Followup from a reader on my article Sharing Internet Connectivity - Easy On A Mac.
Hi Steve,
Just read your article on Mobile wireless access through Sprint, and I wanted to be sure about something.
We moved into the country, away from DSL, and so far I've only been able to find satellite internet access that can't even be hooked up until April!
So, you're saying that I can hook up my Macs using Sprint (I'm supposedly in a coverage area)? If so, how is the speed? DSL-Like? And could I hook up my iMac desktop without using the laptop, or would I have to put the Sprint card in the laptop and then use internet sharing with the desktop?
Thanks for your help and your website!
Bill Harris
Bill:
If your Macs are already networked...
You can get a Sprint Broadband modem (mine is the Sierra Wireless 595U, connects via USB), hook it up to one of the Macs (that you're prepared to leave on all the time) and then turn on Internet sharing. With the USB modem, the unit that's going to be doing the sharing doesn't have to be a laptop.
Then that Mac is on the Internet, and it serves as a "router" for all the other Macs on the network. The "network" can be the built-in Wi-Fi (AirPort).
Speed, at least for me, is "DSL-ish" - sometimes slower, sometimes as good as DSL. Overall. Most of the time. Your mileage may vary.
Keep in mind that the Sprint Broadband Modem is a RADIO. It works best when it's as up and in the clear as possible. It might well work best if you can put it up in a window using a USB extension cable.
<snip>
Thanks,
Steve
(and one more round...)
Thanks for the quick response, Steve!
If I understand your answer, it means I don't even need my Airport unit? I have it anyway, so it should work one way or the other.
In any case, "DSL-ish" is probably a lot better than satellite speeds, especially at the premium satellite price.
<snip>
Bill
Bill:
You don't "need" the AirPort, but if you put it in a good location in your house, it will probably perform better overall than "sharing" Wi-Fi from your iMac.
In that case, connect the AirPort Ethernet cable to your iMac, and set the sharing to share From the Sprint modem, To Ethernet. You might want to set the Airport to turn off the Network Address Translation functions so you don't have both the iMac and the AirPort handing out (different) network addresses. You need the Mac to be doing so, since it's the primary router in this setup, so the AirPort doing so is redundant.
Thanks,
Steve
Insure that you're within 1xEV-DO Rev. A coverage! One key thing that I neglected to mention to Bill in our initial email exchange (I followed up via email) is that the "DSL-ish" speeds are only when you're within coverage of 1xEV-DO Rev. A portions of Sprint's network. All of Sprint's network provides the older, slower (dialup-ish speeds) 1xRTT service, but only portions of Sprint's network offer 1xEV-DO Rev. A. It's not enough to merely have "Sprint coverage".
By Steve Stroh
Fine Print / Boilerplate / Acknowledgements / Credits / FAQs
(Last updated 2008-02-25)
This article is Copyright © 2008 by Steve Stroh except for specifically-marked excerpts. Excerpts and links are expressly permitted (and encouraged).
This article was written and posted via Broadband Wireless Internet Access (BWIA); Clearwire service using a NextNet Wireless / Motorola Expedience Residential Service Unit (RSU).
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