Internet Access from Anywhere You Are?

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

04/21/2006 12:38:34 PM · #1

So, I see a lot of people doing the wireless thing with their laptops. How do they do it?

I have a cell phone, and I know that if I sign up for "hot spot" I can have wireless access at Starbucks. Oh goody! :(

I want wireless access anywhere my cell phone works, and broadband too! Is this possible? If so, what do you need? What does it cost? How do you do it?

If I am sitting in some park somewhere, laptop on my lap, cell phone in my purse, how can I get online?

I am not an idiot, but this technology has surpassed my experience and research.

Apple iPhone

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX Aspherical DF for Nikon

04/21/2006 12:43:43 PM · #2

what cell phone provider do you have?

pjangel

Canon EOS-5D Mark III

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

04/21/2006 12:44:00 PM · #3

I have a verizon wireless card. I can access the internet from anywhere. I think they have a special for 60 bucks a month.

joebok

Fujifilm X100F

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom Nikkor 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED

04/21/2006 12:47:32 PM · #4

The short answer - it depends. Many places offer wireless hotspots - these are connections that a wireless internet card (sometimes called WLAN or 802.11) can connect to. Sometimes you have to pay (like at airports) sometimes it is free (like libraries). This is independent of your cell - you need a wireless card for your laptop.

Getting on the 'net via your cell - that's a different story. It depends on your carrier and your phone. Basically the idea is that you will use your cell phone as a modem, just like in the olden days. You'll probably need a special connector (sometimes you can use yet another wireless technology, bluetooth, to use your phone as a modem). Some carriers will let you use cell minutes to be online, others will want you to have a special data plan.

If your laptop has a wireless card, great. If not - you can probably buy a reasonably priced one to fit in the PCMCIA slot. Take it to your local library and see if you can get it connected. They should have a nice open network and lots of help and instruction available. Then venture to coffee shops. For cell access - well - try the Howard Forums - cross index your equipment with your provider and be prepared to spend a lot of time reading.

Edit to add: As mentioned above - many cell providers offer a "wireless card" that will connect you up to the internet via the cell network - this is the easy way to use a cell phone as a modem. This is not to be confused with a WLAN 802.11 type card.... Hmmm... I don't know if that is more helpful or less helpful!

Message edited by author 2006-04-21 12:49:45.

zeuszen

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

04/21/2006 01:00:21 PM · #5

Many municipalities and especially large urban centres (downtown mostly) provide public hotzones now, either low-cost or entirely free of charge.

robs

Canon EOS R6 Mk II

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0L IS

04/21/2006 01:05:10 PM · #6

Some providers have "wireless broadband" - basically a card stuck in the PC that is like using a cell phone as a modem but at speeds closer to hotspots (802.11 mentioned above). Running over a wireless phone modem is mostly still slow but depends on what you want to do if that is a big deal. Some providers could be an add on to your existing cell others a seperate service - call and ask and they no doubt will fall over themselves talking about what they have.

Free hotspots are becomming more common in some places while paid versions are more common in others. A lot of the chain coffee type places (McDonalds, Starbucks e.t.c.) are rolling it out as are some small local councils. A lot of PC's have the receiver for this built into the screen but can be added via a card you stick in the side also.

Edit: Too slow on the typing I see - Oh well....

Message edited by author 2006-04-21 13:05:31.

mirdonamy

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

04/21/2006 01:10:44 PM · #7

I have t-mobile. I do have a wireless card in my laptop as well.

Basically, what I want to do is use my laptop like a GPS on road trips. I want to check sigalert.com and also want to use mapquest and also check email if I happen to pull over somewhere for a quick snack at the Quik-E-Mart. Of course I would not do this while driving. I would pull over. I just want to be able to have internet access wherever I am. I don't bring my laptop to fast food places or starbucks. I don't waste time hanging out in those places... I am in and out. I bring my laptop to hotels (many cheap ones that do not have internet access and camping). I want to bring it with me when I travel on photo hikes and want to look up information about the park or environment I am in. I want to be able to use it along highways, when I pull off at a rest stop. Stuff like that...

04/21/2006 01:11:05 PM · #8

"For cell access - well - try the Howard Forums - cross index your equipment with your provider and be prepared to spend a lot of time reading."

Why??? You are making it WAY to complicated for this individual.

Options:
#1 Go to this site: //www.futuredial.com/matrix/Default.aspx, pick your Cell Provder, the manufacturer of your phone and the model of your phone.

If it comes up on their list, get their software plug the data cable into the phone, then plug it into your USB port on your laptop and get on-line.

#2 If your phone has blue tooth, which most newer phones do, you can get on through that. You can buy a blue tooth dongle that plugs into your laptop usb port quite reasonable.

