Integrated WWAN: do I or don’t I? Pros and cons
Ugh. I’m getting the integrated 3G itch again. When I last took my Samsung Q1P apart, I saw that I could remove the WiFi module and likely replace it with an EV-DO module. I don’t think there’s room for an HSDPA module due to the required SIM card. Then one of our jkOTR readers, Josh, reminded me that a Gotta Be Mobile reader added a WWAN module to his Motion LE1700 with success.
Adding integrated 3G to my 7-inch UMPC would definitely enable productivity since I wouldn’t have to rely on WiFi hotspots or tethering a 3G phone to the device. However, there’s a few personal pros and cons I’m evaluating. While everyone’s mobile computing needs are different, here’s my thought process….
- Adding a $60 a month 3G data plan would eliminate my $20 a month T-Mobile Hotspot service. [Note: I used to have a 2-year plan with a modem card, but removed it in favor of the less expensive 3G access my XV 6700 smartphone provides.] Since I’m paying that $20 now, I’ll have a net expense add of $40. That’s a reasonable add to my budget for the near-everywhere access I’d gain. Instead of driving 5, 10, 15 miles or more to hit a hotspot, I can generally connect with enough bandwidth anywhere there’s coverage. While the increased cost is a con, the overall value to me is a pro.
- I’d have to purchase a small USB WiFi dongle for my home use. While the cost is likely negligable, it would add a usability challenge by having the USB module sticking out from the device. Not ideal to me, but I think I can manage. I’ll call this neither a pro or a con, although I may stick a USB flash drive in my UMPC for a few days, just to get a feel for this.
- What’s the effect on power? I’ll be researching and comparing the power drain of the current WiFi module to a WWAN module. 3G radios are notorious at eating device batteries for lunch. Again, not sure if this is a pro or a con as I don’t have the information just yet.
- What’s the impact to device upgrades? I don’t expect to use the Q1P for the next two years, which would be my data plan commitment. I figure that I’ll be upgrading devices before then, so what’s the risk that a new device won’t be able to accept the same integrated module? Chances are good, but it’s still a risk because of the approach I would take. If I do this, I’ll be purchasing a USB EV-DO modem and cracking it open for the WWAN module. What if a new device can’t accept the module and I can’t get the modem back together? Generally a con right now.
- I want an iPhone. I know, you’re sitting there saying, "what the heck does THAT have to do with it?". Well, one of the reasons I don’t have an iPhone is because I can’t tether it for modem use like I can with my XV 6700 and T-Mobile Dash. Adding the integrated WWAN would remove the tethering requirement and get me closer to owning an iPhone. I still need my Exchange and Direct Push support, so even if I opt for the integrated WWAN route, my needs aren’t met with an iPhone, but again, I’m a step closer. This is an indulgent pro.
- I’m already a Verizon customer and they’ve completed their EV-DO Rev. A network upgrade. I’ll benefit from the faster upload and download speeds over my current connectivity options. My XV 6700 is a Rev. 0 device and the Dash is a relatively lowly EDGE connection. Definitely a pro.
- The cost of the modem that I’ll be hacking up is another reasonable cost. Free would be nice, but at the moment the best prices I’m seeing for the device are around $60 after rebates. Sine this isn’t hitting my budget too hard, I’ll lean towards a pro here. After all, if I buy one game for my Xbox 360, I’ve just dropped the same $60.
That’s the general thought process in my head at the moment, and I welcome your thoughts. As you can tell, I’m still on the fence and I’ve got some additional research to do. Worst case is that I pursue this option and run into a snag where the module doesn’t work. That’s the biggest con of all because at that point, I’d be locked into a contract that I can’t use without buying another modem. I can pretty much guarantee that I won’t get any rebates on that one.
I can’t wait to see how this turns out. I’m looking for a new laptop/umpc and I’m on the fence on the wwan options. I’m a t-mobile customer (love my dash!) and I remember their announcement on upgrading their data to HSDPA. It was sometime late last year when they announced that, but it said it would be available late 07 early 08. I might be wrong on that, anyone remember for sure? If it is correct it would be worth it for me to wait for a wwan connection, well besides my dash tethering. Can’t wait for your opinion.
I say go for it.
I currently don’t mind tethering, but having that less extra step to get online anywhere would be nice.
I’m a bit reluctant to sign a 2 year contract with another cell provider at this time though. I’m with AT&T and would like to use the flexibility of swapping SIM cards for now. So for me, a new UMPC with a SIM card slot in the future?
(Everun, Q1U?)
A scary scenario for you is being handcuffed into contracts by 3 cell phone providers! (Sprint/Verizon, TMobile, and AT&T for the iPhone).
But hey, if you go Verizon, you can go crazy and get your tranfers over 5GB’s to get out of the contract. Or better yet, start calling Sprint’s customer service over 60 times a month.
Good point on the three cell phone bills, but I would likely drop one of them altogether in the very near future. I think that if you hit the 5GB Verizon cap and get the boot, they still charge you the $175 termination fee, so that wouldn’t work. In an ideal situation, I’d probably dump T-Mo and use Verizon for the data plan. We’re also on a Verizon family plan for voice, so if the iPhone were a possiblity, I’d move that family plan over to AT&T…at least that’s the theory.
Another thing to worry about is how would you wire up an antenna in the Q1?
The thing that made the Motion LE1700 upgrade easier is that it was meant to have a 3g option so there were antenna wires in there in the first place..
Personally, the thing I would be most concerned about is the antenna array in the device and whether it will allow you to get a sufficient signal to consider the WWAN effort worthwhile. With no one having done it before, this might be a version of “the surgery was successful and the patient still died”. I know that sounds odd, but some devices have not been cleared by the FCC for use in the US because of antenna arrays (Fujitsu P1610 for one), so it gets me a tad concerned.
I will say that I have been impressed with the tethering speeds that some are reporting using the new HTC Mogul. The reason for this is not only the EvDO Rev. A, but more importantly, the BT 2.0 functionality.
Of course, that require a whole new phone, on a carrier you don’t currently use, with an operating system you may or may not want. But it IS an alternative.
Personally, I’m waiting to see the XV6800 hit Verizon. If I don’t see some specs leak on a VZW Treo 800W that includes Rev. A, BT2.0 and GPS by that point, I’ll probably go with the XV6800. But that’s just me.
Either way, good luck Kevin!
Good points about the antenna. I may have to rig something….there’s another “con”.
I find this thought interesting. I /avoid/ laptops that have built in cellular connections simply because I don’t want my laptop to be tied to a particular technology or carrier.
I’ve usually upgraded my laptops about every two to three years, while my phone gets upgraded about every year.
I really don’t mind the tether, as long as it’s bluetooth.
The novatel 720 would be a good device. You could use device as internet for your entire house. I have a old Fujitsu P1120 with a pc card slot. I have a new Hp with a express card slot. My setup is to enable internet sharing on the fujitu p1120, pluged into a linksys router for internet. Works great. Eventhough it is only rev 0 it is very fast. So you could install the mini PCIe card into your Q1 ( Samantha) and enable internet sharing by pluging the ethernet from Q1 to Router. You would have internet where ever you are. I think it would be a great project and a good cost saving measure. Internet at home mobile all through samantha. Yes the Macbook pro could use the shared internet. One bill for internet. I think that would be great.
Thanks,
Joshua A. Hall