Customer Reviews

Verizon Wireless v740 EVDO Rev A ExpressCard (Verizon Wireless)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Just got this today and installed on my 10.5.3 Macbook Pro computer. I just plugged the card in and the OS asked me if I wanted to activate the card. It went through about a 90 second process and activated it. It then promted me to install a port. I just typed in my Administrator password and 30 seconds later the card was working. NO reason to install the Verizon software at all. I just control it from the menu bar. Works great even in weak signal areas.

Have it installed on MacBook Pro on Mac OS 10.5.2. Works perfectly without any driver install. Fantastic speed.

I recently wrote an unfavorable review in Amazon for ATT Wireless service and the Sierra 881 Air Card. On my daily NJT train ride on the Morristown Line, that service and card combination were all but useless. I then switched to Verizon Wireless service and tried a 5750 PCMCIA card, which worked great on my commute (see my Amazon review for that card). But while shopping new laptops, I discovered that they DON'T COME WITH PC CARD SLOTS anymore... so here I was with a brand new, wonderful but obsolete card!

I went back to the store (within the 3 week trial period) and they cheerfully agreed to swap the 5750 for an Express card. I related some concerns I'd seen online about the Verizon Express card adaptor, but the rep assured me that any previous problems had been resolved. So I ordered the adapter online from Verizon (since they don't sell them in the store). When it arrived, I decided to try a KPC680 Express card. I had read a review saying that the KPC680 seemed to be the fastest and most sensitive card by a slight margin, but might have some stability problems with certain PCs. Well, the card WAS extremely fast in my Dell Latitude D610 - but using the Verizon adaptor, the VZAccess Manager software crashed and locked up the PC about every 5 minutes. Evidently, between the card, the adapter, VZAccess Manager software and the Venturi compression software that came with it, one (or more) of the 4 wasn't yet ready for prime time. I tried uninstalling the Venturi software since the icon on the system tray didn't work, but it didn't help.

If this were still AT&T, I'd have been out of luck; the rep at the AT&T store said that I was permitted only one swap during my 3-week trial. But the rep at the Verizon store said, "No problem... you can make as many swaps as you want!". So I swapped again, this time for a v740 Express card, which I've now been using happily for 2 weeks. Although the Venturi compression software still doesn't work right, it isn't really needed. The v740 card, Verizon Express Card adapter, and VZAccess Manager combination is rock solid. It seems as fast and as sensitive as the KPC680 - possibly even a tad faster than the 5750 PC card - but it never does anything wrong. I sometimes forget that I'm on wireless, and I don't even bother plugging into the LAN at my client's office anymore (at a major international bank in NYC). Between the Verizon Wireless network, the adapter, the v740 Express card, and the service I've experienced at the local Verizon store, I'm a happy camper.

I've had mine for a year. There were a few software glitches at first (I was one of the 1st Mac users), but those have been resolved. Current software and service is flawless. Before you buy, look at a local coverage map and make sure there is service where you plan to use it. Can't speak to using it on a train because I've never done that.

I'm a marketing rep and it's my only ISP; with it, I've got coverage in all the places I go. I have 3 bars at home, where I do most of my work, usually 1.2 mbps there. In Manhattan & Boston, it's faster. Even works in rural parts of Vermont on Extended coverage; it's feels like dialup there, but if I have to get an email out or enter data and there's no nearby hot spot, it still works.

Did not get the USB card because what was available last year was so wide it would have blocked the power port.

I like that it's less obtrusive than the USB cards or a tethered phone, and I can talk and do data, because the phone isn't tied up. On the Mac, it's on the left, so it doesn't interfere with mousing. I'm single, and if I just want to get out of my apartment at night, I can go to any restaurant/coffee shop to do my paperwork, not just hotspot.

If you found this post, you probably don't need to hear this, but for noobs... Very important re: the service, there is a strict 5GB/month limit on all new contracts. VZW BB is not a good choice for multi-person access (ie, families), or for anyone who plans to do a lot of uploading or downloading of large files. File sharing (P2P) is strictly forbidden; when detected, VZW will slow down your service. Also, it's slower and more expensive than cable or FIOS. This is best thought of as a supplemental service for people who need to work away from a desk.

