voice/data plans -- I'm confused

[Johnny]

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

It's time for a new, cheaper plan. I'm currently with Sprint and have
an old data connection kit so I can use the phone as a modem. I rarely
use the laptop connection, but there are times when I do need it, and
only for a couple of megabytes a month.

In summary, my wife and I are *low* minute users. I'm considering a
Motorola V265 and V710 paired with a data/USB cable, and a shared plan
of some sort.

I'm confused as to whether or not I can get my laptop connected when
using an "America's Choice" or "Digital Choice" plan. Can I use the
phone as a modem with these plans, or do I need to get a "Unlimited
NationalAccess and BroadbandAccess" or "NationalAccess Megabyte" plan?
What about "America's Choice with Push to Talk?"

Thanks,
John

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

Johnny wrote:
> It's time for a new, cheaper plan. I'm currently with Sprint and have
> an old data connection kit so I can use the phone as a modem. I
> rarely use the laptop connection, but there are times when I do need
> it, and only for a couple of megabytes a month.
>
> In summary, my wife and I are *low* minute users. I'm considering a
> Motorola V265 and V710 paired with a data/USB cable, and a shared plan
> of some sort.
>
> I'm confused as to whether or not I can get my laptop connected when
> using an "America's Choice" or "Digital Choice" plan. Can I use the
> phone as a modem with these plans, or do I need to get a "Unlimited
> NationalAccess and BroadbandAccess" or "NationalAccess Megabyte" plan?
> What about "America's Choice with Push to Talk?"
>
> Thanks,
> John

Depends on who you ask.... The people who use it (no you don't), or the
people that stand to make a commision if they talk you into buying what you
don't need (then yes, you gotta spend more, so they can make more)

 

[Johnny]

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

A follow-up question: I saw somewhere that the connectivity kit/mobile
office (laptop connection) can be used for web surfing and mail. Does
anyone know if FTP is open as well? What about direct SQL connections?

Thanks,
John

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

Johnny wrote:
> A follow-up question: I saw somewhere that the connectivity
> kit/mobile office (laptop connection) can be used for web surfing and
> mail. Does anyone know if FTP is open as well? What about direct
> SQL connections?
>
> Thanks,
> John

FTP yes... I upload to my webpage with it, and download progs with it...
(don't know about the other SQL thing)...

One thing I didn't mention before... There are data *OPTIONS* on voice plans
(usually free, not listed on the website) and data *PLANS* that cost a lot
of money a month, are listed on the website, and what people mistakenly talk
about thinking you have to have a data *PLAN*, rather than the free *OPTION*
on your voice plan.

 

[Johnny]

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

> One thing I didn't mention before... There are data *OPTIONS* on voice plans
> (usually free, not listed on the website) and data *PLANS* that cost a lot
> of money a month, are listed on the website, and what people mistakenly talk
> about thinking you have to have a data *PLAN*, rather than the free *OPTION*
> on your voice plan.

Hmm. I did stumble across some fine print on the Plans page:


Internet Access
Mobile Office Kits, PC Cards, PDAs or other wireless modem devices may
not be used for Internet access without a subscription to select
NationalAccess plans.

 

[Jason]

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

my understanding is that the internet plans, where you can use your phone
as a modem are called National Access or or Enhanced network (depending on
your location) and they are included with the plan for free, so all you use
are your plan minutes. And all AC plans have this feature now.

I tried this because I am going out of town and need internet access on my
laptop, so I bought a cale and tried it, it works good, and I did not see
a charge on my bill for use. All I saw was minute usage and charges billed
as $0.00

hope this helps some.

"Johnny" <johnny@bogusdomain.com> wrote in message
news:MPG.1c814d96424deeb09896d0@news.central.cox.net...
> It's time for a new, cheaper plan. I'm currently with Sprint and have
> an old data connection kit so I can use the phone as a modem. I rarely
> use the laptop connection, but there are times when I do need it, and
> only for a couple of megabytes a month.
>
> In summary, my wife and I are *low* minute users. I'm considering a
> Motorola V265 and V710 paired with a data/USB cable, and a shared plan
> of some sort.
>
> I'm confused as to whether or not I can get my laptop connected when
> using an "America's Choice" or "Digital Choice" plan. Can I use the
> phone as a modem with these plans, or do I need to get a "Unlimited
> NationalAccess and BroadbandAccess" or "NationalAccess Megabyte" plan?
> What about "America's Choice with Push to Talk?"
>
> Thanks,
> John

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

They added that recently and apparently the no roam plans that go into
effect next week are going to be used to crack down on people who use voice
minutes...

