Internet On The Road

[Al - K4GLU]

Know this has been covered several times but I've never seen this service mentioned so thought I'd start a new thread.

Product & Service › Autonet Mobile

Service is called Autonet. They offer 2 monthly plans per their website - 29 and 59 bucks a month depending on how heavy your use is. I understand the router costs about 500 bucks up front. Sounds pretty good but has anyone actually used it?

For the conspiracy theorists: I know absolutely nothing about this company and am not connected to them in any way. This is being posted for info only since I thought it might be of interest. I'm particularly interested in seeing if anyone has used this service and what their experience has been.

[purman]

It uses cell towers by the looks of it ... you can get a Verizon set up for about that price less the $500.00 as their usb stick it about $50 or less depending.... Although with autonet you can hook up more than one computer... Which I doubt anyone here really needs to do....


and I'll be damed when my kids are older if I'm gonna let them sit in the back on the computers while on vacation.....

I didn't have it. so why do they need it.... I know I'm a mean dad... But I want my kids to think for themselves and play out side...

[Al - K4GLU]

I tried Verizon - it stunk - and you cannot get a monthly plan for I-net only for 29 bucks a month.

[purman]

But if it uses cell towers It's gonna be the same a Verizon, unless they have a deal to piggy back other cell companies?????? And $500 for the hardware is steep... Unless you are always on the road...

[azflycaster]

I have a Verison air card that my company foots the bill for. They pay $59 per month for unlimited use. I have used the card many times and have been very satisfied with the service.

[richinny]

that may be unlimited for business or you're grandfathered but for new/personal, it has limits.

if you can bluetooth from computer to phone, you can do a month to month for the aircard price. or so they say, i was also told i could do data transfer but when i went to sign up, that was grandfathered too and no available, at $20. a month no less!.

[2airishuman]

Originally Posted by azflycaster

...They pay $59 per month for unlimited use...

there are NO unlimited plans, and there haven't been any.

sprint's limit is now 5 gb too, and much of the recent reporting suggests they ALL will be using tiered pricing soon.

originally the V plan was called unlimited, but in the fine print said...

'those exceeding 5 gb/ month would be terminated withOUT notification'...

NOW that plan has dropped the 'unlimited' wording completely and the automatic cut-offs too.

instead it's referred to as the 5 gb plan. IF a user goes over that limit they are charged 0.25$ per 1 mb? over, i think.

V also now has a lower priced plan (39$) with a 50 mb limit which is plenty for JUST email.

the o.p. link IS using cell towers, and as always the coverage maps largely determine what vendor is ideal 4 each of us.

a V card (in a mac) can be used for 'multiple computers' either by apple sharing or my plugging a router INTO the mac...

a V card can also be used with some wireless routers (direct plug in) to create a local V hotspot...

the V card continues to amaze me at how well it works and how available signals are...

tweak the coverage/signal with a wilson amplifier and antenna for even better connections.

cheers
2air'

[Mike Leary]

We had Verizon, dumped it (at a large $175.00 charge) since so many areas have free
wi-fi (pizza joints, etc.). Most RV parks have wi-fi now.

[LI Pets]

Originally Posted by 2airishuman

tweak the coverage/signal with a wilson amplifier and antenna for even better connections.

cheers
2air'

Hey, tell us more about that, which ones are good and what's the setup etc.

I use a V card ans it's great but sometimes slows in fringe areas

[2airishuman]

Originally Posted by LI Pets

Hey, tell us more about that, which ones are good and what's the setup etc.

I use a V card ans it's great but sometimes slows in fringe areas

hi bob

this is the vendor i purchased from, but others have the stuff now.

3Gstore.com

here is their antenna and booster section...

Booster-Antenna.com

i've got the big 'trucker' antenna on the 'stream and a small magnetic one for the truck...

the wilson amp is as mobile as the laptop.

these threads cover this info in more detail...it's good stuff!

