Testing the Rogers Rocket Wireless Stick

Over the past year I’ve looked at technologies that allow me to work effectively while on the go. For connectivity I’ve often relied on WiFi access points that might be found at vendor offices, client locations, hotels or coffee shops. While often these resources work out, they aren’t always ideal. Many times, when I needed connectivity the most, that was the time I just couldn’t get a WiFi access point to work effectively. 

That is why, some time ago I decided to pickup a Rogers wireless USB modem also called Rogers Rocket Internet. This device from Rogers is a Novatel piece of hardware that is like a slightly oversized USB memory key. I usually keep in my bag or sometimes even in my pocket. When needed I simply plug it into the USB port to get it up and running. So, what has the experience been like? 

Let’s start with the setup. I use multiple laptop computers depending on what it is I am working on or where I am going. I also have been using a Netbook for times when lugging a laptop around is too cumbersome (see my previous post on Netbooks here). Most of my laptops are Mac except for an older IBM Thinkpad I occasionally pull out. The netbook is also a Windows device. The Rogers Rocket internet stick when plugged into a Windows machine does a nice self-install. I simply plugged it in and the software that is loaded on the wireless stick installs on the PC. This only has to happen once. Every subsequent time when I plug the internet stick into a Windows based machine, it simply launches the MobileLink software that was previously installed. From there I just click the Connect button on the MobileLink interface and I’m connected to the high-speed Rogers data network. 

On my Mac OSX computers, the install is a different story. The software on the Rocket Wireless stick is for Windows only. If you want to use the device on your Mac you have to load the drivers from a CD that comes in the box with the Rocket. I didn’t like that. Everything about the Mac for me is the ease of use. A Mac, as I’ve said numerous times, just works. So I would have expected that the wireless modem would have self-installed like in Windows. At a minimum, load the software on the stick for me so I don’t have to use the CD! 

From a usage perspective, the service is joy to use both on my OSX machines and my Windows machines. I have found it surprisingly fast. In the GTA it has given me speeds of 4.5 – 6 MB/S which is quite snappy. I even recently used it up north in Sault Ste. Marie. I unfortunately had to spend time in the hospital with a sick family member and I was able to connect my netbook with the Rogers internet stick. The speeds were slower as the device shifted down to the Edge network because I was so far up North, but it delivered nice consistent connectivity for me and allowed me to blog through the night. If you are looking for a good portable, wireless modem to us while you are out and about, consider the Rogers Rocket Internet offering. After using it for a while, I can’t imagine working without it now.

Comments

[casino bonus lists]

this is a great modem. i have one and it works well.

[Phil]

Have you been able to share the connection with another computer? I'm thinking about this type of internet service as I live in rural Ottawa. The only options are dial up or wireless, usually very expensive. I use Rogers portable internet, and it's ok, but coverage is limited to urban areas. On the plus side, the Portablemodem was easy to share via a router. The rocket has more coverage on the road, where one computer will do, but it has to work for both of us at home! I'm very interested in any trials you have done or heard of.

[Liam Dye]

Sorry 4.5 - 6 MB/s. Is that Megabytes or Megabits?

(6 Megabits would be about 0.75 Megabytes).

[V. Hoffman]

I would like to know if the rocket mobile stick would be good to use while traveling to other countries. If not the Rogers stick does anyone know if there is a moblie internet stick that will work anywhere not just in Canada or the US. What about AT& T?

Thanks so much for any help you can give.
V. Hoffman

[Bernard]

Where can I get the drivers and installation files for this rocket mobile stick? I want to implement this such that my h/w will recognize this stick.

[H2]

Doesn't work with Windows 7, and Rogers still hasn't released drivers for it yet. So if you are planning to upgrade to Windows 7 in the next couple of days (Official Windows 7 Release is Oct. 22), I would not buy this stick until Rogers has drivers that fully supports it.

[Todd]

Yes I concur I tried to install the rocket to my friends new Asus Laptop Very Fast.
Well, as it were I also tried to go to rogers site and found nothing in software or driver updates for Her Windows 7. Actually, it cause sysconfig files to be corrupted and I had to do a Restore/Repair using the Win7 Recovery Console included in the..So safe your self a huge headache, by waiting for the new drivers, which will be available at rogers website for the Windows7.

GraphixMaxDesign

Do i need the same wifi wireless stick connection as my router?
i got a d-link wireless wifi stick thingy and i got a wireless modem called net gear???????
p.s my laptop doesnt have wireless in it!

[Dana Labrie]

Great review! I was also able to do a review on the Rocket Stick and performance in remote locations. I like it, especially after they did the upgrade in Aug 2009, my performance changed dramatically. See the review at http://blog.marketinglaunchinnovations.com/?cat=6
I'm also testing the Bell Portable Internet Stick over the next month.