Novatel Ovation U760 (Verizon) Broadband Card

Contents

Summary
Details
Image Gallery
Manufacturer’s Description
Manual
Product Specifications
Where To Get It

What’s Good:

The Novatel Ovation U760 is the smallest USB broadband card that Verizon has. With a 8 GB potential for expanded microSD storage, it can simultaneously replace your thumb drive and serve as your connection to the internet while comfortably sitting on your keychain. In addition to this, it works great in fringe areas.

What’s Bad:

While Linux is supported, the technical support and guidelines could be more robust/customer friendly. Fortunately, there isn’t too much else to balk at here.

Price:
$199.99
Make $50
(at time of review)

Provider:

Reviewed on: 03/17/09

When you size up the Novatel Ovation MC760, it falls just a bit shorter than a credit card. As the twin sister of the Sprint Ovation U760, it’s about the size of small flash (thumb) drives. Being the smallest broadband card Verizon has, it can actually earn a slot on your keychain and not be out of place.

It ships with a keychain ring, lanyard, flexible USB cable and manual. There is no installation CD. Unlike some other broadband cards that claim to not need a CD, the Ovation U760 doesn’t.

In other cases, the drivers would come preloaded on the broadband cards but still require a CD or download from the carrier’s website to obtain the ‘connection manager’ for configuration on that network.

Thankfully, the Novatel Ovation U760 prompts you for installation of the Verizon VZ connection manager and activates with only one click.

VZ Connection Manager

The USB760 supports Mac OSX 10.4.11 or later, Windows XP, Vista, 2000 and (Windows 7 unofficially at this point). If you look really closely, you’ll also see that it has built-in GPS (no turn-by-turn navigation though). For those that like to play around, you can use the GPS in Google Earth to track you movement as you travel. microSD card

A cool feature of the USB760 that’s becoming pretty standard among USB broadband cards is expandable storage. With the U760, you get up to 8 GB. If you couple that with it’s small size, it really can replace your thumb drive.

As mentioned before, the Ovation U760 ships with a USB cable. It’s the flexible kind that keeps it a bit away from the laptop. After brainstorming for awhile, the only benefit I can think of for using this would be to angle it upward instead of jutting out from the side.

Ovation U760 USB cable

Broadband cards that poke out of the laptop aren’t exactly conducive to riding a car, truck, or RV. You’d most likely need to point it vertically. Other than that, I’m doubt it would greatly improve your reception. To do that, an external antenna (which it thankfully supports) would be necessary.

Of course, the reception you get is only as good as the network you’re on. That brings us to…

Domestic Coverage

The Ovation U760 runs on Verizon’s Mobile Broadband network. After some reviewing that I cover in great detail in Lesson 10 of Mobile Broadband Buyer’s Guide, you’ll see how Verizon holds its own in coverage.

Of course, the natural question following (or even preceding) ‘how good the coverage is’ usually turns out to be:

How Fast Is It?

“With a Verizon Broadband Card, you get average download speeds of 600-1400 Kbps, peaking at 3.1 Mbps, and 350-500 Kbps average upload speeds, peaking at 1.8 Mbps”.That would be similar to DSL, and about ten times faster than using a dial-up modem.

While this is technically true, alot of you tend to ask how fast a specific card will be. While the individual card does not usually affect the speed (so long as it’s EVDO Revision A), Verizon’s speed varies depending on location. As I explain in Lesson 8: Who’s The Fastest (Mobile Broadband Buyer’s Guide), Verizon has pretty good speeds overall. For now, they have a double whammy on speed and coverage, two of the biggest concerns mobile broadband users have.

A couple real world applications that work well are email, web surfing, sending large attachments, video streaming, music streaming, and online gaming. I’ve personally used my EVDO Rev. A broadband card from Sprint for all of the above. The latency is much better than I would expect for online gaming. From Real-Time Strategies to First Person Shooters, it handles it pretty well.

All in all, it’s a pretty solid card. I’d recommend it if someone asked about it. Here’s a couple snapshots

Ovation 3 Ovation 4

(hover over for larger image)
4.

With the smallest form factor in the market, the USB760 USB Modem with NovaSpeed™ provides high-speed access on Verizon Wireless’ 1x/EV-Do network. No CD is required for installation! Just insert the device, allow the drivers to auto-install, and VZAccess Manager Installer automatically launches. The USB760 is compatible with computers (both PCs and Macs) that support a Type A USB port and comes equipped with hot-swappable removal memory support — up to 8GB. It also comes with a built-in, high-performance internal antenna with no external parts to break.

Verizon Wireless USB760 Modem (Verizon Wireless)

BroadbandAccess and NationalAccess Capable
Removable Memory (up to 8GB)
Auto-install Software (No CD Needed)
High performance intenna
2–way Text Messaging capable
Supports Windows® 2000, XP, Vista and Mac OS 10.4.0 or higher

Included Accessories

VZAccess Manager™ and User Guides on device
Quick Reference Guide
Lanyard (No Warranty)
Keychain (No Warranty)

5.
From the Manufacturer

Download Manual in PDF
6.

From the Manufacturer

Data Card Type	USB
Removable Memory Card – Type	Micro SD Card
Voice Frequencies	850/1900
Operating System	Not Applicable
Headset Jack Type	N/A
Data Frequencies	850/1900
Phone Size	Ultra-small
Antenna Type	Internal
Color Display	No
Dimensions (H x W x D)	2.2 x 1.0 x 0.5 in
Weight (w/standard battery)	0.7 oz
External Volume Control	No
Hearing Aid Compliance	Not Available
Language Options	N/A
Vibrating Alert	No
External LCD	No
Service / Support	1 Year Warranty

There are two kinds of people that visit this page.

The 1st person that knows that this is the card they want and they’re doing their due diligence. If that’s you, I hope I’ve done that for you. If I have, then you can pick up Novatel Ovation U760 for free and make $50 (at the time of this review).

If I haven’t covered everything, let me know what’s missing.

The 2nd person that reads this page is considering this card but has not made up their mind yet. If that’s you, there are two things you need to do:

I. Sign up for the free “Mobile Broadband Buyer’s Guide“

It’s like your pre-marital counselor and prenuptial agreement all in one. It’ll save you from any future heartache and checkbook punches that might come your way.

It’s been designed to explain in four short, detailed lessons what most people don’t know about Mobile Broadband.

II. Check out the Broadband Card Comparison

You’ll get a good feel for what to look for in a Broadband Card. It’s designed to compliment the Wireless Broadband Exposed course so that you’ve got the right card and the right plan at the right price without any fear.

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