3Gstore helps all kinds of customers, from early adopters who have been using EVDO from the start to people who just learned of it from a Google search this week. Unless you're a tech junkie, chances are you've run across an unfamiliar word or two on your quest to learn about mobile broadband, and likely even gotten frustrated as a result.
To help make the process of learning about and using mobile broadband a little easier, we've put together a "3Gstore Glossary" that defines many of the common terms you'll see on our sites. These short and to-the-point definitions are perfect to reference while you're researching a product to purchase (what the heck is "Wireless N"?) or trying to make sense of a discussion on the EVDO Forums (why are the gamers talking about "ping time"?). Please note that this is not an encyclopedia and certainly is not intended to be the final word on any issue. For a more complete technological explanation of any of these topics, we recommend searching our forums or perusing Wikipedia's many resources.
1xRTT: 2G mobile broadband technology used by Sprint, Alltel and Verizon (aka “National Access”). Upload and download speeds average about 50Kbps - 100Kbps with bursts up to 144kbps, slightly faster than a standard 56K dial-up connection. In areas where EVDO is not available, your EVDO-enabled device (including aircards, USB modems, ExpressCards, phones, or embedded devices) will attempt to connect to the 1xRTT network. Generally, if your carrier has cell phone coverage in a particular area, there should be 1xRTT coverage even if EVDO has not yet arrived there. 1xRTT is comparable to AT&T/T-Mobile's EDGE network.
2G: A broad term indicating the "second generation" of standards for mobile networking. Unlike their analog predecessors, 2G networks are digital. 1xRTT (Verizon and Sprint) and EDGE (AT&T) are 2G networks.
3G: A broad term indicating the “third generation” of standards for mobile networking. 3G networks – including EVDO - enable network operators to offer users a wider range of more advanced services while achieving greater network capacity through improved bandwidth efficiency. 3G networks like EVDO are Wireless Wide Area networks (see WWAN).
3G Router: A networking device that accepts cellular modems (such as EVDO or HSPA USB dongles or a tether-capable phone) as the source of internet connectivity. The router re-distributes the 3G/cellular signal so that multiple computers can connect either via WiFi or directly with an Ethernet cable. If you want to share the connection your 3G modem provides with multiple devices (including computers, gaming consoles, WiFi-enabled PDA’s like the iPhone, iPod Touch, and more), the easiest way to do this is with a 3G router. “Standard” routers that you may have used in the past for DSL or cable connections are NOT equipped to accept cellular modems.
4G: A broad term used to describe all of the "fourth generation" advances in wireless technology that will eventually replace 3G technology. There is currently no formal definition of 4G, but goals for 4G technology include creating highly-secure systems capable of providing between 100 Mbit/s and 1 Gbit/s speeds both indoors and outdoors with premium quality. WiMAX, which is still in its infancy but available from Clearwire and Sprint in some areas of the country, is considered a 4G mobile broadband standard, as is LTE (Long Term Evolution), which is being adopted by both Verizon and AT&T. You can learn more about 4G on our sister site, 4Ginfo.com
Aircard: While "aircard" is technically a trademarked name Sierra uses for many of their wireless modems, it is often used as a generic term for any wireless modem used to connect to a mobile broadband network (even by us!). Aircards come in several formats: USB, ExpressCard, and PCMCIA.
Amplifier: A device used in conjunction with at least one antenna to boost cellular signal. Amplifiers are generally capable of improving signal strength better than an antenna alone. With a direct-connect amplifier, an outdoor antenna connected to one side of the amplifier draws in the signal, which is then boosted and pushed by the amplifier directly to the device (modem or cell phone) via a cable on the other side. Wireless amplifiers, or “repeaters”, utilize an indoor antenna to broadcast the boosted signal from an outdoor antenna throughout a small area; multiple cellular devices can then all benefit from the boosted signal. A direct-connect amplifier will provide more signal to the device than a wireless repeater.
Bandwidth: A measure of available or consumed data communication resources expressed in bits or multiples of it (kilobit/s, megabit/s etc). Internet service providers (ISPs) often impose a “bandwidth allowance” on the amount of data a user can receive and/or transmit in a certain amount of time to avoid overloading the channel. Sprint, Verizon, and AT&T all have a 5GB per month allowance on their mobile broadband plans; if you exceed 5GB in one billing cycle you will be billed overage fees (for more information on what 5GB gets you, see What Does 5GB Get Me?).
