Wireless/Cellular Internet Access

Does anyone here use a cell card to access the net? I do know OkeeDon tried one on his computer through Nextel I think. Something tells me it was connected to his phone though.

This past weekend we went on a little mini-vacation and I didn't know what kind of Internet access the hotel might have there. So before we left, I made sure I had a phone cord, a network cable and of course the laptop has a wireless card. My son offered his Sprint PCS card as a back-up, just in case. Thanks to him, I had access
No wireless or network access was available, I even searched for errant wireless signals . Yes there was dial-up available, but at 75 cents a call. I tried his Sprint card, which he had installed on the laptop before we left. That thing did work, but I have to admit, it was just a tad bit better than dial-up would have been. Pages were slow to load, especially it they were full of images. I think he said his employer pays $70/month for that service.

Anyone else have any thoughts on what to do while traveling?

I'm using Verizon for my cell service.

There's a kit I bought that consists of a CD of software and a cable that goes from the phone to the PC (and uses the PC's internal modem). When I use it, it just burns my cell phone minutes but there's no other charges. It is pretty slow.

They do have a service available for higher speed connections but it requires a monthly or annual subscription.

For this forum when using that connection, I disable signatures, avatars and attachments which speeds things up.

I probably could have done that Brian, would have made things a little better. But for 2 days I didn't see the urgency.

We tested a Sprint cellular card for wireless laptop connections. It was OK, but it also was on a 60 day test from Sprint and we returned it before the end of 60 days. It just wasn't good enough except in a pinch. We sort of figured that there are enough better ways to connect, and since we did not need connections in EVERY location, it really ended up being more expensive than we could justify.

For travel I either hook into the hotel free WiFi (if they offer it) or the hotel's pay service. Overall it works better than any other solution I've found.

B_Skurka said:

We tested a Sprint cellular card for wireless laptop connections. It was OK, but it also was on a 60 day test from Sprint and we returned it before the end of 60 days. It just wasn't good enough except in a pinch. We sort of figured that there are enough better ways to connect, and since we did not need connections in EVERY location, it really ended up being more expensive than we could justify.

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You're right Bob, in a pinch it worked, but for the 2-3 times a year I travel, I'm not forking out $70/month for it

OhioTC18 said:

You're right Bob, in a pinch it worked, but for the 2-3 times a year I travel, I'm not forking out $70/month for it

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If you really are in a pinch and have a WiFi capable system there are literally THOUSANDS of 'hot spots' and many are free. But even if you have to pay $10 for 24 hours, it often works out a heck of a lot cheaper in the long run.

At one time I had a link to WiFi hotspots, it listed them by provided, etc and you could even do a Zip Code search.

Jerry,

I know our Claims department just switched at work. I know they've had Cingular and Sprint (switched because of a better deal) but service was crappy so they went looking again. This time they ended up with Verizon. One of the guys was telling me it is 800k down and 128k up. He said it was screaming fast and seemed to be pretty reliable. Now as far as cost I have no clue, I guess whatever it takes to provide the best available service to our customers. I know we had adjusters 600 miles+ from home out adjusting damages this past Easter.

I have a netgear card for my laptop. I have not been to a hotel lately that did not have wireless internet. In Vegas the jerks charged you for it though. Most of my travels are in my truck and pulling in to the parking lots of most coffee places have free internet also. I just get my email, reply to the real important ones and then head out, don't even leave my pickem up truck. At night like I said I will pick hotels that say, "Free Fast Internet"

murph

thcri said:

I have a netgear card for my laptop. I have not been to a hotel lately that did not have wireless internet. In Vegas the jerks charged you for it though. Most of my travels are in my truck and pulling in to the parking lots of most coffee places have free internet also. I just get my email, reply to the real important ones and then head out, don't even leave my pickem up truck. At night like I said I will pick hotels that say, "Free Fast Internet"

murph

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That is one thing I look for when I'm planning a trip murph. But this time we had little choice. The wife wanted to stay in the hotel attached to the casino. No internet access except to provide you local access numbers at 75 cents a call.

OhioTC18 said:

That is one thing I look for when I'm planning a trip murph. But this time we had little choice. The wife wanted to stay in the hotel attached to the casino. No internet access except to provide you local access numbers at 75 cents a call.

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The MGM Grand charged us $10.00 for 24 hours. I paid for two nights of the 4 we stayed. One night I got free because they could not get it working at first and then decided to bypass the hotel and I go direct to the supplier.

murph