If speed thrills, this is the connection for you
Some stories just can't wait. Especially when it comes to something that works as billed. In this case, it's the new 4G LTE wireless modem from Verizon Wireless.
4G stands for "fourth generation," and LTE is short for "long-term evolution." It's becoming the global standard for delivering wireless Internet connectivity.
If you need (or crave) lightning-fast connections, even when working far from your favorite Wi-Fi hot spot, you should consider getting this device. It isn't cheap, and it doesn't work with Apple computers (yet), but the trade-off is bandwidth comparable -- and in some cases better than -- a high-speed cable connection.
It delivers an Internet connection to only one computer at a time. I've been testing the LG VL600 on a Dell Vostro 1220 laptop for the past few days and I'm impressed. The computer has bugs in its teeth in the broad grin it has from zipping across the World Wide Web, watching streaming video with zero buffering or glitches and uploading photos and video in seconds.
The modem is one of two available for mobile computing. Verizon also has a Pantech model with similar specifications. Each has a no-contract price of $249.99. The price drops to $99.99, after rebate, with a two-year service contract.
Data plans are $50 for 5 gigabytes of use, or $80 for 10 GB, with a $10 per GB overage charge. This is where it can get expensive, as I used more than 1 GB in a single day of watching a streaming movie at Netflix, listening to a couple of hours of music on Pandora and tuning in to a live presidential press conference via The Associated Press video network on www.reviewjournal.com.
I also sent a couple of dozen e-mails, surfed to about 30 sites and kept the machine and modem running for about eight hours. If I kept up this type of use my overage would be about 15 or 20 GB. You can do the math.
The good news is that you get what you pay for. The 4G speed leaves the Verizon 3G wireless modem eating dust. Verizon claims speeds up to 10 times faster than 3G.
I ran several speed checks at the independent testing site speedtest.net, and saw download speeds between 12 megabits per second to 17 mbps. Upload speeds were between 3 mbps and 7 mbps.
This equates to downloading a typical music file in three seconds; a short video clip in 17 seconds and a full-length movie in about six minutes. Uploading an 8 MB photo file will take 10 seconds and a 42 MB video clip will take 42 seconds.
While Verizon officials won't go on the record about what's next for the 4G LTE product line, I'm hoping the company delivers a mobile hot spot that allows multiple devices to share the connection.
I'm also hoping for a 4G Apple iPhone soon. Stay tuned.
You can see more about the Verizon 4G LTE modems, including coverage maps, at www.verizonwireless.com/4Glte.
Share your Internet story with me at agibes@reviewjournal.com.
TIP OF THE WEEK
More about the Verizon 4G LTE modem
I’ve written a couple of blog posts about the Verizon’s entree into the next generation with the modems. I plan to post at least one more at the end of my month-long test, as I’ll let you know how much data I transferred via the 4G LTE modem. The VZAccessManager software used to control the connection shows nearby free Wi-Fi access points available to Verizon data plan customers. This will dramatically reduce the data flowing across the 4G network. But will it be as fast?