I was told a few weeks ago by a CSR that QNC is allowed for use of minutes -
it's just 1x that is not. I don't know if that's going to change with the
change to the no roam plans.

Re: SQL... the last time I tried connecting to a remote sql server using
Enterprise manager, I kept getting kicked off the line. I'm not sure why it
disconnected me, I gave up and used Terminal services to access a the sql
server.


"Johnny" <johnny@bogusdomain.com> wrote in message
news:MPG.1c815f50b7068d7d9896d2@news.central.cox.net...
>> One thing I didn't mention before... There are data *OPTIONS* on voice
>> plans
>> (usually free, not listed on the website) and data *PLANS* that cost a
>> lot
>> of money a month, are listed on the website, and what people mistakenly
>> talk
>> about thinking you have to have a data *PLAN*, rather than the free
>> *OPTION*
>> on your voice plan.
>
> Hmm. I did stumble across some fine print on the Plans page:
>
>
> Internet Access
> Mobile Office Kits, PC Cards, PDAs or other wireless modem devices may
> not be used for Internet access without a subscription to select
> NationalAccess plans.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

If you know of any public sql servers I can access, it's the weekend.. free
calling, have the cell and mobile office set up... a few keystokes and I can
be online and test it for you...



cricket wrote:
> They added that recently and apparently the no roam plans that go into
> effect next week are going to be used to crack down on people who use
> voice minutes...
>
> I was told a few weeks ago by a CSR that QNC is allowed for use of
> minutes - it's just 1x that is not. I don't know if that's going to
> change with the change to the no roam plans.
>
> Re: SQL... the last time I tried connecting to a remote sql server
> using Enterprise manager, I kept getting kicked off the line. I'm not
> sure why it disconnected me, I gave up and used Terminal services to
> access a the sql server.
>
>
> "Johnny" <johnny@bogusdomain.com> wrote in message
> news:MPG.1c815f50b7068d7d9896d2@news.central.cox.net...
>>> One thing I didn't mention before... There are data *OPTIONS* on
>>> voice plans
>>> (usually free, not listed on the website) and data *PLANS* that
>>> cost a lot
>>> of money a month, are listed on the website, and what people
>>> mistakenly talk
>>> about thinking you have to have a data *PLAN*, rather than the free
>>> *OPTION*
>>> on your voice plan.
>>
>> Hmm. I did stumble across some fine print on the Plans page:
>>
>>
>> Internet Access
>> Mobile Office Kits, PC Cards, PDAs or other wireless modem devices
>> may not be used for Internet access without a subscription to select
>> NationalAccess plans.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

Peter Pan wrote:
> If you know of any public sql servers I can access, it's the weekend.. free
> calling, have the cell and mobile office set up... a few keystokes and I can
> be online and test it for you...

Verizon has blocked port 1433 (SQL Server) since at least 2003, when I was
attempting to use Express Network and could through the cablemodem I was using
at the time, but not through EN when the cablemodem was down.

Considering the amount of damage the SQL Slammer worm caused, I am not
surprised Verizon blocks that port, nor do I blame them for doing so. I have
seen (recently, in the past month) SQL Servers that are patched and not going
down as a result of attempted attacks, but in these cases the servers were
getting hammered with traffic, which wasn't much better. There are apparently
still a lot of breakin attempts against the servers that are visible to the
Internet.

--
JustThe.net - Apple Valley, CA - http://JustThe.net/ - 888.480.4NET (4638)
Steven J. Sobol, Geek In Charge / sjsobol@JustThe.net / PGP: 0xE3AE35ED

"In case anyone was wondering, that big glowing globe above the Victor
Valley is the sun." -Victorville _Daily Press_ on the unusually large
amount of rain the Southland has gotten this winter (January 12th, 2005)

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

There really isn't any point in getting one of those data access plans. I
have the AC400 plan for my VX4500 and use ExpressConnect to access the
Internet when I'm away from home and can't hook up to a Wi-Fi spot. It cost
me $40 (one-time only) for the phone-to-laptop cable and software. Then I
dialed 611 to get ExpressConnect enabled on my account. I was informed by
the representative that there is no additional charge to the account. It's
basically a matter of using your normal airtime minutes.

After having tested that on a trip in October-November, what the rep told
me was true, because I didn't pay anything more than I normally pay for my
airtime.

