how-to block ads
|
»next review in page
Review by wareagletsf 
UPDATED: 24 days ago
member for 3.5 years, 1017 visits, last login: 1 days ago
 Hartford,Hartford,CT
 $69 per month
 about 3 days
 "Unlimited for 69.99, easy setup, good speed"
 "GPS is a hit and miss"
 "good service for the travling laptop, needs better GPS service"
| Pre Sales Information:
Install process:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings match consensus)
|
I like the service, I am in a urban area(Hartford CT), but it is next to impossible to get DSL installed at work, so this meets my needs for work and or commuting access.
I love the no cap on the unlimited, I was on sprint and ended up with $200 to $300 a month in overages.
Speeds are not great but not totally bad either.
gps is a hit or miss for tracking movement.
Followup comments: | Forums » comments on review of Millenicom |
 | »next review in page (previous review)
 Review by Kevin_H
Posted: 24 days ago
member for 115 days, 85 visits, last login: 1 days ago
Suffolk,Suffolk City,VA
$60 per month
"1,000,000 % better than hughesnet, pings are 100 and below instead of 3000 and below like hughes, doesnt go out when it rains!!!"
"Peak times are still present but understandable and not a hack job like hughes peak hours"
"Grade: B"
| Pre Sales Information:
Install process:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings match consensus)
|
If you have dial-up or hughes, GET THIS NOW YOU WILL THANK ME A MILLION TIMES IF YOU DO I PROMISE YOU!!!!! except if your a gb whore....then you may despise me...aha but if you like speed or gaming get this, i really mean it. it relieves all the anger you've accumulated with hughesnet. 
Followup comments: | Forums » comments on review of Millenicom |
| »next review in page (previous review)
Review by jane8851
Posted: 28 days ago
member for 158 days, 158 visits, last login: 3 days ago
Greenville,Greene,NY
$59 per month
"Good customer support."
"5GB cap."
"Better than sat or dialup if you have no other options."
| Pre Sales Information:
Install process:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings match consensus)
|
Good choice if your options are otherwise limited to sat or dialup.
Followup comments: | Forums » comments on review of Millenicom |
| »next review in page (previous review)
Review by songsearch
UPDATED: 33 days ago
member for 246 days, 8 visits, last login: 30 days ago
Angelus Oaks,San Bernardino,CA
$70 per month (month by month)
about 4 days
"They send the modem within a couple of days?"
"Deceptive marketing, no call back from tech support, poor connectivity"
"Not happy, should have stuck with Sprint"
| Pre Sales Information:
Install process:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings below consensus)
|
Had Hughesnet dish, ditched because of bandwidth cap, moved to Sprint, ditched because of bandwidth cap. Moved to Millenicom because it was advertised as 'unlimited' bandwidth. Guess what? They have a bandwidth cap. Have no other good options at this point (no DSL or cable out here). Millenicom is using the old 'carrot and stick' to force me into paying more for a higher priced and supposedly 'unlimited' account through throttling, and emails threatening to close my account for excessive usage, which is untrue. Unless and until these problems are resolved, I can't recommend that anyone sign up with this company.
Update 10/16/09
Took the plunge into the 'unlimited' account about a month ago. So far, the only 'unlimited' part of this deal is the problems. Sproradic broadband from the the get-go, sometimes no EVDO for hours. Today, no connection at all until 8PM, and it's pitiful slow, likely from a tower far away. I spent a couple of hours on the phone to tech support earlier today, who finally gave up and referred me to Sprint tech support. They passed me around to three different people who couldn't figure out who I was, and wanted to know why I was trying to get tech support on an account without my name on it. Apparently Millenicom's fictitious business name with Sprint is something like Celestial Seasonings or somesuch crapname, and guess what, I don't know their first pet's name so I couldn't pass the security check. No help there whatsoever.
One other note: the Franklin modem disables the other USB ports on my laptop whenever it's in use, so I can't use external drives when online. This happens on two separate machines, so it's not a machine-specific problem. Millenicom tech support has no help here either.
Update 10/26/09
The Franklin modem crapped out completely right after my last update, and a Sprint tech declared it dead. New (well, another) Franklin replacement modem finally arrived 10/24, a week after they said it would be sent 'immediately'. Plugged it in to my USB port, and immediately got an error message "USB device not recognized, blah, blah, blah, replace device". Wonderful. After paying for a week of no internet, this is what I get. If I jiggle it around in the USB port, sometimes the modem is recognized, and I can get online, at a fantastic speed of 300. Wow. I used to get up to 900 on Sprint with the same antenna on a Pantech XP-500. The Franklin modems are either incompatible with Toshiba laptops, or they are just plain junk. Back on the phone to tech support. This sucks.
