While there's certainly plenty to love about HTC's
EVO 4G, that 4G in the title is certainly one of the major draws. We're guessing it'll be a little easier to sell the things if customers can experience the wonders of WiMAX for themselves, so that's probably why RadioShack is (according to our tipster) installing these Clearwire WiMAX repeaters in at least some of its stores ahead of the
May 30 June 4 launch of the phone there. This will effectively turn The Shack into 4G hotspots and, while we're not sure of the range of these bad boys, this is a good thing even if it extends the reach of WiMAX just a few feet further into our lives. Another picture after the break.
Update: Oops, the phone is of course
launching on June 4. It's 4G that's going live in this tipster's home city on May 30.
[Thanks, Markus]
posted May 22nd 2010 8:14AM
"May 30 launch"
Uhh... You mean June 4, right?
@BadWolfCubed
second that. Is radio shack getting it before everyone else? If so I know it's only 5 days, but they're also giving a $50 credit for accessories. Damn I shoulda preordered thru radio shack instead of best buy!
@BadWolfCubed
That's the first thing that caught my eye - unless they know something we don't?? Leak or mistake? Spill the beans, Engadget.
@P00kienrayray
I think it's $20 credit, not $50. Am I wrong?
@whySoSerious its 20 for sure i asked when i pre-ordered yesterday
This is to insure 4g works great inside the store.
"Hey look how fast that is!"
walks down the street.
"HEY WTF!"
Clearwire = unreliable
Don't get me wrong I was very anxious to jump on this band wagon, but it really performs like crap.
@glamajamma Clear is spotty, but not really unreliable if your in signal reach its pretty reliable. I live in a Suburb near Chicago and we get about a 4-5 Mbps download rate and its pretty fast. I know in the City if your really close to a damn clear, people are getting 20+ Mbps download rates. We have a Shack store that is actually right underneath a tower with Clear signal and they get in the 30's, so its good if you have signal but once you start moving around yea Clear has got spotty signal but when your in signal its pretty reliable.
@glamajamma
Your logic is absolute.
Sweet there is a radio shack a 1/4 mile away. though it probably wont reach my house. It is right next to a grocery store. It will be nice when i go get groceries with my wife. I can at least get online while we shop for an hour!
moar 4g plz
I looooove that "CLI" port... Looks so sweet...
In Japan I've been hearing that WiMAX beams doesn't bounce and penetrate well, so it's felt like hotspots placed outsides. Combinations with well-spreading CDMA network won't be too bad, though.
That's great and all but when is DETROIT getting WiMax? We're not even on the "to do" list yet.
For those of you in Detroit, join the facebook petition:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Petition-for-WiMax-in-Detroit/111869985523322?v=info
@roxics
lol, dont' be silly. You guys can't afford your houses; why would spring think you could afford WIMAX? :p
@everyone does
When we say Detroit around here we mean metro Detroit. The area as a whole may be going through some tough times, but we're not some third world country like everyone outside of the area seems to think. We're also beginning to rebound. Plus there are Sprint stores everywhere around here.
@everyone does
"DETROIT WHAT"
I've got one question, May 30th? If that's the case, I'm glad I got my deposit there
Radio Shack doing something right for a change?
I used to sell the 2nd generation of cell phones at Radio Shack when I was in college (think: startac, sanyo, the first days of Sprint PCS). Considering there was barely any reception in our store (in a mall), sometimes those were some tough freakin' sales to make. This should mislead, err... entice consumers just enough to make the EVO an easy sell even in 3G-only areas.
PS. The RS pre-order deal goes until 5/31... that doesn't make sense if they're selling EVO's on the 30th... and since that's Memorial Day, it'll be at least June 1 until anything happens. Of course that's probably a typo and June 4 is likely still the date... although it's weird they would pick a Friday, no?
Isn't Sprint considering the jump to LTE?
What if they do drop WiMax for LTE, wouldn't that make the radios in the EVO not be able to communicate at 4G speed??? Or are the radios compatible (and just need an update of some sort?
@Hazdaz
Sprint is not talking about replacing WiMax with LTE but rather leaving the possibility of using LTE as a compliment to WiMax. That is if it makes sense for them to to at some point. If they can keep up the rapid pace of WiMax installations then they may not need to bother with LTE.
