"I know nothing"

D

dotnmarty

New member
How''s that for an uninformative "topic". Unfortunately, in this case it's true.
For father's day my kids gave me a Dell Inspiron mini 10, a small laptop. With the help of Capt. Charlie Vinroot I was able to install a Netgear router. Now I can sit in front of our tv and read the C-Brats at the same time. But, I want to venture out with the little laptop. So my question is this. What the should I do about mobile broadband? I've seen the ads for ATT 3G and for Verizon. Should I just look for free wifi, or which one of the paid services do you recommend? About what do they cost? Your recommendations would be appreciated.
 
I will watch this thread with interest; since web access away from home is pretty foreign to me unless I can grab a free WiFi somewhere. Hopefully folks will clue-us-(both)-in.

As for the neat Father's Day gift; lucky guy.

My son just bought me a good bottle of Scotch ... Hmmm, on second thought, not so bad afterall!

Best,
Casey
 
Free wifi is nice when available. You'll often find it at bookstores, RV parks, some marinas.

But if you want internet on the road try a data plan from your local cell provider.

I use Alltel and have a USB wifi modem that lets me get internet just about anywhere - even when travelling down the road at 60mph.

See my video review of this technology at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CCAwEbdsdw

Note: check coverage plans of your cell phone provider before subscribing to the data plan. And to save money, buy the wifi usb device on eBay to fit your cell provider data plan.

Bill
 
You have several options - consider what you want to achieve.

The most limiting factor will be WiFi availability. You need to get on the internet, so the question is how to you do it from your location (wherever that is).

On land WiFi (I am not referring to dedicated satellite internet service, such as Hughes Net, Iridium, GlobalStar, etc, but instead referring to internet WiFi based upon POTS [Plain Old Telephone System]) is achieved via the telephone (land line phones) or cell phone repeaters located across the country (world). If you're in range of a free WiFi signal (such as a marina, another person's WiFi at their home, or a business (assuming they are open to Anonymous usage and not using security), you can "generally" get a signal. Howver, that signal (your ability to connect to the WiFi) will vary greatly based upon your location to the WiFi signal.

So, in some marinas or in some locations, you may or you may not get a very good signal - generally based upon your distance from the WiFi signal. Just remember, some marinas have great WiFi equipment and great amplification of the WiFi signal, while others you can't get a signal outside of 100 feet - it's hit or miss.

Some, cell phone providers/carriers (AT&T, Nextel, Verizon, etc, etc) have decent cell phone repeaters located along coast line areas (either freshwater areas or salt water coastlines). Again, it's hit or miss as to if they have a repeater near shore and someone (a business, personal home) has a WiFi set up near where you are located.

The above basically all refers to getting a signal on land. And when you're on a boat, land is going to be generally very limited on a boat - you will need sight of land to get a signal.

Sometimes, you can get a decent signal off-shore for a limited range via your cell phone - again, depends on the provider's/carrier's location and signal strength.

I have a BlackJack II SmartPhone and my carrier is AT&T on the 3G network.

When a land-line WiFi signal is not available or the location is security enabled (e.g. WEP), I hook up my phone and use my tethering. This equates to making a call on my cell phone and using the modem connection on my cell phone with my laptop. Around the area I'm located I can sometimes get 25 miles offshore - not bad!

Outside of the above, if you are really talking about offshore internet access, you're talking satellite internet systems which run on average of about $400-$500/month for roaming the seas and getting on the internet - and you'll need: (1) the equipment (expensive), (2) a minimum of a one year contract (expensive); and, mucho $$.

So, that wasn't very brief, but getting WiFi access on a boat is very, very limited to marinas (and the equipment they put up for you - will it be free, are you in 'range' of their WiFi), and you're limited to on land repeaters and equipment maintained in the area.

The other option, is to look into tethering as I do with my phone. It works most of the time, but again, I'm limited based upon whether the carriers in the area support the 3G network, and whether the carriers in the area perform roaming on other cell phone provider's/carrier's networks.

Think about where you will be most of the time in trying to get a WiFi signal.
 
OK, Marty, into the fray!