Benchmark Test: AKA Speed Test. A tool used to test the performance of your internet connection. There are multiple sites such as speedtest.net that utilize servers located around the globe to communicate with your computer and determine the download (the speed of receiving data from the server to your computer) and upload (the speed of sending data from your computer to the server) bandwidth speeds you are experiencing. Monitoring your speeds will help you determine if you are getting the most out of your internet connection. For more information, read this blog post on the subject.
Cat 5 Cable: A twisted pair Ethernet cable commonly used in computer networking, designed for less cross-talk between pairs, and allows transmission speeds up to 1 Gigabit Per Second. Cat 5 cable is often used to connect computers to a router if the computer does not have WiFi capabilities.
EDGE: 2G technology used by AT&T and T-Mobile. Upload and download speeds average about 50Kbps - 100Kbps, slightly faster than a standard 56K dial-up connection. In areas where HSDPA is not available, your HSDPA-enabled device (including aircards, phones, iPhones, or embedded devices) will attempt to connect to the EDGE network. EDGE is comparable to Verizon and Sprint's 1xRTT network.
Embedded EVDO Device: An EVDO chip that is built into a laptop or router. If your laptop has an embedded EVDO device, you can sign up for Sprint or Verizon EVDO service and access the EVDO network without having to use an external aircard like a USB dongle, ExpressCard, or PCMCIA card. Embedded devices are convenient but difficult to replace and there is no way to use it with a router. The only want to improve the signal to an embedded device is with a wireless repeater. For more information on embedded devices, see our article on embedded devices
Ethernet Cable: See "Cat 5 Cable"
EVDO: AKA “Evolution-Data Optimized”. The mobile broadband 3G technology used by Verizon, Sprint, and Alltel. EVDO Rev-A provides typical speeds of 600-1400kbps download and 500-800kbps upload, with bursts up to 2000kbps.
Failover: A feature supported by many routers that enables the router to automatically connect to a backup internet source if the primary source fails. For example, a Cradlepoint MBR1000 connected to a cable modem and a Verizon USB modem could be set up to use the cable modem as its primary source of connectivity but to automatically connect to Verizon EVDO if the cable goes out.
Grid antenna: A very large, high gain, highly directional, single band, cellular antenna. They can be highly effective for some users, but in most cases the potential benefits do not outweigh the difficulty in shipping, installing, and aiming the grid. 3Gstore does not sell grid antennas due to logistical reasons (they are extremely large and very expensive to ship) and because we find that the antennas we sell and/or an amplifier are a more appropriate solution in most cases.
HSPA: 3G technology used by AT&T (they refer to it as simply “3G”). Speeds are comparable to EVDO, with typical download speeds of 700-1700kbps and 500-1200kbps upload. Coverage is strong in cities but not nearly as reliable in more rural areas. HSDPA was "download specific" while HSUPA is "upload specific". For more information on AT&T’s 3G coverage compared to Verizon or Sprint, see this blog post
LAN: Stands for “Local Area Network” and indicates a computer network that spans just a small area, such as connecting computers in a home or small office. In a LAN, individual computers can share data and connections, including printers and Internet access. A LAN can be created with Ethernet cables or wirelessly with a router.
Latency: In terms of the Internet, latency refers to how much time it takes for a packet of data to get from one designated point to another. Latency can be affected by many factors, including the medium of transmission (i.e. if the data is being transmitted via satellite as opposed to fiber optic cable) and intermediate devices between the source and destination of the data (such as switches and bridges). Latency is rarely affected by the signal from cell tower; most latency is on the network after the cell tower. Also see “Ping Time”.
Load Balancing: With a load balancing-capable router like the MBR1000 or CTR500, you can use multiple cellular modems and balance the bandwidth burden carried by any one of them. This is a great solution for people doing heavy downloading or wishing to double their 5GB cap by using one Sprint modem and one Verizon aircard. For more information, read this article on the topic.
National Access: The name used by Sprint and Verizon for 1xRTT connectivity.
Omni Antenna: An antenna that is capable of pulling in signal from 360 degrees – no aiming or knowledge of tower locations is necessary for it to be effective. Omni antennas are ideal when there are multiple towers serving your location.
Packet Loss: The loss of packets of information means that portions of what you were sending or receiving over the internet failed to go through. It can be caused by signal degradation, oversaturated network links, corrupted packets, faulty networking hardware, maligned system drivers or network applications, or normal routing routines. This can affect performance of gaming, VOIP, VPN, and streaming.
Passive Antenna Adapter: An antenna or amplifier adapter that does not connect directly to the device being boosted. While inductive couplers do work, they do not perform as well as antenna adapters that plug directly into a device. We recommend using an amplifier in conjunction with an an antenna if the device (such as the iPhone) does not have an antenna port.
