Internet while Traveling

[asirimarco]

Just wondering how everyone gets on the internet while traveling. Both our laptop and PC have wireless connections - when available. Laptop of course can also use dial-up - shudder! We have a very very old old verizon cell that I can connect to the laptop via USB and go on the internet when I want and I am only charged for the minutes I use - this is no longer availabe to purchase - they have changed all the phone connections so if we upgrade we are sol. Would like to always have internet connectivity but do not want to have to pay monthly for something I will only be using when we travel. (for a year we haven't moved the Alfa) Also if any one knows of anything that works in Mexico - the Verizon phone does, but not the internet service we have. Thanks

[Bethers]

I've been told that I'm going to be pretty much out-of-luck if I go to Mexico with what I have. There are satellite plans that include Mexico, but I wasn't willing to spend the money on the satellite just for the US, let alone to include MX, but I keep my eyes on them just in case.

I use wireless whenever I can (getting better and better) and I have a newer cellphone with a plan that includes data - so I can tether it. Yep, they have gotten rid of most of the lesser plans, but I actually cut down my minutes on my phone and took the data plan - and am not unhappy with what I'm paying - as getting online is vital for me with my online businesses. But I still prefer getting a good wireless connection. And as my phone is with AT&T I have to make sure it'll work where I go - again, more and more places for both AT&T and Verizon, from what I've watched in the last 3 years.

Good luck.

[retiredhappy]

I use Verizon for my cell phone and have an aircard. Before I went fulltime I used the Verizon aircard at home instead of DSL thru the cable company. That way I had service at home and on the road. I really love the aircard. If I have a cellphone signal I have internet even at reststops on the highway. The down side is that there is "broadband" access and "national" access. National is when you're outside the Verizon area and you are using "extended service". The national service is more like dialup - really slow. I can still use a park's wifi if they have a good signal.

[asirimarco]

thanks for info - think I'll look into it - its costing us an extra $20 a month for the 2nd phone anyway.
http://activerain.com/blogsview/Verizon-air-card?3080 read some of the comments on this site - have you ever got a $1100 bill? that would be a nasty surprise.

[Gentleladybear]

My service is through Alltel. I had the aircard, but found that I could use wireless connection to my phone for unlimited minutes for $25.00 per month vs $65.00 for the aircard. I don't see a lot of longer time to connect with my phone vs the aircard. I connect, stay connected and had no problems with the phone. I am upgrading my phone when I renew and get one a bit more computer friendly than the current on I have. A lot of upgrades on the phones in the last two years.

Nan

[avalen]

I've been doing a little bit of research also on the aircard thing, but I'm still
just a tad confused but I'm not giving up on the idea just yet.
Here's another link that helps explain things
http://www.evdoinfo.com/content/view/37/61/
The one thing I do understand so far is if I use my cellphone to tether to I will be
using cellphone minutes and that would be rediculous and cost me thousands of
dollars. Unless of course my cellphone was for unlimited minutes.
The other thing I understand is things like u tube, movies, music cost more to
download with the aircard so thats gonna eat up your gb. I was also told, (can't
remember where or who) that when your not on the internet to pull your card
out of the computer or whatever that little slot is that it slides into.
Bottom line.........I'm still researching!!

[retiredhappy]

I used to tether my computer to my cell phone but when I updated my phone the new one cannot be tethered - no slot on phone to plug computer into. Soooo, be careful using that method. A lot of the newer phones can't be plugged into your computer. I've never had a problem with Verizon billing me an unexpected amount. I pay $110 a month for my cell phone (450 minutes - unlimited nights and weekends) and my aircard.

[rvgrammy1953]

We've had our Verizon air card for 2 years.....love it.....pay $60/mo......never been charge yet for going over the GB...and we're connected almost all the time we're parked.....but we don't download alot of stuff.....upgraded to the USB card when we got the new laptop....we're happy with the service.....our cell phone runs us $48/mo.....so both fit into our budget...

Lori

[SeeyaGal]

I have the Hughes portable Tripod dish and on Satellite 83, I had no trouble getting internet in Mexico. I knew others that were on Sat Mex 5-117. When I went to the Guanajuanto rally everyone was bouncing off my sat there.
Before I had the satellite dish I went to the internet cafe's and it was anywhere from 50 cents to $1.00 an hour to use their computers in Mexico. I pay $59.99 a month for unlimited use for the Hughes setup. My buying cost $1,400.00 LOVE IT!! FAST!!

[Bethers]

Jenny,
I must admit I'm jealous. I just can't put out the initial outlay for it at this time - but the day will come!

Ava,
With my tethering it doesn't take my phone minutes - my data plan is separate. But, again, it only can be done with some phones now. I made sure I got one that I could do it with - in fact, it's one of the reasons to use this phone - I have emails from one of my accounts delivered to it so I can see my orders, etc for my business

[MsBHaven]

This topic continues to intrique me. The Verizon salespeople say the plan for $60 is "unlimited", they say I would never go over the download limit. Karen and others say they have never gone over, but.....then I read reviews out on the Internet with horror stories from people who had the $60 plan and got billed $1000-$2000 for overages. That's too scary for me to even consider.

I'm not a full-timer. I wish I could get an aircard for when I do travel and pay a fee for when I actually get on the Internet. Sure, there are lots of wireless connections available now, but I would love to be able to just pull over on a back road somewhere and get on the Internet. Oh well, maybe some day.

I have the Apple iPhone which is Internet (e-mail, you-tube, websites, blogs, etc.) for $20 unlimited per month - - and it really is "unlimited". If I have AT&T cell service, I can easily check my email and get on the Internet. On my recent trip to San Francisco, I updated my blog from my iPhone. So far I haven't been able to upload a photo from my iPhone to my blog....but I think that may be my own inability to figure that out. Oops, just had an idea of what is causing that problem. Gotta go check that out.

[rvgrammy1953]

Margie.......I've heard that the horror stories are related to the folks who do downloading ALOT from music sites, movie sites, and watching TV online.....these folks have gone over 6GB doing this....(have a good friend who manages for Verizon and asked her about this very thing....hence, this is where I get this info...) If you are doing what we all do here online, i.e. e-mail, google stuff, post photos, read great forums like this one, etc.....then there is no risk of going over the 6GB......it's just doing music & movie downloads that can get you in trouble with the air card......this is the $60 plan.....now, if you want to be able to do the music and movies without worry, then there is a plan for more $$.......hope this helps clear things up a little more....

Lori

[asirimarco]

Thanks every one for the imput - this short trip I'll be using my very, very, old, old, cell phone with laptop connection. But will look into the aircard - sounds good. I just hate to pay for something when I'm not using it. Might look into getting Verizon as our house phone too if I can get internet here in the hills. No cable or DSL up here - The satellite we're using now is driving me nuts. off - on - off - on at least we always know when there is a storm south/west of us. In the Technical section I posted a chart on Gigabite and MB info - how much what uses - (came out kind of big) Just interesting info.

[Liz]

I have used a Verizon Aircard both at home and on the road for a little over two years. They just upgraded to a new one at no cost when I signed up for another two years. The only time I had to pay more than $60/mo. was once when I inadvertantly bounced off a Canadian tower while close to the border. Gotta be careful near the border. They may have adjusted the bill if I'd contacted them about it, but it wasn't that much, so I just paid it.

[MsBHaven]

Thanks Lori and Liz, that was helpful info. I don't download music or videos so sounds like I would be OK with an aircard. Now I have to figure out if I cancel my Comcast cable Internet if that will somehow increase my TV cable bill (maybe not get some discount for having two things).