You can get Wifi from unsecured access points, intentional or otherwise, as-if-when available. Libraries, coffee shops, sometimes just near homes. I get a decent signal while floating at Andrews Bay (Peter - PLEASE turn up the power!). Pro: free. Con: frequently not available, you might have a conscience twinge hooking on to some unintentional open access point (I don't, I assume that folks putting that signal out there know they are doing it, and would put some kind of minimal security on the router if they didn't want people to leach the signal).

A brief mention - tethering a smartphone to your computer, either with a USB cable or Bluetooth. I say forget it, this is pretty much for techno-nerds. Now, if you have a smartphone (TREO, Blackberry or whatever) and a kid can set up you, that is a different deal. Pros: you get mobile internet for whatever the service plan on your smart phone is. Con: tethering probably violates your phone service plan without an additional payment. For a short while I tethered my MacBook to a TREO 650. Not very fast, dropped the connection too much. My conclusion, it isn't worth serious consideration for the daily use. Now when tethering an iPhone to a MacBook can be done without serious hacking, I might change my mind.

This brings us down to what is realistic - some kind of USB device (USB modem or MiFi router) that connects directly to the cell phone network. Pros: reasonable speed, dependable, wide coverage depending on carrier (Verizon is the king). Cons: cost of plans. Verizon offers 250 megabytes (megabytes, not gigabytes) for $40 a month, or 5 gigabytes for $60 a month. I checked Craigslist, and today you can buy a used Verizon USB modem for $65. Verizon also offers access without signing up for a monthly plan - $15 for an unlimited day pass, which seems like a pretty good deal for occasional access, especially if you can get a good deal on a used modem. If you are going to access the net through Verizon daily though, you need the $60 a month plan.

 
I can only add this: If you already have Verizon as your cell phone carrier AND you have a phone that can be "tethered" to your laptop (most LG's and Motorolas) you can add mobile broadband as a "feature" to your present plan without incurring a 2 year contract or a contract extension. It will cost you $60/month for 5 gigs max, $40/month for 250Mb access or if you only need it for a day it'll cost you fifteen bucks for a day pass.

What's nice about it is that the unlimited plan is prorated. So you plan to spend a week out on the water? Get the 5 gig plan the day you leave and turn it off the day you get back.

Tethering is simply a USB connection between your phone and the laptop. National Access software is available (albeit difficult to find) free from Verizon. After installation it's a matter of one click connecting.

Oh, Verizon customer service will help you but you must use the magic words "I am using a tethered phone."

Don
 
All I want is a phone I can call and get called on. I think the Atari in my garage still works. I finally talked my mother in law into getting rid of her 5# cell phone. It was about the size and weight of a brick and she had 30 minutes of service and ATT was still charging her $50/mo. Of course now she keeps losing the new phone! Sometimes newer is not always better.
 
Hi Marty,

All the posting I do here is via a Verizon wireless broadband card. We have no land line these days... just our cell phones and the wireless card. Here's just one guy's opinion on this whole thing:

If we weren't traveling most of the time, DSL or cable modem is faster than our wireless broadband AND less expensive. We pay $60 per month for the wireless broadband, but we've had it long enough that we have unlimited usage (no 5 gig limit, but there is the clause that says beyond 5 gig, they can slow down our service :roll: ). The only time I have come up against that 5 gig usage in a month was when I downloaded some audio books. Most of the time, that's a non-issue.

There are WAY more places that offer wifi these days, compared to when we got our first card about 4 years ago. Besides all the previously mentioned examples, even many McDonalds are wired. It seems that many marinas have wifi... for a price... like $7 per night. Nice way to squeeze just a bit more from the customers.

We find that we have wireless broadband coverage almost everywhere we go with Verizon. Sometimes it's only National Access and slow, but that's the exception, not the rule. If you want to be able to have access while you're going down the road (or the waterway), wireless broadband is your only choice. (Unless you want outrageously expensive satellite equipment) If you just want to use your netbook while you're out and about once in a while, snagging a wifi connection isn't that tough and it's free... you just have to live with "what you can get" for a place that's wired. That's what we did prior to the wireless broadband card. Now, I'm used to having it anytime I want it, so we will stay with the wireless broadband until something better comes along.

