How do you like Wind? - Shaw Purchases Wind

[ken0042]

Yes, Wind does support the Nexus devices. You will get coverage in Calgary, but if you mean Okotoks or Airdrie as "surrounding area"- you will be roaming there.

[Hemi-Cuda]

From their map it looks like they have about half of Chestermere covered. When my contract is up with Bell next year hopefully they close the gaps and I can get away from the big 3

[SebC]

I still don't think I'm gonna turn on data roaming.

[Rathji]

Sucks that I just reupped on Rogers based solely on Wind roaming data rates.

[WilsonFourTwo]

Originally Posted by Imported_Aussie

If I am looking at buying a Nexus 5 and bringing it onto a network, does Wind support the Nexus? If I am in Calgary area most of the time, occasionally in the surrounding area, rarely beyond that, does Wind work for that well?

100% Yes....I used my Nexus 4 on Wind up until last week and they were selling the Nexus 4 and 5 until just recently....actually pretty surprised that they don't still list the N5...I'm 99% sure I saw it in the Chinook Store last Tuesday.

And for those that care, all models of the iPhone 5 (5, s, c) work on Wind. I picked up a 5s and it's worked really well. Needed somebody 'In the know' to help get Facetime and iMessage to work but it's worked flawlessly since setup.

Although it can't/won't be confirmed, it is widely expected that the next iPhone (due out in 4-6 weeks) will be officially supported by Apple & Wind.

[WilsonFourTwo]

Originally Posted by Kipper is King

I'm almost certainly switching now... This is great news!

http://mobilesyrup.com/2014/08/13/wi...sa-and-canada/

Spoiler!

I'm really impressed with this - and it makes a huge difference. Even under the old terms I didn't really worry too much about the usage (it balances out as much cheaper than Big 3 over the course of the year).

And now....I won't even think about it, I just consider it full Canadian coverage. The reality is you'd have to try awfully hard to get a Wind invoice of $75, which is an entry level plan for the Big 3.

[WilsonFourTwo]

I've been with Wind for three full years now and couldn't be happier. Call me a fanboy if you like, but I like to think of it as being a (very) satisfied customer. It takes a lot to get a grouchy jerk like me to promote a service....

I've decided to provide some stats and give a 'real life' example. I'm a pretty typical smartphone user....a fair amount of talk, some overseas calling, a lot of text, and a lot of video/browsing/social media and would consider myself a solid benchmark for comparison.

I've gone through my usage history for the past three months.
W=On Wind Network
A=Off Wind Network

July-August (in progress for another 9 days):
W= 256 minutes, 464 text, 967 MB
A= 2 minutes,16 text,18 MB
June-July:
W= 72 minutes, 312 text, 1GB
A= 0 minutes, 4 text, 21MB
May-June:
W=158 minutes, 497 text, 1GB
A=0 minutes, 2 text, 6MB

Monthly Bill, Past 18 Months ($40/mth base plan)
Aug $58.53
Jul $47.63
Jun $43.05
May $42.91
Apr $42.43
Mar $43.44
Feb $48.06
Jan $80.55 (Trip to East Coast, Significant Roaming)
Dec $102.57 (Trip to East Cost, Significant Roaming)
Oct $53.11
Sep $49.91
Aug $91.21 (Trip to USA, Significant Roaming)
Jul $59.82 (Trip to East Coast, Significant Roaming)
Jun $47.57
May $48.10
Apr $51.56
Mar $56.74 (Trip to East Coast, Roaming)
Feb $47.93

18 Month = $1015.12 = $56.40 monthly average.
Months Primarily in Calgary = $624.23 = $48.02 monthly average.
Months With Significant Travel (Roaming) = $390.89 = $78.18 monthly average.

So even when I travel and rely heavily on roaming (don't really alter my usage very much...) I've averaged the same cost as an $75/$80 entry level plan with the Big Three. Now with the roaming rates substantially cut, this cost will plummet.

For day to day usage (Calgary and Southern Alberta) the cost is roughly 2/3 to 1/2 of the Big Three.

