It’s been a little more than a year since I signed up for Clear Wireless Internet. When I first started using Clear, I was constantly on the road with my laptop, Starbucks and McDonald’s didn’t have free internet for everyone, and I didn’t have a smart phone to use while out and about (I actually did have a Blackberry Curve, but compared to iPhone/Android the internet browsing is terrible).
When I first started using Clear 4G Internet, I absolutely loved it. You can read my initial Clear Wireless Internet review. Since my needs have changed, and I am not traveling all over Dallas and Fort Worth using Clear 4G Internet, my tune has changed quite a bit. Leah has always hated Clear because the when we were on the road, the connection kept dropping. I understand that they now have a plan that offers 4g+3g, but it is a little more expensive (still much more cost effective than Verizon). If I were a road warrior again, I would absolutely use that combo setup.
Since Clear Internet has been putting up new towers everywhere and making advancements, I figured it was time to reevaluate what I think about clear.
Clear Wireless Internet Is Great For Road Warriors
With the 4g+3g combo pack, the annoying dead spot that used to light my wife up are not handled by the 3g coverage. The 4g is clearly faster than other mobile internet except Verizon (which is pricey if you’re using it a lot) and the 3g works in a bind. If you’re always on the road using your laptop or netbook, Clear Internet is an excellent option.
Clear Internet Is Not An Ideal Home Internet Option
While visiting my mom over the Christmas holiday, I realized how much I miss FIOS. Wired internet is just way faster and more consistent. To write this article, I hit up Speedtest to see if Clear’s claims of 3-6Mbps with bursts of 10+Mbps was accurate. First test, 5+Mbps with a 1Mbps upload. I ran about 15 tests using the USB. Then my wife started running tests using the desktop and the home unit.
We were seriously disappointed. She was getting speeds between 1-3Mbps, and I was getting 2-4Mbps with bursts of 5Mbps! The upload speed was 1Mbps almost every single time. After the disappointing results, it made me realize something: I’d rather spend my money on a FIOS, Cable, or maybe DSL connection and get an Android phone for mobile internet use. With Starbucks, McDonald’s, and a dozen other places offering free internet, Clear just isn’t necessary for most people.
**Speed update: Ran new Speedtests this morning. The USB card hit as high as 6.79Mbps which I’m very pleased with. Never saw bursts over 7Mbps. The lack of consistency is my primary issue with Clear.
For home use, it is too slow for consistently using VOIP or for playing video games online. It also bogs down if you have too many family members using the same Clear internet connect. At the end of the day, I’m still happy that I’ve had Clear 4g Wireless Internet for the last year. It is extremely cost effective and fast enough for the majority of online activities, but if they aren’t able to work out the consistency issues (which is tricky for all wireless applications, not just Clear), I’ll probably at least get a home internet line even if I keep my Clear 4g Wireless Internet connect.
Image Credit: Clear Wireless Internet News
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January 15th, 2011 at 2:02 AM
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