WI-FI While Traveling

[Golfgar4]

We're in the process of getting ready to begin traveling once I retire. In order to stay in touch with TBN and friends and family via e-mail, we're planning on trading in our PC and getting a laptop.

I realize that virtually all laptops now come with a WI-FI card/chip already installed. I'm not really concerned with what brand of laptop we'll be getting, although we are leaning towards a HP.

My question is regarding Wi-Fi accessibility once we're on the road. I just don't get exactly how this works. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

As I understand it, we'll need to purchase service from an ISP. But since we'll be selling the house and traveling in a motorhome, does the ISP need to be one like Verizon or Sprint? We currently have Verizon for our cell phone. Would there be a benefit to staying with them?

I also understand that more and more places, like libraries, cafes, RV parks, etc. are offering Wi-Fi services, and in many cases the service is free. But if the service happens to not be free, and I want to connect to it, does that mean I'll literally be paying for 2 different services (my regular ISP and the temporary one) just to use my computer for an hour or two?

As I'm trying to learn more about this, it seems to me that in my case, where we'll be very mobile on a regular basis, purchasing an ISP would only be beneficial for having access to e-mail capabilities. Are there other options to the e-mail question that would be worth considering so that we wouldn't need to purchase an ISP?

 

[Bob_Skurka]

You do NOT need to purchase service from Verizon or Sprint, get yourself a free email address from Yahoo or a similar provided. What you will need to do is purchase service from the local WiFi provided at each spot you visit and that typically runs me about $10 per 24 hours period in most of the hotels I visit. Places like Starbucks coffee shops often offer WiFi and if you plan on crossing the country visiting coffee shops you can buy access for longer periods of time than 1 day increments. There are services like BOINGO which is one of the largest WiFi suppliers, if you do a Google search you can get a map of their hot-spots to see if it would make sense to buy a 30 day access with them. I would also recommend you to take a 12' to 15' ethernet cable on your trip. Many places that do not have WiFi offer high speed connections via ethernet, some places provide the cable, some places rent the cable, some place provide them but run out if the hotel fills up.

 

[Golfgar4]

Thanks Bob. I was hoping that you'd respond, as I knew that you traveled quite a bit yourself and you had mentioned some of this before.

I may end up purchasing one of these service plans anyway, because although I don't expect to be doing it often, there may be some times that we occassionally will be out in the boondocks where there are no Wi-Fi access points. I guess that's the only option in that case, other than going with some satellite kind of system, right?

 

[bczoom]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I may end up purchasing one of these service plans anyway, because although I don't expect to be doing it often, there may be some times that we occassionally will be out in the boondocks where there are no Wi-Fi access points. I guess that's the only option in that case, other than going with some satellite kind of system, right?)</font>

Garry,

I travel some with my laptop. Although WiFi compatable, I normally connect my PC to my cell phone. The cell phone plan I have (Verizon) gives me 400 nationwide minutes + unlimited evenings and weekends. On family trips, the wife gets bored so she sits in the passenger seat and browses the internet while I drive.

They have a package you buy (I think it's around $69) that provides a cable for your cell phone and a CD with the software needed.

As long as there's a cell phone signal I have internet access. There is no charge other than it burns up my minutes. I just work efficiently when connected during prime-time minutes.

Examples:
Have IE and e-mail open before you connect.
Once connected:
Do a send/receive on e-mail.
While that's doing its thing, open the TBN posts for # of hours.
For each thread I want to read, right click on the thread and open in a new window. While that's occurring in the background, I find the next thread and repeat the process.

All this stuff is keeping your connection busy...

When I have everything downloaded to my PC, disconnect.
I then read/reply to all e-mails and each thread.

Reconnect then send e-mail and post any TBN replies.

