Broadband Question. What is the difference in these cards.

Kevin Palmer · Sep 23, 2005

Looking at two cards. I am seeing no difference other than the price and the fact that one has a flip up antenna. I have called Verizon and they say everything matches up and can not explain the price difference.

Any input would be appreciated...

Card 1). PC5220 Data PC Card Verizon Wireless Broadband

Card 2). Novatel V620 EVDO Broadband access air card - Verizon

Russ Hughes · Sep 23, 2005

Have googled them?

I just copied and pasted your two posted descriptions into google and came up with a large list of responses. These responses included user comments and reviews.

Fer Echegaray · Sep 23, 2005

I found this while surfing:

As per most reviews, the V620 is a solid card, the external antenna is a great option. Roughly it gets 200-700k connects. (20-70KB/s downloads).

Uploads, are roughly 128kbit maximum no matter what.

The novatel is roughly 10KB/s upload max.

However, the PC5220 can push that to 12-15KB/s.

The average downloads are faster on the Kyocera card, then the PC5220, however the uploading is faster on the PC5220.

NOW,

This doesn't speak of the Novatel card, as of the new version of VZAccess with the new drivers the Novatel card hasn't been really tested too much.

I've seen with a few customers a dramatic difference, and I do mean dramatic.

I had customers with 70% signal strength that couldn't connect, now with 25% signal strength it gets a solid Broadband Connection.

Which makes the Novatel card superior in the 'sticks' where the signal strength is less then 40%

However, if you're trying to compare all of Verizon's cards, I would suggest an Sierra Wireless 580.

It's an older card, yes. However it's rock solid, and overall a better card.

The V620 does have SMS ability, and can use QNC, but ...

if you have a V620 you more then likely don't care for those things.

Now that's alot of information to digest that's all rambled together,

If this helps you choose your purchase great.

P.S. you can't use a broadband card as national access only in a broadband market. So that 59.99 1X Only wont' work in a BB market, with a BB card.

I won't get into why, it just won't.

Kevin Palmer · Sep 23, 2005

Did a fair amount or research and not seeing the real difference. Verizon does not have a build date listed for them so we can not tell if it is a matte of this years model vs. last years model.

Both cards are EDVO which means they Broadband and National Coverage.