AT&T Sierra Wireless USBconnect Shockwave U308 3G 4G USB Modem GSM Used - Black

I bought this modem after considering several others because it was compatible with my Cradlepoint mbr900 wireless/10baseT router. AT&T map coverage shows 4 cell towers within 1 mile of my house in each direction. I live in a low lying area, and don't always get best reception. I use my Cradlepoint MR900 router(since discontinued) hooked up to this modem in a upstairs bedroom window to get a decent signal(1 bar VS 3 bars), and is 10baseT networked to my office in the basement. This is not a reflection on AT&T signal, but just my area and location gets very poor reception.With all of this being said my download maxs out at 4-mb a minute and up loads are about 1-mb a minute. This is excellent thru-put considering I was on dial-up (56kps) before. This modem is the latest generation 4G modem. It hasn't disappointed me yet. Hope to get a net book soon and take it out on the road. I'll give you another update then.As far as other reader/reviewers asking about the sim card I didn't have a att cell phone prior to getting this plan. However broadband sim card doesn't look any different in size or shape then what is in my current phone. That being said my local att represenitive had to key in both the s/n of the 308 shockwave and and the s/n of the sim card in order to activate my account. Don't know if it can be interchanged based on your cell plans. I bought the USB modem outright and went under as pay as you go plan.Followup (December 2011)I sine bought a used net-book to have on the road to receive internet & emails with my broadband card. I have traveled up & down the Balto/Wash I-95 route and into Virginia and down as far as tennesee area, with no problem with getting a signal. My plan is with ATT 5gb limit with 10.00/1gb overage coverage.Followup (December2012) I have since moved up to ATT Momentum USB modem. Its about 40% faster during page viewing. and about 20% faster on downloads. Haven't been out on the road yet.

Won't stay connected!!!

When I received the device, I plugged it in, and the LEDs just flash once, then shut off. I've gotten some drivers to install, and it shows up in my devices, but doesn't show up as a usb or allow me to install the network program. I then downloaded the airwatcher program from sierra, and it won't recognize the device either. After several hours troubleshooting, I gave up and am calling this defective. Hopefully it works better for everyone else.

The description says 4G but when I received it the device was only 3G. I contacted the company and they told me it was not available in 3G and that the description was an error. But.... they have not corrected the description.

I bought this as an identical replacement for my original device which was dying after more than 3 years of use, and since AT&T no longer sells these, a new and different device from them would also require a new, more expensive data plan. The device came without any documentation and not in the original AT&T box, so I deducted one star. There apparently is more than one model of this device, and the only way I know this one is the supposed 4G device like my original is that the SKU # on the device label is the same as my original, though there probably isn't much difference in performance between the models. After switching the sim card from the old device to the new one, it works just like the old one used to.

I decided to give this 4G device a try to replace an older 3G aircard. I was able to simply remove the SIM card from the older aircard, place it into the Shockwave, plug the Shockwave in, and roll. The automated software install was quick and painless in Win 7 64 bit. I'm in a fringe 4G area, but immediately saw speed improvements. Downloads have gone from 2.2 Mbps to 4.4 Mbps. I've even seen 6 Mbps when passing close to a tower, though not often. Uploads have gone from 0.3 Mbps to 1.1 Mbps. Solid, affordable upgrade.

I had some trouble with my purchase but the customer service was great!...they worked with me so that I got exactly what I was looking for!

I thought that I could just work this into my data plan, but it turns out that you have to buy a whole separate plan to use it from AT&T. This thing works well in any zone with 3G or 4G service. Helps with road trips and creates a network that others can use too. Definitely a little slow, but it gets the job done in a pinch!