Alltel Wireless Internet/um150

Hello, in June I decided to get rid of my dialup and go with alltel wireless in my area. Michigan's northern lower peninsula.

I connect on my desktop with what I BELIEVE is a um150 usb card.

While the download speeds are amazing compared to my dialup...100kb/s on a good server as opposed to 5 kb/s max on my dialup....considering the potential speed I am supposed to be able to get in my area, and the extra money I put down to get on the service to begin with, I am kind of underwhelmed.

I get a fairly poor connection....2 blue lights with a third that flashes on and off lol...

(I really am more technologically literate than that, I'm just not sure if that is supposed to be comparable to bars on a phone)

I have only ever connected at 115.2Kbps speed, no more no less. My brother, who works for radioshack said that alltel was supposed to be increasing the connection power in my area at the end of last month, yet my speed remains the same as it always has since the first day on the service.

I'm aware that things like terrain can effect connection quality but would an antenna or a firmware/PRL upgrade (if one exists) for the card help me obtain better speeds? Can anyone recommend a quality antenna, and explain how I would know what one would work for me?

I realize some of these are probably really basic questions, but I would appreciate any help you folks can provide. I have two towers near me so if an omni antenna would be better let me know.

 

How do I tell if EVDO is available in my area?

 

In addition to my previous question, would this work with my usb card or are you assuming I'd be using a wireless router or using a phone as a modem..etcetera. Sorry, but this aspect of networking is still beyond me. I read that there are adapters that allow it to work with laptop cards so I think the answer is yes, but I'm unsure.

 

according to the alltel wireless internet coverage map, I am well within the dark blue 2.4 MB speed area...but I suppose that doesn't mean much if the towers near me aren't enabled for that speed, correct?