Johnny <johnny@bogusdomain.com> wrote in news:MPG.1c814d96424deeb09896d0
@news.central.cox.net:

> It's time for a new, cheaper plan. I'm currently with Sprint and have
> an old data connection kit so I can use the phone as a modem. I rarely
> use the laptop connection, but there are times when I do need it, and
> only for a couple of megabytes a month.
>
> In summary, my wife and I are *low* minute users. I'm considering a
> Motorola V265 and V710 paired with a data/USB cable, and a shared plan
> of some sort.
>
> I'm confused as to whether or not I can get my laptop connected when
> using an "America's Choice" or "Digital Choice" plan. Can I use the
> phone as a modem with these plans, or do I need to get a "Unlimited
> NationalAccess and BroadbandAccess" or "NationalAccess Megabyte" plan?
> What about "America's Choice with Push to Talk?"
>
> Thanks,
> John

 

[jimt]

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

Scott Zane <whatsit@to.you> wrote in
news:Xns96036F48BA5D4scottzaneverizonnet@216.196.97.131:

> There really isn't any point in getting one of those data access
> plans. I have the AC400 plan for my VX4500 and use ExpressConnect to
> access the Internet when I'm away from home and can't hook up to a
> Wi-Fi spot. It cost me $40 (one-time only) for the phone-to-laptop
> cable and software. Then I dialed 611 to get ExpressConnect enabled on
> my account. I was informed by the representative that there is no
> additional charge to the account. It's basically a matter of using
> your normal airtime minutes.
>
> After having tested that on a trip in October-November, what the rep
> told me was true, because I didn't pay anything more than I normally
> pay for my airtime.
>
> Johnny <johnny@bogusdomain.com> wrote in
> news:MPG.1c814d96424deeb09896d0 @news.central.cox.net:
>
>
>

I have a related question. What I've read so far leads me to believe
that data connection through a cell (I have a650) is limited to 19,200k.
Is this correct? I live in the boondocks and that is only slightly less
than my dial up speed, believe it or not. Can't get cable here either.
Jim
Downeast in NC
Ever heard of Ernul?

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

JimT <NObushneatSPAM@myway.com> wrote in
news:1108930732.9df41478de505d2f006e5fb6d6e5fe67@teranews:

> I have a related question. What I've read so far leads me to believe
> that data connection through a cell (I have a650) is limited to
> 19,200k. Is this correct? I live in the boondocks and that is only
> slightly less than my dial up speed, believe it or not. Can't get
> cable here either. Jim

I don't know what the exact limit is, but 99% of the time I connect through
my cell phone, I do so at a speed of 230K. For comparison sake, that is
about 4-4.5x faster than dial-up, but 6.5x slower than my 1.5M DSL service
when I'm at home. Are you sure the "19,200k" you are talking about isn't
really 19.2K (which is less than half the speed of a 56K dial-up modem)? If
that's the speed you're really connecting at, that is MUCH slower than I
think you should be connecting at.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

JimT wrote:
>
> I have a related question. What I've read so far leads me to believe
> that data connection through a cell (I have a650) is limited to
> 19,200k. Is this correct? I live in the boondocks and that is only
> slightly less than my dial up speed, believe it or not. Can't get
> cable here either. Jim
> Downeast in NC
> Ever heard of Ernul?

No... However....It depends on who's system you are on... What does your
banner say? Verizon Wireless or Extended Network? (or something similar)...
There is high speed available 100% of the time from Verizon, but if you are
on an extended network, that percentage is less than 100. IE the extended
network only guarantees voice.... Data services are up to the local cell
service provider...

If however, you are stuck with the slower dial-up (I'm in Las Vegas and can
only get 24k via dialup, but about 100k via cell!), there is a possibility
depending on your ISP. I have earthlink, and they (like some others) have a
web accelerator that works on dial-up and gives up to 5x the speed.. A few
weeks ago I tried the web accelerator with Quick 2 Net (aka QNC, the low
speed via cell phone) and it works with that too. Depending on how wedded
you are to your ISP, there are ones out there that support the accelerator
(example I happen to know of http://www.getnetscape.com/ $9.95 a month, free
trial for 30 days, may be worth a try).

Seems doing something like that would give you better (perceived) speeds on
dial-up, AND speed up cell phone access.... (the old kill two birds with one
stone).

