PontificNation

The gallery below shows what the future 'G' firmware for the WiFiRanger is likely to add.

Most exciting part is the potential support for high-powered 'drone' antenna that will allow for even greater range to WiFi access points.

To learn more about this great router, check out my WiFiRanger Router Review

IMAGE GALLERY

• Main Control Panel Re-Orged for cleaner view. One click buttons for every backhaul. Main Control Panel Re-Orged for cleaner view. One click buttons for every backhaul.
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• Redundancy tab allows setting preferred failover order and email to send alerts to. Redundancy tab allows setting preferred failover order and email to send alerts to.
• Preferences Tab allows better control over boot process, ranges, and browser re-directs. Preferences Tab allows better control over boot process, ranges, and browser re-directs.
• Drone Tab has settings for WAN connected drone and link to Drone Administration page Drone Tab has settings for WAN connected drone and link to Drone Administration page
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The folks at WiFiRanger have made available their 12v kit that consists of a special cigarette lighter adapter capable of putting out 5v DC @ 2amps along with a special USB cable that has proper DC jack to plug into back of router. Also included in the kit is a 3ft USB cable for RVers who want to position their USB modem in a window for better cellular reception. The kit sells for $24.95 on their site.

(FYI, because the cigarette lighter adapter puts out 2amps, it should be able to charge pretty much anything that uses 5volts, including power hungry iPads)

Just discovered a very cool iOS app that can simultaneously display cellular coverage for four major USA carriers at the same time.

It work's great on iPad, iPod Touch and iPhone and requires iOS 4.2 or higher.

Future versions are likely to include 4G coverage, and there may be a version for Android devices.

For more information, check out the developer's website at technomadia.com

(click image for larger view in new window)

WiFiRanger is a new player in the mobile broadband router business, and their first product has only been out about a month.

The WiFiRanger is unique in that along with being a Cable/DSL, 3G and 4G mobile broadband router, it can also serve as a WiFi repeater.

Roadwarriors like those in the RV community will appreciate that they no longer need multiple pieces of technology to connect to all the internet sources they can encounter on the open road, and that a single piece of hardware will now let them network their computers with minimal fuss.

Check out my full hands on WiFiRanger Router Review for more information.

Want to save $20 on your WiFiRange purchase?
use alexsian as a coupon code during checkout!

(02/20/11 -- unfortunately, my coupon code is no longer valid)

UPDATE: as of 01/31/2011, a Mac OS X version of VZAccess Manager is available for the Verizon 4G Pantech UML290.

Mac users with a UML290 can download VZAM at: http://vzam.net/download/supported.aspx

A user named willzzz on howardforums recently posted this information:

If you want to use the UML290 on the Mac/Linux/UNIX/other-platforms you can now do so if you have the engineering knowledge or a little know-how:
Quick Notes: Verizon 4G LTE uses the GSM APN authentication method through a GGSN (similar to AT&T) and 3G (1X/EVDO) traditional uses the HA CDMA method. The old CDMA authentication method has been posted years before so I won't repost that.
You WILL NOT GET SUPPORT UNTIL THE OFFICIAL VZACCESS Software comes out on the Mac.


4G LTE GSM General Device Settings-
Phone Number: PhoneNumber
Account name: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Password: vzw

Advanced Settings-
Carrier: Generic
Model: GPRS (GSM/3G)
APN: vzwinternet
CID: 1

Click OK, then connect and enjoy.

So on the Mac connection manager (generic apple), make a profile for your UML290 hardware, should be a modem. Make a GSM connection profile with the above. Phone number is your data-stick phone number (fake phone number, used for system identification, get it from VZAccess or your account page online). Account name is " This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ". (Basically add @vzw4g.com to your phonenumber. Password is "vzw", same as 3g CDMA. In GSM/3G/4G carrier use generic (no special parameters). Model is GPRS (GSM/3G, same as 4G). GSM APN is "vzwinternet". CID is 1 if your drivers need it.

FYI: here's a speedtest in North Dallas from indoor location with my desktop Mac Pro:

As a diehard Mac user, I just had to try and make Verizon's new 4G USB UML290 modem work with my MacBook Pro... but I only got close.
I started with the modem fresh from the Verizon store, which I presumed was not activated in any way.
Inserting it into my MBP caused a popup alert that a new network interface option was available. That was a good sign!
Unfortunately, nothing I tried could get the modem to activate or connect, so I went on to activate it in windows vista.
After I was sure the UML290 was working in Vista, I brought the modem back to my MBP, but it still would not connect.
Then, I downloaded the latest VZAM for the latest pantech modem to have Mac support: the UMW190.
Installing VZAM for the UMW190 got me closer since that version of VZAM does appear to install drivers for UML290 and will recognize it as a device, presenting the user with a "Connect" button in VZAM.

Sadly, thats as far as I got. Each attempt to connect fails. I had hoped it would at least connect to 3G... nope.
My MBP is running SL 10.6.4 and I'll try again after updating to 10.6.5 and even rolling back to 10.5

This morning, Verizon had a conference call and tweet session to announce launch details for their new "built from the ground up" 4G network.

