Pantech UML290 4G LTE modem for Verizon review

Pantech UML290 (Verizon)

Pantech UML290 (Verizon)

Pantech UML290 (Verizon)

The Pantech UML209 is the second LTE^(INFO) modem to be offered by Verizon Wireless for use on its new high-speed 4G network. The UML290 connects to a Windows or OS X computer via a USB port, and it features a unique design that offers some flexibility in terms of antenna position and also keeps the USB connector out of harm's way when the modem is not being used.

The UML290 weighs 51g (1.8oz) and measures 88mm x 38mm x 16.5mm (3.5in x 1.5in x .6in) in its most compact form. That's larger than many purely 3G modems on the market, but not bad for an early 4G/3G dual-mode modem. To use the device, one simply rotates the dark gray antenna to reveal the USB plug. The USB plug can be opened 90 or 180 degrees for optimal use, and Verizon includes a USB extension cable when more flexibility is required. A microSD card slot is found on the bottom of the device, but the UML290 ships with no cards pre-installed.

I tested the UML290 in the northern Philadelphia suburbs as well as in New York City and the areas of New Jersey that lie between them. The results were overwhelmingly positive, but there were a couple of snags and the speeds achieved did not match those 20Mbps figures reported by some other publications.

In the Philadelphia area, the Pantech UML290 was able to post 9 to 11Mbps download speeds with ease, but upload speeds rarely bested 1.25Mbps. Network latency was generally in the 150 to 160ms range according to SpeedTest.net. New York City and northern New Jersey speeds were generally slower. In the city proper I was able to get 9Mbps down and 1.5Mbps upload, but network latency was generally around 200ms. Further south in the New Jersey suburbs of New Your data speeds were generally around 7.5 to 8Mbps down and anywhere from .5 to 1.2Mbps up. Network latency was still in the 200ms area.

The previously mentioned snags had to do with some dropped connections when in the Philadelphia area. The only pattern I could detect is that they seemed to happen when on the fringe of 4G coverage, having to do, possibly, with switching back and forth between Verizon's 4G and 3G networks. A couple of times I had to manually reconnect the modem after having lost connectivity.

I would have appreciated it if the drivers for Windows were included on the modem itself, as is common, but that is not the case. Instead, users must install from an included CD to load drivers and the Verizon access software. This is a problem if your laptop, like mine, has no CD drive. No Mac drivers were included with the UML290, but Verizon released drivers for OS X 10.4, 10.5, and 10.6 today.

Pantech UML290 (Verizon)

Pantech UML290 (Verizon)

Pantech UML290 (Verizon)

Apart from that one problem and the CD based drivers, though, the Pantech is fantastic. The speeds it hits are beyond anything I've gotten from Sprint/Clear's WiMAX^(INFO) network, and the coverage is worlds better. Sprint 4G has proven itself to be mostly useless for me when taking the train through New Jersey to New York, but Verizon's LTE network was very strong and consistent.

After all, what good is 4G capability if you can't get on a 4G network with enough bandwidth to let you actually download and upload large files? Not much.

In that regard, Pantech's UML290 modem and Verizon's LTE network have given me my first truly enjoyable 4G experience, working quickly most everywhere I tried it. I highly recommend both the network and the Pantech UML290.

The Pantech UML290 is available for $99.99, after mail-in rebate, with a 2 year contract, and is available for $249.99 without a contract. A 5GB data plan costs $50 per month, while a 10GB plan costs $80 per month.