Just a caveat, using the cell phone for access gives extremely low "ping"
(response) times... Personally, from what little you wrote, I would suggest
you look into accelerating your dial-up and use the cell as a backup for
when your phone is dead.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

Scott Zane wrote:
> JimT <NObushneatSPAM@myway.com> wrote in
> news:1108930732.9df41478de505d2f006e5fb6d6e5fe67@teranews:
>
>> I have a related question. What I've read so far leads me to believe
>> that data connection through a cell (I have a650) is limited to
>> 19,200k. Is this correct? I live in the boondocks and that is only
>> slightly less than my dial up speed, believe it or not. Can't get
>> cable here either. Jim
>
> I don't know what the exact limit is, but 99% of the time I connect
> through my cell phone, I do so at a speed of 230K. For comparison
> sake, that is about 4-4.5x faster than dial-up, but 6.5x slower than
> my 1.5M DSL service when I'm at home. Are you sure the "19,200k" you
> are talking about isn't really 19.2K (which is less than half the
> speed of a 56K dial-up modem)? If that's the speed you're really
> connecting at, that is MUCH slower than I think you should be
> connecting at.

Actually it gets even slower... There are DTE and DCE speeds (computer to
cell phone, usually driver speeds, usually 19.2 or 230 etc), and the actual
cellphone to cell tower speed (14.4 max or 144 max).. Sounds like your 230
is the speed of your computer to the cell phone via cable, but not the
actual speed over the air.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

Scott Zane wrote:
> JimT <NObushneatSPAM@myway.com> wrote in
> news:1108930732.9df41478de505d2f006e5fb6d6e5fe67@teranews:
>
>
>>I have a related question. What I've read so far leads me to believe
>>that data connection through a cell (I have a650) is limited to
>>19,200k. Is this correct? I live in the boondocks and that is only
>>slightly less than my dial up speed, believe it or not. Can't get
>>cable here either. Jim
>
>
> I don't know what the exact limit is, but 99% of the time I connect through
> my cell phone, I do so at a speed of 230K.

No, you absolutely do not, unless you're using BroadbandAccess.

The question is which service you're using.

> For comparison sake, that is
> about 4-4.5x faster than dial-up, but 6.5x slower than my 1.5M DSL service
> when I'm at home. Are you sure the "19,200k" you are talking about isn't
> really 19.2K (which is less than half the speed of a 56K dial-up modem)? If
> that's the speed you're really connecting at, that is MUCH slower than I
> think you should be connecting at.

If the A650 is an NationalAccess-compatible phone (and it probably is), you
will see a practical top-end of 100-115K. I got 80-90K on my Kyo 2325 when I
used it for data. 230K is NOT possible on NationalAccess... the technology only
allows speeds of up to 110-115K. Your port speed, the speed at which your
computer communicates with the phone, might be 230K. Windows will report the
port speed often, instead of the actual connection speed, depending on your
settings.

Older phones can only connect at 14.4K-19.2K.

Scott - Are you paying for BroadbandAccess, and are you in a city where BA is
available? If not, 230K is probably your port speed. If so, you may very well
be connecting at 230K, but the A650, as far as I know, is not compatible with
the technology BroadbandAccess uses.


--
JustThe.net - Apple Valley, CA - http://JustThe.net/ - 888.480.4NET (4638)
Steven J. Sobol, Geek In Charge / sjsobol@JustThe.net / PGP: 0xE3AE35ED

"In case anyone was wondering, that big glowing globe above the Victor
Valley is the sun." -Victorville _Daily Press_ on the unusually large
amount of rain the Southland has gotten this winter (January 12th, 2005)

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

Steve Sobol wrote:
>> I don't know what the exact limit is, but 99% of the time I connect
>> through my cell phone, I do so at a speed of 230K.
>
> No, you absolutely do not, unless you're using BroadbandAccess.
>
> Scott - Are you paying for BroadbandAccess, and are you in a city
> where BA is available? If not, 230K is probably your port speed. If
> so, you may very well be connecting at 230K, but the A650, as far as
> I know, is not compatible with the technology BroadbandAccess uses.

I'm not scott, but I am in a BA area (Las Vegas), and I have NEVER seen it
that slow! 400-600 is the slowest I have ever seen it, and if you use one of
the two phone that do BA now (released feb 1st) they show as 2500!

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

Peter Pan wrote:

> I'm not scott, but I am in a BA area (Las Vegas), and I have NEVER seen it
> that slow! 400-600 is the slowest I have ever seen it, and if you use one of
> the two phone that do BA now (released feb 1st) they show as 2500!

Details, details. :> You understand my point, right? The A650, AFAIK, doesn't
do BA and can't get to 230K per second...