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f42/...rds-42538.html

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f452...ter-37656.html

http://www.airforums.com/forums/show...5&postcount=27

cheers
2air'

[Al - K4GLU]

As a matter of fact I am a fulltimer. I tried Verizon a year or so ago when they had a supposedly try it for a month free. Kept the unit for 27 days and during that time I had exactly 2 days when I was able to get good I-net service. Spent 5 days right next door to Charleston, SC and during the entire time I was there doubt I had 3 hours when I had even marginal service. To make a long story short I turned the stuff back in and after assuring me at the start that there would be absolutely no charge if it was turned back in before the month was up they then sent me a bill for 73 bucks. I called and talked to them and was told it would be taken care of but instead they turned it over to a collection agency - I told them that for the first time in my life I would not pay the bill and I haven't. As far as I'm concerned Verizon stinks and given my experience I have trouble believing some of the claims I hear from people about the great service. Don't get me wrong - I'm well aware that there is not 100% country wide coverage. But 5 days next to a city as big as Charleston and virtually no service - something is rotten in Verizon Land.

[TBRich]

We use Alltel's aircard...it's been pretty go for the most part (without a booster, etc)...there have been a few places where it didn't work well or we had a weak signal, but that's going to happen here and there. Generally, when we can get a cell signal, we can get a broadband signal as well. We have unlimited use...and as far as I know that has not changed since I signed up.

[warbler5]

Originally Posted by Mike Leary

We had Verizon, dumped it (at a large $175.00 charge) since so many areas have free
wi-fi (pizza joints, etc.). Most RV parks have wi-fi now.

We had Verizon, too. We dumped it when my PC laptop died, and when I went to get a new card for my Mac, they refused to give me any kind of trade-in or discount on the new card (unlike all the discounts they offer to suck you in!)....the new card was close to $300. I decided to pay the $175 early termination charge, and I don't regret it for a second....a lesson learned! There are many places that offer free WiFi....restaurants, libraries, and even the Borrego Springs Chamber of Commerce office! There are also places, like $tarbuck$, that offer WiFi for a niminal fee....the advantage there is that they are found everywhere!

I would love to have WiFi in our Airstream like we have at home....but, currently the providers just want too many $$$$ for it.

Thanks for starting this thread, Al - K4GLU....I was hoping there might be something new out there!

[willyd]

Best to use wifi when possible (little to no cost) and/or most libraries have computer access - best for paying bills online (don't use wifi to pay bills} Works for Me.

[jimmini]

We have been using a ATT aircard for going on 2 years now along with ATT cell phone.Our aircard is UNLIMITED time, never have been charged over $59.I use it about 100 to 150 hr per month.
The system works ok if your cell phone works,but in Arizona there are many areas that have NO cell phone coverage and this is true with parts of Nevada and Utah.Out here some times Verizon works when ATT does not and some time ATT work when Verizon does not,so take your pick.
In some areas the down load time get very slow like a land line during peak use time.I use my same aircard on my PC at home and lap top when I travle it is my only internet connection.
I have looked at Data Storm satellite but to many $$$$ and work to set up.But does work in more areas if you can aline with satellite.But deep canyons and trees here do not make it 100%.

[Mike Leary]

Originally Posted by warbler5

We had Verizon, too. We dumped it when my PC laptop died. I decided to pay the $175 early termination charge, and I don't regret it for a second....a lesson learned! Thanks for starting this thread, Al - K4GLU....I was hoping there might be something new out there!

There are no good deals.

