wa8yxm
Wherever I happen to park
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Joined: 07/04/2006
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The short course: how to connect to the internet.
Park/Library/McDonads/Lowes/Staples et-al Free wi-fi.. Good when you can get it, not always able to get it.
Park, Truck stop "pay to play" wi-fi. See above, plus expensive.
Cellular internet (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Virgin Mobile* et-al)
Tends to be slow, though 4G is supposed to be fast only selected cities have it, most are 3G which can be dang annoying when you are used to faster connections. Verizon has the best coverage, or rater did last I checked, I **THINK** they still do but you'd need to re-research. Virgin mobile is starred because they have a "pay as you go" plan, this plan works one of 3 ways.
10 bucks, 100 megs 1 week to use it (I use more than that)
20 bucks, 500 megs, 1 month to use it (That's about right for me in the winter)
50 bucks, "Unlimited" but only 2.5 Gig at 3G speeds, then it drops down to slower.. 1 month to use it... I don't go there.
In all 3 cases the clock starts ticking when you pay the 10,20 or 50 bucks.
For some (Me for example) this is the best option. Virgin mobile has solid coverage where I winter. I use park/other-host (Church just now) WI-FI for 2 weeks and an odd day here and there, and VM for the week out of the membership park.
NOTE: What is best for me may be worst for you.
Hughes, Starband and other 2-way Sattlite internet providers.
Unless you pay really big bucks the speed will be around the low end of DSL, plus the 1/2 second delay while the signal is sent from earth to Satellite, back to earth, back to satellite and back to you is annoying for many people.. I would recommend that before you try this type of internet you see if you can find someone with a big dish that says either Datastorm, Directway or Hughes on it and see if they will let you try it for an hour or two, They can also explain the "Fair Access Policy" (Download limits) and such.
However that said, they have, beyond a doubt, the very best coverage of any wireless internet provider.
Nothin adds excitment like something that is none of your business
Kenwood TS-2000 housed in a 2005 Damon Intruder 377
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MrWizard
Van Nuys, Ca
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Joined: 06/27/2004
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cellular is "WIRELESS " but it is Not WiFi
yes a cellular booster/amplifier will improve your MiFi data connection to the cell tower
it will make NO DIFFERENCE in the wifi connection of the PC to the MiFi
looking at Amazon and other sites the prices are dropping on boosters for voice & 3g
wilson and maybe other mfg are bring out new models that also cover 4g lte hspa, ,
its a good time to buy a booster if you do not plan to do. 4g upgrade soon
if your going to get or have a 4g mifi, you might want to wait for the new boosters to hit the market
Options, always have options, and the journey goes much smoother
....
Connected thru Verizon with HotSopt WiFi using a Samsung Galaxy Nexus
Member of the Verizon Wireless Customer Council
I BOUGHTthis phone
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lizzie
Unaka (near Murphy), NC
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Joined: 01/12/2008
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I would not recommend HughesNet unless you have no alternative. We have it at our home because we do not have any cell or wireless coverage and our telephone service is so poor that dial-up is out of the question. We have had it for four years and are on our second satellite dish and "upgrade". It is expensive to be so slow and inefficient. lizzie
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WayneLee
Out West Somewhere
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Joined: 05/18/2004
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I have the DataStorm satellite internet system. I use this as a backup to my Verizon wireless card. For my work, I need to be connected to my office. I did not want to plan my camping around where I could get online, so I had the satellite system installed. Now, when I settle down, if I cannot get a wireless signal, then I have the satellite backup.
Wayne Lee
Out West Somewhere
2007 36' Class A HR Endeavor | 2006 Hummer H3 Dinghy | DataStorm Satellite Internet
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paulcardoza
Southeastern Massachusetts
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Joined: 01/15/2010
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We have a setup that we feel works best for us, as follows:
AT&T Wireless AirCard plugged into a Wifi-Ranger Pro. This gives us the ability to easily switch between available Wifi access points and cellular, depending on what is available and how reliable it is. Using the WFR, we have been able to much better manage our data usage limits, given that we do us a lot of data each month, between out laptop, iPad and 2 iPhones. The WFR is wireless N and there are 4G aircards that work with it from Verizon.
Paul & Sandra
New Bedford, MA
2003 Monaco Executive M43 DS2
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kirbybear
Ft. Lauderdale Fl USA
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Joined: 12/07/2003
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Has anyone found that a 3G amplifier works with the 4G system ? I have been told by Digital Antenna that my 3G will not work with 3G. I only have 3G.
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Eastwacamper
Greenacres, WA, USA
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Joined: 07/28/2003
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This discussion is above my head. The tech stuff enters my brain slowly. We will be on the road, not in one place long. I am taking my laptop and don't plan to add to my Verizon bill to do whatever you are doing to get online that way. I can get online with just the phone, not sure out in the boonies. I plan to just try to use my laptop near a hot spot, I guess. My smart phone is a 3G. Can you help me figure out how all this works? Thanks.
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ktmrfs
Portland, Oregon
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Joined: 06/22/2005
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Dave & Ginny wrote:My wife and I currently use a "Hot Spot" by Verizon for our internet use. Has anybody found anythink better? I've heard of "Hughs Net" but I don't know much about them.
Also, has anybody ever had any sucess with the cell phone boosters?
If you are in the market for a new phone, get one with a built in hot spot, saves another device, may save you money as well. My Samsung Charge has a built in Wifi hot spot for up to 10 devices.
As to boosters, yes good ones do work. I've had very good luck with Wilson boosters. The best one is one that direct connects 3W output to the phone with a through the roof 1/2wave antenna. downside is that few phones anymore have an external antenna port. The wilson sleek booster works well, but has lower power output (2W). One of our favorite campgrounds is over 30 miles line of site from a cell tower and I can get 4 bars and great reception with the booster. w/o the booster I completely loose coverage about 8-10 miles from the campground. The downside is that all the booster available today don't boost the band for a 4G signal, although Wilson has announced a sleek booster that will support the 4G band. Boosters can have an output of up to 3 watts vs. the 0.3 (300 milliwatt) output of a cellphone, and then you get additional signal gain from the "real" external antenna.
2011 Keystone Outback 295RE
2004 14' bikehauler with full living quarters
2004.5 Silverado 4x4 CC/SB Duramax/Allison
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ktmrfs
Portland, Oregon
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Joined: 06/22/2005
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kirbybear wrote:Has anyone found that a 3G amplifier works with the 4G system ? I have been told by Digital Antenna that my 3G will not work with 3G. I only have 3G.
any of the current Wilson amplfiers support 3G, Wilson has just announced a "sleek" booster that supports 3G and 4G. Don't know of the shipping date. So if you use a current amp with your 4G phone what you'll likely find is that you'll only get 3G, not 4G reception. But to some extent it is a moot point. So far 4G is only available in high population density areas, so you'll get 4G reception w/o any amp and won't need the amp anyway because you'll be close to a tower.
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Dave & Ginny
peoria, IL
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Joined: 05/29/2005
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WayneLee wrote:I have the DataStorm satellite internet system. I use this as a backup to my Verizon wireless card. For my work, I need to be connected to my office. I did not want to plan my camping around where I could get online, so I had the satellite system installed. Now, when I settle down, if I cannot get a wireless signal, then I have the satellite backup.
Does the DataStorm work good? Or would you recommend me try something else?
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