Mobile Computing

[fastrob]

What are you all using?
Micky D's free wi-fi?
A cell plug in?
Built in laptop hardware?
Soon, I hope, going on the road, need to stay in touch.

[rebelstand]

Virgin Mobile Wifi - unlimited plan
You might have to check their coverage map though...

[handn]

We use wifi. Most campgrounds have something. Often the connections are slow and unreliable, particularly at wakeup time when everyone else is using.
We wouldn't use it enough to justify a wireless plan.

[moosetags]

We travel extensively in Lucy (our Airstream) and need to be on the Internet every day due to our business. We use a hot spot on SuEllyn's Verizon cell phone. It works well all over the country and the speed is excellent. We like the hot spot as we can both be on-line at the same time.

Brian

[garry]

Verizon, ATT, Sprint & others have USB modems that work very well I found Verizon has much better 3G coverage than ATT. I haven't used Sprint.

Some of the new Smart Phones act as a WIFI hotspot and have data plans you can also get a MIFI USB modem that acts as a hot spot.

The new plans start at 3GB per month for $39 up to 8GB for $80 and $10 per GB over what ever you signed up for.

A lot of people get the USB modem and use CG WIFI with their USB modem as back-up.

If you get a USB modem get one that has an antenna port and supports 4G.

[Kevin245]

USB modem for us. Works very well in most cases.

Kevin

[RickDavis]

Since we boondock WiFi is not a good option.. We have used a verizon cellphone as a modem for years and are rarely without coverage.

Just upgraded to a Verizon MiFi 2200 .
We also have an external antenna on the trailer and a Wilson Sleek amplifier.

We have been very happy with the Verizon service. Only have had a no service situation in part of Northeastern Ky in the last year.

I don't think there is much need to be concerned about 4G for a couple more years unless you are mostly around major population centers.

There has been some question on the data forums about whether the 4 g modems will fall all the way back to the slower 1 rxtt speeds in some extended areas.
All this will shake out i time

[tinhutjohn]

I just got back from a trip across Canada and messaged my home base by using theFacebook message app on my Blackberry. Good two way messaging every where except the wilds of North western Ontario. Once I got into a town, the app worked again. My plan includes unlimited messaging.

[Jim Foster]

We use an AT&T USB modem. Chose AT&T because that was the best deal at the time. Wished we had gone with Verizon as the AT&T worked well most everywhere except at our Walnut Grove CA home. In the last year, the AT&T service at home is improved and works just fine. When our two years was up with AT&T we nearly switched to Verizon, but found that the Verizon air card is not supported by our Netgear WIFI modem that accepts the AT&T air card. We use the Netgear WIFI modem to network our two laptops and our WIFI printer.

[hazelgreen]

One you can get on Verizon, the MiFi 2200 is the only way to go since its use is dependent on your cell phone coverage. We have one and it is great as it can have 5 independent wifi devices working at a time and is extremely small. There is no need for another router. I have used my Blackberry from Verizon on trips and tethered to the computer but it only allowed use on one computer. My husband and I had to keep taking turns with our computers as his was for work and my for pleasure. The MiFi takes care of that problem and still have use of our phones.

[bugnot1]

Thinking about tethering my iPhone for my wifi -
Or getting one of those little Wifi hotspots -

Not sure how well that will work - sometimes my ATT signal is poor at best - even in town. Verizon????? They're looking interesting -

jan

[jdalrymple]

If your data needs are less than full-time, pay as you go USB modems are available from ATT. You pay for what you want. Something like $15-20 bucks for 200 megs used for up to 15 days, or 5 gigs for $30 spread over up to 30 days. No contract. I saw the devices at Wal-Mart for 75.00.

For those of us whom don't need full time data for laptop, it seems a workable solution. Wi-Fi where you can, and celluar access when you need it.

[nvestysly]

I am certainly a novice on this whole mobile phone, smart device, internet access, data plan stuff so I'm looking for ideas too.

Can anybody explain how the soon to be released (Feb 2010) Verizon iPhone will be better/different than the AT&T iPhone? I hear Verizon coverage is better in general compared to AT&T. We plan to travel anywhere and everywhere in the 48 states, Canada and maybe Alaska.

