Internet Access

Internet Summaries

I recently installed a Verizon PC/ Mac Wireless Internet access modem, the USB720. This is an EXCELLENT option for Internet access, if you are within range of a Verizon cell-phone tower.

  Notes

Cap = 5 Gig/ month
If exceeded, account canceled.
Min. MAC = OS10.3.9

The USB-720 comes with a special, dual USB cable and CD ROM software called "Verizon Access Manager".
The USB cable has TWO USB connectors at the computer end.
The use of this cable is not required, UNLESS
A. There is not enough clearance to plug the USB modem directly into your computer (G4, my case), OR
B. You are in a fringe reception area, and you require extra power for a reliable connection - in this case,
BOTH must be plugged into 2 USB ports, to double the power supplied to 1 Amp.
I had to use the cable for BOTH reasons A and B.

For PC or Mac (OS 10.3.9 minimum)
"If your Verizon cell phone works at the location, so will the USB720 Modem."
An optional high-performance antenna is available for $20, which is not stocked, and must be mailed.
The USB Modem is manufactured by Novatel, who also supplies a very similar device to ATT, and to Sprint.
It features the latest EVDO high-speed technology, also known as "Rev. A"
The unit is $100 retail, but currently a $50 rebate is offered, resulting in a $50 equipment charge.

Review:
Setup was straightforward, and only took me a few hours with no help.
I am getting 1.5 Mbps peak download speeds, and 147 kbps upload speeds.
This Internet option is FAST, and is very reliable during my first month of usage. Bye-bye satellite access.

Conclusion: This is an EXCELLENT option for broadband Internet access. You may want to consider it. Try a Verizon cell phone at the location first, to verify coverage by a nearby Verizon cell-phone tower.
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THE 4 MAIN SCREENS OF THE
USB720 VERIZON ACCESS MANAGER Software for Macintosh -
1. Networks Screen - VC Access Manager Networks, Signal Strength Meter
2. Statistics Screen - Real time graph of last 30 seconds traffic
3. Usage Screen - Your traffic summary for the month
4. Support Screen - Help Topics, Verizon Wireless Products, Contact
Here is a screen shot of "Verizon Real Time Stats" in action.

VZAccess Manager Screen Shots Using Macintosh OS 10.3.9

1. Networks Screen - VC Access Manager Network, Signal Strength Meter. The single BroadbandAccess option is automatically selected, with the "4-bar" signal-strength gauge on the right. The screenshot shows a signal strength of 1 bar. Three bars equals approx. -85dbm, 2 bars equals approx. -90dbm, and 1 bar equals approx. -95dbm. One bar works just fine.






2. Statistics Screen - Real time graph of the last 25 seconds of traffic. The above graph was screen shot about 15 seconds after a Google request made with the Firefox browser. The data comes from the right, and slowly move out of sight to the left, after about 25 seconds.






3. Usage Screen - Your traffic summary for the month (5 days for me). There was a little problem initially (30 minutes?), until I got "Activated". There has not been a single problem since.
Screen 3 needs to be wider, so I don't have to widen the "Received" column width to see the "MB", every time I summon the screen. I speculate the boss didn't give the programmer the info that the first field would be soooo wide (NationalAccess - BroadbandAccess), resulting in all the other columns getting "squinched". This micro-window-size philosophy only exists at M$ - a carryover from the early days, that M$ users must still deal with today. Drives us Mac users crazy. In the Mac world, you can make any window as big as you want, and it REMEMBERS THE SIZE, unless it is an application ported from M$ by an M$ immersed programmer. C'mon, for most people, you have 1,000 pixels horizontally - what's the squinching all about? Ultra conservative mentality? What are you trying to save? RAM limited? I don't get it. Why force the user to resize columns to observe the data within? Poor usability, from my point of view. Unwieldiness.






4. Support Screen - Help Topics, Verizon Wireless Products, Contact

A. Clicking on "Help Topics" produces the following choices -
Browse VZAccess Manager Help
Getting Started
Using the VZAccess Manager
Connecting to the Internet
Solving Problems
Glossary
TM / SM / Legal



B. Clicking on "Verizon Wireless Products" produces this screen -

5. Verizon Products - Descriptions and links to the "BroadbandAccess" and "NationalAccess" services, referring to the Broadband Access and National Access products.



C. Clicking on "Contact Us" opens an email to wirelessdata at verizonwireless.com

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DISCLAIMER . . .
This Verizon Wireless USB720 Review is entirely the work of the author.
I do not have any relationship with Verizon, other than being a customer.
I hope there are no errors.

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