With Sprint XOHM now offering three WiMAX modems, questions are surfacing about which one they should invest in. All three are in different formats - there's the Zyxel Home Modem, SWC-e100 ExpressCard, and their latest offering, the ZTE Tu25 USB dongle - and each one offers different benefits. We have tested all three and compiled some vital data that can help you make your decision.
Our pick for BEST XOHM Modem: The Zyxel Home Modem
Of the three modems, the Zyxel gave us the highest speeds and its powerful internal antennas increased the range from which we could access the network. Three initial tests in Chicago showed average download speeds of 4.5Mbps (faster than XOHM's official estimate) and the average upload speed was 1.2Mbps; since then we have seen even higher (up to 6Mbps) download speeds in other areas.
In addition to the impressive speeds we achieved with the Zyxel, we were very pleased to see that there are two antenna ports located on the back of the device. While there aren't any compatible antennas on the market yet, it is very likely that one or more will become available at some point and its nice to know that a signal boost is possible.
The other factor influencing our opinion of the Home Modem is its universal compatibility. Unlike the USB and ExpressCard options, which only work with PC's and don't currently work with any available routers, the Home Modem can be used with ANY computer or any standard WiFi router. You can connect a computer directly from the modem via ethernet or attach it to a router and access the signal wirelessly. If you have a Mac, this is your only option unless you have Parallels or a similar program installed on your computer.
The only downside to the Home Modem is that it requires a power source, so it is not technically "portable" like a USB or ExpressCard modem. Of course, if you're at a hotel or convention, this won't be a problem at all.
The best portable option: ZTE Tu25 USB modem
USB modems are very popular because they are both portable and nearly can be used on nearly every computer. While the ZTE is indeed portable, it CANNOT be used in a Mac at this time (read our article about XOHM and Macs). If you have a PC and are on the go too often to take advantage of the Zyxel, the ZTE is a great modem. In fact, we were able to occasionally hit download speeds of nearly 10Mbs, but the average speeds were much lower than that. The upload speeds, on the other hand, were significantly less than what we saw with the Home Modem, in the range of about 800Kbps as opposed to 1.2+Mbps.
Aside from the lower upload capability and lack of Mac support (for now), the ZTE Tu25 does not have any viable antenna options. There are two antenna ports on the dongle, but they are not the typical type of ports we see on our EVDO devices - they are u.fl connectors and not designed for the repeated connecting and disconnecting of antennas.
Our least favorite XOHM Modem: Samsung SWC-e100 ExpressCard
We have had a number of problems with the ExpressCard thus far, most troubling being the problems some users (including one of our employees) have had getting the ExpressCard to activate, even with XOHM's help. For those that have been able to use it, the speeds seen with the ExpressCard are very disappointing in comparison with the Zyxel Home Modem and ZTE Tu25 USB dongle. Despite XOHM's claim that there should be no difference between the performance of this modem and the Tu25, we were only able to reach speeds of about 1.5Mbps or so down and a maximum upload of 791Kbps (the average was more like 500). To prove that it wasn't just an anomaly caused by our location or the time of day, we tested the network with the USB from the same place and consistently saw reached 6Mbps download. While the ExpressCard was faster than dial up and certainly zippy enough to do most normal web activities, its speeds were more comparable to EVDO Rev-A than to WiMAX.
Additionally, like the Tu25, the SWC-e100 will not work on Macs and we most likely won't be able to use external antennas along with it.
From our tests and what we've heard from early adopters, the Home Modem is far superior to the others due to its speeds, consistency, compatibility with Macs, ability to use in a router and share the signal, and option for adding external antennas in the future. On the other end of the spectrum, we were relatively disappointed with the ExpressCard. For travelers, the Tu25 is the obvious choice.
If you've purchased a XOHM modem, share your experience with the 4G community at the 4G Forums!