General Thoughts after Three Years:

1. I have no service complaints. The data network went offline (voice was fine) for a few hours last month which was the first service interruption I experienced in three years.

2. The HPSA+ data speeds are obviously not the same as LTE (the sacrifice you have to make with Wind, presumably for the foreseeable future) but I've never had trouble streaming MLB.TV, YouTube, Netflix, etc.

3. I have been well over 3GB in data usage several times. A mental tally of the bills this morning suggest ~1.5 average. Short of cancelling my internet and hotspotting all my home internet traffic, I don't see how I could possibly hit the 5GB fair use cap.

4. Network Coverage in downtown towers is good, but becomes a bit touch and go when in sealed rooms/elevators in the core of the building. It's not uncommon to switch to roaming in these situations (20% of the time?)

5. There a noticeable improvement in coverage over the past three years, particularly in the past 12-18 months. I get full coverage at CrossIron Mills and good coverage in southern parts of Airdrie.

[HOWITZER]

Oh man! I'm on Wind and I didn't know that their roaming rates dropped to 5¢ per MB. That's sweet! I love Wind down here in Ontario but my beef has always been once I leave KW I am stuck without phone service (roaming charges) unless I go to Toronto or London. At least now with the lower roaming rates it takes the edge off.

Overally my review of Wind is high. Customer support is great. Paying monthly bill is super simple. And the cost is unbeatable. $40 for unlimited everything? Who else offers that without a contract?

When I signed up initially I also got a Wind Tab on a Nexus 4 and so long as my plan keeps being reasonable I have no problem sticking with Wind until the tab is paid off.

[FlameOn]

Yes I do love the Wind US roaming... I just leave data roaming on now unless I go outside of North America... using the unlimited US package twice I used over 500MB of data per trip and only racked up a $6-9 extra per trip.

Coverage has improved steadily since I got on the network in November last year... but the speedtests are a little slow though... I average 150-200ms pings and peak out at only 5-9Mbps on their network... is that normal?

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by WilsonFourTwo

And for those that care, all models of the iPhone 5 (5, s, c) work on Wind. I picked up a 5s and it's worked really well. Needed somebody 'In the know' to help get Facetime and iMessage to work but it's worked flawlessly since setup.

Can you please back that up? Because what you said there directly contradicts what is on Wind's site:

Not sure if your iPhone is compatible? Start here:
iPhone 5
Purchase Date: After April 11th, 2013.
Model Number: A1428
Serial Number: Must contain the following sequence

It would be nice if that was true- however several people have said that in this thread, and nobody seems to be able to back it up. With that date- I would venture to guess that most iPhone 5 models will not work on Wind. (Based upon that date being well past the half way point for the year the iPhone 5 was for sale; and that more people would be inclined to purchase close to release date.)

[WilsonFourTwo]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Can you please back that up? Because what you said there directly contradicts what is on Wind's site:

Not sure if your iPhone is compatible? Start here:
iPhone 5
Purchase Date: After April 11th, 2013.
Model Number: A1428
Serial Number: Must contain the following sequence

It would be nice if that was true- however several people have said that in this thread, and nobody seems to be able to back it up. With that date- I would venture to guess that most iPhone 5 models will not work on Wind. (Based upon that date being well past the half way point for the year the iPhone 5 was for sale; and that more people would be inclined to purchase close to release date.)

OK, I was perhaps a bit too loose with my words about *every* iPhone 5, thanks for providing some detail. Early iPhone 5 models (built prior to Apr 11 2013) won't work , correct. Used phone buyers beware (a driver for me buying a new one).

Now, all iPhone 5 models built after that date definitely DO work. Case in point...I have one. It's streaming music off the Wind network as I type this and it works flawlessly.

[DoubleK]

Originally Posted by WilsonFourTwo

Needed somebody 'In the know' to help get Facetime and iMessage to work but it's worked flawlessly since setup.

I still can't get MMS (picture messaging) to work on my N5. I would like to meet this 'somebody'.