I guess with the iPhone I can use it as a hot spot for a computer. I want the fewest numbers of things to keep track of. I can deal with an iPhone and a computer. Maybe with those two things I can forget about satellite for TV and just use HULU and similar online offerings.

Lucius

[MO Airstream]

AT&T iPhone Tethering: An Extra $20/Month—If You Abandon Unlimited Data

Here is a good article about the cost and limitations to using the iPhone as a tethered internet connection with AT&T. I don't believe Verizon has released any info on their iPhone tethering capability. I know Verizon will be a different version of the iPhone's AT&T signal processing (I'm not technically educated enough to know the difference!) Our area in Springfield has always had hit and miss 3G with AT&T...but Springfield Metro is getting better. Branson area now has 3G also, but it is not good at all on the North side. I reside on the south end of Table Rock and have 3G consistently now.

[MO Airstream]

AppleInsider | Verizon iPhone offers Wi-Fi tethering but no simultaneous data and voice [u]
Verizon iPhone Costs $199 For 16GB, $299 For 32GB… With Tethering! | Cult of Mac
Here is some articles on the differences with the AT&T and Verizon iPhones...and it looks like Verizon is offering a 3G Mobile HotSpot app included in their iPhone. From the sounds of this, the Verizon iPhone could be linked using the phone's internet signal.

[Jammer]

There is extensive discussion of mobile computing and networking at rvforum.com, where there are a number of regulars who fulltime or are retired and traveling extensively. I would suggest that site as a better resource for non-Airstream specific aspects of wireless networking.

The aluminum skin of the Airstream does affect signal strength but the difference is not as dramatic as you might think. At the 800 Mhz-2.5Ghz frequencies at which wireless networking systems operate, radio waves come through the windows and skylights and bounce around the interior reasonably well.

[DanielB]

Verizon USB modem, but switching soon to a Verizon phone with android os so that I can loose the modem.
According to my son (and a lady at Verizon), the android phones have a 3rd party software plugin that allows you to tether your laptop to the phone for broadband.
Then if you have unlimited internet on your phone you don't pay any extra. If you use the Verizon plug in for the same purpose, they charge you a monthly fee.
The lady at verizon said that she used the 3rd party plug in.
If you have a MacBook Pro, you become a hotspot and you can share your connection wireless-ly.

[Jim Foster]

Originally Posted by hazelgreen

One you can get on Verizon, the MiFi 2200 is the only way to go since its use is dependent on your cell phone coverage. We have one and it is great as it can have 5 independent wifi devices working at a time and is extremely small. There is no need for another router.

The MiFi was not available when we got our air card and Netgear WIFI router. Today, I would take a serious look at the Verizon MiFi, as it is nice to be able to network WIFI devices such as laptops, scanners, printers etc.

[Wayward]

We've been using a Verizon 3G card for some time now but our trailer degrades cellular signals significantly - perhaps due to it's dual interior/exterior aluminum skins. I have gone through a number of configurations but the one we have now works well for us.

I mounted a Wilson Shorty RV antenna on the refrigerator vent cover and ran the cable into a closet (no holes to drill in roof). The antenna cable plugs into the Verizon card and is a huge improvement - I usually always have a very strong signal and 1Mbs+ download.

The Verizon card slides into a compact Cradlepoint CRT500 WiFi router, giving us Wifi for both laptops, Skype phone, iPad.

Although the MiFi does the same thing, it does not have an external antenna port - also a problem with tethering our cell phones.

We just leave it running in the Airstream while towing and have WiFi in the truck and wherever we stop along the way. The cellular antenna is great - we have broadband many times when the cellphones have no bars.

[nomad3622]

Ditto with Wayward. We have a very similar set up using a VZ USB and we get wireless on cell phones as well as an iPad for web surfing even while driving in the truck. It's great and beats the ATT cell service as a broad band connector hands down. We have no contract and activate it during the months that we are in the AS. A 5gig/mo data limit for $50/mo with the new 4G USB unit. If you have need for broad band, this beats McDonalds and can be secured. The whole set up is installed on closet wall and totally out of sight. There are less expensive ways to go, but I believe that this is the best way - acknowledging that technology will change before I can send this;-D
Go safely, Peter