Followup comments:  | | songsearch
join:2009-03-27
 ·Millenicom
1 edit | Re: rating Misunderstanding, my butt, I SPECIFICALLY emailed them before I signed up to ascertain that band width was unlimited, and they replied that it was. Why are you defending a company that made promises they couldn't keep? You act like I'm the bad guy here. Millenicom was at fault. If they can't deliver, or if delivery was uncertain, why did they promise people unlimited service for $60/mth?
If you think my attitude is bitter, yes, that's absolutely true. I've been screwed, and I emphasize 'screwed' by DirectPC/Hughesnet, Sprint, and now these jokers. All promised services that they could not deliver, because they have oversold their available bandwidth. Whose fault is it? Mine?
That business of 'this is a good company' by consensus is ridiculous. Are you sayings it's ok they screw a few of us, as long as the majority go along with the plan? I can't wait for Congress to pass the Net Neutrality legislation, maybe that'll get rid of these bandwidth caps once and for all. Just because I live out in the country doesn't mean I shouldn't get a fair shake when it comes to internet access. | |
| | | 
compuguybna
join:2009-06-17
Nashville, TN | Re: rating I've not had ANY issues with them since June 09.
Damn sure better than HUGHES or WILDBLUE.....
Best choice I ever made (as for as internet access in a rural area). | |
| | | | 
video
Browsing Through Purgatory
Premium
join:2005-11-27
Newburg, MD
 ·HughesNet Satellit..
| Re: rating said by compuguybna :I've not had ANY issues with them since June 09. Damn sure better than HUGHES or WILDBLUE..... Best choice I ever made (as for as internet access in a rural area). I couldn't agree more with Compuguybna, also have had my Franklin modem up for several days non stop and no troubles to report so far.
--
Franklin CDU-680, CradlePoint 350, DLink 655 router, HG2424G Grid antenna, Cyfre Amp. | |
| | | 
Jim_in_VA
join:2004-07-11
Cobbs Creek, VA | send me an email via my website and I'll straighten things out for you
--
... need help? »evdo-tips.com/ | |
| 
Belinrahs
This ship is taking me far away
join:2007-09-07
Nashville, MI
clubs:  
·Millenicom
·HughesNet Satellit..
| Franklin devices ARE junk I agree with you that Franklin CDU-680's are junk. I have a very high-quality antenna that I even put as close to being 0 degrees level as I could using a digital level, connected directly to my CDU-680. The thing barely keeps a good connection. Sometimes, when connected to one pilot, it'll get a great quality connection @ -72dBm. Then, magically the modem decides it doesn't like that pilot and switches to one I get anywhere from -115dBm to -95dBm. Nothing physically changes between the time it's at -72 and -95, with clear weather and cloudy skies, with a little sun shining through.
If I were you, I'd see if Millenicom will do a Bring your own Device (BYOD) plan with Sprint Unlimited for you. Go on eBay and get a nice, high-quality modem like a Sierra or an Ovation device. I'm going to be doing this myself - likely get myself a Sierra and sign up BYOD. The Franklin is, plain and simple, one of the worst modems I've ever dealt with. And this thing BURNS if you leave it plugged in too long... 
--
Sprint MBB thru Millenicom Unlimited service - Franklin CDU-680 (with 32" omni) connected to a CTR-350; Linksys WRT160N running DD-WRT in repeater mode one room away from the Cradlepoint, to cover the house with 4 bars of N WiFi. | |
| Makoto
join:2009-06-25
Mineral, VA
·Millenicom
| Jekyll and Millenicom I'm still upset with Millenicom... The people who control access to the towers suddenly decided that Millenicom users were too greedy so they pushed Millenicom to warn users not to abuse the service... so accounts who use a lot of bandwidth will be canceled after a few notices.
Tell me if you can wrap your head around this logic. The service is still technically unlimited, but if you use too much they cancel your service... wtf?
Okay, well then they offer an unlimited plan... but I don't have access to it. I'm not in the unlimited plan range. It's all bs. I can't stand it. I'm like 1 mile outside the DSL ISP. Maybe I'll just sell my house and move. It's all about money. | |
| | | |
| Forums » comments on review of Millenicom |
| »next review in page (previous review)
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)
|
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.
