We set out to test Sprints 1xRTT network using a Novatel Merlin C201 PC Card and an Audiovox Corp. PPC-6601 Pocket PC. But we werent able to get the C201 working during tests, so we connected to Sprints 1xRTT service solely through the Bluetooth radio of the Audiovox Pocket PC/phone device.
Click here to read the full review of Sprints 1xRTT service.
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We set out to test Sprints 1xRTT network using a Novatel Merlin C201 PC Card and an Audiovox Corp. PPC-6601 Pocket PC. But we werent able to get the C201 working during tests, so we connected to Sprints 1xRTT service solely through the Bluetooth radio of the Audiovox Pocket PC/phone device.
Sprint sells the C201 for $180 and PPC-6601 for $630.
We found it easy to establish a Bluetooth connection between our notebook and our test Pocket PC device. However, the Audiovox Pocket PC tended to end its connection to Sprints network prematurely, leaving our notebook still linked to the device via Bluetooth, but without Internet connectivity. To re-establish connectivity, we had to disconnect and then reconnect the dial-up link on our test notebook.
During testing, we happened upon the devices WModem application, which is run when users want to employ the Audiovox device as a wireless modem. However, we didnt notice a difference in maintaining a link while using this undocumented application.
Using the PPC-6601 to access Sprints 1xRTT network, we experienced an average downstream transfer rate of 149K bps and an average ping latency of 665 ms. This placed Sprints 1xRTT service second to AT&Ts UMTS among the networks we tested. However, the 1xRTT service is available in many more places than is UMTS, giving it a significant leg up. Sprints pricing is comparable: $80 per month for unlimited-access 1xRTT service.
Senior Analyst Jason Brooks can be reached at [email protected].