mikeb33

Here's where I am now. I just got an Incredible and I have 3 other lines for my Wife and kids. I also have a card in my laptop for on the road. My bill is $300 a month. We have 1400 minutes, unlimited text and etc. They get me $30 for my "data plan" and $10 for my daughter because she got an Env Touch, though she uses no data.
Anyway now my Wife wants a smart phone too. That's another $30 a month.
If I return the Incredible and jump to Sprint, it looks like my bill would be about $200. And I am not sure, but perhaps if I add a smart phone for the wife, they won't charge extra monthly?
Also I thought I could use my phone to connect the laptop to the web, but I need this to work well. Is it reliable? I mostly am in the NW suburbs of Chicago.

Opinions please?

CoachEVO

Let me try and help. I have 5 lines with sprint. Two of those lines are smartphones (Palm Pre and EVO). The other 3 are "regular" phones. My plan is everything family data and my bill is $202.00 per month. Service in NW chicago 'burbs is fine for me. I've been with them for 10 years and outside of the first two years, have not had a problem at all. Basement problem? Get an airrave. I hope that helps.

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rushmore

You forgot about the card you are using. That will be another $60. Sprint coverage is much weaker than Verizon in KY, OH, TN and WV, so I will stick with Verizon. If you tether, you can get rid or cut in half the card charge.

mikeb33

Right, my plan was to ditch the air card when I get an EVO, but does this work well?

What is an "airrave"?

Sketchr

I've found this to be an excellent review on signal strength of the 4 major carriers in larger cities/suburbs. Type in your zip code, choose a carrier and select signal. It's very accurate in my experience.

Root Wireless - CNET Reviews

Last edited by Sketchr; June 14th, 2010 at 09:10 PM.

thekarens

We have 3 lines that are all smart phones. We have 1500 shared minuntes and unlimited text and messaging. With one of those smart phones being the Evo our bill is $159 before taxes and corporate discount. I'm considering picking up an Evo for my partner and son which would raise the bill to $179 for the 3 of us.

I live in Houston so the coverage is good including 4g (at least in the area I live)

sikclown

I ditched my air card when I got my Evo and it works brilliantly when I am out in the field with my laptop. Downfall in comparison to a dedicated card is you are running off the battery but keep an extra battery around. Also if you are in a 3G area you will get some dropped connection when someone calls you. An Airave is a device from Sprint ($5 per month but I have heard people get that fee waved because the reception is awful in their house) which connects to your broadband and significantly increases your signal indoors (often from 0 to 1 bars to 5).

jamesdean

PDAnet works perfectly for a one time cost of about $20.00. No need for your aircard with any Droid OS on any carrier. Not sure about the airrave.

dave01978

I have seen good coverage in most of the chicagoland area, tethering ive had no problems, heck if you get the evo, you can root it, and download the free tethering and works great in 3g, and 4g if your not on the phone, (even on 4g it gets pretty bad with upload on a phone call)

But for the price I cant really complain to much, on a everything share plan, thats correct there is no extra charges for a phone (except the evo)

Dave

mikeb33

You guys just about have me sold!
Verizon has "family locator". With 2 teenagers, it is very helpful and reassuring. Does Sprint have anything like it or is there an app?

sikclown

Yes Sprint has a Family Locator service as well. They charge for it though and I have no idea on the price though. I use Mobile Defense on my Evo which is an app that locates your phone as well as allows you to lock it in case of theft or lose which is free but only for Android.

carmendiva

Hi. I have an airave box. It basically enhances your wireless signal and pretty much gives you a perfect signal. I had to get one for my Verizon account which they call a network extender.
It connects to your broadband interconnect connection. You may not need the box though. Or get sprint and if you do need it complain to sprint about your service and complain about how you are considering going back to Verizon and they will probably comp the price of an airave box. It cost 99 bucks and has a five dollar charge but its so worth it. Especially if you don't live in a metropolitan area

Sent from Carmen's HTC Evo

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thaboyz

I know this is off topic but I live in the north west suburbs too...Schaumburg to be exact

mikeb33

Not off topic for me. How is your Sprint coverage around here?

dave01978

I was tethering there with a good 4g signal last week in the target parking lot (in schaumburg) I drive alot

CoachEVO

I don't use the Airrave with the EVO, but again...the price for 5 phones is worth it for me.

thaboyz

I don't have Sprint yet. Still waiting for Radio Shack to get my Evo. Gonna port my number over from AT&T. After I get my Evo I'll let you know how the coverage is for me.

Since I don't have Sprint yet how is it out here? My sister use to work for Best Buy Mobile and said that the Chicago land area has some of the best 4G coverage because Clear is so popular out here.

mikeb33

Just got back form the Sprint Store and got 4 phones. 2 EVOs for the Wife and myself and 2 Samsung Moments for my teenagers. The Moments are Android phones with keyboards(they text ALOT). On the way home, I dropped my Incredible at Fed Ex for return to Verizon. I wonder how long before they start calling...

BetterMost

Do It I did the exact same thing Inc to Evo, Downers Grove here.

wase4711

Burr Ridge area here; Sprint coverage is wonderful in Chicagoland,you wont need a airrave box; I can use my phone in my CRAWL SPACE and get a perfect signal!
Dumped 3 Incredibles for 3 EVO's and couldn't be happier!

Blubble

Here's a nice comparison of the two phones.

HTC Droid Incredible (VZW) vs Evo 4G (Sprint) - Dogfight Pt 1

HTC Droid Incredible (VZW) vs Evo 4G (Sprint) - Dogfight Pt 2!

GaryColeman

Wait a few months to see if HTC works out the issues with the Evo.

ImmaSlave4U

Yes they do. Sprint Family Locator works well. I believe it is $5 a month, but you get a 15-day free trial.

I hope you enjoy your EVO and new Sprint service. Remember Sprint has a TOTALLY free guarantee: Sprint Free Guarantee

EdwardChen

I live in schaumburg and work downtown, I haven't had any issues with my reception, I even use the 4g on the metra to and from work with problem. I used sprint's tethering and that was great too, at least while it's free. I'm not rooted, but might do that later on.

Last edited by EdwardChen; June 18th, 2010 at 11:52 AM. Reason: spelling.