Wireless connectivity ANYWHERE (satellite?) Verizon/Sprint

[imported_KuJaX]

Hey everyone.

I am looking for a wireless/satellite solution that can be run in any metropolitan area. I have heard of Sprint and Verizon's "air-cards" but haven't had any experience or heard of anything from that. This is going to be in a laptop. Any suggestions or recommendations?

 

[RebateMonger]

The fastest cards are those using "EVDO", like Sprint and Verizon. The "Edge" cards are slower. Both are suitable for email and light browsing. EVDO can be used for VOIP and streaming video.

Satellite is impractical for inexpensive and easily portable 2-way communication.

Wikipedia: EDGE/GPRS

Wikipedia: EVDO

I use EVDO 24/7 on my Sprint PPC6700 PDA Phone to communicate with my Exchange Server, synchronizing data. It works OK as a web browser. Not nearly as fast as a standard DSL or Cable Modem connection nowadays, but, heck, it's not horrible.

 

[imported_KuJaX]

So you have to become a subscriber of Sprint or Verizon correct?

 

[frostedflakes]

I am using Alltel EVDO to access the net (we are a few miles too far out for DSL/cable) and it works pretty well. Latency is high, so a connection like this would not be suitable for gaming, but for browsing, streaming, etc., it's very good. I typically get between 500-700kbps, ping between 300-500ms to US servers.

My provider is Alltel. I am actually paying $25/mo for unlimited usage w/my phone tethered to the PC. You might check if Verizon or Sprint offer a similar service.

Also something to keep in mind is bandwidth restrictions are usually very tight for these connections -- I have heard of people having their Verizon service canceled for exceeding 5GB in a month. I personally have been going download crazy on my Alltel EVDO connection and have received close to 20GB this month and they haven't said anything. Then again, our coverage area is not very densely populated. In a large metropolitan area where there is less bandwidth to go around, they might be more strict about enforcing this. In lower population areas, it seems they are more willing to let it slide.

 

[imported_KuJaX]

Is your service something that you can take anywhere? Such as if you live in Chicago and took a plane to New York, could you use it in New York?

 

[imported_KuJaX]

So in a nutshell, what is everything I need to do to get something like this? Call Alltel and get some specific card for the laptop?

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: KuJaX
So in a nutshell, what is everything I need to do to get something like this? Call Alltel and get some specific card for the laptop?

You need to get a suitable card for your laptop, get service with a provider, and configure your laptop to talk to the provider. Basically, the data card acts as a "modem" on the laptop.

Verizon, for instance, sells the cards (PCMCIA for laptop) and offers monthly plans for data. You can either tack this service onto an existing phone service contract, or you can get the service separately (usually at a higher cost). I pay $15 a month for "unlimited" data service to my Sprint cell phone. I can add laptop EVDO card service for around $40 a month, I believe. I can also use my Sprint cell phone (PPC6700) as a modem for my laptop in "an emergency". But doing so appears to violate Sprint's TOS.

 

[cparker]

The Verizon works pretty well. A friend of mine visited from Houston and brought his laptop with Verizon card and it worked beautifully here in NYC. I offered to give him a cable to plug into my DSL connection and he wasn't interested. He was mostly just surfing and doing email. He's on the road a few days a week for his job and the employer gives him the service.