The bus and the internet...??

[JimC]

I use Verizon, VZACCESS, I'm like Belfert, I don't travel enough to justify the cost of a large lengthy contract. The VZACCESS works through your phone, and you only pay for it as you need it. When we traveled to Arcadia this year I brought my lap top, the verizon phone (has to be recent issue) and I had no problem getting access, although it was only about 100-150KBS.

The best part is, because I have one of their larger packages (needed for work) I was able to call them up and have Verizon activate the internet package for the trip, then I cancelled it when I got back. I think it only ran me about $10-$15 other than the time used. No need for a year or two package at $60 a month or more.

It worked very well for me to keep in touch with work checking emails ect. I could surf the net reasonably well, BUT, there is no way you would want it if you were going to be down loading large files. 

Jim

[belfert]

What is VZaccess?  I've never heard of it.  I've heard of Broadband Access and National Access, but not VZaccess.

It sounds like you had National Access at Arcadia.  Broadband isn't in a lot of markets yet.  Heck, only 2/3s of the Minneapolis metro area has it to date.  My phone has National Access, but I think I would pay per minute the same as phone calls and it would add up fast unless I only did offline email.

[captain ron]

Verizon sucks in Wi, northern Mi, and parts of Belferts state. I'm in a broadband area right now.

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

What is VZaccess?  I've never heard of it.  I've heard of Broadband Access and National Access, but not VZaccess.

It sounds like you had National Access at Arcadia.  Broadband isn't in a lot of markets yet.  Heck, only 2/3s of the Minneapolis metro area has it to date.  My phone has National Access, but I think I would pay per minute the same as phone calls and it would add up fast unless I only did offline email.

Hi Brian,

VZaccess is is Verizon's name for their software to access the network.
Nick-

[belfert]

Verizon sucks in Wi, northern Mi, and parts of Belferts state. I'm in a broadband area right now.

My Verizon phone works pretty darn good just about anywhere I've been in Minnesota (Except wilderness areas where I don't expect to have service), but I don't know about the Internet.

There are some areas where GSM phones work better.  I think they are putting GSM coverage in more rural areas since most GSM phones have no analog fallback.

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

Verizon sucks in Wi, northern Mi, and parts of Belferts state. I'm in a broadband area right now.

My Verizon phone works pretty darn good just about anywhere I've been in Minnesota (Except wilderness areas where I don't expect to have service), but I don't know about the Internet.

There are some areas where GSM phones work better.  I think they are putting GSM coverage in more rural areas since most GSM phones have no analog fallback.

Hi Brian,

If this helps, My verizon card tends to have the same signal strength as my cell phone.
They advertize that anywhere your cell phone works, the card will too.

Nick-

[Ross]

I have Hughesnet on a tripod and a Verizon aircard.  Downside to the tripod is that you can't use it underway and it's not practical to set up if you stop for an hour in the rest area.  Upside is the speed and the fact that is works anywhere.

The aircard works anywhere there is cell service, which is most of the US.  In or around larger population areas you can get true broadband.  Other areas you will be only slightly better than dial-up speeds.  Upside to the aircard is that it works underway and there is no setup to use it.  I took the bus out yesterday and didn't feel like hooking up the dish so I'm on the aircard now. 

The advantage to the new aircards it that they are USB and can be used with any computer.  If you live in a broadband area, plug the aircard into your home PC for broadband service, then when you travel, plug it into your laptop.  Even if you are not in a broadband area, the aircard service is still faster than dial-up.  Just doesn't make sense to have wired internet anymore.  I have no wired services anymore.  satellite TV, satellite internet, cell phone, aircard and satellite radio.  I can go anywhere in the US and everything still works.

Ross

[HighTechRedneck]

Ross, is that satellite dish both send and receive?  Or do you also have to be connected via the aircard for sending.  The reason I ask is that I have been interested in getting a tripod based satellite system and would want send/receive.  But it seems that the send/receive systems mandate professional, fixed point installation until you get up to the bigger investements for a MobiSat system.

[Busted Knuckle]

Ross, is that satellite dish both send and receive?  Or do you also have to be connected via the aircard for sending.  The reason I ask is that I have been interested in getting a tripod based satellite system and would want send/receive.  But it seems that the send/receive systems mandate professional, fixed point installation until you get up to the bigger investements for a MobiSat system.

HTR,
Ross's system both sends and receives! It is definetly a very high tech set up, and it takes him just a bit to get it set up just right. But once he's dialed in it works great, when he was here he set it up and I was able to use his system wireless from the laptop here at the house! (back before I moved the DSL from the shop to the house!) It's been a while but if I remeber correctly Ross said that you have to set it for receiving, and then set it for transmitting! Which is why he points out it's not practical to set up for a short rest stop. FWIW BK 

[Ross]

Hughesnet is send and recieve.  No phone line required.  It's the same service as the Data Storm, except it's not an automatic rooftop unit.  I bought the whole setup from Scott Whitney (Dustyfoot.com).  It takes 15 minutes on average to set up using the tools that Scott provides with the package.

Here's the thing with satellite internet....Hughes will tell you that it is illegal for you, the homeowner, to point your dish.  That is not true.  The FCC rules simply say that professional installation is recommended, not required.  The FCC does say that the dish has to be 5' off the ground.  The Dustyfoot tripod and others of the same design comply.  Other systems using construction tripods do not comply.  I doubt you would get hastled either way, but your chances are less if you comply with FCC rules.   

Ross 

[Kirby-XL40-FL]

We traveled out west to Washington, Oregon, California, Utah, etc. last summer and most of the time had no problem receiving a Sprint signal.  We use the Sprint EVDO aircard that plugs into the USB port.

Kirby & Linda

[captain ron]

Nick your last statement is misleading Your card will work only if your phone says "Verizon Wireless" when you open it up, which means your in a verizon digital area.

[jjrbus]

Interesting, nobody has brought up WiFi. I cannot say much about it, becuse I have only been useing it for 2 months at one place.

[HighTechRedneck]

I have Wifi cards in my computers.  But the campground must have WiFi for it to be of use.  Most commercial campgrounds/resorts have WiFi I suppose, but many parks don't.  I plan to be spending time in State/National Parks and COE campgrounds in the coming months.

[prevost82]

JJRbus .. WiFi at most parks is not that good. We had used it before we got our Datastorm and found it to be frustrating at time and typically had to be at the office to get a strong enough to get on line