I understand the use of tethering a cell phone to your netbook; another decent option for occasional use. Assuming you have the right kind of phone and cell plan. We have a small cell plan that is no longer offered, because most of our calls are during the free times or between Verizon users. If I were to tether the phone, I'd definitely have to go to a plan with more minutes.

Hope that helps.

Best wishes,
Jim
 
I recently bought the Verizon card and have been trying it out. Think I'll keep it and get rid of the cox.net after a short period of time to allow folks to get used to the new gmail address.
The last time I used free wi-fi in an RV park, it did ok ---- until others started waking up and logging on --- then it slowed way down :x
 
Oh, and don't forget just about every new car dealership has free WiFi. Enough range to reach street parking too. At least around here....

I learned that from a Dirty Old Man who frequents the Brat site from home but downloads his porn while parked in front of a Ford place.... :smileo

Don
 
Lizzy.... Great gift you received. I have had both ATT & Verizon.... at the same time.... running side by side in an RV.... (ya gotta love those great big dash boards)...... and... for traveling the interstate systems...from Oak Harbor WA in the NW, to the Gulf Coast in the SE, up the east coast to NY...and then on up into Canada.... the Verizon worked best hands down... for me...on my laptops.... actually, the verizon laptop should have been a bit slower as it toys inside that make things go faster were a bit older I think...but not 100% sure.... So...to take the laptop out of the equation.... I used both air cards on two seperate laptops....and, again...Verizon won. But...that was in the US... Have not tried this out of the US...other than one day in a hurry in Canada in the Halifax area...and... we were more interested in mileage than laptop speed...and...I do not live or travel that much in Canada....so...what happened in the US was my target.

I canceled the ATT side....and yes...I did spend a bit over $200... cause my 2 year contract was not up with ATT on this particular air card.....so... I did the next best thing..... and because ATT was such an A$$.... I now have about 4-5 lines and gizmos on Verizon... and am a happy man... on the road doing wireless

Byrdman
 
This is all very interesting, and yes, I am learning.

That said - I'm a WiFi kind of guy for the most part when I travel. Using Wifi often means having to boot-up the laptop just to see if a Wifi is within range and if the signal was "clear" or encrypted. Now it's easier.

Browse over to: http://canarywireless.com/canary/ For about $50 Canary sell a nifty little gizmo that will tell you of any WiFi's within range and whether or not they're encrypted. ...pretty handy.

As Jim mentioned, many McDonald's have had wifi for a few years (usually $2.95 for a continuous 2-hours usage). And I recently read that all Barnes and Noble bookstores now have free wifi in all the stores. As Jim mentioned, the number of wifi signals compared to 3-4 years ago is astounding.

...but those aircard's are still pretty attractive.

Best,
Casey
The Villages, FL
 
I find wifi hot spots with my itouch to grab email. I have HP 2140 netbook purchased in June and it has bluetooth and wifi. 10" screen and XP with 2G of ram. and like the touchpad so no mouse is needed The battery lasts for 5 or 6 hours. unbelievable to me b/c I can use without ac adapter. I wish it can be recharged using the same AC adapter with USB cable that I wish to charge the iTouch. Verizon has 2 USB broadband modems. One is $20, the other is $30 and you buy it outright. Prepaid cards start at $15 per day (full 24 hrs, gosh bless them)
I use Boingo sp?? at airport without free wifi. I use Google docs alot and the iTouch is fine for email and word processing but dont like it for spreadsheets so the use the netbook. I have begun using iTouch so much that I would like to ditch Verizon for an iPhone. I need to look for POP email client for it b/c the builtin email client does suit my needs.
itouch does not save wifi spots so most likely there is app for that too
 
We had an AT&T aircard in our laptop for a few years and it worked fine most places. Cost about $80 a month. Now have an iPhone, which replaces our old cell phone ($75/month) and the air card - AT&T cost now for our only phone, Internet access most anywhere, and a camera thrown into the deal is about $78/month. So less cost and fine connection. A lttle hard to write with two thumbs but it's coming. And the iPhone takes little space.
 
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