Followup comments: | Forums » comments on review of Millenicom |
| »next review in page (previous review)
 Review by caribconsult
UPDATED: 49 days ago
member for 6.7 years, 966 visits, last login: 1 days ago
Mayaguez,Mayaguez,PR
$69 per month
about 7 days
"Excellent deal, good tech support, portable"
"none so far."
"The best WBB deal around, a definite alternative to satellite"
| Pre Sales Information:
Install process:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings above consensus)
|
I was a disgruntled Hughes satellite user, and to make a long story short, I finally got out of my contract with no penalty, and they gave me a partial rebate for what I spent on gear.
After trying out Sprint to see if I had enough signal, which I did, I switched to Millenicom.. Millenicom's offer was almost $20 month less, with no contract, and they also used a better device, the Franklin CDU 680 USB modem. MC is a sprint reseller so they operate over sprint's infrastructure. If sprint works, they'll work.
They sent the package (modem and router) via Post Office Priority mail and it arrived in 4 days, and everything was up and running that afternoon, and within one or two afternoons of reconfiguring computers and devices on my existing equipment, all wireless systems were operational and everything was working nicely on my 3 station network. My setup has had so many different types of IP connections that getting rid of the old tweaking was half the job.
Even before I owned their product, I had several good conversations with their tech support people and I was impressed by their desire to make it happen for you, with no BS.
So the choice was clear. Millenicom also offers a good deal on a compatible router, the Assent Wireless MBR-400, and they charge $50 less for it than if you bought it retail. So when you add it all up, it's a very good package for the money, it works smoothly and it's far superior to satellite in every aspect. Three cheers for Millenicom, and let's hope they grow and don't lose their personal touch.
UPDATE 8/1/08: MCom has raised their fee to 59.99/mo, but it is still uncapped and still works nicely, and still no contract required. They've also opened up their service to users who have their own devices.
UPDATE 3/09/09 I recently changed my equipment from the CDU680/Assent MBR400 combination originally sold to me by MCom, to a Sierra 598U I purchased on EBay for $99, and a Cradlepoint CTR500A router.
The difference is huge, especially in staying connected. The new rig stays on for days at a time, and when it does disconnect, it reconnects automatically, often within seconds. I've never caught it "dead in the water," unlike the CDU/MBR setup, which would 'crash,' for lack of a better term, when I plugged in my grid antenna. The grid works perfectly with the new setup, yielding about 16db gain of its rated 18db. The Sierra also seems to discriminate better between competing antennas, locking in to just one active pilot at a time, again, unlike the CDU, which jumped around all over the place, showing as many as 4 active pilots at one time. Speeds are at least as good, perhaps 25% better, but overall useability is way up.
MCom's headquarters tech support was terrific in making this switchover. Without mentioning names, as is requested by the forum rules, I emailed to one of their support personnel and received a telephone call from that person, and we took it from there, easily. I don't know if they'll do it for new accounts, but I already had an account for a year. Well worth the expense of the Sierra and the Cradlepoint, which I might point out, is a better router and has a more complete interface than the Assent.
UPDATE 10/09. It's closing in on two years that I've been using Millenicom and I have to say I'm pretty satisfied, especially since changing my hardware rig as described above. I did move up to the new "really unlimited" account for another $10 a month. It's worth it to me to not have to worry about ridiculous overage charges or getting cut off. And since internet is my main source for watching Yankee games, it would be easy to burn up 5Gb in a month...one game takes about 600Mb or more.
There's NOTHING else to choose from up here in the mountains where we live. Forget about DSL or cable, and you can read my comments about Hughes above and on a separate review of HN. Were it not for MBB, it would be death by dial-up. In fact, I used to keep a dialup account for those times when my HN satellite went down and for remotely accessing client computers, since HN worked like crap for RA. That's been canceled as unnecessary, saving me another $20/month.
Dealing with Millenicom has been fairly easy. I can email one of their senior techs and he responds quickly enough. He made the switchover from the CDU to the Sierra painless. So overall I'd have to give MCom a B+, maybe even an A for me individually since I really have so few other choices.
