On The Road Internet

[Lin]

For those that might be interested, in spite of the Palm Pre being a highly rated phone and operating system, Palm's marketing failure was putting them out of business.  It now has been bought by HP.  Anyway, I was told that in order to promote the phone, Verizon is offering discounts and free unlimited tethering (computer wifi connection through the phone).  Verizon calls it Mobile Hotspot.  Has anyone been using tethering with good success while traveling?

[junkman42]

We just traveled from northwest Florida to fort Leonard Wood  Mo and found it to work with no problems at all!   We had the laptop hooked to a blackberry!  John L

[usbusin]

We have Verizon service and this past winter in Arizona for 2-1/2 months we had our HP Mini tethered to our Samsung Convoy phone.  We camp in some pretty remote areas where cell phone coverage is pretty poor, but the 3G system always worked.  Sometimes it was pretty slow with only one bar.  I'm happy with it. 

The nice thing with Verizon they have a program for 3G tethered service that is on a month-to-month basis; no contract.  So, when we aren't on the road we discontinue the service and use our Wildblue satellite at home.  (Can't get cell phone coverage where we live!)  Can't even get mail service here!

[white-eagle]

We use tethering whenever we can't get our satellite system up, such as under trees, in buildings, etc.  We call Verizon and ask them to enable tethering, then call a few days later to turn it off when we're done and able to get satellite out from under.  it has worked in most places, weakly in ohters with really slow speeds, but i was almost always able to at least check email. 

NOTE: We were at a koa in southern ohio where we couldn't get any cell coverage, nada, not a bar, until we walked a few hundred feet up the hill.  no tethering there.  just wanted to point out that even in rather populated Ohio, there are dead spots.  its not just the middle of montana or arizona that's difficult.
if you don't NEED Internet access every day, or higher speeds such as we do because we are working, then it's an ok system and works most places as already stated.

you are still paying your $30/month data plan to see email and browse on your palm, you just don't have to pay to tether it to your computer, so a $40/month savings for you.  So if the data plan is something you were going to get on some phone anyway, the palm deal is sweet add on for free.

[Depewtee]

I have been considering the MiFi 2200 from Verizon Wireless.  Like others mentioned above, the nice part is there is no contract - pay for it when you need it.  Below is some information from the Verizonwireless.com website.

Wi-Fi Connections for Multiple Users
The Intelligent Mobile Hotspot provides access to up to five Wi-Fi enabled devices, including notebooks, netbooks, MP3 players, smartphones, cameras, PDAs, portable gaming systems and more.

Ideal If You:
Often need Wi-Fi access far away from traditional hotspots
Want to give high-speed online access to multiple Wi-Fi enabled devices at one time
View E-Learning Tutorial
Frequently Asked Questions
How It Works
The Intelligent Mobile Hotspot is your portable, wireless Wi-Fi hotspot. From wherever you are in the coverage area, it detects the Verizon Wireless network and allows you to access a reliable broadband connection.

In Wi-Fi mode:
Connect up to five Wi-Fi-enabled devices at once. Use the lithium-ion battery for up to 4 hours (40 hours standby) of usage or plug the device directly into an outlet.

In USB mode:
Connect the MiFi device to your notebook via the included USB cable to use it as a modem.

Tiny device, huge performance.
The MiFi 2200 device is about the size of eight stacked credit cards and weighs just over 2 ounces, so it's ultra-portable.

[white-eagle]

Why would you get a Mi-Fi when it seems to have less capability than the palm does.  both handle 5 devices wirelessley for broadband connect.  The net palm cost for data is $30 to show it on the palm, connecting notebooks and letting them access is free (up to 5gb). 
the Mi-fi net cost for 5 devices is $60/mo.

Both can be used as needed without monthly cost, AFTER the 2 yr agreement. Palm $30 per month, mi-fi $60/mo.

and the mi-fi can't be used for anything without a computer, while you can at least use the palm by itself.

i think you may have misread, which is easy to become confused about Verizon.  Always read the fine print which doesn't say buyer beware, but it should.