[FlameOn]

Originally Posted by DoubleK

I still can't get MMS (picture messaging) to work on my N5. I would like to meet this 'somebody'.

Doesn't this usually have something to do with your APN settings? I think something is messed up with them if they aren't working properly.

It should be this, check your settings
Data
---------------------------
Name: Wind CA
APN: internet.windmobile.ca
MCC: 302
MNC: 490
Type: default,supl

MMS
---------------------------
Name: Wind CA MMS
APN: mms.windmobile.ca
MMSC: http://mms.windmobile.ca
MMS Proxy: 74.115.197.70
MMS Port: 8080
MCC: 302
MNC: 490
Type: mms

[DoubleK]

The only thing different in my settings was the 'Name' field. Everything else was the same.

[FlameOn]

Originally Posted by DoubleK

The only thing different in my settings was the 'Name' field. Everything else was the same.

What is wrong? You can't receive MMS or can't send? You might be better off going to a kiosk and asking about it. Hm...

[4X4]

Originally Posted by WilsonFourTwo

3. I have been well over 3GB in data usage several times. A mental tally of the bills this morning suggest ~1.5 average. Short of cancelling my internet and hotspotting all my home internet traffic, I don't see how I could possibly hit the 5GB fair use cap.

What a good idea. Is there any way I can figure out how much internet I use? 90% of my internet usage is reading forums and news, and then I hit up Netflix for maybe 10 hours per month. Sometimes I consume alcohol and then crank tunes off youtube for a couple hours. Does that sound like less than 5 gigs? I honestly have no idea, so please go easy on me.

[FlameOn]

Originally Posted by 4X4

What a good idea. Is there any way I can figure out how much internet I use? 90% of my internet usage is reading forums and news, and then I hit up Netflix for maybe 10 hours per month. Sometimes I consume alcohol and then crank tunes off youtube for a couple hours. Does that sound like less than 5 gigs? I honestly have no idea, so please go easy on me.

From your phone it's easy if you have an android phone. "Settings" -> "Data Usage". For home, you'd have to check the router and even then that's brand dependent on how you can find that info. Netflix might be a bit of a data hog.

[Temporary_User]

I'm glad to be done with Wind myself.

At first I was happy and wanted to see the company succeed to push out the top 3 a little (and still do to an extent).
However my short time with them was nothing but troubles. Mainly lousy customer service which helped my decision to leave them. I was given the option to join the company plan or continue having my company pay for my line with WIND.

First problem with them was when I called in to switch my plan to include the U.S. roaming plan. I received a text confirming my plan had been switched and went to the States a few days later. While down there I received a different text stating my plan was getting close to a dollar amount cap and if I went over my account would be suspended. I called in to inquire about this and they told me my plan was never changed. In their call log all they had input I called in to inquire about switching plans but in the end decided not to switch.

Quite the hassle waiting and arguing with them to refund my money on that one.
I also found out that even though I confirmed my plan would stay the same except for adding the U.S. roaming (special promotional plan for the same dollar amount). That was actually not the case as I lost VM which I then argued and lost and thus added $7/month to my bill. I still would have changed my plan of course saving money ($8/month) every month instead of $15/month to add the roaming, but the principle of them saying no other changes grinds my gears.

A few weeks go by and I go to the states again. What happens? Yep more U.S. roaming charges. This was the last straw.

All this while dealing with incompetent and/or hard to understand customer service agents. One trick I found effective was emailing in my complaints and then I would receive a call back a few days later from an agent that would have already looked into my account and would be better able to assist me from there.

[Yellefan]

Does anyone know if there is still issues with iMessage & FaceTime on the wind network? Thinking of switching but that would be an issue for me right there.

My koodo LTE is crap at the office and at home, so the speeds of Wind network probably wouldn't be much worse... just a tough call as to whether or not to take the plunge.

[DoubleK]

Originally Posted by FlameOn

What is wrong? You can't receive MMS or can't send? You might be better off going to a kiosk and asking about it. Hm...

Can't send.