Is Clear Internet Service Any Good?

Many people these days seek an on the go internet provider, and Clear can certainly fill that need. The unfortunate problem lies in their inherent inability, to provide wireless access to every region, due to the fact that Clear is based on 2.6Ghz wireless signals.

Sprint, Verizon, and other wireless providers,

Only a provider such as sprint may be able to get you a minimum of a 56K connection anywhere, but then how useful is 56K anyway? Sprint also puts a 5 gig cap on your bandwidth for the month, this is unfortunate as it means that streaming video is pretty much out of the question, and Verizon and other cell phone providers have the same limitations. Despite their wider network, they simply cannot meet the demands.

In comparison Clear is a great service, providing the same speeds in a slimmer network area, Clear has been known to throttle back your speeds when watching too many videos. However Comcast is known for the same practices. One of the advantages to Clear is the ability to quickly plug in and log on to the internet. (Where it works) Whereas, Comcast, AT&T, and other network providers may require a setup and install, which you of course would be charged for.

Clear speed and performance,

Unfortunately Clear can't match the speed of Comcast Cable, which is widely available inside of town in the same areas as Clear. However, with Clear you have another advantage, when setting up a network for your personal use in a dorm or other shared living situation you can purchase the modem in your own name. You are not required to purchase it in the home owners name, or convince your room mate to get an add on service for his phone or cable. In certain situations Clear may be your only viable option, and while their customer support isn't fantastic, they do try.

My experience with Clear,

I ordered my modem on Monday, but some form of billing error had occurred causing my modem shipment to be delayed more than a week. Once I finally went down to the Clear branch office in my area, I received my modem and was up in no time.

The speeds I received at first where not so great, but by day two I was getting closer to the advertised 6 mbps connection. The connection however, has no reliability at all, it will vary from .5 mbps up to 5 mbps. As with most wireless options, the signal degrades when passing through objects or receiving interference from other devices. This is to be expected from any wireless provider, and is an unfortunate effect of the radio frequencies used to transmit.

Clear no hassle no contract; no way.

The fact is, if you are looking for a no hassle, no contract service provider. Clear can provide that service. Unfortunately if you wish to opt out of the 2 year contract, you must purchase your modem, which is only used with Clears service. Purchasing a $100 modem which serves no purpose other than connecting to Clear, may seem like a bit of a waste. However, in comparison to a lease agreement over 2 years, it's actually $20 cheaper.

Over all I would give clear a 2.5 out of 5 as an internet service provider. Clear loses 1 point for poor customer service, another point for their small network area, and a half a point for non-competitive speeds. However, for what Clear does, it's a much more viable option then its cell phone counterparts. Clear is worth considering if you have no other options available, and is certainly the best "Wireless" option available in many areas.

Links,

Clear Wire

Clear