[RTC List] SUMMARIZED replies - wireless laptop surfing w/cell minutes

[CrawfordCA at aol.com]

To the RTC listserv  ...
 
There was enough interest to my 9/29 request for information that I  
summarize the replies for your information. Both my original posting and the  replies 
are shown below. 
 
Because I posted this request for someone else, I was not quite up to  speed 
and therefore got an education on the different choices for wireless  laptop 
surfing:
 
CHOICE 1 is to use your cellphone to dial up an Internet  connection, which 
is a slow connection but you get Internet access  anywhere you get a cellphone 
signal.
 
CHOICE 2 is to sign up for a wireless service provider, which is a high (or  
at least medium) speed connection but not necessarily available in a lot of  
locations.
 
CHOICE 3 is to use a broadband Internet-enabled cellphone that can be  used 
to connect a laptop. Again, the question here may be service  availability for 
those who travel a lot.
 
Many thanks to all who replied for your assistance. 
 
CHRIS
 
~~~~~~~~~  ORIGINAL REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
 

From: _CrawfordCA at aol.com_ (mailto:CrawfordCA at aol.com)  
To: _list at redwoodtech.org_ (mailto:list at redwoodtech.org)  
Sent: Friday, September 29, 2006 12:33  PM
Subject: [RTC List] Recommendations for  wireless laptop surfing w/cellminutes


Hi RTC'ers !!!
 
Does anyone have recommendations for a good service provider that offers  
wireless laptop Internet access using minutes from your cellphone contract?  If 
so, can you use it in and out of the local area??  Comments and  referrals are 
very welcome.
 
Please respond only to me, and don't spam the whole list. If you  want to 
receive a compilation of the replies, let me know or  I will summarize them in a 
final posting back to the whole list if there  appears to be enough interest.
 
Thanks for your consideration,
 
Chris Crawford
_www.justiceserved.com_ (http://www.justiceserved.com/) 

 
 
~~~~~~~~~~~ Response from _van at thedigest.com_ (mailto:van at thedigest.com) 
 
Chris,

Am not sure from your post if you are looking for  pure
(wireless) broadband access, or are simply looking to get a  modem
connection from a cellphone provider that will connect your laptop to  a
dial-up ISP. The latter depends more upon what type of phone  you
purchase, rather than who your provider is.

Sprint is the only  local carrier I know of that offers a PCMCIA card
for broadband access via a  laptop computer. Of course, that brings up
another question... Are you  looking to be able to access the connection
from anywhere in Humboldt County,  or are you just looking to run your
laptop from a (mostly) static  location?

FYI, on the subject of wireless phones for voice, if you use a  LOT of
minutes, the best deal I have found on service in this area is  from
AMPD mobile. They offer completely unlimited minutes for around  $120
per month, with nationwide coverage. Their phones also  provide
broadband access to the web and live radio and video feeds. Not  exactly
laptop access, but if you use a ton of minutes, this at least  allows
you to not worry about running up your bill. Their phones are  mini
multimedia boxes, with a video camera, still camera, exclusive  live
programming, push-to-talk, an MP3 player, etc.

William Van  Hefner
Editor - TheDigest.Com

Vantek Communications, Inc.
555 H  Street, Suite C
Eureka, CA 95501
707.476.0833 ph
800.331.4638  fx
e-mail: _van at thedigest.com_ (mailto:van at thedigest.com) 

~~~~~~~~~~~ Response from _jyolton at pacbell.net_ (mailto:jyolton at pacbell.net) 
 
 
Chris,
 
I use Sprint PCS. It allows you to connect using their wireless phone  
service (w/cord to laptop) and does not use the minutes in your contract. It's  
slower than DSL, but faster than dial up, probably in the 100K-130K range.
 
That service also comes with wireless Hi Speed service via your wireless  
card, wherever they have service (which I have not tested too often, as I use  
T-Mobile).
 
I can use it here it Humboldt county with pretty good performance, and  
Sprint PCS has good coverage throughout the US, switching to digital Roam and  
analog Roam where necessary.
 
I pay $10 for that option, which also allows me to access the internet via  
the phone (small screen) from wherever I have service.
 
www.sprint.com

 
~~~~~~~~~~~ Response from _prepress at timesprinting.com_ 
(mailto:prepress at timesprinting.com) 
 
Chris,
All the major companies offer unlimited wireless  Internet access for 
around $50.00 a month (Sprint, Verizon,  EDGE/AT&T/Cingular). I would go 
with a national company and as far as I  know AT&T/EDGE/Cingular works 
best in the woods. Another option is to  use a cell phone that offers a 
null-modem connect and a dial up account,  only problem is the dial up 
speeds.

Much Luck,
Dustin
 
~~~~~~~~~~~ Response from _dariat at cox.net_ (mailto:dariat at cox.net) 
 
 
Chris,
 
Some people down at JPL  are using the Verizon broadband card which gets 
access in lots of places with  good speed but I don't know how it works with a 
cell phone contract.  I'm  also not sure they provide coverage up here yet.
 
Daria

 
~~~~~~~~~~~ Response from _sean at scandoc.com_ (mailto:sean at scandoc.com) 
 
Hi Chris:
I looked into this for Area Agency on Aging a few months  ago.  Edge 
Wireless has the Aircard which is a wireless PCMCIA card  which can 
use the "Smartcard" from a phone so equipped.  I think this  means you 
can use the same account for voice and data.  The card was  about $150 
and service about $60/month if I recall correctly.

I have  no idea about its effectiveness other than the fact that I use 
their voice  service and it works many many places where others don't.

Good  Luck,

Sean Ennis

~~~~~~~~~~~ Response from _jcarlson at carlsonwireless.com_ 
(mailto:jcarlson at carlsonwireless.com) 
 
 
I can't speak of it personally but friends of mine are using Verizon 3g 
 
Sincerely,

James Carlson
CEO and President
Carlson  Wireless Technologies Inc.
1180 Evergreen Rd 
Redway, CA 95560 
+1.707  .923 3000

 
~~~~~~~~~~~ END
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