3/29/09 Update: It still works great, although as a primary ISP, there are now many choices with faster service and no data caps. However, Verizon's Northeast coverage is only getting better. As of December, my family's log cabin on a dirt road on top of a mountain in central Vermont has 4 bars of RevA coverage. I've switched my phone to ATT for the iPhone, but won't consider dropping VWZ data until ATT has tethering and stable 3G everywhere I go.

If you're shopping for the V740, you already know it's a small wireless card for your laptop that lets you access the internet from just about anywhere; in a car/bus/hotel/campsite/etc,etc., that it's small and light-weight, that it's an improvement over the V640, since it uses the faster Verizon Wireless protocol Rev. A.
It has nice features like an external antenna connector, multi-color LED status light, and it's lighter and smaller than other cards.
I had been looking around at specials in my local electronics stores (the 'City', the place to 'Buy', etc), and they had specials that were cheaper than the Verizon Wireless website, which was around $129. In-store specials were $99/no activation, etc.
I ALMOST bought one in-store, and decided to wait till my next paycheck. Luckily, I stumbled on the V740 on Amazon for..... A PENNY! Same deal as everyone else about the 2 year agreement, just like all cell phone service providers, but the card itself is basically FREE!

I have been testing the Verizon Wireless v740 for about two weeks with my MacBook Pro. So far the speed tests are fairly unimpressive - with barely a 600k connection (I know that's fast but not what I was thinking of when I think "near broadband")

My testing included:

A trip from New Haven to Grand Central on Metro North -- I performed about two dozen speed tests and all of them were within strong signal range -- my connection speeds were within the 600k to 800k range with some bursts up to 1.1mb but only when I'd look out the window and see a cell tower right nearby me.

Within my house the signal is maybe 1 bar of coverage and I'm pulling around 300-500k.

In my office with pretty solid coverage I test out at 600k

In browsing around I'm not sold that for this money that I'm getting the fastest coverage. If you're in an area of the country that only had Verizon - you're probably ok with their service.

For me I'm going to try another carrier and see if I can get a more reliable speed.

I originally gave this product one star because I was getting 90kbps downloads and 7 kbps uploads. After a call to tech support, they walked me through the process of reinitializing the modem and reactivating/reinstalling it. This sped things up again, but, over time or when I travel, I seem to have to repeat this process a lot to keep a decent speed.

Verizon has extremely bad coverage between Newark train station,NJ and New York pen station -NY. I got this service to use it in train but it's so bad between this two station that you might as well not try.

Also it does not switch from national access to Rev-A (3G) automatically even when I have 3G coverage. I have to redial. My conclusion: This service is not mature enough. Don't frustrate yourself over this. I am cancelling my service since I am stil under trial period.

I've own a Verizon data card for over a year now and the connection speed is becoming extremely slow. I tested everywhere including in house, on the road, airport etc. The avg download is about 400K and upload 140K. These are significantly slower than what I was promised at the store and the results of my tests when I first bought it (800K/400K).

I called Verizon. The tech support guy was very rude and basically said this speed is normal and "broadband". He also tried to come up with excuses such as you are indoor although he had to agree that my signal strength was good. He also said as long as you could connect, you couldn't argue because there was no promise of the speed on the contract. (So basically even if your speed was 1K, they wouldn't see a problem with it.)

My conclusion, I will never use Verizon again.

Elsewhere on Amazon I was just giving Verizon props for the enhancements in their Broadband service lately, but now I'm going to have to smack them around a bit.

My first problem with Verizon happened a few weeks ago when my old V640 crashed, that was the 3rd Expresscard to die on me since Feb. 07'. When I went to the Verizon store for a replacement, I was politely told that "We have no replacements in the field or the warehouse, and we cant tell you how long the wait will be." My ONLY option to keep my service alive..."We can upgrade you to a new "Rev A" card which is much faster for only $50, but you have to extend your contract 2 years."

I took the deal with the caveat that I had 30 days to return the thing and cancel my contract. Thats what I did today.

There is no difference in speed between the V640 and 740 "Rev A" card. Download speed will max at 1Mps and average around 600K all the way down to 28k. Shame on Verizon for a) lying to their customers and b) for not having any warranty replacements available for the crappy product they already have in the field. My record clearly showed that was the 3rd 640 that had "gone purple" as they say, but my only option was to upgrade and extend my contract. What BS!!!!!!!!!

Screw you Verizon, you have made and enemy and soon an AT&T client out of me. Thanks.