USB Modems and coverage for chasing

Brandon, that's not true. I wish it were. Fifty dollars is the price that Verizon quotes for 3G on their site, but if you own a USB 760 and sign up for Verizon's 3G plan, they'll charge you $59.99 a month. I know because I just reactivated my my modem earlier this month, and that's the rate I was given. I went to the Verizon store to reactivate, and I queried the salesperson about the rate at the time because I knew that V's website showed $50 monthly, but the USB 760 falls outside that rate.

To be sure, just before posting this response, I called the Verizon store again. At first, the salesperson quoted me the $50 monthly 3G rate for 5 gigs that you've mentioned, and I was getting all set to be happy. But when he probed a little deeper, he confirmed that the rate applied to 3G Mifi. With my 760 USB modem, they're charging more. They're trying to push everyone to go 4G.

Bottom line: If you purchase your own 3G modem for a Verizon month-to-month plan, make sure you know what you're paying. The Verizon rep may give you incorrect information, not because he/she is trying to hoodwink you, but because they're not aware of the company's rate for older modems.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
While it is true that you'll pay $59.99/mo. (rather than $50.00/mo.) through Verizon when using a 3G modem, I just don't see it as a big deal in the scheme of a season's chase expenses. Honestly, with how wireless companies work these days, I'm just thankful they offer a no-contract option with an activation fee of "only" $35.00. Sprint does not offer month-to-month service at all, while Millenicom's incarnation of VZW service requires a much heftier start-up cost that involves both a higher activation fee and required modem purchase.

As far as I can tell, at this point in time, the sole advantage of using Millenicom for VZW service is the 20 GB cap you can get through the "Advanced" plan (if there are any devices remaining). However, if you're planning to use service for only the spring chase months, consider the extra cost: a $49.99 activation fee, as well as a $114.99 required modem purchase. Spread out over four months (assuming you'll keep the service active March-June, like me), this brings your "effective rate" to about $100/mo. With Verizon, including their activation fee and assuming you buy a used modem for $30, your "effective rate" would be more like $75/mo.

I'm not dogging Millenicom at all; in fact, I used their Sprint service in 2010-2011 and was completely satisfied with the service and their customer support. I just want to make sure everyone is aware that (a) Verizon *does* offer month-to-month, no-contract service if you bring your own device, and (b) perfectly-good USB modems (including the USB760 itself) are available on eBay for $20-30, which is much cheaper than what Millenicom will get you for. If you don't think you'll come close to the 5 GB cap, Verizon's plan is definitely the more budget-friendly choice. If you stream a ton or otherwise need that 20 GB cap, then the Millenicom Advanced Plan may be the better choice, assuming it's still being offered.

With that said, if you actually want a device that works on the Sprint footprint for some reason, Millenicom is certainly the way to go.
 
Brandon, that's not true. I wish it were. Fifty dollars is the price that Verizon quotes for 3G on their site, but if you own a USB 760 and sign up for Verizon's 3G plan, they'll charge you $59.99 a month. I know because I just reactivated my my modem earlier this month, and that's the rate I was given. I went to the Verizon store to reactivate, and I queried the salesperson about the rate at the time because I knew that V's website showed $50 monthly, but the USB 760 falls outside that rate.

To be sure, just before posting this response, I called the Verizon store again. At first, the salesperson quoted me the $50 monthly 3G rate for 5 gigs that you've mentioned, and I was getting all set to be happy. But when he probed a little deeper, he confirmed that the rate applied to 3G Mifi. With my 760 USB modem, they're charging more. They're trying to push everyone to go 4G.

Bottom line: If you purchase your own 3G modem for a Verizon month-to-month plan, make sure you know what you're paying. The Verizon rep may give you incorrect information, not because he/she is trying to hoodwink you, but because they're not aware of the company's rate for older modems.

Sounds like a solid reason to get a Mifi and a wireless amp IMO ;)
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I just want to make sure everyone is aware that (a) Verizon *does* offer month-to-month, no-contract service if you bring your own device, and (b) perfectly-good USB modems (including the USB760 itself) are available on eBay for $20-30, which is much cheaper than what Millenicom will get you for. If you don't think you'll come close to the 5 GB cap, Verizon's plan is definitely the more budget-friendly choice. If you stream a ton or otherwise need that 20 GB cap, then the Millenicom Advanced Plan may be the better choice, assuming it's still being offered.

I agree. Moreover, here's another thing to consider: Verizon allows you to freeze your account for two 90-day periods each year, which amounts to half a year. If they still offer that provision next year, then assuming they've got 4G hammered out to where it provides the coverage needed for chasing, I will consider going with a 2-year contract. I just want to see how things evolve with their data plan, given that these companies are notorious for switching things around. Otherwise, practically speaking, while I don't want to pay for data when I don't need it, I do use data for at least half a year.
 
I just went in to the Verizon store to get my USB760 updated with newer coverage information, being I have had issues with that in the beginning of seasons passed. The sales rep was dead set on getting me to upgrade to a new 4g device (without antenna ports) and claimed that you couldn't update the usb760's coverage info. I have finished out my contract with the 760 and would like to just go month by month at this point, but they wont update the 760 for me, and on Monday, it seemed to have issues finding towers in east central Illinois. I just had a guy at Verizon in Norman do that for me last year. Anybody else know anything about that? I may try going to a different Verizon store in a bit and see if I can get a sales rep that actually gives a about customer service.

EDIT: I would also like to add that I was able to get 3g data and Radarscope updates just fine on my Verizon iPhone while my internet was dropping, leading me to believe that something must not be right if my 760 hooked up to a max signal amp is randomly dropping and not able to come back on until restarting vzw access manager and pulling and replugging the modem a few times. When it does come back, it goes from absolutely ZERO service to full bars.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Back
Top