A Women's RV Forum run by Women RVer's!

I wasn't sure where to post this so Beth, move it if necessary.

For those with Verizon; I heard that I'd have to already have an account with them (cell phone etc) in order to get the aircard. I was hoping it was something separate I could get, and turn on and off when needed without penality.

TGM says you can get an air card w/o phone-it's a separate deal with a separate #. carold

I believe that is right, as when I noticed the new phone # the young man said, yes, it was a separate # and that is how it connects.......I am not sure how the month by month activation goes. I read Cedar reference to it and Geeks on Tour mentioned it in a seminar...but I couldn't get any more info out of Verizon...... which is why I waited so long to get one...wanted to be sure that I would be using it frequently enough..... If you find out how to pu it on "hiatus" so to speak give details....I suspect that I will be working at the testing center ,again in the Spring and could save money with it off for two months!

I got my air card (Verizon) in July. I do not have any other things with V. Cell is a Tracfone. Paid at that time $199,... for the device. no contract. month by month. I had a $35 startup fee. I am on the $59/mo plan. I will shut it down after Columbus day weekend. Start up again next June. Will have to pay the $35 again, but my calculations show that it's a better deal for me than being in a 2 yr. contract with Verizon. Just beware of roaming charges,... when I was camped on the St. Lawrence river i got hit with a small amount for roaming,... apparently signal bounced off a tower across river in Canada. I'm just glad I have internet while camping now.

I have the air card on a month to month basis - BUT when you shut it off it costs $15 and I was told it you can only shut it off for 90 days at a time - then you have to call them again and shut it off for another 90 days to the tune of another $15 and if you forget to call them on time they turn it back on and charge you the #35 fee....so make sure you keep track of your dates. Mine is off now (shut off due to be renewed Sept 20) and when we get the satellite working I am going to close it. If we end up somewhere this trip without wifi for more than a few days I'll probably turn it on for remainder of trip. We'll see. It seemed to work really good - even used it in MX - $$$$.

thanks Carol, I didn't know the 90 day thing. I will discuss at the Verizon booth at the mall.

Well ladies you have given me also more info re: Verizon.
As I'm leaving for Florida Oct 28 from Canada I wondered what was the best way to go so I can be sure to be able to connect with my family for those 6 mnths, now I have a better idea.
Cedar you say from Canada you were hit with roaming charges so I guess that means I'll have to shut it off for the 6 mnths that I'm back in Canada in the spring.

Thanks again for all your experiences, that's how I'm learning how to be a full timer

You might think about the Magic Jack phone setup. You can now buy them from Walmart and Radio Shack. Its $20 a YEAR for unlimited phone service - local or long distance. The first year runs around $50 which includes one year of service and the Magic Jack thingy you plug a phone into. You hook it up to your computer (any phone will do) and you can make calls to anywhere (not real sure what the deal is for Canada). I've had one for several years and like it mostly. Sometimes the audio cuts in and out. Seems to work better when you're on Wifi rather than the Verizon aircard but for the price, you can't beat it. Check it out at www.magicjack.com I hear it works even better if you're on the internet with DSL. It saves me a lot of money on my cell phone on local calls to businesses especially if you get put on hold.

my sone suggested we look into Cricket - don't remember the web site but just google it - only pay for it when you use it or something like that
we can't use it cause it doesn't work in Mexico

Carol, my neighbor got a phone/plan with Cricket for Christmas from her husband. Cost $158 she said, and she can't use it. The only place she can get a signal is at the grocery store! She said she tried to get her $$ back and cancel but it didn't happen. Also my friend had a Cricket phone and she had a very limited call area. (even could not call 911!). Didn't work at all when she got to CA.
Now I'm just repeating what I heard, so don't shoot the messenger!

Well, we never took out our card from the side of the computer, and last night we broke it so went yesterday to look for free wifi to send an e-mail. We wound up in a small town between Knoxville and Asheville and came across a Verizon store. Did we luck out. Our sales guy was a young computer geek who comes up from Knoxville once a week. We decided to get the router card so that I can now have my own computer and still just use one aircard. He found a way, that if we extended our cell phone contract (which we were going to do anyway), we could get the router for half price and then a $50 rebate (probably will be a debit card which we hate). He was a neat guy who got into a conversation with TGM about Quentin Tarrintino's movies, although he hadn't the slightest idea who Groucho Marx was Now that I've rambled along, will sign off. Just another story "on the road". carold

You need to check out the coverage areas on phone services like Cricket. They're usually a lot cheaper because they have VERY small coverage areas. I've used the Magic Jack for several years. Works anywhere you have internet service either on the aircards or park's Wifi. After the initial purchase which is around $50, it only costs $20 a YEAR and you can make unlimited local and long distance calls. Sometimes the audio cuts in and out but overall it works great. It sure saves on my cell phone minutes. Check it out at http://www.magicjack.com They now sell them at Walmart and Radio Shack. Besides the Magic Jack all you need is a regular cheap phone.

I don't think you have to have a cell phone acct with them to get the air card. I'd call them to know for sure.

We have phones and the air card.

One thing I would suggest if you get an air card from any provider -- also have them order the external antenna. Most stores don't carry them in stock. You will need two cables, one for the antenna and a small connector cable to connect to your USB port on a laptop or router. I don't know about you but I am uncomfortable having so many devices "radiating " us. The antenna can be placed a few feet away from you, mounted via either suction cups on a window inside or mounted with a magnetic mount. (note - these are 2 different antennas so order the one that suits your purpose) We got the magnet mount on and have it just sitting on the dash of the motorhome.

Another note -- if you get an air card be aware that you will need to be in what they call a "wireless broadband area" to activate it when you load the computer software and hook up the aircard. You can load the software but it will not activate & update it's software until you are in a wireless broad band area. When we got ours we went right home and found out the hard way -- we had to wait until we were in a broadband area to use the aircard. Once it is activated -- its good to go.

Even in a non-broadband area --the aircard has good speed, much faster than a land line dial up.

I have the verizon air card and it is in my account our phones are on my daughter's account...if that helps answer your question...I haven't used the attena's either but from reading the different posts been thinking about getting them
sheila

I asked at the Verizon kiosk at Costco about the aircard and they said that you have to sign a 2 yr contract and every time you stopped the service it extended the contract.