[belfert]

Be careful that Verizon doesn't one day just switch that unlimited tethering to a 5GB or less monthly limit.  Verizon has taken away unlimited data from many customers.  Rumors are that Verizon wants to do a lot more metering of data.

I just went through Verizon's web site and built up a Palm phone with 450 minutes a month and data plan.  The cost came up to $70 a month plus taxes.  The hotspot said it was limited to 5GB a month, not unlimited.  There might be some promo I am missing.

[Depewtee]

I was looking at the pre-paid plans which are discounted a small amount.  What I did not see is that the $30 access is for one week.  It is $50 for a month.  What do they say?  If it sounds too good to be true...

Thanks for causing me to read closer.  

Brian S.

[Lin]

The stuff is confusing, and I will have to confirm the details.  As I understand it, Verizon charges $30 for an unlimited data plan that is really only unlimited for the use of the smartphone. There is a 5G limit to tethering on that plan.  After that, the meter is running.  Verizon also charges $50 (I think) for what they call Mobile Hotspot.  This is a separate unlimited tethering plan.  The Palm deal that their rep told me of, gives the Mobile Hotspot for free.  I have had my current Treo for 4 years and saw no reason to upgrade since I would have to buy the $30. data plan.  However, if the separate tethering plan is free, I am very tempted.  I have the direct phone of the tech support guy that gave me the info and will call him tomorrow to confirm everything.  I have had Verizon people in the past give me bad information, so I certainly will double check.  The one good thing I will say about Verizon is that their customer service has always been good to me.  They even paid half for a Zboost cell repeater I bought because the signal at my house was poor.  It still is though.  I probably should have gone with their network extender, which, judging from a friend's experience, works great.  The problem is that I wanted one I could take with me in the bus.  I have used Verizon for over 10 years with several phones.  They have never changed the terms of any plan I had, so I don't think that they will bait and switch with this either (famous last words, right?).

[Melbo]

I have Verizon and I use a phone that I tether to my computer when on the  road.  You can call most any time and have the service turned on -- it is about 50 dollars a month for unlimited if I remember correctly and when you call in and have them start the service you can tell them when you want it turned off. You can not call in and tell them when to turn it on and when to turn it off!!!! You can call and tell them when to start and then once it is on call and tell them when to turn it off. The point is you can only have one action scheduled in advance.  They prorate the cost on a day by day basis and it turns off at midnight if I remember correctly.  They have however changed my plan after I signed up --- they lowered my bill by 30 dollars a month and didn't even ask my permission.

Melbo

[loosenut]

Be careful that Verizon doesn't one day just switch that unlimited tethering to a 5GB or less monthly limit.  Verizon has taken away unlimited data from many customers.  Rumors are that Verizon wants to do a lot more metering of data...

I thought all Verizon plans were capped, with 5 gig being the largest cap.  I have had a Verizon USB broadband device for a couple years and have yet to go over 5 gigs.  In fact it is the odd month that I approach the limit. 

In the press, Verizon has been straight forward about wanting to avoid the problems At&t is having with the unlimited data for Iphones.  Per the reports Verizon wants to price the plan to the users needs.  Similar to talk plans where you can buy a little or a lot.

Verizon speed in the boonies has been unacceptable and expect to move to a sat connection when I can spend more time on the road.

Mike 

[belfert]

It appears based on what I am reading here that some of us may be confused on how much data can be consumed when using a phone as a mobile hotspot.  It appears that data usage by the phone itself is unlimited, but the mobile hot spot is limited to 5GB a month.

Verizon isn't charging beyond the normal voice and data plan on the Palm devices for teh hot spot capability.

I have some interest in this because I would like my employer to upgrade my Verizon phone to something that can do tethering.  I believe this would be cheaper than them paying for both a phone and an air card.  I've been offered the possibility of a Blackberry, but I don't care about the email and I don't want a phone that large.

[usbusin]

Here is a link to the Escapees forum (Internet Access on the Road)  that has over 1000 discussions.

Have fun!

http://www.rvnetwork.com/index.php?s=d9535a0ecae586854201bb42aa085fef&showforum=33