Review by Belinrahs  UPDATED: 33 days ago member for 2.2 years, 154 visits, last login: 6 days ago
Nashville,Barry,MI
$70 per month
about 3 days
"Unlimited service (for $10 more a month), fast, low pings compared to sat"
"Simply doesn't compete with the reliability of hardwired internet, or even satellite"
"I'd rather have slower speeds and unlimited bandwidth than faster speeds and a cap"
| Pre Sales Information: Install process: Connection reliability: Tech Support: Services: Value for money: (ratings match consensus)
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UPDATE 4: I'm reworking my ratings above. At this point, my connection is very, very sketchy at best. It'll switch from EVDO to 1xRTT without warning, and the Franklin device can't make a choice on which tower pilot it wants to connect to. I'm seeking a way to get a different device. I'm desperate here !!
UPDATE 3: Moved monthly cost to $70 (I upgraded to Unlimited) and I changed the Pros and Cons. Still very happy with my service, and until something like DSL or fixed wireless appears around here, I'll be sticking with Millenicom. Consider me a satisfied customer.
UPDATE 2: Just since the most recent update, I've been sent a new Franklin CDU-680, and connectivity shot up to something very fast and reliable - I'm quite happy with it now. Also, the "invisible caps" myth seems to be busted, they're releasing new packages, 60$ for 5 gig a month, and 70$ for unlimited bandwidth. Not so invisible, and there's a big difference between 5 gig and pretty-much-infinite gigs, only for 10$ a month. Definitely worth it, I'll be going with that! At this point I will be bumping Connection reliability from a 3 (middling) to a 4 (pretty darn reliable and fast).
UPDATE: I just had some pretty unique issues with Sprint and Millenicom which I'm fully documenting for all to see at »Speed cut due to usage . I have decided to bump the Tech Support rating on this review from 5 (best rating possible) to a 4, because while they are very friendly and do try hard to help out if they can, there is a marked lack of follow up when they tell you they'll have somebody call you back. Over the several times they've told me they would call back in a few hours, I've never, ever, EVER gotten such a call back.
Original review:
I had HughesNet for a long time before I found out about Millenicom right here on BBR, so I checked out their site and asked for a site survey. They said that I'd get excellent service here, and considering I get 4 bars on my Sprint phone around here, I thought I'd give them a shot (why not? no contract!). I received the Franklin CDU-680 USB aircard. At first it was pretty awful because I ended up getting pretty terrible signal (about -95dBm to -105dBm). I talked to the folks at 3Gstore.com who recommended that I get the 32" omni external antenna. I went for it considering it wasn't all that much, $80, and I installed it on an old Dish Network satellite dish mount. I now get about -72dBm constantly and top speeds of about 1.2-1.3 megabits down, which isn't bad considering I'm on a single T1 tower.
I'm pretty worried about the supposed "invisible caps" they're placing, but as far as I can tell I'm still unlimited...I've gone over 15-20 gig's in a month without a peep from the folks at Millenicom or Sprint. I'll be perfectly fine and will stay with this service, satisfied, unless they decide to impose those caps on me.
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