OT Mobile Broadband

Lookin for experiences and opinions on this one.

I want a USB Mobile Broadband card to plug into my Laptop so when Im on the road for say at least a month I can connect to the Internet. I DO NOT want a complete mobile router system to use my phones and computers, this is for my laptop Internet ONLY.

I also intend to purchase my very own USB device so I DO NOT HAVE TO ENTER INTO A 1 OR 2 YEAR CONTRACT. They will give you the device if you sign up for 2 years but THATS NOT WHAT I WANT.

Therefore, Im looking to buy the USB device outright and Flea Bay or the local stores will indeed sell them. They are, of course, cheaper on Flea Bay but they have new in the box same that Sprint or Verizon or ATT will sell you.

Now, Wally World will sell you the device for like $70 to $100 and then you pay as you go buttttttt these seem to be strictly pay as you go (1 day up to 1 month) buttttttttt the service seems MUCH higher then from the phone stores if you buy your device outright. Im lookin at $50 to $80 per month from the phone stores ifffffffff you own the card, while the Wally World units would be closer to $100 DEPENDS ON HOW MANY GB YOU USE

FINALLY QUESTIONS:

1) Opinions on which service (Sprint, Verizon, ATT, Virgin, T Mobile) ,,,,,,
2) Which USB device to buy,,,,,,,,,,
3) Whats the best service plan (looks like 8 GB per month will do me)

Enlighten me pleaseeeeeeeeeeee

Thanks yall

Ol John T

I have 3 for business laptops with sprint providing the service..... unlimited for $140 a month with a 2 yr contract. Works almost anywhere in the US.... been with them since 2006 and it was the best deal I found at the time.

I looked at going to a pay monthly service but found they are limited in usage and coverage. In the end it was going to be cheaper to stay with my current plan.

If you are traveling seek out a starbucks, McDonalds and even most motels now have wireless internet.... all you need is a wireless card and log on.

You be surprised how many wireless signls I can pickup in any given city. Many are not encrypted and can be loged onto.

Hi John,

If you can use a un-secured wifi, most shopping centers I can find a free signal to use.

If you need a secured wifi, then look [color=red:0798371509]here[/color:0798371509] for some great info.


T_Bone

We use Verizon's system, we are on the second contract and have no problem with either. They are reliable and function well, but I do feel that the $69.99 monthly fee is ridiculous.

Hi John, I haven't found anything that would help you, buttttt if you do get one , hope it works at the 'Flywheelers . Supposedely there is a "hot spot" out by the Cushman Building, but that doesn't help much. See you in January?

Tim W in Sebring

I heard Virgin is the only big name company that does not require a contract, but don't know anything about their service. The big name electronics store I bought mobile broadband from had a program that told what the signal strength would be in your geographic area with their broadband service before you signed up.

My mother lives out where there is not much except dialup or through satellite for about $100 per month. I inquired about cellular modem for her and before I knew it, my fault, I found myself signing a 2 year contract for 50 Meg per month with Verizon. I'm not complaining about Verizon, don't get me wrong. My mother uses it for everything now, even for email (AOL) which she could do mostly with dialup, but she does through Internet Explorer over cellular modem to get to AOL. The speed is there with the cellular modem unless its cloudy or rainy, and Mom uses it a lot. It does not take long to go through 50 Meg I guesss, and its attached to my cellular bill because shes retired and its my time to take care of her much like she did when I was a kid. I just paid my bill yesterday for last month and have begged Mom to please not go over 50 Meg, or premium charges kick in. I showed her when she first logs in where it shows you where your usage is at, and please do not go over 50 Meg, please, please, please. As I said, I paid my cellular bill yesterday. If I get another bill like that next month, I'm going to pull the modem and run over it, then calculate $60 per month for the next 22 months, send them a check, and tell them when the $$$ runs out...so do they.

Be careful. And be like I used to be, "Dr. No". Hey mister could I interest you in... NO! Well then how about... NO!!! We could... I SAID NO, NO, and NO!!! In my age, I've forgotten how to say "NO" and then reconsider afterwards. Its much easier to get out of "NO" than it is "Yes, sign right here".

Tonight before you go to bed and are in brushing your teeth, I want you to practice saying "NO" in the mirror. Got it? "NO, NO, I SAID NO".

Mark

(quoted from post at 22:00:47 11/29/10)
Be careful. And be like I used to be, "Dr. No". Hey mister could I interest you in... NO! Well then how about... NO!!! We could... I SAID NO, NO, and NO!!! In my age, I've forgotten how to say "NO" and then reconsider afterwards. Its much easier to get out of "NO" than it is "Yes, sign right here".

