Going on road-- help me find reliable constant internet?

Discussion in 'Computers and The Internet' started by BobbinBecca, Jan 16, 2005.

  1. BobbinBecca

    BobbinBecca Member

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    Hi,
    Please help with any advice or knowledge--
    I am hitting the road soon and need to have a reliable internet for my laptop.
    Satellite seems pretty awesome but the costs are pretty high and I can see it being surpassed by other technology in the near future. Also, you gotta mount this big old dish on your rig and aim it clearly no trees etc.
    Cell phones are pretty cool too, and my laptop has an infrared device I could use with a cell phone, but why do the cell phone sites tell you virtually nothing about using your phone as a primary access to the internet while roaming? Why do the cell phone guys at the mall look at me like what the hell is she asking me for then implying I should try to steal wireless from static folks? I need something reliable, but widely accesible. I want internet in campgrounds in the Grand Tetons and Virginia forest.
    Come on, 21st century? Hook me up!
    Anybody got some advice? I would hate to plunge one way or another and then encounter nasty problems while on the road and needing to be online and can't do it.
    Thanks for listening :)
    Becca
     
  2. xaosflux

    xaosflux Lifetime Supporter Lifetime Supporter

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    Satellite is the only sure thing for you..but it is hell-a-expensive; downsides to satellite is that it is truely a line of site thing, so clouds, trees, mountains, etc inbetween you and the satellite can take you down...

    Cell is a more parctical answer, the 99% of the guys at the mall dont know shit about what they are selling, they are not specialists, they are retail slaves; go to a standalone communications store that sells cells, hybrids like nextel, and two way radios..if a shop sells two way radios they usally have a clue.
     
  3. BobbinBecca

    BobbinBecca Member

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    Thanks for the tip, I think I'll want two-way radios anyway while on the road with my family.
    The other thing I don't like about Satellite is even though your rig has internet almost always, you aren't truly mobile-- you're still tied to your rig, i.e. if your rig is in the boondocks and you want to drive the car into town you can't take the internet with you on spot-- then you're back at finding hotspots or libraries.
    And the other thing I don't understand about satellite is I've seen price quotes for satellite at either 600 or 6000 for the equipment-- and while I seem to see that it's 600 for a stationary satellite and 6000 for one that spins around to find the best spot, I still don't understand it, and the websites i've requested more info from a local dealer don't get back to me-- maybe they figure I can't afford the 6000 which is true. But I'd invest 600 in a stationary satellite, because I can't figure out why you can't just turn the dang thing yourself to find the best aim, and how in the world can a motor or whatever be worth 5400 extra dollars?? Anyway, I still await their replies but don't know why I'd want "reliable" internet from folks who don't answer emails in a week.
    I'm thinking it'll be better to do an infrared cell plan even if I can't go everywhere with it. Again, though, I've yet to find a carrier's website that caters to me as a customer or a retail person who knows what they're talking about. But I'm still looking for anyone here that can offer perspective, especially if anyone's hooked into the internet on the road with any mobile device. I should expect a little customer service and reliability for hundreds of dollars down and 80 bucks a month, shouldn't I?
    Maybe I should solicit a stable house-dweller to support my needs on a secure wireless network where I dial in from a cell phone. I'd rather support a hipforums member than Sprint or Nextel anyway.
     
  4. _ian_

    _ian_ Member

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    i would duggest getting a good wireless card and antenna and doing some wardriving :D
     

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