I have been traveling with my AT&T 3G card for a while now and it is always a horrible experience when I travel to LA, NY, Chicago and DC. It works fine when I am in my home city, connects every time and the speed is ok (but not close to 3G speed). But I was just in NY again and could not even get data when using it.
Below are two screen shots of my signal and the data-plus-time online. It would connect but I could not get to the Internet. This happened all over NY this week which meant I had to pay for the hotel's Internet since my 3G card would not reliably work. I even went into a store for help and the "kid" there told me that it's my computer and that I needed to buy a new one like a netbook. Since I can connect at home, the computer couldn't be the problem.
As you can see from the images, after 12 minutes I barely received any data in downtown NY even with a good signal. The funny thing was, my iPhone had no problem. I was able to get on the Internet and get my e-mail with it.
So what does this say about the data service from AT&T compared to, say, a competitor like Verizon? I hope Verizon is better as I am about to try it next. I am hoping that AT&T will let me out of my contract, refund my monthly fee and also pay for the Internet service I bought at hotels when the 3G card didn't work.
What do you think the chances are AT&T will help me out?
Larry Chaffin Ph.D is the Chief Executive Officer/Chairman and founder of Pluto Networks, a Consulting and VAR partner specializing in WAN Acceleration, VoIP, WLAN, Telepresence and Security and a Riverbed reseller. Pluto Networks specializes in the needs of small, large and enterprise companies by always giving them a great ROI on the products they sell. Pluto Networks has a presence in 23 countries around the world enabling all of its consultants to be virtual. Larry was a Judge at Interop for the Best of Interop Awards for 2009 and is looking forward to the 2010 awards in Las Vegas.
Larry has also co-authored all of the books listed below:
Managing Cisco Secure Networks, Skype Me, Practical VOIP Security, Configuring Check Point NGX VPN-1/Firewall-1,Configuring Juniper Networks NetScreen & SSG Firewalls,Essential Computer Security: Everyone's Guide to Email, Internet, and Wireless Security, How to Cheat at Microsoft Vista Administration, Microsoft Vista for IT Security Professionals, Asterisk Hacking, 2008 VoIP and Video Conferencing, Infosecurity 2008 Threat Analysis and author of Building a VOIP Network with Nortel's MS5100, along with co-authoring/ghost writing eleven other technology books for VIOP, WLAN, security and optical technologies. Larry is currently working on a follow up to Building a VoIP network with Nortel's MCS 5100 Book as well as new books on Cisco Telepresence Networks, Practical VoIP case studies and WAN Acceleration with Riverbed.
Larry also has more than 29 vendor certifications and has been working on many others. Larry has been a principal architect around the world in 22 countries for many Fortune 100 companies designing VoIP, security, wireless and optical networks. He has expanded over time also to include application acceleration. Larry is working with worldwide company now out of Asia as a Special Assistant to the CEO and CIO as they go through organizational and network changes, helping them with strategic advice from his years or experience. Pluto Networks is a channel partner of Cisco, ProCurve, LifeSize, Riverbed, Call Copy, Fastsoft and Symantec.
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Boston & Sprint, too
Interestingly enough i'm experiencing the same in Boston with my sprint card at this very moment.
The Mongolian Idiot is no better
Can you hear me know...Can you hear me know...Verizon's retarded looking mascot signal tester lost the signal when he came to my home town to test the weak signal on my wife cell phone when we complained about the poor quality service. I can assure you that Verizon did hear me now.
My wife's 2-year contract was cancelled at my request and no cancellation fees were charged. Verizon was reluctant but could not deny the obvious. They still kept sending flyers claiming they had the best coverage for us….some lies never change.
Chances of AT&T helping me out.
Slim.
And none.
laff
What do you think the chances are AT&T will help me out?
If they think you're a regular joe without a widely read column? Somewhere in the neighborhood of 0.
Possible PC Configuration Issue
Larry, although we all love to blame the carrier (in this case AT&T), since you were able to establish a connection and send/receive email with your iPhone (from the same location) without any difficulties, the problem appears to have been correctly diagnosed by the "kid" in the AT&T Store as being within your PC.
Although I do NOT agree with the "kids" advice that you purchase a new PC or Netbook to "correct" the problem (the "kid" must have been in sales), I would strongly encourage you to call AT&T's technical support hotline the next time you experience this type of problem and they will be happy to help you connect to their network.
Thats not the problem
Worked fine in NC, SC, GA, OH, IN and NV. But IL, NY. So if it works in those areas and then has issues when I was just in NY as you can see, it is the network not a computer problem.
Blame it on the hardware: an all-time escape goat
Blame it on the hardware: an all-time escape goat excessively used by failed software and networking vendors. One thing I should have mentioned earlier in regard to the Mongolian Idiot comment above is this: During the period that my wife was complaining about Verizon poor quality service, she (and I behind her) had spend hours on the phone, at the Mall kiosks and even with their direct outlets tech-wizards to >troubleshoot the problem<.
It sound unbelievable but they have replaced 4 times the cell phone and 3 or 4 times replaced the batteries to those cell phone. We did not give up. I managed to corner them on the networks issue. That is when they send their Mongolian Idiot to perform his >can you hear him now?< stunt. Verizon did not take long to capitulate after that.
I agree 100% with Mr. Chaffin, it is the Network that is failing. Just like I had pointed out to Verizon times and again months before they capitulated.
Your chances of a refund from AT&T?
Somewhere between fat and slim.
In between?
Maybe it's the card? Or is AT&T doing some sort of shaping / QOS that prefers iPhones to their other devices? Seems odd, but your own description of the events means it can't be the network. Doubtful that it's your computer since it doesn't have the radio built-in. So maybe a different model of air card would work best.
We got a map for that
You seen the "we got a map for that" ads? Looks impressive. Though wireless coverage isn't perfect for any carrier in every place, pick the one that works where you go!
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