iPad Wifi+4G

[msavwah]

Went through with my plan for full coverage on a wifi only model.

Got Clear with a Clear Spot (Cradlepoint+USB Modem)

Here is the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.


No restrictions on apps, as with the ATT 3G plan, this is a big plus
No contract, or 2yr option if you want to lease the hardware
Use 8 wifi devices
Clear Spot (mobile wifi router) has a rechargeable, replaceable $29 battery
Clear Spot is pocketable in size (like the Sprint Overdrive), car and home chargeable. Very portable.
$40 per month, unlimited
Not getting the "up to 6mbps 4G" here, more like 1.5mbps 3G avg
Coverage is a bit spotty in my area, did some driving around and testing in areas. Overall I had coverage everywhere I stopped at, but did get my Pandora stream dropped a few times while driving.
No real GPS like with a 3G iPad, but is a good reference like the original iPhone was. Just no comparison with real time iPhone3G(s) and iPad 3G GPS
Gotta buy or lease more hardware, though very portable


So the big advantages are no restrictions on app use (this has become a huge factor for me), and being able to share the plan with a total of 8 wifi devices for $10 more per month.

Still testing for a week before I make a decision on keeping or not.

Anyone else doing this, post your results

 

[alphaod]

I have a Nokia N900 with JoikuSpot; then I just shared my T-Mobile 3G connection. It's $30 a month and is month-to-month. The phone is unlocked, so if I go traveling I can put in a local SIM and do the same thing.

Of course the iPad 3G by itself is much easier as there are less devices to carry (that's not say I won't carry all 3 anyways).

 

[jfyrfytr25]

Doin the same thing. I have had my iPad for a few weeks, but just got the clear this weekend. I am in Chicago and have noticed some spotty coverage as well. But just like you, I am going to test it for the next week and make a decision.

There are pros and cons to both, but I don't like the black stip on the 3G. I have had bad luck in the past with apple and their plastic/aluminum offerings.
For example the 1st iPhone had the plastic strip and the one I had squeaked like crazy. You could really hear the plastic rub against the metal.

Let me know how your test goes.

 

[barefeats]

I'm getting consistent 5Mbps downloads on the iPad connected to the Clear Spot with occasional 6Mbps. Our town has a strong Clear 4G signal. What is wild is that when I connect the 4G USB modem direct to the MacBook Pro, I get 9.5Mbps downloads!

The Clear Spot is faster than the Sprint 4G Overdrive but the Clear Spot is bigger, heavier with a shorter battery life rating.

On the other hand, the Clear Spot supprts up to 8 devices at a monthly cost of $40/mo. That's $5 per device per month.

The AT&T 3G coverage is abysmal in our town. That's why I chose the WiFi only iPad and a 4G mobile hotspot.

 

[msavwah]

Today I cancelled my Clear service and returned the Clearspot and 4G USB modem.
I still think it's the best deal for this concept but after a few days of testing here are my reasons.

In my area I wasn't getting good speeds, and coverage was spotty.
Also, while the gps on the wifi only is surprisingly good, it's only as good as a reliable connection. Which I just wasn't getting from Clear.

So I have a deal with a local apple store to exchange my month old wifi only iPad for a 3G model. Just waiting for it to be ready for pickup.
I also need the money I got back from Clear to cover my iPad upgrade.

For me, in my area AT&T 3G is more reliable, and I want the better gps of the 3G model. iPad is the best in vehicle gps!

I flip flopped on this almost every 15 mins for the past 5days but after the apple store folks offered me an exchange/upgrade way outside of their 14 day return policy it became a no brainer for me.


Now in the future, when Clear has deployed more towers in my area I just may sign back up instead of using the 3G with AT&T. For now though, I'm getting the 3G iPad and really excited about it.

 

[barefeats]

That is a great deal if you have good at&t 3G coverage. And like you say, you can cancel the 3G service when a better 4G option comes.