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Republic Wireless Test: Day 6

It's time for my third update, and so far this test is going very well. Here are my observations of the combined Republic Wireless wifi / cell service:

• Tested in my small townhome in suburban Minneapolis when connected via wifi: While in my townhome, for the first time I could make and receive cell phone calls in my basement. This was always impossible with my Verizon / HTC Droid combination. While talking to various family members their feedback has been:
  • my conversations via Republic wifi do not break up
  • the tonal voice quality can sometimes be a bit "tinny", but not bad
  • the overall conversational experience is much better for me than via Verizon ... no missed words
• Tested at work in suburban Minneapolis when connected via Sprint: With my Verizon combination, if I got very far away from a window, my connection always suffered or became impossible. With Republic / Sprint I am consistently getting four bars, even in the middle of the building where I had never been able to make or receive phone calls.

The next part of my test was conducted at my permanent home in northern Minnesota, on the edge of Duluth. Even though cell phone calls are possible up here, my location is not an "optimized" location for Verizon. Today's test involved phoning my manager in Morristown, New Jersey. I had him use his "land line" office phone. Thus, I hopefully removed the issue of a cell phone talking to a cell phone. Once again, making my phone call via Republic Wireless and wifi was the clear winner. When connected via Verizon, I was missing about every 7th to 8th word, and my boss said I would occasionally break up. When I then phoned back immediately using Republic Wireless and my wifi, the conversation never dropped word. Once again, the actual quality of my voice had a bit of a "tinny" sound. However the exerience was much more pleasant on both ends as the entire conversation was heard ... word for word.

Remember, my tests may not equate to results you would have, but so far ... so good. The other test I conducted today was my first use of the community forum. Republic Wireless does not have a call center to answer questions for the customer. Instead all users help each other via an online forum, with tech support employees from Republic Wireless occasionally also posting. Here was my problem:

• Even though I had no voice mail messages (new or saved), the icon notification would not go away in the upper left hand phone status area. This was frustrating, because I could not determine with a quick visual check if I had a new messages. Therefore I logged in and posted a question explaining my problem. Within 15 minutes I had an answer from another user which was correct! While there is no guarantee that all future problems will be solved as quickly, I was impressed. In my case, the answer was to call myself from another phone and leave a message. After listening to the new message via my Republic Wireless phone and deleting it in my voicemail, my phantom voice mail notification icon disappeared!

My final test will be from northern Minnesota near the Canadian border. Neither service is supposed to have coverage where I will be headed. However, I know from past experience if I walk down to the lakeshore and out onto the dock, I can make a Verizon phone call. Let's see how Sprint / Republic Wireless compare in the backcountry. 

Here are two screenshots ... one of my Verizon Droid Incredible V1, and my Republic Motorola Defy XT. However, the basic takeaway is these are both similar smartphones in terms of capability running the same version of Android. Neither has the latest and greatest capabilties, but that does not concern me. The feature sets are darn similar, and therefore I had  a very short learning curve to start using my Defy XT. When I received my Republic Wireless Defy XT on Wenesday, I had it up and running within a few minutes. The only two questions I had to answer during the setup were:

• Enter my Google account (optional)
• Set up my local wifi (required)

The nice part of using my Google account, is I instantaneously had all my contacts and data on my new phone! That was sweet. However, this would be the same if I was moving to any new Android phone and authorized my Google account. This experience is not unique to Republic.

• This is post #3 in the series
• See Republic Wireless Test Post #2
• See Republic Wireless Test Post #4 (final post)

Click to maximize either image.

Verizon Droid Incredible V1

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Republic Motorola Defy XT

Republic Wireless Test: Day 2

As noted in yesterday's blog post, I've decided to try Republic Wireless. Today is my second day of the test. Yesterday I ordered my phone at 3 pm. Within a few minutes I had email confirmation, and fifteen minutes after that point I had access to my new Republic Wireless account.

This morning at 11:15, I received confirmation that my phone had shipped, including a trackable link via UPS. This evening when I got home from work, I clicked upon the tracking link. The phone is being shipped second day air via UPS. This seems reasonable. I would not expect overnight service, and I was hoping that Republic has not used "as long as it takes" via UPS, Fedex, or the USMail.

In addition, I logged into my account for the first time. While I hope to use and be happy with the service, I wondered if it were my desire ... how difficult it would be to cancel and get my refund. I'll let you be the judge, but I quickly went to the suggest search page and input "refund" as much search query. I was easily able to understand the process, and locate the link to process a refund. The policy reviewed seems quite fair.

