Need help on Wireless Aircards

[Cyclonic]

For my business, I would like to have access to the web on my laptop anywhere I go. I am frequently in rural areas, so it needs to get good connectivity. US Cellular is the best around here, and have them as my cell carrier, but they are $60 per month for the aircard, with a 5 gig limit. That seems a bit steep to me.

Anybody suggestions?

 

[CycloneErik]

We looked at this for our trip to Jamaica, and I didn't see anything that was really any less. You'll get killed with any carrier on the price of that thing.

 

[cycloneG]

AT&T offers unlimited data plans starting at $59.99.

 

[StormnClone58]

Try sprint ... I have an aircard from them and haven't really been disappointed n no limits whatsoever ... Sry I get a discount rate so can't give u the actual fee but if ud like a referal to a person inthe des moines area PM me ...

 

[cytech]

sprint is unlimited as well I would say if you want mobile high speed internet in iowa you have to go with sprint on verizon the other carriers don't have as much 3g coverage

 

[Cyclonic]

I have also heard of something called "teathering" from a blackberry or other smartphone to your laptop, using the service from the smartphone onto your computer. Anyone have any info on that? I would want it to actually work before I commit to the blackberry.

 

[CycloneErik]

I have also heard of something called "teathering" from a blackberry or other smartphone to your laptop, using the service from the smartphone onto your computer. Anyone have any info on that? I would want it to actually work before I commit to the blackberry.

I might be totally wrong, because we opted against this option pretty quickly, I'm betting because of a price problem, but this was an expensive option. Seems like you still have to have the aircard, and then you can utilize your cell phone as a modem, or something like that.
There are people that know this one better. Maybe go talk to a salesman somewhere. Hit them early in the morning, before they're all wired up to sell, and they'll answer all sorts of questions.:yes:

I know this store isn't that popular for an option, but Ryan at Best Buy in Ames was a real hero for us in our shopping efforts. I know he answered the tethering question, but that was 6 weeks ago.

 

[ISU_Alum_2000]

Getting anything but an unlimited plan would be a mistake. I have had a Verizon card for years and it is fantastic. I'm not sure where you will be traveling, but as a general rule, Verizon has the best coverage in the US.

 

[cytech]

I have also heard of something called "teathering" from a blackberry or other smartphone to your laptop, using the service from the smartphone onto your computer. Anyone have any info on that? I would want it to actually work before I commit to the blackberry.

I have a HTC Mogul with sprint. I teather my phone to my laptop all the time.

I also have a simply everything plan and my phone is pre update so I can do this for no extra charge. But I think on most phones you have to pay a fee per month to have this ability.

But it is nice using my phone for this.

Another nice thing with the mogul is the ability to do remote desktop connections. I use logmein so I can connect to and control my work computer.

 

[jbhtexas]

I use the program PDAnet to tether my laptop to my Sprint Mogul (Windows mobile). It works wonderfully. I have an unlimited data plan on my phone, but you don't need anything else or any extra service plans.

June Fabrics PDA Technology Group

 

[cytech]

I have read about people who use pdanet alot getting their contracts canceled.

 

[Cyclonic]

I think a pre-paid wireless aircard would be great. I know they exist, (Sierra I think is a company) but are very expensive. We used to use a TracPhone, which works very well for the infrequent user. A Tracphone type of plan for a wireless card would be great.
My need is infrequent, and am already paying for cablemodem anyway in the office.

 

[Cyclonic]

I use the program PDAnet to tether my laptop to my Sprint Mogul (Windows mobile). It works wonderfully. I have an unlimited data plan on my phone, but you don't need anything else or any extra service plans.

June Fabrics PDA Technology Group

I found this on Blackberry: BlackBerry

Can it be this simple? Will my cell provider allow this?

 

[jbhtexas]

I have read about people who use pdanet alot getting their contracts canceled.

Were they canceled because they were using PDAnet, or because of the huge amount of data they were pulling over the phone? Personally, I've not heard of anybody getting canceled for using PDAnet.

I only use PDAnet for checking emails, browsing, and some remote desktop while I'm traveling, so I don't pull alot of data over the link. Since that program is basically disguising the data pulled by a tethered PC as phone data usage, unusually high data usage is probably going to raise a red flag.

 

[cytech]

Were they canceled because they were using PDAnet, or because of the huge amount of data they were pulling over the phone? Personally, I've not heard of anybody getting canceled for using PDAnet.

I only use PDAnet for checking emails, browsing, and some remote desktop while I'm traveling, so I don't pull alot of data over the link. Since that program is basically disguising the data pulled by a tethered PC as phone data usage, unusually high data usage is probably going to raise a red flag.

it was because of extreme bandwith usage without a teather plan. If you pay for the teathering they don't care how much you use