Brian

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Garry, I have not used them, but one of my business associates used a SPRINT PCMCIA card that he insterted into the side of his computer. Essentially it is a phone modem that transmits over the cellular frequencies so anywhere where you have a digital cell phone signal you would have access. I don't know the cost of the service, but I know he used it for a couple years with reasonable results. It would likely cost you something like a monthly cell phone subscription? The advantage would be that you'd have access most places you'd go. I'm guessing it is not a high speed connection but probably more akin to a dail up speed???

 

[Golfgar4]

Brian,

Boy, that sounds like the ticket! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

That is exactly what we'd like to do. While we're pounding down the boulevard (or more accurately state highways - I HATE the interstate!), the wife could be contacting RV parks or updating our travel journal.

As you mention, the one thing that would be of concern is the number of minutes that we'd be using. I guess that just means that I'd have to become more efficient at zapping/moving threads here at TBN, huh? /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Do you utilize the free Wi-Fi services when you come across them? Are they fairly dependable? Are they reasonably easy to access? I wouldn't have a problem with occassionally paying for an hour or two at a Starbucks (get to have the old cup of coffee too!) or going to a library. Quite honestly, as the availability of Wi-Fi is increasing, we actually expect that as often as possible, we will search out RV campgrounds that offer the free service rather than staying at one without, assuming there is one in the area that we'll be visiting. By doing that, we would also be minimizing the use of our minutes.

Bob - it looks like you and Brian were typing at about the same time, and he was explaining what you were also talking about. Thanks! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[OkeeDon]

Bob is correct about the hot spot services. We haven't started our traveling yet, but I do have some other information. We have friends who travel 4 months each summer. When there is no wi-fi hot spot, they manage to find service in internet cafes in many locations, public libraries (using the library's computers), campground offices (using dial-up -- some campgrounds have the connection in the laundry room), and, on a couple of occasions in Canada, even visiting a local business and offering to pay for some phone access (which was usually donated -- friendly people!)

They have a dial-up ISP they keep in reserve for those campgrounds, offices, etc. where they can't use a high speed connection. They use one of the cheaper services, not sure which one, but something like juno where it's almost free if you're willing to see some ads.

A couple of years ago, when I did get a chance to do some traveling, I found an ISP called Buedget Dial-up where I could get pre-paid access. There are no monthly charges; you deposit some money and deposit some more when you use up what you have. It's more expensive by the minute, but on the other hand, you only pay for what you use.

Finally, on the cell phone access. I had Nextel's packet service for a while, so I'm certain how it works. I think Verizon and the others work in a similar way. Modems convert your digital signal to an analog signal to travel on normal telephone lines. An analog cell phone can be used as a modem to connect to any ISP (VERY slow access). A digital phone, like Nextel, is used to send the digital signal from your computer to a modem in their location, which then converts it to analog. The digital communication is in packets, thus Nextel calls it Packet Service. It costs $55 per month over and above your normal cell phone bill; in fact, you don't need to have a Nextel cell phone to use it -- you can sign up for the packet service and install a PC card in the laptop that connects to Nextel without a phone (the PC card was around $300 the last time I checked).

Verizon and Sprint have some sort of similar services, but perhaps for less money. These services are the same speed or faster than dial-up, but not as fast as wi-fi hot spots where available.

The real problem with the cell phone solutions is that they aren;t available everywhere. First of all, digital services are scarce anywhere in the mountains, reagardless of the provider -- it's a function of the line-of-sight signals. They're also scarce in some rural areas. Second, while Nextel has the packet service available everywhere they have service, Verison and Sprint do not the last time I checked -- it's only available in the largest cities, not muych help when camping.

Bottom line, you're going to have to be prepared to use a variety of services. I won't be getting the Nextel service again until they solve the problems of service in rural and mountainous areas. When we start our traveling, I expect to use a combination of wi-fi hot spots, high speed hard wired access, and dial up either at the campground or whereever is closest. Even with all that, there are still problem areas -- We spent some time in Hiawassee, Georgia, a couple of years ago, and couldn't even find a dial-up service with a local number -- unless we were willing to sign a contract with the local provider, we had to use long distance. There was no AOL, Earthlink, Netzero or any other provider with a local number. We have the same problem at our cabin in West Jefferson, NC, but the local phone company has a temporary service where you can get DSL for $50 for a single month. After spending about $75 in long distance charges in a week for dial-up speeds, we learned to pay the $50 when we're at the cabin -- or treat it like a real vacation and leave the computer off.

