Mbps and upstream 256mbps). You can use it pretty well for email, streaming audio (low rate), IM, and other such latency-insensitive apps.
However, when it's the only game in town....

Somewhere in the innards of a Verizon computer...

[zulux]

<language = "fake computer">

if customer.bandwith_usage > SOME_PIDDELING_SMALL_AMOUNT then
customer.throttle_down_bandwith(TDD);
customer.add_random_crap_to_bill("$"+random(50));
customer.disconnect(EVERY_HOUR);
end if

</language>

Not worth it yet...

[Andy Dodd]

Verizon's unlimited plans are $99/month I believe, and peak at 144 kbits/sec. Note that this is a shared channel - You're more likely to be about the equivalent of a 56k modem on average.

It does have the advantage that you can take it with you though. But for home access it's Not There Yet by ANY means.

Re:Not worth it yet...

[XO]

It's pretty cool for laptop connectivity - both Verizon and Sprint PCS offer PCMCIA cards that do all the work, without hooking up to a phone, and both can be added to an existing phone account.

Network upgrades by the end of the year (maybe) should increase max throughput on both systems to 384Kbps, with averages around 100Kbps, isntead of the current 144kbps max, with averages around 50kbps.

If your peak is 144...

[LauFu]

Why not go with one of the "shotgun" modem approaches where you aggregate a couple of phone lines for more bandwidth. Hell, for the price of the cell solution, many areas offer ISDN or IDSL, both of which are FAR superior to going with a cell network.

(People slag ISDN all the time, but having had no other option for years, I had no problem with it other than price.)

Or you could find your nearest neighbor and do a line-of-site network share with them.