Tonight before you go to bed and are in brushing your teeth, I want you to practice saying "NO" in the mirror. Got it? "NO, NO, I SAID NO".

Mark

Click to expand...

Mark, WOULD YOU QUIT TALKING TO MY WIFE??? :lol:

I live in a rural area with no Cable or DSL service so I am using Sprint's MB service with a Franklin 3G/4G USB aircard (we don't have 4G service yet but maybe soon?). I have the aircard plugged into a Cradlepoint router so the wife and I can both surf at the same time, and we dont have to be hard wired into the printer. We usually have a pretty acceptable signal although not good enough for streaming movies. Radio streams well though.

Sprint's $60/month plan includes unlimited usage which is the main difference I noted when I was shopping around for it.

I like the setup pretty well. When we travel we just unplug the aircard from the router and take it with us (Could take the router too if we needed to).

TWheat,
I found out last year that hot spot at the Cushman building is secured so you can't use it. Maybe you can for a fee though. My wife did find some service for her ipod close to the buildings by the camp fire spot.
Cell service is very poor at the Flywheelers site and I last year I used my Verizon cell phone for the Internet and it was slow for that too. This year I have a Verizon Mifi and I am keeping my fingers crossed hoping that it will turn out a little better.

T_Bone,
Thanks for the link to the Escapees RV Club. I forgot about that one and there is enough reading there to last the rest of my life. )
How do you insert that (here) link in your message?

TW, Yep I will be there for BOTH the Jan and Feb shows, but dont let it get out I hang out on the "dark side" it will ruin my reputation with my JD buddys

John T

I too use the mobile broadband. Where I am at, we don't have much of a choice aside for dial up. I travel a lot with work in our "off season".. I don't have a home phone, nor do I want one.. Even when I am home, I am not HOME.. I'm in the shop, I'm at the family farm, I'm at a friend's shop.. you get the point.

I have mine through Sprint (mostly because I have a SprintNextel phone, so I save $10 a month.. and ten bucks is ten bucks).. I think it's been about 5 years I've had it now. I was told when I renewed my contract that there is no longer UNLIMITED.. unless they changed it.. I originally had it, then I was told they no longer offer it due to "sharing" a "device" on multiple computers. I think I have 5gb/mo (which I have yet to use all of it in a month.. came close once or twice)

I have very few complaints.. I'm happy with it.. I can take it nearly anywhere. I do occasionally get weak/slow signals, and occasionally I have connection problems, but nothing too major. I can only think of a place or 2 I have been where I had no signal. For the most part, if my phone gets signal, so does my computer.

Brad

We had deal with Verizon in Florida last year that we connected cell phone to lap top.I think it cost 59.95 with out contract.Paid only on days used.When are you going south? We are leaving Friday or saturday

We have the Sprint and like it. $60 a month I think.

The USB broadband modems are the greatest thing since beer in a can. I got one a year and a half ago because that was really the only option we have for broadband. I normally leave it plugged into my Linux box at home; when we travel I take it along with my work laptop. Beats the heck out of the crappy WiFi in most hotels.

I went with AT&T because we're longtime customers. Personally, I think Verizon has better service and they now have 4G in some areas. We get a lot of dropped calls with AT&T.

I guess I don't understand how you get service if you buy a used modem from a company that doesn't offer pay-as-you-go, like AT&T or Verizon. I assume the modems are locked to a service provider, just like a cell phone, so I could use the SIM card out of my modem in another AT&T modem, but without a SIM the modem won't work. So that kind of drives you to the pay-as-you go services like Virgin Mobile. Virgin's $40/month pay-as-you go service, with unlimited usage, seems like a pretty good deal. Virgin uses Sprint's network, which should give good coverage.

Not till after Christmas, keep the e mails coming John

PS We Square dance with Danny and Julie about every week.

John T

I have Cricket broadband which is roughly $40 per month and Cricket does not require a contract. Also if you go over your download limit then Cricket simply slows your speed down which is no big deal. In comparison, many of the other broadband company's will make you pay a big monetary fine if you happen to go over your download limit and unfortunately you do not even know your going over your limit as you are not prompted while it happens. Hence, I ruled out all carriers with huge monetary fines as possibilities for me - the thought of getting a bill for several hundred dollars (or even thousands) would make me go ballistic.

Whoever you go with: Read the fine print and see what happens if you go over your limits.