Pros & Cons
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- Fast.
- Attractive.
- Feature-packed.
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- Memory card reader is slow.
Ovation U727 by Novatel Wireless (Sprint) Specs
| 802.11x/Band(s): | No |
| Bands: | 1900 |
| Bands: | 850 |
| Cellular Technology : | CDMA 1X |
| Cellular Technology : | EV-DO |
| Mac Compatible: | Yes |
| Service Provider: | Sprint |
Shaped like a submarine, with the gills of a shark, the Novatel Ovation U727 modem cuts swiftly through the currents of the Internet. This attractive, fast-running device is our Editors' Choice for connecting your laptop to Sprint's EV-DO Rev A wireless network.
A long, narrow device (1 by 2.8 by 0.5 inches, HWD), the Ovation U727 sports a flip-up loop antenna. It hangs pretty far out from the edge of your laptop, as a USB key would, but it stayed plugged in on both the
The Ovation U727 supports Sprint's nationwide EV-DO Rev A network, with maximum real-world download speeds of around 2.3 Mbps and upload speeds of around 700 Kbps. EV-DO is a member of the "3G," or third-generation cellular, family of technologies. When the device is out of EV-DO range, say, far from the major metropolitan coverage areas, it drops to the much slower 1x system, with speeds at around 100 Kbps. (1x is a "2G" system.)
If you're familiar with Verizon's and AT&T's offerings, Sprint's service plan will hold no surprises. Included is 5GB of data per month for $60, saddled with some truly frightening but relatively rarely enforced overage charges. (Only Cricket, the tiny and relatively unknown cellular carrier, offers truly unlimited high-speed data.) Sprint's modems work in Canada and Mexico, but not overseas. If you're a world traveler, you'll want to go with an AT&T plan and device.
Though the modem comes bundled with connection manager software on a CD, I say skip it and download Sprint's more advanced and stable SmartView program (for XP, Vista, and Mac's OS X) from Sprint's Web site. SmartView looks slick and gives you a clear view of your signal strength and data transferred. It also has a VPN and a Wi-Fi connection manager built in, along with quick links to Sprint tech support and an animated speed test screen.
SmartView also connects to the Ovation U727'S built-in GPS receiver—an accurate model that found my location even in the challenging terrain of midtown Manhattan. The signal it receives is shared with PC applications using a virtual COM port. As a result, quick links in SmartView can provide Microsoft Live maps for the nearest restaurants, banks, hotels, gas stations, and coffee shops. But as with the Compass 597, I can't really figure out quite why you'd want a GPS on your laptop, as opposed to having it in a more usable handheld or car dashboard device.
When Junior Analyst Brian K. Neal and I tested four Sprint modems in eight rounds across the New York metro area, the Ovation U727 came out on top by a very narrow margin. With average download speeds of 776 Kbps, the fastest downloads, and strongest signal, it's our winner for Sprint. But the Sierra Wireless Compass 597 and the
I also like the Ovation U727's form factor. PC Cards and ExpressCards, while convenient because you can just leave them in your laptop, are less compatible and portable than USB modems.
The Novatel Ovation U727 looks good, works well, and connects you to Sprint's speedy network at the highest average speeds of any device we tested, which makes it worthy of our Editor's Choice.
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Final Thoughts
Ovation U727 by Novatel Wireless (Sprint)
The Novatel Ovation U727 is the fastest way to get online with Sprint's national, high-speed cellular network.