Staying connected on the road? Best options?

[Henro]

I still can't believe that the wife is willing...

To take a long drive this spring/summer that is... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

So I wonder what the best way to maintain internet access while on the road is. The plan would be to cross the northern US, drive up into Alaska, then return to PA through Canada. Time duration would be a fast two months or so. Could be longer but that depends on how things shake out. Whether we want it to take longer is the unknown question.

I know there are wireless hook ups in this town, at certain coffee shops and with a little testing I have become amazed how easy it is to jump on someone's system in the city.

Dial up for email would be one option. Wonder about a listing of local numbers and if there is a nationwide provider? AOL comes to mind, but I don't have any experience with AOL and understand AOL may be cumbersome...

Perhaps a large chain of coffee shops like Starbucks could be the answer? I think around there they have wireless connectivity.

It is apparent I know nothing at the moment. If anyone can get me started in the learning process, so that I may learn most of the options available, I'd really appreciate it.

Of course, it is all for my wife and has nothing to do with my desire to be checking in at TBN as much as possible while on the road... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Edit: Man, I meant to post this in the Related Topics forum, but I guess it will work here just as well... /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[DannyD]

Henro, you are one lucky dude. If I mentioned a vacation like that to miss Holly, and mentioned computers or tractors or internet, she would take the trip right after my funeral.........with her new man, on my life insurance and the money from selling the bota.

Most hotels have wireless, you are at least staying in a hotel right?

 

[homeinwestIL]

When I'm traveling on vacation or business, I take a notebook computer and have signed up for free service with Juno and NetZero. These two companies (I think they are actually owned by the same company now) allow 10 hours of free internet access per month, and it's rare to find a town that doesn't have a local access number. I'm not sure this would apply to Canada, though--I seem to recall having some trouble in Nova Scotia. In either system you can enter the phone number where you are and it will give you a list of available numbers and I can almost always find one on the list that is a local call. They do have some popups and banners with the free service, but it's a minor annoyance for the convenience and being free.

 

[ronjhall]

Henro.
I had to have access on the road. When ever a Motel had High Speed I used it. But when it was not available I used NetZero. Don't waste your money on the $14.95 package. I use NetZero because it can be accesed in Canada with out problems.
Are you going to be staying in motels or are you camping.
Another option is wireless modem. Don't know much about them.
I'm leaving on a trip out west at end of next month. Plan to use NetZero, WYFI and other high speed hook ups. Be sure you have a good firewall when hooking up on a Wyfi and Hotel networks.
I hope to be able to keep current on TBN and other sites.
I'll be interested like you, in what others have to say on this subject.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Henro, I'm on the road constantly, posted many times last week from Las Vegas. Several weeks ago from Florida. In the past from a couple of islands. I take a multi-prong approach to staying on line. First is Wi-Fi built into a laptop, in many airports Wi-Fi is now available so just walking into the building gets you on line. Wi-Fi hotspots are also available at many hotels, and some places like Starbucks. I also typically carry ethernet cables, most hotels now have ethernet connections, but some of them rent you the cable so if you carry your own you save a few bucks. I also have the final back up of using simple dial up. I use Earthlink but to be honest, don't think I've actually used it in the past several months.

Regarding the Wi-Fi, there are several different providers so I just sign up by the day because I never know it the next place I will be will have the same provider. Also, not all Starbucks are connected so you can't always count on them. In a pinch, many truck stops are now getting into Wi-Fi.

I also use a Palm Enabled phone (Treo 600) that allows me to surf the internet, and while I can read TBN on the Palm OS, I have not figured out how to post to a forum from the phone (and admit to not trying too hard to learn).

I find the phone GREAT for email. It has a large enough screen to read the emails, and has a keyboard to writing email. IF email is essential to you, seriously consider upgrading your phone to a "smart phone" with a mini-keyboard.

 

[Henro]

Thanks to all for the advice so far!

We would be doing a mix of motels and camping, probably more camping than motels. I have a Ford E350 van that gives us ample room for sleeping in the back, and no need to pitch a ten if we pull in and it is raining.

Probably taking two laptops and my little pocket PC. All are wifi capable, and at least one laptop has ethernet...

As far as the firewall goes, we run zone alarm on the laptops. Would we need more or something better?

I don't have firewall for the Pocket PC (HP IPAQ) at the moment. Been mostly using it behind the router at home...

Yep, still lots to learn... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Grateful for the help!

 

[thcri]

Henro,

I carry my laptop with me all the time. I use hotels hi-speed connection using a wireless card. Most of your hotels now have that. Sometimes even just driving in the parking lots of the hotels will get you access. If not I do have a dial up adapter using AOL and then using the 800 number to connect.


GEEZ could you guys all imagine no posts from Henro for a couple of months??? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

murph

 

[Cliff_Johns]

Henro,
Worst case, you can always use libraries. Most are computer literate now. Some have wireless hot spots, others at least have computers, so you can download email and update the folks at TBN even if you can't use your own computer to do it. You can also peruse the local papers (and machinery classifieds) and find out what's going on in the area. Libraries are also usually easy to find.

Cliff

 

[slapshot]

As part of a work related project I tested PCMCIA Celluar Cards from AT&T, Verizon and Sprint. All three worked, the AT&T was by far the slowest. The Verizon & Sprint worked very well.
At one point I had to trouble shoot a problem at work, while we were on the road from Peoria to St. Louis. It was really cool to be connected to the Internet, then connect into work via VPN all while driving 65mph down I-55 (my wife driving of course).

-dave

 

[ronjhall]

<font color="blue"> I still can't believe that the wife is willing...

To take a long drive this spring/summer that is... </font>
Apparently she hasn't seen your Wife's improving, but... thread. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

I'm not a expert on Firewalls. Comcast has one that is a free download for their customers. That's what I am using.