[richinny]

Originally Posted by 2airishuman

there are NO unlimited plans, and there haven't been any.
2air'

t-moble offers it

internet only plan unlimited $50.00

[2airishuman]

Originally Posted by Al - K4GLU

...I have trouble believing some of the claims I hear from people about the great service...5 days next to a city as big as Charleston and virtually no service - something is rotten in Verizon Land.

service or coverage? 2 different issues...

i've hand trouble with the software 2 or 3 times, and had one card that died after 5 months usage...

they shipped my a new card overnight at no cost...

tech support online is sometimes great (usa support from seattle) and sometimes not.

coverage issues can be a mystery sometimes...

last year artstream and i were camped with 200 feet of each other with the SAME verizon and wilson stuff (mac vs pc)...

he had ZERO connection and i had a juicy fat connection for 5 days.

Originally Posted by warbler5

...I went to get a new card for my Mac, they refused to give me any kind of trade-in or discount on the new card (unlike all the discounts they offer to suck you in!)....the new card was close to $300...

u can buy the card for 300$ WITHOUT a service contract, meaning month2month no obligation

i've been month to month with them for over a year using a v640 express 34 mac card.

recently i upgraded to the v740 card (faster, faster, faster) for UNDER 50$ for the card.

best buy had the same card at 19$ (with rebates) in the spring, with a 'list price' of 300$.

no they don't take old cards in trade, but i've got a v640 that still works GREAT, u can have it for FREE....

it's NOT a usb card however, it's an express 34 card for the mbpro line....

Originally Posted by TBRich

We use Alltel's aircard...it's been pretty go for the most part...

verizon has/is purchasing alltel, pending approval by the feds.

Originally Posted by jimmini

We have been using a ATT aircard for going on 2 years now along with ATT cell phone.Our aircard is UNLIMITED time, never have been charged over $59...

well "unlimited time' isn't the same thing. they still DO have limits on usage and DATA volume...

here is a link to the att offerings, WHICH PLAN HAS UNLIMITED DATA/USAGE ??

Available Data Rate Plans | AT&T wireless services

of course with a really slow connection it could take 100s of hours to reach those data limits.

Originally Posted by richinny

t-moble offers it... internet only plan unlimited $50.00

have you tried downloading software, movies, video, streaming or other large data/bandwidth needs?

has T now built a true 3g network or are they still using enhanced gprs networks?

last time i checked tincan-string-tincan phones were still free and with unlimited time/data/usage too...

so along with finding ideal coverage-plans, it's important to know what sort of connection/speed and data handling is used.

here's some light reading for those that need to sort out the issues, terms and players....

T-Mobile Holds Up Free Broadband Plan

Broadband Boom May Be Over

Verizon in a position to dictate data limits

U.S. Broadband Speeds Too Darn Slow; Adoption Hits 7-Year Low

Welcome to TechNewsWorld

Guide to Mobile Broadband


cheers
2air'

[Ahab]

Originally Posted by Mike Leary

We had Verizon, dumped it (at a large $175.00 charge) since so many areas have free
wi-fi (pizza joints, etc.). Most RV parks have wi-fi now.

This is true and rest stops too,small town libraries even barbershops. We have a Macbook with Airport and don't have any problems connecting.

[vox]

wifi is best if one is careful. Best to use a dedicated computer without private files on it and be very careful about banking. wifi connections are very easily hacked even if you have it locked.

Having said that I have an old fujitsu tablet that has full windows 98 on it and hand writing recognition. It can be hooked up to regular keyboard and monitor when back in the camper. Through the usb and pcm ports you can hook it up most any way. Lighter than a regular laptop and more robust as they were produced for business use in the field. A new toy is the ipod touch.Apart from music and video it can go to the net by wifi and weighs just ounces and fits in a shirt pocket. Drift by any Starbucks and you get 2 hours a day free up here for any coffee card of their's. Have several coffee cards and they are good for 2 hours each with minimal balance so basically connection is free. No need to pay at all unless one is doing business on the road and need a continual , secure link. The smallest memory touch is about 275.00 new in Canada and I see them second hand already for around 150. The largest is 32 megs and is about double those prices. I have heard that geeks can hack them and turn them into iphones too. A regular iphone with runs about 1000 but should drop very soon as there is some good competition coming after them.