@Hazdaz
By the time Sprint (may) do anything with LTE, I'll be eligible for a phone upgrade and then some.
Honestly, I'm surprised that Sprint or some other provider doesn't just give away repeaters free with contracts - and offer like a 5% monthly discount for people who have them operational more than 90% of the month. If AT&T is any indication, keeping a network going is hard - just help us help you!
@awesomerobot
You obviously have no clue on how much these cost
@nwhat
...I wonder how much electricity they use.
Is there much advantage with one other these things over normal Wifi with a decent broadband connection (range, speed etc.), or is it just to show people how good it is in practice in the store?
And if that is the case, why are so many people saying they would kill their own grandmother to have one in their house? :)
There is only one reason they are doing this: they want to be sure that the 4G reception in their stores is amazing to help sell the Evo to people who will want to see how fast it is before they buy. Since 4G coverage is somewhat limited or at least weak in cities where it has launched, they are worried that that they will be stuck with weak 4G or, worse, 3G when demoing the phone.
and if I need a repeater to make Sprint's 4g work in my home..
how the hell good is it?
you GOT TO BE KIDDING ME
You're gonna con people into thinking this crap works by putting a repeater in the store?
I have a question since everyone here seems (or at least likes to think) to know everything. In theory, would 3g speeds be better in 4g areas since there is less of a strain on the 3g networks?
Don't forget that all Walmart stores are supposedly getting 4G towers.
@greatpix I was just going to ask about this. Has there been any more rumors or info? I think this could be one of the most ingenious ideas the wireless industry has seen in awhile. The hardest part of new towers is the land deals and all that accompanies building the towers. Signing 1 deal that would give access to thousands of locations would go a long way in rolling out 4g everywhere. Especially since so many are in non-metro areas.
@greatpix
"An interesting rumor making the rounds suggests that Sprint may be leveraging the distribution of Walmart’s 4,200 retail stores to expand its WiMAX footprint. According to the unconfirmed rumor, Sprint would place a WiMAX tower at Walmart locations across the U.S. as a means of easily and inexpensively deploying new towers. "
RUMOR
Can someone tell me what cities 4g will be in when the evo launch? I'm in seattle and I heard we're covered with it up here
@mrcodyd Yeah I'm pretty sure Seattle has 4G right now as I speak lol
Does anyone know if there are any plans for wimax in places like Dothan,AL,Montgomery,AL,Fontana,CA,Salinas,CA,Newark,NJ or Mahwah,NJ?
I have a question about wimax coverage, I looked on clear's website to see if there was anything around my area, and there really wasn't, except a few places around me (a couple of country clubs and some golf courses) were green (which looks like it means clear coverage) does that mean that there is some kind of limited wimax coverage there? Or is it something different?
I keep seeing the word "repeater" thrown around. I really dont think this is a repeater but rather a pico cell. It would make sense, a repeater wont have anything to repeat if the area of the store doesnt already have a wimax signal in the area. Having a pico cell would allow the stores to demo 4G before an area has coverage. Also the fact that the pic shows it having an ethernet port makes me think pico cell as well. this thing is likely generating its own wimax signal and dumping all the data to a broadband connection in the store. since wimax, atleast the way sprint is using it doesnt carry voice, these things really are nothing more than a glorified wifi access point.
@d0ug also for the size of the thing, and the heatsink that thing has, it must be pumping out some serious RF power, im pretty sure the range is going to extend well beyond the store
This would be awesome if: Radio Shack was getting these and they put out a 4G signal, not repeated it. Because if they actually established a 4G signal then it could put out the signal to the community around it if it was strong enough. I think this would be a great idea
I am curious to see how this all works out as it is very exciting.
We use WiMAX at work and while they say it doesn't, weather does affect signal. It also needs clear line of site. Outside of that it is great, we have a 10mb connection that normally runs slightly above that rate. It is slightly more laggy than our ethernet internet service and our backup T1s, but it is cheaper per month and they can have it all running in 48 hours verse 30-60 days for new telco installs.
I can't see this working well in buildings though. Maybe the repeaters help a lot.
I have one of these (in my stores warehouse). We are north of Chicago. Only thing is, ours isn't plugged in yet. Wait to see