subject: Sierra Wireless Aircard 313u Lte Modem Review [print this page] In the past, we needed to find a WiFi hotspot, like at a coffee shop or airport, in order to get our laptop onto the Internet while we were out on the road. The USB Internet sticks changed that, but they didnt provide the kinds of speeds we grew accustomed to having through more conventional Internet access points. So there comes LTE Modem.
Rogers Wireless recently launched its LTE network in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, and Ottawa, It is said that gives you speeds that even faster than what you have ever before. I had the opportunity to try out the only Rogers LTE device (AT&T in the USA) at the moment the Sierra Wireless AirCard 313U mobile broadband modem and this is what I found. I would like to share you that wonderful LTE Modem.
The AirCard 313U is one of the first LTE (4G technology) USB modems from Sierra Wireless. The device offers the highest possible mobile broadband speeds of up to 100Mbps download and 50Mbps upload.
The AirCard 313U is fully backwards compatible with all previous 3G and 2G mobile broadband technologies including: Dual Carrier HSPA+, HSPA, UMTS, EDGE and GRPS. Its also a 3G tri-band device making it ideal for international travel. The 313U has swivel USB adapter which can bend the modem to the most usable position.
The AirCard is available independently and from the following mobile network operators:
AT&T USB Connect Momentum 4G
Rogers - LTE Rocket Stick
Bell - 4G LTE Sierra Wireless 313U Turbo Stick
If the 313U is supplied by a network operator then it will be locked to that network. You can go there to get the AirCard 313u unlocked.
Unlocking a modem enables it to accept a SIM card from different network operators, which means expensive roaming rates can be avoided when travelling and the best data deals purchased.
To get a sense of the speeds I could get, I tried using the card in a few locations around Vancouver and Burnaby, testing the speeds with Speedtest.net. The speeds ranged considerably, even varying a fair bit when I was in the same physical location by tested against a different data center. Speeds in Burnaby (a suburb just next to Vancouver) ranged from 14Mbps to 18Mbps downstream. Looking at the coverage maps, I should have still been within the LTE network area.
However, getting into Vancouver itself, even when I was a good 7km or more away from the downtown core, I immediately saw results north of 25Mbps. One of the best tests I achieved clocked in at 43.42Mbps downstream and an astounding 13.49Mbps upstream, including an impressive 42ms ping. That was with connecting to the Burnaby server. From the same physical location connecting to the Vancouver and Calgary servers, I got 25.00Mbps and 13.21Mbps, respectively.
Needless to say, your mileage will vary greatly, even from the same physical location, using nearly identical circumstances. To be fair, I never got lower than about 13Mbps, which is still faster than many residential ADSL/cable Internet plans.
Now, this LTE Modem is promotion on 4glteway.com, everyone buys it will get a free gift, do not hesitate to buy one if you need. Enjoy your shopping here.