Initial pricing and devices:

-- 5gb for $50/month
-- 10gb for $80/month
-- $10/GB overage for either

These plans are the same as recent 3G data plan changes for MiFi, but there do not appear to be any 'no-contract' options.

VZW will have Pantech USB modem available on Sunday, December 5th, only at Verizon stores.
The LG 4G modem comes soon after and other brands/models coming later.

Both the Pantech and LG will cost $99.99 after $50 MIR, on 2-year contracts (no-contract options don't exist yet)

The 4G modems ARE going to be 3G backwards compatible.

In my opinion, this backwards compatibility explains why current 3G USB modems were excluded from earlier 3G data plan announcements.

VZW reinforced that they have the necessary spectrum to provide coast-to-coast coverage with their new 4G network.

They consider their new 4G network to be highly complementary to their existing 3G network.

Customers should expect 5 to 10mb downloads and 2 to 5mb uploads, representing what they call "up to ten times" the performance of their 3G network. 4G latency should be "about half" of what their 3G customers currently experience, and they claim it will feel more like wired service.

The session focused mostly on dedicated data service, but some info did come out about voice service on LTE.

They plan on having the first LTE phones by end of first half of 2011, and will provide simultaneous voice and data by pushing voice over 3G.

Planned improvements over time do NOT include faster maximum speeds... it sounds like they plan on offering "up to 10mbs" download for the time being.

iOS 4.2 Software Update is now available and brings all-new features to your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. To upgrade your device, just connect it via USB cable to your computer which should trigger a check for updated software. Note: Apple's update servers are under heavy load as this post was being made, so be patient.

iOS 4.2 lets you do even more with the world’s most advanced mobile operating system.

Multitasking on iPad iOS 4.2 brings multitasking from iPhone and iPod touch to iPad. So you can be more productive as you work, have more fun as you play, or do a little of both. Everything happens smoothly and efficiently — without slowing down the performance of the foreground app or draining the battery unnecessarily.

Folders on iPad Now your iPad has more room for more apps. Move apps into folders with drag-and-drop simplicity to declutter your Home screens and keep your apps organized for fast access to your favorites.

AirPrint makes it simple to print email, photos, web pages, and documents right from your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. A few taps is all it takes to go from viewing it onscreen to holding a printed copy. There’s no software to download, no drivers to install, and no cables to connect.

AirPlay lets you stream digital media wirelessly from your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch to your Apple TV and AirPlay-enabled speakers. So you can watch movies and photos on your widescreen TV and play music through the best speakers in the house.

Find My iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch — the MobileMe feature that helps you locate your missing device and protect its data — is now free on any iPhone 4, iPad, or fourth-generation iPod touch running iOS 4.2.3 Once you set it up, you can find your lost device on a map, display a message on its screen, remotely set a passcode lock, and initiate a remote wipe to delete your data. And if you eventually find your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, you can restore everything from your last backup.

For complete details on Apple's iOS, visit apple.com/ios

The FCC recently published their "Mobile Broadband Spectrum Forecast" (pdf) that explains how providing additional spectrum over the next 5 years will help to avoid over $100 Billion in expenses that would mostly be incurred by cellular carriers, but ultimately paid for by consumers.

The paper put out by the FCC reveals (or reinforces) lots of details about the projected growth of Mobile Broadband data use, such as:

• making new spectrum available has historically taken between six and thirteen years
• mobile data growth trends are expected to continue beyond the near-term forecast
• there is identified need for timely action to free spectrum for mobile broadband
• mobile data demand will outstrip available wireless capacity in the near-term
• subscriptions to mobile data services increased by 40%
• average data consumed by phones increased 450% between Q1-2009 and Q2-2010: 44mb to 202mb
• 42% of consumers are estimated to own a smartphone, up from 16% in 2007
• Blackberry consumes twice the amount of data monthly as a normal mobile handset
• iPhone consumes five times the data monthly as Blackberry
• Aircards consume five times more data monthly than the iPhone
• Aircard users consume 1.4 GB per month -- 56 times the amount of data used by a regular cell phone
• AT&T has seen mobile network traffic increase 5,000% since becoming exclusive US carrier of the iPhone in 2007
• Users of Clear 4G WiMAX service consume 7 GB per month -- 280 times the amount of data used by a regular cell phone
• 3 different reports state mobile data demand is expected to grow between 25 and 50 times current levels within 5 years
• an estimated 99.6% of the population now has cellular wireless access
• in 2009, there were a total of 245,912 cell towers in the US
• estimate of the average cost of a cell-ste is $550,000
• releasing 275 MHz of spectrum saves $120 billion in capital expenses to accommodate mobile data demand

If you want a better understanding of how the FCC views the growth of Mobile Broadband data consumption over the next five years, make sure you download the file and read the entire 27 page report.