Sz480 & 3g?

I just ordered the SZ480 with the WAN activated but I'm concerned that it looks like I get EDGE support but no "broadband connect"... am I reading this right? What is the speed difference between EDGE and Broadband Connect? Anyone? Bueller?

Jerz

 

The Sony's come preconfigured with EDGE support. The only really good reason why is because EDGE is far more prevelent than 3G at this time. However as 3G is backwards compatable, so even that is not a real excuse.

3G is significantly faster than EDGE. Here are some speeds for you.
From slowet to fastest. Everything is backwards compatable.
G-GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) AKA 2G
E- EDGE (Enhance Data rates for GSM Evolution) AKA 2.75 G
U-UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecomunication System)
3G-3rd Generation
HSDPA- Is the FULL implementation of 3G
UMTS and 3G are the same thing.

GPRS is capable of 80Kbps down and 20-40Kbps up.
EDGE is capable of around 236Kbps

When full (Category 9 implementation) HSDPA (High-Speed Download Packet Access) is available (whenever) Cingular claims it will be capable of top speeds of 10.2Mbps. Right now users are seeing about 400-700Kbps on average via UMTS.

 

Excellent... thanks! Well I guess 236 isn't all *that* bad since I only seem to be getting around 244 tethering from my ppc6700 (evdo) and I guess the advanage of cingular compared to my Sprint that I have now is that Cingular data is pretty much available everywhere here in the Southeast whereas data service from sprint seems very limited to the major metropolitan area here. Hmm... just wish they would have done the UMTS in the laptop instead of capping it at EDGE; doesn't make sense to me.

Jerz

 

It really makes no sense as I said earlier. There is a pretty pervasive rumor that Sony is finalizing its own 3G internal card which will replace Cingular's and Sprint's. I THINK that this Sony card is supposed to be compatable across the spectrum of networks. You would still need that networks data plan. Anyway, that is the rumor.

You can buy the Siera Wireless Aircard now for the Cingular spectrum. It is 3G and slides in your computer. But again, for a tech envelope pushing computer that has WAN, EDGE was a strange decision.

 

236kbps may be the theoretical maximum but in the real world you will never receive those speeds. I used EDGE for quite a few years when traveling and my average dl speed was ~120kbps with the highest being around 180kbps. Also you need to factor in the latency which can exceed 1000ms. If HSDPA is available and you have a good signal you should expect average dl in the 800 - 1000kbps range with latency in the 200ms range. This is a major difference!

 

Yes, 236 is the max, actually the max is much higher, but with the hardware provided and the network configured as is, 236 is the max supportable. I get 180 bluetooth tethering my SZ so I have no doubts that using the onboard WAN would be faster. I have seen one person WAN it in a remote region in Southern California and they were pulling what I thought to be a very impressive 220. Believe me when I say we were remote (of course that could be why the data transfer was so good. The tower may not have been handling much data). I will have to try my 30 day trial one day and actually note speeds, but I would expect high 100's CONSISTANTLY. Here is hoping for 3G SOON!

 

Oh well... and here I thought that this one had it all... I suspect that the internal wan is hardwired to the mobo some how so probably no chance of an upgrade huh? It'd be nice if it actually was a card in the side that was upgradeable, oh well strange decision on Sony's part indeed.

Jerz

 

I have the external Cingular 3G card and it's great. Sony Ericsson is releasing their 3G card this year, so I'd definitely expect that to be built-in on future laptops.

 

Anything new on this card?

I'd like to buy one and jerk this cingular wireless card out putting an evdo one in its place.