36 replies to this topic

[MikeCoke]

What you use for internet access depends on where you travel. We just spent close to 2 weeks in Utah and for most of the time we were camped we had no Verizon service at all. Forest Service CGs around Fish Lake & the CG in Capitol Reef NP. We also spend time in Death Valley NP each year & again there is no Verizon Service there. So for us we will continue to use our roof mounted Motosat dish for internet. I bought it used on eBay & installed it myself and the total cost was under $1500 and we pay $80 a month for service. If cell ever truly covers all of the US then I may change.
Mike

[JohnDavidson]

We recently quit AT&T, after 8 years, and switched to Verizon (with the help of our 20's son) and purchased two Droid phones. Our son directed us to PDANet and we found a plan to tether our Droid to the laptop so we could use the Internet when we have cell coverage. This new technology (to Us) is amazing. We paid 18.95 (a year) instead of the 25(a month) verizon charges. For the gadget guy/gal its fun. For the regular guy/gal you have to swipe and tap before you answer the phone We bought the Unlimited Data plan instead of the air card(5gig limit). Using the internet does not apply to our minutes used for talking. A bit pricey but you have direct unlimited access. As we found, traveling the Blue Ridge Parkway, the service is only as good as the reception. Small price to pay for the Beauty of our Big Country. Wherever you get a 3g signal you get internet. BTW its easier on the eyes and fingers to be able to use the internet on the laptop as opposed to reading and tapping the phone screen

[texnet]

Since I have never used anything but AT&T (was Cingular in 1988 when I signed up) I can only speak of my experience with AT&T. We made a trip from Texas to Alaska then back to Texas in 2009 and I had service every place, with a few small exceptions, I tried either my iPhone or USB Data card. The exceptions where in areas that had very low population per sq mile and I did not expect to have service in those areas.

We left home about a week ago, have traveled from Texas through Arkansas, Tennessee, Indiana, Illinois and are now sitting about 30 miles south of Madison, Wisconsin. Every day I have had cell phone coverage, 95% of the time was 3G. Every night and every morning I have connected to the Internet via my USB device and it has never failed to provide me service. Campgrounds are a different story. At each location I have tested their WiFi. Most of the locations have a daily charge for the use of their WiFi and I refuse to pay extra for their service. One of the locations had free WiFi but their system was not working so it was useless. So, I have not used any CG Internet Services. I upload photos to my website every evening via my AT&T USB Device and I normally upload at greater than 1mb.

I have my USB device plugged into a Cradlepoint MBR-900 router which is in the bedroom. I can use my laptop, my RVputer or my iPhone at anytime since the Cradlepoint is hooked to an outlet that is on the inverter. Next step is to hook the Cradlepoint to the coach batteries and thus won't have to use the inverter. I also have an external WiFi device hooked to a vertical antenna that is mounted to the ladder. If I am in a CG that has WiFi that is better than my AT&T Data connection then it only takes me a couple of minutes to configure it and the router to use the WiFi instead of the AT&T data.

[Wayne77590]

I'm glad this thread was bumped up to the top.

We just completed a trek from Texas, to San Diego, up the coast to Whidbey Island, Washington, across Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Oklahoma, and back to the Gulf of Texas. I have an AT&T USB air card with 3G connectivity (in most places). Along the way, I purchased an iPad with 3G for DW on Mothers Day. There were only a couple times along the route that we did not have connectivity. Whidbey Island was one where the cell signal was 1 bar to intermittent, but I was still able to get on 90% of the time. Trust me, I have withdrawal pains if I cannot keep track of what ya'll are saying about me. There were places where the signal was weak, but the Verizon users I talked with at those same CG's were having the same problem. Remote areas, not much signal strength. I'm very satisfied with AT&T connectivity. I just wish the cost was less. Just think, USB Air Card, about $60 a month for 5Gb. The iPad, unlimited access for $30 a month. I'm not going to change my coverage and get the newer $25 a month rate with limited download. Now, if I can just figure how to configure an ad-hoc network on the iPad!

[myroadtrek190]

I suggest you look into getting a Palm Pre Plus Smart Phone from Verizon. It has a FREE hotspot for 5 devices (5gb/mo). Phone was $40. We purchased it at a Verizon strore..when we walked out, the phone was ready to wirelessly connect our laptop to the internet.

An IPad is great to have, too.....you don't have to get the version with the 3G if you have the Palm Pre Plus. (The 3G IPad will cost you $200 more, will not connect your laptop, and you have to connect through AT&T for $20/mo for 5gb.) The Ipad has wonderful applications available to purchase such as Where To?, AllStays Camp & RV, RV Parks HD, Parks, Goby, etc. Most of these applications are free or less than $2 each. Google them and see how useful they are.

It takes seconds for the passenger to turn on IPad and connect to the internet....not a long wait to boot up like laptops. Its a nice size screen..smaller than a laptop but much bigger than an IPhone. Prevents eye strain. Best Buy usually has a display where you can try one before you buy.

Hope this helps!

[DeltaDonnie]

Another post with some great info, Bill Adams link has some great thread reading.

FMCA Post

Also an internal link after reading this which may benefit some of you for the Mobile Communication.

http://www.jackdanma...mmunication.htm

[bbnuttmann]

I use the internet with my business and find it takes a multiple option approach if you want to have reliable internet. Mobile internet is very different from stationary.