Followup comments: | Forums » comments on review of Millenicom |
| »next review in page (previous review)
 Review by mc1lean
Posted: 56 days ago
member for 2 years, 44 visits, last login: 8 days ago
Lincolnton,Lincoln,NC
$70 per month
about 1 days
"Puts Sprint to shame"
"None so far"
"I'm happy!"
| Pre Sales Information:
Install process:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings above consensus)
|
Sprint threatened me so I moved, boy am I glad i did!
Followup comments: | Forums » comments on review of Millenicom |
| »next review in page (previous review)
Review by Robb0
UPDATED: 71 days ago
member for 71 days, 1 visits, last login: 63 days ago
Louisa,Louisa,VA
$69 per month
"Easy to install"
"Horrible, unreliable service, worst than dial-up."
"Not recommended, their service is complete BS."
| Pre Sales Information:
Install process:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings below consensus)
|
When I first got Millenicom, it was amazing, the speeds, the reliability was pretty good; then, their speeds started dropping drastically, I was getting kicked off every five minutes and at some points, couldn't even get on. I talked to Tech Support and they said "perhaps people were working on the towers," which is complete BS considering I have had Millenicom since the beginning of the year and it's progressively getting worst. I got Millenicom because unlimited data seemed pretty sweet and I thought it'd be an upgrade from Wildblue's crappy service but I was evidently dead wrong. Ever since they put in their "FAP," is when the service got at it's worst. Such a disappointment and not recommended.
Followup comments:
compuguybna
join:2009-06-17
Nashville, TN | NO CONTRACT You're also NOT on a contract either. If you dont like Millenicom, you should cancel it at the end of the month. | |
| | Robb0
join:2009-09-18 | Re: NO CONTRACT Thanks Cpt. Obvious. | |
| | | |
| Forums » comments on review of Millenicom |
| »next review in page (previous review)
 Review by OmegaWolf747
Posted: 94 days ago
member for 293 days, 151 visits, last login: 4 days ago
Royal Oak,Oakland,MI
$70 per month
about 20 days
"No contracts, pretty reasonable prices"
"Are at the mercy of upstream ISPs and sometimes must change the rules"
"Not ideal, but if you can't afford cable, it's better than dialup"
| Pre Sales Information:
Install process:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings match consensus)
|
I've been using Millenicom since May 2009. I started out on their Verizon service with the Pantech U175 modem for $59.99/month. It was pretty fast, although there were frequent disconnects. I liked it well enough until Verizon got stingy and ordered Millenicom to enforce first a ten, then 5 GB cap on our bandwidth usage.
Now I'm using their new unlimited $69.99/month service, which connects to T-Mobile via the Option Icon 452 modem. The speed compared to the Verizon is abysmal, with downloads as low as 1 - 3 kbps. However, it's a brand new service, so I'm hoping it will get faster as the bugs get worked out. Plus, it is unlimited!
So all in all, if you're on the road a lot, don't want to be burdened with a two-year contract or just can't afford cable or DSL, give Millenicom a try, but don't expect it to be as good as cable and DSL!
Followup comments: | Forums » comments on review of Millenicom |
| »next page (previous review)
Review by Giamesh
UPDATED: 107 days ago
member for 2.7 years, 8 visits, last login: 97 days ago
Radford,Radford,VA
$69 per month
"Good company, they provide quality technical support."
"Now including 5GB cap. Waiting to be put on unlimited service."
| Pre Sales Information:
Install process:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Services:
Value for money:
(ratings match consensus)
|
Unless I'm given what I signed on for to begin with (I don't like to worry about a 5gb cap - in my opinion is a ridiculous cap for some $60 a month) I'm going to cancel the service.
It was stated as "unlimited" when I had first signed up with the service, just as Verizon's dialup 2gb cap, this service had one at 5gb. Now this is common knowledge VIA email from Millenicom to all their subscribers.
EDIT:
Was put on Millenicom's Unlimited service using Franklin CDU 680, unfortunately I've been receiving only 20-25kbps and 1000+ millisecond latency. I've been informed this is because the immediate Sprint tower is being worked on, hopefully this will be resolved soon enough.
I honestly hope the bill H.R. 2902 Broadband Internet Fairness Act is successful into forcing more providers such as Verizon into providing a better excuse then "because we can" for bandwidth caps. The equipment is there to provide the bandwidth, use that massively inflated profit to provide us with something worth having.
EDIT:
Now on the Unlimited plan, it frequently drops to 1xRTT even when set for EVDO only, does not resume EVDO unless manually reconnecting.
Followup comments: | Forums » comments on review of Millenicom |
|
|
(13)
