Sprint Overdrive 3G/4G mobile hotspot shipping (good/bad)

wdswong · 4G Newbie Joined: 21 Jul 2007 Posts: 4 Location: Seattle

The good news is that the Sprint Overdrive 3G/4G mobile hotspot is shipping, (think MiFi but with 4G capabilities if available). Additionally, Sprint is having a promotion where the 3G/4G data plan is just $59.99/mo (w/2yr contract) that includes 5GB of 3G AND unlimited 4G. (Basically same as the just 3G plan so you're getting 4G for "free".

The bad news is that I just bought one and it reports that it connects to 4G but will not work nor allow you to web browse -at least in the Seattle area which is one of the 4G supported areas. Sprint repair informed me that it is a "known problem" with the device with no estimated fix timeframe and no standard communication channel for alerting users when it'll be fixed. (sigh)

jamus · 4G Fledgling Joined: 24 Oct 2006 Posts: 20

wdswong · 4G Newbie Joined: 21 Jul 2007 Posts: 4 Location: Seattle

Update: Sprint came out with a firmware update 1.06 that finally allowed my OverDrive to start connecting to 4G -however it was extremely slow, something like 50% of the speed of connecting via 3G (EVDO revA). This feels like the same issue that connecting iPhones/Ipod Touches are exhibiting (reported elsewhere on this forum by the 3GStore guys -who are great!). Then at the very end of February Sprint issued another firmware update to 1.07 that seems to have improved the performace somewhat (espcially with the iPhone slowness issue) but I am still not seeing purported 10x over 3G speeds.

For now, it is at least usable (and 3G seems to work just fine) and I still have some hope that Sierra and Sprint are promising more firmware updates to address what they are at least admitting are "known issues".