We have a Motosat F1 satellite antenna for internet. This works very well every time you have a clear view of the sat. However, it is not as fast a connection as good wifi or strong connection Verizon

Many times we use the park wifi. I do not mind going and sitting in the club house if needed as that becomes a social opportunity. I do not currently have a wifi amp or antenna, but thinking about that.

I switched from being a long time Verizon air card user to being a Droid tetherer after it seemed repeatedly that my Droid phone got the internet better than my aircard. Sometimes my air card would not work and I could get internet on my phone. So because of that I cancelled the air card. I first tried easy tether software and had a few issues so not use pdanet. Seems like pda works better. IMHO the Verizon connections have become much worse in Southern California over the last few years. I suspect it is because of adding millions of kids and smartphones who now watch 90210 on their phones.

[leistch]

Has anyone tried using AT&T Blackberry as a broadband? It is available for $30 a month and can be added and dropped month by month. If it works it will be a boon to our communications.

[sheba516]

I have read this thread with interest. We are going to be heading down south (Quartzsite, Yuma, etc) then back to the NW for the summer. I use to use my cell phone for slow internet when nothing else was available. My new computer had windows 7 of which the Verizon software is not compatible with the older phone.

I have looked into the Verizon broadband card but it is limited to 5 MB. I play Farmville on Facebook and games on pogo so that would be eaten up fast.

I read with interest regarding the MIFI 2200. But it seems it has limited battery life.

I was wondering if I can get a newer 4g phone, pay for the data plan (which run cheaper than the broadband card), and connect to the internet using a USB.

We have to update our phones as I need to get one with chaperon for my husband (he has Alzheimer's) but I will need one with internet access to use the chaperon capabilities. That is why I am wondering if it will work as a 'modem' for my computer. Being 4g I am assuming the speed will be much faster than my current cell phone.

I have contacted Verizon once but they want to sell. I want to go in informed as much as possible.

[schoolsout2]

As mentioned, the Verizon DROID can be used to connect a laptop or other computer to the internet. This can also be done when going down the road. The free version of PDANet will not allow you to log into secure sites, but the paid version will. There is an app to allow you to set the phone as a WIFI access point, but I have not used it. Of course all of this eats the battery.

[johnevans3]

I have an ATT iPhone (voice and data) and verizon aircard. Many times I have no att service for data and even voice but do have verizon Internet. I have found verizon to be in rural areas where att is absent. Also, have compared data speeds. ATT is faster than Verizon, when you can get it. I use <A href="http://www.speedtest.com/">http://www.speedtest.com</A> to compare services. I also used to have a ATT aircard and had the same experience; it is faster when you can get a signal. Just my finding and they are not based on any measurement instrument other than the website to test the speed. These aircard services are $60/month and really expensive. Now, new plans are available for less. My aircard expires today and I am trying to decide if I want to renew with Verizon or look at some other option. I may just hook up with the cable company at home and just use wifi on the road. It would save me a ton of money but be cumbersome as it was for me before I got the ATT aircard.

[bizsmith@yahoo.com]

We have a Verizon 5 Spot. It seems to be an acceptable device for connecting to the internet. We were recently in Stillwater, OK and encountered 4G for the first time. It was very fast compared to many locations where even 3G is not available. I guess Stillwater probably got 4G before even some of the larger cities because Oklahoma State U is there. We have both Verizon and ATT. It all depends on where you are which is best. I would say that Verizon is best a larger percentage of the time but it has its dead spots too.

No U.S. company has or will have true 4G as it was first defined, although they claim to but the Verizon 4G is very good.

[live2golf9]

Autonet.com has a great system for the best price I have seen. Pay between $200-$400 for their modem and anywhere you can pick up any cellular service you have unlimited fast internet for $30/mo.
Can be shared with others, too.

Kahleen

[bizsmith@yahoo.com]

The Verizon 5 Spot is working for me. It has 4G capability. There are some 4G areas and it is very fast. 4G areas can only increase. I like it also because I can connect both my laptop and iPad at the same time (up to 5 can connect at once).

We hedge our bets by having the iPad with ATT. Sometimes it is better than Verizon. One or the other works most places. If a campground has WIFI we use that but sometimes the cell connections are better and faster. Many campground WIFI's are pretty poor and sometimes they are not free or difficult to use.

Find a system you like and learn all you can about it. We have become so dependent on Interne, we think we can not live w/o it.

[bizsmith@yahoo.com]

We have a Verizon 5 spot (mifi). Works well and accesses 4G where available. Very fast in the few 4G areas and the 4G is expanding gradually. Can connect both laptop and iPad at the same time.

We hedge our bets by having ATT on the iPad. Sometimes (rarely) it will work better than Verizon.

[GaryAnnable]

Am I the only one using a Yagi USB 17dBi directional antenna? I've mounted mine on my Winegard TV antenna, so I have directional tuning from inside my coach. Routing the USB cable was the only challenge. Built in USB connection eliminates signal loss that coax connections experience. I have received FREE unsecured wifi signal from as far away as 4 miles (clear line of sight - Valley of Fire, NM), so far! Free is the key for us, as we need to keep handle on our monthly expenses, being "pre-retirement" full timers. Initial investment is around $100.00 (two months Verizon service).