New Toy

Jim Miller

SPFG, Supreme Picture Framing God
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If you're looking for a high speed wireless internet connection to go, have a look at Verizon's "air card". For a couple of years I've had email and internet on my cell phone, but the screen and keyboard are inconveniently small, and the connection speed with my Treo 650 is painfully slow -- even slower than my 23 kbps dial-up connection at home, so I've been on the hunt for a better alternative.

The air card is about 4" x 1" x 1/2" and plugs into any USB equipped computer. That means you could use it on desktop computers at home, or at work, or at the neighbors' house, or use it on the road with any laptop. It works wherever there is a Verizon cellular signal, with connection speeds from about 400 to 1000 kbps. I was skeptical about the speeds, so I got one Thursday before leaving for Baltimore. It has worked well in three airports, two hotels, a shuttlebus, a taxi, and two restaurants, so far this weekend. The slowest connection speed was 390 kbps, at the Detroit airport where the whole building might be metal. The fastest is 934 kbps, in my 4th floor room at the Sheraton Inner Harbor/Baltimore hotel.

Ah, progress.:icon21:
 
Most phone companies offer something comparable (Sprint, etc)

Our Verizon phone has bluetooth, and I use the wireless card transmitter in the phone for the same end result. (you can also do it with a $20 wire from the phone to USB) When I need internet, the laptop gets it from the cell phone. The only disadvantage with my way, is that I get cut off if someone calls. If I were using it more often to justify the fee, I would get one of those dedicated cards too. Is it a PCMCIA card?

Verizon offers 3 different speeds/services. I believe only one of them has a fee associated with it, the others just use your regular airtime minutes. (or free nights/weekends)

Mike

PS: How is the new show?
 
The "air card" is USB connected, so it can be used with any computer that has a USB port. The free or phone-modem internet connections are slow -- they claim "DSL speeds", but that is bunk. Verizon's newer PCMCIA card is almost as fast as the air card, but this is said to be their fastest internet connection.

At home, where the cellular strength is weak, I can connect dependably at about 400 kbps. I've already found a few places where it can sail at over 1,000 kbps.

After a few disappointments in the past with other wireless cellular connections, including Verizon, Cingular, and Sprint, I really enjoy having this anytime, anywhere internet connection that actually works as advertised.
 
I thought you guys might be interested in what’s on offer here in Ireland

This is a 3G broadband service from Vodafone http://www.vodafone.ie/business/ema...sp?site=sme&bannerdesc=bus_3gbroadband_050307

I bought this for my Sister and her Husband for their 5 to 6 month visit to Ireland.....they are travelling all over and Jim need access to email and internet a few times a day......I will take the 12 month contract over when they return to Australia....

The word from them is that is works great......they can have great to reasonable connection depending on how remote they are in Ireland.....but bottom line is that it works...........they are in the UK in a few weeks so I’m going to have them check it out with Vodafone’s UK network..........

BTW ....the Vodafone system is not Vista ready yet.....I gather that is going to take a few more months.........good job I had a spare XP notebook for Jim his spanking new Vista system that he bought for the trip would not work with the Vodafone 3G broadband....

I noticed when I pulled up the link that the monthly charge has dropped to €33.05 from the €49.94 + 21% VAT (Tax) that they signed me up at...........I think I will be having words with Vodafone........

Mind you they have given me a free month €57.03 + VAT for this month (May) on my Mobile (Cell) phone....
 
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