--
JustThe.net - Apple Valley, CA - http://JustThe.net/ - 888.480.4NET (4638)
Steven J. Sobol, Geek In Charge / sjsobol@JustThe.net / PGP: 0xE3AE35ED

"In case anyone was wondering, that big glowing globe above the Victor
Valley is the sun." -Victorville _Daily Press_ on the unusually large
amount of rain the Southland has gotten this winter (January 12th, 2005)

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

Steve Sobol wrote:
> Peter Pan wrote:
>
>> I'm not scott, but I am in a BA area (Las Vegas), and I have NEVER
>> seen it that slow! 400-600 is the slowest I have ever seen it, and
>> if you use one of the two phone that do BA now (released feb 1st)
>> they show as 2500!
>
> Details, details. :> You understand my point, right? The A650, AFAIK,
> doesn't do BA and can't get to 230K per second...

Yeah, I was just bustin your chops about saying BA was ONLY about a measly
200.. funny enuf, that 230 is exactly what a lot of USB phone drivers have
as the maximum baud rate, to differentiate from the serial ports that are
usually 115. Neither are the actual over the air connection speed.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

Steve Sobol <sjsobol@JustThe.net> wrote in
news:cvatai$659$1@ratbert.glorb.com:

> Scott Zane wrote:
>> JimT <NObushneatSPAM@myway.com> wrote in
>> news:1108930732.9df41478de505d2f006e5fb6d6e5fe67@teranews:
>>
>>
>>>I have a related question. What I've read so far leads me to believe
>>>that data connection through a cell (I have a650) is limited to
>>>19,200k. Is this correct? I live in the boondocks and that is only
>>>slightly less than my dial up speed, believe it or not. Can't get
>>>cable here either. Jim
>>
>>
>> I don't know what the exact limit is, but 99% of the time I connect
>> through my cell phone, I do so at a speed of 230K.
>
> No, you absolutely do not, unless you're using BroadbandAccess.
>
> The question is which service you're using.

I'm using the Express Network (Verizon Mobile Office). Believe me, I do not
pay for the BroadbandAccess service.

>> For comparison sake, that is
>> about 4-4.5x faster than dial-up, but 6.5x slower than my 1.5M DSL
>> service when I'm at home. Are you sure the "19,200k" you are talking
>> about isn't really 19.2K (which is less than half the speed of a 56K
>> dial-up modem)? If that's the speed you're really connecting at, that
>> is MUCH slower than I think you should be connecting at.
>
> If the A650 is an NationalAccess-compatible phone (and it probably
> is), you will see a practical top-end of 100-115K. I got 80-90K on my
> Kyo 2325 when I used it for data. 230K is NOT possible on
> NationalAccess... the technology only allows speeds of up to 110-115K.
> Your port speed, the speed at which your computer communicates with
> the phone, might be 230K. Windows will report the port speed often,
> instead of the actual connection speed, depending on your settings.

I'm using a VX4500, not an A650. But after reading your post, I
disconnected from my Wi-Fi connection and tested my bandwidth while
connected through Express Network. After testing it, it appears that you
are correct. I am currently connected at 109.5kbps with a throughput of
13.4kbps. I never gave consideration to the possibility that the 230kbps
might actually be port speed, but your contention makes sense. Thinking
about when I had a 56K connection, my throughput was normally in the 5.x
kbps range. So, if I were really connected at 4.5x the speed of that, I
could have expected throughput of more like 25kbps or so. In reality, the
13-15kbps range is what I actually recall getting last time I was
travelling and was using it to connect.

> Older phones can only connect at 14.4K-19.2K.

Interesting. I'm not familiar with the A650. Is it an old phone?

> Scott - Are you paying for BroadbandAccess, and are you in a city
> where BA is available? If not, 230K is probably your port speed. If
> so, you may very well be connecting at 230K, but the A650, as far as I
> know, is not compatible with the technology BroadbandAccess uses.

Not paying for BroadbandAccess, nor do I know if I'm in a city where BA is
available. The hotel I'm staying in right now has a Wi-Fi hotspot, so I've
been getting connected that way on the current trip. I'm getting the same
throughput via the hotel Wi-Fi here that I got on the DSL connection I have
at home, so there hasn't been any need to mess with Express Network here.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.cellular.verizon (More info?)

>> Older phones can only connect at 14.4K-19.2K.
>
> Interesting. I'm not familiar with the A650. Is it an old phone?

I think it's within the year new... and pretty much all the phones verizon
had 3 years ago supported 3g (high speed).