There is one final option that was promised to be available "soon" the last time I checked, a couple of years ago. That's mobile satellite technology. An antenna larger than that used for satellite TV has to be professionally installed on the RV because it uses 2-way communication. Some of them allow VOIP (voice over IP phone service) and fax, as well. They're marketed for business use, I suspect because few individuals would be able to afford them. I don't know what they cost, but I've heard that the equipment is around $6,000 and I'd guess that service runs $200-$300 per month. This is not an option for me unless I won the lottery. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

<font color="brown"> {Edit} Yep, I was typing at the same time. The cell phone as a modem service I mentioned is I think what Brian uses. I believe this will only work if you have a dual-band phone and use the analog side, although this technology may have been upgraded while I wasn't looking (today, that could be a blink). The high speed cell phone services are limited; here's a list from Verizon:Verizon wireless broadband. It runs $80 per month.</font>

 

[Golfgar4]

Don,

Very informative reply, as always! /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif Thanks.

Yes, I've read about the mobile satellite technology, and you're not far off in the price. I'm seeing prices at about $5,000.00. I've been visiting some of the RV discussion forums to get more information, and although they can be informative and entertaining, IMHO they're not nearly as informative as what we have here at TBN. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif That's why I posted the question here. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

I think that we really will, for the most, be able to find the hot spots. I guess I'm just going to have to figure out what to do "as insurance" for those few (hopefully!) times that we can't find the hot spots. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Garry, Brian makes an excellent point about being efficient with time, but also I might suggest a few other things. Use a stripped down browser and even set it so that you don't always download images, etc. I use the Sprint cellular internet service on my Palm Treo 600 phone, while it is passable on the phone, I would really not want to go back to dial up speeds on my laptop. So check your browser settings, or better yet set your laptop up with a faster loading browser like Firefox (Windows or Apple) or Safari (Apple only) instead of IE.

I would strongly suggest you look up (and print out) maps of public WiFi hot spots because those connections (at least every one I used) were very fast connections and very reliable.

As Okeedon suggests, BE PREPARED TO USE A MULTITUDE OF CONNECTION METHODS, and I would totally agree with him on this. Flexibility on the road is the key. Being able to dial up to an ISP in the last resort may be critical. Cellular is good if you have the coverage for where you are going, but remember it is much slower than WiFi or ethernet (which are usually connected to a T1 or fractional T1).

 

[bczoom]

Garry

The service I use is Verizon "Quick 2 Net". A search on their web page www.verizonwireless.net should provide info.

My cell phone handles analog and digital. I have not had any problems with the internet access regardless of the signal I am getting on my phone.

Speed isn't very high. Somewhere between 14.4 - 19.2Kbps if I recall correctly.

Check their web page for national plans. I just did a quick glance and they have 900 + unlimited (weekends and in calling area) minutes for $60.

I have the WiFi on my PC but don't use it since I'm in hotels that either have ethernet cables in the room (Marriott) or no internet at all.

I know people that travel in their camper and for WiFi, they pull into hotel parking lots and can pick up the hotel's signal.

Another efficiency technique I use for e-mail. All my e-mail providers have a web version of e-mail. I use that first to get rid of any trash or whatever before I do a send/receive from my PC's e-mail.

Brian

EDIT - OK everyone... Let's stop replying at the same time /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

In response to Don's edit. Yes, Verizon has the broadband for a fee. Since I don't travel for more than a week or 2 at a time, I avoid this service. There's also a 1 or 2 year <font color="brown"> </font> customer agreement required for this service. The one I have doesn't have a monthly service fee or term contract.