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Try these sites for better information on telecommunications standards - Wiki is not the last name in standards:

ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards)

Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) (American standards)

There is no "3G part of CDMA2000" - 3G is a GSMA standard and applies CDMA over a GSM network. What type of CDMA network they use over GSM depends on the standards applicable in different parts of the world. N America has opted for EVDO over GSM for their 3G networks. This does not mean that EVDO is a 3G standard - it is a standalone CDMA standard which may be used by itself or as part of a 3G standard.

However, WCDMA adopted by the ETSI is not a standalone CDMA standard - you cannot have a standalone WCDMA network and it will always be the CDMA component of a 3G network.

Okk okk.. it may not be 3Gee. But its hell of a lot faster than CDMA 1x AND EDGE. Thats the point I wanted to bring out.

Here (Malad, Bombay) situation is different MTNL EDGE works better then MTNL's CDMA 1x (Garuda) and Reliance / TATA.

Actual speeds is around 90 - 180 kbps with EDGE, better then CDMA 1x.


BTW Airtel's 125 Rs plan is superb, did not know about that.

Since I work in 3G/4G, I hope I can clarify some things.


EVDO operates on the same 1.25MHz spectrum used for CDMA 1x. You dont need separate spectrum. So if a operator has CDMA 1x license, he can add EVDO functionality to the same 1.25MHz spectrum.

The average speed for EVDO is much better than 3G UMTS (non HSDPA). This is what the U.S market has really experienced.

So if the EVDO coverage is good, there is nothing better than it until 3G UMTS with HSDPA support arrives (EVDO too has Rev A, B and C which have mind blogging speeds). But this has to do a lot with spectrum licensing, new investment etc.,

World over though even the CDMA operators are moving towards 4G that is evolved from GSM (called LTE). So it certainly is curtains for CDMA/EVDO. This is why Reliance is damn serious about GSM.

Folks,

Thanks for the all the information chucked. I have bought a CDMA2000 IX EV-DO. The connection speeds for the last 6 hours have been fantastic. It has not disconnected itself yet. Its much faster that what I thought it would have been. You can't watch youtube videos (unless you wait for all of it to download first. But it downloaded an email attachment of 7MB in no time. :)
Well, I read up quite a lot on Reliance customer service and decided against it. I wasnt greatly impressed as a CDMA customer in Gurgaon in 2003-05. But again this is MO. For me Reliance was a no-no.

The initial impressions about BSNL are really positive. Customer service is not exemlar but it is very good. I was expecting a bad office, worse customer contact point, worst advise. But I was wrong. They have changed for good. clap:

The downside may be that it may not work well in interior parts of Kerala where CDMA exchanges do not exist. I have taken the GPRS nos as well, from them to be on the safe side. Thats not going to quick but if I leave my laptop to do its job, it should help me stay in touch with the team.

Thanks guys for everything including the "funda"mentals ;-)

BH.

Hi,
Can someone provide me a link to the Airtel Rs 125 plan. Also is it possible to transfer an EVDO connection from one circle to another ?

Eventually, it will be possible to xfer. But the timelines are unknown. Given the steps BSNL has taken in the past, this should be sooner than later.

BH.

BurningHeart, Great going!! Please pen down a detailed review for our benefit, including how you went about purchasing the stuff and what are the tariffs. All this is a bit hazy to me because not much info is available and there is a lot of confusion about BSNL EVDO.

Steeroid : Can you please more info regarding Airtel Rs.125 plan ?

I am planning to purchase a Wireless Intenet connection for my laptop. I am confused between Tata Indicom & Reliance Connect.

Please recommend which is better? The difference is Indicom provides a USB Modem for Internet connectivity whereas Reliance a data card.

The tarrif plans seem almost the same. Existing users share your experience.

Reliance also provides usb modem. I have been using Reliance Net Connect for long using mobile handset. The experience is OK. Works fast most of the time but sometimes its frustratingly slow.
But never used tata's.

I have used Reliance USB for a long time. Connectivity is good. And the speed is also OK. Better than GPRS connection on Airtel. I would recommend Reliance. But be aware that customer service is very bad. :Frustrati

I am using TATA V-Data card. Connectivity is always good. Speed I am getting in Bangalore is around 80 kbps, where the network density is high.

I'm using Tata Indicom V-Data card, connectivity is mostly good, download speed ~14-15 KBPS, translates to ~120kbps... sufficient for web browsing, emails and occasional small downloads in my opinion.

I have been using Reliance Data card(USB).
Its okay - okay. Not as good as a Broadband connection, But fulfil my requirements when I am on move.

Cheers