Ping time: The amount of time in milliseconds that it takes for a target server to respond to a request. The longer it takes, the slower the performance. Long ping times can affect gaming, VOIP, VPN, and streaming media. Also see Latency.
PRL: AKA Preferred Roaming List. The information within your cellular device that tells it which towers in any area are 'native' and which are 'roaming'. As coverage expands or changes, your PRL can become out of date because it won't know the correct status of nearby towers. It is a good idea to update your PRL periodically to ensure that you are able to connect to the nearest towers.
Repeater: A wireless amplifier that does not require a direct connection to the cellular device. The repeater connects to two antennas: one outdoors to draw the signal in, and an indoor antenna to then broadcast the boosted signal. Multiple cellular devices can then benefit from the boosted signal at once. If your cellular device does not have an antenna port, a repeater will be your best option to improve signal strength. If you only need to boost the signal to one device and it has an antenna port, a directly connected amplifier is your best choice.
Rev-A: The updated EVDO network that is capable of delivering faster download and upload speeds than the original EVDO network. All of the EVDO aircards currently sold by Verizon, Sprint, and Alltel are Rev-A capable, meaning you will be able to take advantage of the fastest speeds the network can offer. Most EVDO-enabled cell phones and PDAs are NOT Rev-A, which is why tethering is generally considered to be a slower solution than having a dedicated aircard. However, Sprint, Verizon and Alltel now offer several Rev-A phones.
Rev-0: The original EVDO network. Both Verizon and Sprint have updated their networks nationwide to support the faster Rev-A, but you must have a Rev-A device to take advantage of the faster network. All of the dedicated modems offered by Sprint and Verizon are Rev-A, but most phones and PDAs are only able to connect to Rev-0.
RSSI: Stands for Received Signal Strength Indicator. This is a numerical representation of your signal strength in terms of dBm. It appears as a negative number and the closer to zero, the better the signal: -65 is much better than -85, which is better than -95. -80dBm is considered a solid indoor signal and at that level you are likely to be getting the maximum performance from your tower that you can get. For more information and instructions on where to find your RSSI, click here.
Tethering: AKA “phone as modem” or PAM. Using your cell phone/PDA as a 3G modem by connecting it to a computer or router via USB or Bluetooth. Tethering incurs an extra fee from the provider and not all phones are tether-capable.
WAN: Stands for “Wide Area Network” and describes a network made up of two or more LANs. Computers connected to a WAN are often connected through public networks, such as a DSL line from the phone company.
WDS: Stands for "Wireless Distribution System". WDS allows you to connect multiple access points (such as a router) to a wireless network. For example, if you had a Cradlepoint MBR1000 in your basement office but cannot get access out to the guesthouse, you could utilize WDS by putting another CradlePoint router in between to act as a WiFi Repeater to extend the range of your WiFi network. Another popular WDS application is for Mac users who would like to pass an internet connection wirelessly to their Airport Extreme or Time Capsule, to share resources like printers or USB-connected hard drives, or even to take advantage of the built-in back-up utility found in the Leopard OS.
WiFi: A wireless networking technology that uses radio waves to provide wireless internet and network connections. Wi-Fi works with no physical wired connection between sender and receiver by using radio frequency (RF) technology. There are several industry standard wireless radio, the most common being "G" and "N".
WiPipe (TM): Technology used by Cradlepoint in their routers that includes proprietary algorithms and functions to insure the best use of available bandwidth while delivering a responsive, uncomplicated user experience. Benefits include Traffic Shaping and added security. For more details, join the discussion at the WiPipe thread on EVDO Forums. The MBR1000, CTR500, CTR350, and PHS300 all utilize WiPipe technology.
Wireless N: The latest WiFi radio technology. Wireless N allows for greater range, meaning you can be further from the router and still access its connection. The Cradlepoint MBR1000 and Kyocera KR2 both utilize N radios and are backwards compatible with wireless B/G; your wireless receiver does not need to be N to be compatible with and take advantage of the power of an N router (although having an N receiver will allow you to take fuller advantage of the improved range).
WWAN: Stands for "Wireless Wide Area Network" and indicates connectivity to the internet using cellular tower technology, such as EVDO or HSPA.
Yagi Antenna: A high-gain directional antenna designed to manage the power in the wanted direction and reduce it in unwanted directions. In order to use a Yagi antenna, you must know where the nearest tower is. If a Yagi is not aimed properly, it will lose its effectiveness. If there are multiple towers serving you or you are unsure of your tower’s location, an omni-directional antenna is a better solution.
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