Verizon Aircard

[DavidInWilmNC]

We're headed to eastern Georgia for the weekend.  I'm 'testing' out a Verizon Aircard for work, as we're deciding which company's pricing and coverage are best.  Unfortunately, I'm not in the bus, but as a passenger in a car with an internet connection, it shouldn't be a bad 6 hour drive.  I'll report back as to how this card performs, for those interested in internet on the go.  I'm not using an external antenna, so we'll see how it works.  We'll be traveling west from Wilmington on US-74, south on I-95, west on I-20, west on I-26, then west on rural South Carolina roads (these particular ones are pretty nice, except for I-95 in SC, which is one of the most uncomfortable roads I've been on in the South).  I sure hope this service works well, as I can most likely justify having a card assigned to me from work!   

David

[John Z]

Hi David. I look forward to your report as next winter i plan on being on the road for several months, but still need to work in order to pay bills. So i will need internet access. Right now i have no idea how to accomplish this. Good luck with the project!

John Z

[captain ron]

Verizon seems to be getting better, Good luck

[belfert]

Be careful if you have the USB aircard from Verizon.  If you plug them directly into a USB port without the supplied cable the aircard will break if it hits something.  It is easy for your knee or something to hit the USB aircard if you have the laptop on your lap.

My company is issuing the USB aircards because not all laptops have PCMCIA slots these days and we have Macbooks with no slots.

[captain ron]

Plus if you use the cable you can take the laptop into the bathroom on your bus and do your business and hang the air card out the window. Kind of multi tasking (right Nick) 

[NewbeeMC9]

Plus if you use the cable you can take the laptop into the bathroom on your bus and do your business and hang the air card out the window. Kind of multi tasking (right Nick) 

I don't think that was what they meant when the said "Paperless Society"

[DavidInWilmNC]

So far, so good.  It's been approx. 100 miles and no problems.  This is a PCMCIA card (PC express are available for notebooks with those slots).  We took  little shortcut, detouring off 74 on to 76 (much less traffic and a prettier ride).  76 is VERY rural in parts.  I think I dropped from broadband to 'normal' speed for about 5 minutes. 

As for the hardware, this is a PC5750 PCMCIA card in a 2 year old Dell Latitude D610.  I really prefer 'business class' notebooks over consumer models; they're typically built better, have easily removed hard drives and CD/DVD drives, more compatibility (serial and printer ports, both PCMCIA and PC Express slots, etc) are lighter, and are more compact.  This Air Card has a connector for an external antenna, which I don't have yet.  I doubt it's needed in a car so much as in a bus, where it's surrounded by more metal. 

Anyway, the speed seems very good; not quite as fast as RoadRunner (cable) at home and not nearly as fast as the multiple T1's at work, but more like the DSL services I've experienced.  If others have similar service with the same or different providers, it would be useful to post experiences for the benefit of those searching for a wireless connection solution while on the road. 

Brian, I know what you mean about those USB adapters sticking out and breaking off.  I'd recommend a 6" USB pigtail with the Air Card Velcro'ed to the lid of the computer.  Actually, I'd request a PCMCIA card (tell 'em your USB ports are screwed) or just find a deal on one myself.  I'll update later as the trip progresses.

David

[captain ron]

Ross has an antenna mounted to his bus and get near broadband speed in a national access area. If you get the pcma card make sure it has the jack for the antenna. Or what ever type card or usb you have get the one that will take an external antenna, mine doesn't have it. 

[belfert]

Brian, I know what you mean about those USB adapters sticking out and breaking off.  I'd recommend a 6" USB pigtail with the Air Card Velcro'ed to the lid of the computer.  Actually, I'd request a PCMCIA card (tell 'em your USB ports are screwed) or just find a deal on one myself.  I'll update later as the trip progresses.

The USB aircard actually comes with a special USB cable that has dual plugs on the computer end.  The dual plugs allow the aircard to run at a faster speed.

I don't have a choice on using USB or PCMCIA.  The aircards are shared amongst various people who have various card slots or nonoe at all.  they all have USB.  If I bought a card the ESN wouldn't be activated for use.  The USB adapter doesn't bother me other than I broke one on my last bus trip.

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

Plus if you use the cable you can take the laptop into the bathroom on your bus and do your business and hang the air card out the window. Kind of multi tasking (right Nick) 

Man, You caught me Ron.....  It is my office you know.Lol

Nick-

[DavidInWilmNC]

We're back from our long weekend in rural Georgia.  The  Verizon card worked very well.  When running on the 'Rev-A' broadband network, it was fast.  When it was on 'extended network' (or some similar wording), it wasn't nearly as fast, but I generally had between 70-90kb/s at these times.  There were very few areas where I had no connection.  In fact, I had fewer areas of no signal with the Verizon card than I do with my Cingular (now AT&T) cell phone.  I'm not really sure what this service costs, as it's for work and I don't know some of the details. 

David

[NJT5047]

Curiously, Verizon's mobile internet service was available at Kyle's "Non-Bus Rally" at Palmetto Cove CG near Cleveland, SC, but cell phone service was poor.  I had to walk up near the gate to talk on the phone.  Could sit at the bus and read email??  Always had one or two bars of "EV" signal.  Usually 'searching for service' was up.  Found out that 'searching for signal' runs the phone battery down fast.  That's the only place I've ever visited where a Verizon phone just wouldn't work without taking a hike.
How the H does one have internet access but no phone access? 
I'm gonna get one of those Verizon Aircards this spring...before the bus'n season starts.
This is good info!  Get a PCMCIA antenna capable card...right?   I've got a slot for a PCMCIA card in our new Toshiba Sat.   
JR

[captain ron]

JR, I was there also but my Verizon air card did NOT work. If your Verizon phone is in "Extended Network" your air card will not work. You have to be in a digital service area. There are fewer and fewer places where they won't work though and the broadband service is getting broader. I had broadband at Bryce's.

[msheldon]

I used an aircard for a while, and liked it. Recently I got a Palm Treo 700p, which can be used as a digital modem on Verizon's network. The Palm gets better speed, and stronger signal on the same network, same place/conditions.

[DavidInWilmNC]

JR, the card I use(d) is a PC5750; who knows if this'll be the model that's out in the spring.  It's PCMCIA and has an external jack.  You might be able to talk your Verizon salesperson into giving you an antenna.  Even if they don't, they're not expensive.  BTW, the software for my card often said 'extended network' and worked fine, although a bit slow.  Is 'extended network' different on a phone than on an aircard?

David