So far ... so good. Click any image to view at full size.

• This is post #2 in the series
• See Republic Wireless Test Post #1 
• See Republic Wireless Test Post #3 

Inital Login Screen

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Search Query Result (top of page)

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Search Query Result (bottom of page)

Republic Wireless Test Starts Today

I just ended a great 500 bike ride through the northern boreal forests and lakes today. During much of this time I was off the grid. The experience of not being able to watch TV, use a phone, or the internet was fantastic. In the true sense, I was really off the grid. For a few days, the only way to phone home was via a satellite phone. (learn more ... my trip report).

However, today it is back to civilaztion and reality. Over the past year I've been increasingly disatisfied with my HTC Droid and Verizon. While my phone is great as a computer, using the cellular grid for voice calls is horrible. Through work I use VOIP, and have often wished a similar experience was available in my private life.

Thus, today I took the plunge. Even though I have three months left on my Verizon contract, I just joined Republic Wireless. Their service will use my local wifi when I am at home, and the 3G network when I am "out and about". Their advertising information talks about a 30 day guarantee.

Before making this decision, I Googled "reviews" for Republic Wireless. I really could not find many reviews created by just normal "techie bloggers" (as opposed to the big services like C|Net and PCMag). While I like the big guys web sites and reviews, I need to see what real folk think of a new technology.

Today, I start my review, and I will blog about the process. My order was submitted about 15 minutes ago. The process was easy, and I received my confirmation within a few minutes. My phone should arrive later this week.

Please note that no vendor has ever paid me for any reviews I post on NorthStarNerd.org. In addition, since this blog began in 2006 I've never accepted a single cent in advertisements. I hope you will find my review useful. I want a phone where I can hear people speak again. Prior to getting my smartphone at Christmas 2010, my dumb phone may not have had all the extra services, but the voice quality was great.

• Republic Wireless Test: Post #2

Purple Cows at Dawn!

• Todays 70 mile ride took us from Bayfield, Wisconsin to Bessemer, Michigan. Just 12 miles into our ride it appeared ... the purple cow! Although Molly had alread cycled past I insisted on stopping. While I've heard that many long distances cyclists just go, go, go ... this is not my style. Eventually Molly circled back to see what had become of her husband!

While pausing for a picture with Flossie at 6:50 am, when I turned around the Woodcarver's son was outside in the dawn light "checking me out". I gave him a bright cheery "Good Morning" and noted how the purple cow had pulled me in off my bike to his front yard. This led to a pleasant conversation, and Molly and I were invited for a private tour of the artist's studio even though it was not yet 7am. Wow! The cow was cool, but the other carvings were dramatic and beautiful. There was a hand carved grandfathers clock which was a piece of art.

Do you stop when cycling? I do, and always will ... no missed purple cows for me!

When in Washburn, Wisconsin ... visit the Woodcarver: http://thesawdustfactory.weebly.com

The rest of the day's cycling included other neat stops including the Finnish American museum and park near Ironwood. While today's route via US 2 was not my favorite, the traffic was not bad, and the semi trucks were few.

We've now put Wisconsin behind us, and the U.P. awaits us.

One final comment ... My thanks to the car drivers who politely honked and gave us waves or thumbs up. As the miles mount, the encouragement of strangers to keep cycling is welcome!

If you would like to read the rest of the Trans Superior Tour daily journal reports, please visit the long distance cycling portal, Crazy Guy On A Bike.  The links are provided just below the photographs.

Click upon any photo to view at full size.

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Read our daily journal via Crazy Guy on a Bike! (detailed route maps)

Windmills and Water: Trans Superior Tour

What a great day ... nary a cloud all day and the temperature was perfect. At 6:50 when we started our ride at the Richard Bong Museum in Superior, it was calm, sunny and 43F. By the afternoon we warmed up to 70F and had a great tail wind pushing us on our 80 mile ride to Bayfield. If you've never seen Lake Superior, you need to come up to the North Country. We even had the unexpected pleasure of meeting Bruce Lindgren, the co-chair of the Lake Superior Binational Forum, when we pulled over to check out a neat building in Herbster, Wisconsin. Bruce is to be commended on his efforts to protect the lake we love.

The only item which was not perfect about the ride was having the large hills for the last 25 miles of our ride. However, upon arriving in Bayfield we solved this problem with a large wild berry smoothee!

Day 2 is only 70 miles of biking. Should be easy after today's 80.

Here are two photos ... one just before we started and the other at an oldest Finnish windmill built by immigrants back in 1900. Click to maximize.

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