#3 Buy a data cable for your cell phone, plug one into your phone, the other end into your laptop and you're good to go. people really should pay attention to advice they give, especially when they have NO idea what they're talking about. Here is a very good article on getting on-line with your cell phone:

//www.bmyers.com/public/938.cfm?sd=30

It's a piece of cake to do for anyone, well, except those that post all these complicated solutions about cross indexing your equipment etc etc etc....$15.00 on eBay, I bought the software and data cable to access the internet, I can also transfer info back and forth between computer and cell phone. I have Verizon and an older Samsung A670 phone, there's absolutely NOTHING complicated about doing this, unless of course yo want to make it complicated, like some.

04/21/2006 01:15:02 PM · #9

Originally posted by JelloPhotog:

Whats so complicated or confusing about wi-fi hot spots and a wireless cell cards dude. Seems easy to me and good advice why bag on posters that are trying to help...

Erick

04/21/2006 01:18:39 PM · #10

"For cell access - well - try the Howard Forums - cross index your equipment with your provider and be prepared to spend a lot of time reading."

Why complicate and confuse people.

04/21/2006 01:19:09 PM · #11

Thats what I am saying its not confusing dude!

Olympus M.Zuiko ED 75-300mm f4.8-6.7 II

04/21/2006 01:23:43 PM · #12

Telling the individual to cross index and be prepared to do a lot of reading! Please, you don't have to cross index and you don't have to do a lot of reading, that's my point.

Rgarcia

Olympus OM-D E-M1

04/21/2006 01:26:13 PM · #13

With my SonyEricsson K750i and Opera Mini, I can see my stats on DPC at any moment!!!

04/21/2006 01:28:35 PM · #14

Originally posted by Rgarcia:

With my SonyEricsson K750i and Opera Mini, I can see my stats on DPC at any moment!!!

Is that Opera Mini the best thing sine sliced bread! I have it for my cell, I also use Opera Mobile for my HP iPaq and I dumped FireFox for opera months ago....

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom Nikkor 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED

04/21/2006 01:34:52 PM · #15

Originally posted by JelloPhotog:

Telling the individual to cross index and be prepared to do a lot of reading! Please, you don't have to cross index and you don't have to do a lot of reading, that's my point.

Your right I am sorry I guess I misunderstood this

"especially when they have NO idea what they're talking about."

Erick

joebok

Fujifilm X100F

04/21/2006 01:53:57 PM · #16

Originally posted by JelloPhotog:

"For cell access - well - try the Howard Forums - cross index your equipment with your provider and be prepared to spend a lot of time reading."

Why complicate and confuse people.

? This is how I learned - fact is, depending on your carrier/equipment it can be complicated and confusing. For my combination, Verizion w/ Motorola V3c, your "future dial" didn't offer a solution for wireless internet.

04/21/2006 02:10:36 PM · #17

Originally posted by joebok:

Originally posted by JelloPhotog:
"For cell access - well - try the Howard Forums - cross index your equipment with your provider and be prepared to spend a lot of time reading."

Why complicate and confuse people.

? This is how I learned - fact is, depending on your carrier/equipment it can be complicated and confusing. For my combination, Verizion w/ Motorola V3c, your "future dial" didn't offer a solution for wireless internet.

Going to Google and typing -> Motorola V3c modem

Led me to Wireless Emporium, for 54.99 found this -> took under 4 minutes to do.

//www.wirelessemporium.com/store/catalog/product/details.asp?itemid=8740&relatedId=0

Elvis_L

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

04/21/2006 02:20:21 PM · #18

For where you live I would go with a verizon aircard. it fits into the PCMCIA slot on your laptop and will give you wireless internet almost anywhere in the US and while in alot of areas, L.A. included, you will be using thier broadband service which is 2.5 mps which is about as fast as most cable modems at home. the cost should be about$99.99 for the card and $59.99 per month for the service.

mirdonamy

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM

04/21/2006 02:35:17 PM · #19

Does this Verizon aircard mean I need to have Verizon service already? I have and like T-Mobile. This sounds like a viable solution though...

04/21/2006 02:36:27 PM · #20

Originally posted by mirdonamy:

Does this Verizon aircard mean I need to have Verizon service already? I have and like T-Mobile. This sounds like a viable solution though...

What phone do you have....?

04/21/2006 02:38:16 PM · #21

Originally posted by mirdonamy:

Does this Verizon aircard mean I need to have Verizon service already? I have and like T-Mobile. This sounds like a viable solution though...

T-mobile Card

Elvis_L

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM

04/21/2006 02:43:44 PM · #22

Thier website doesn't say but last time I secret shopped T-mobile thier internet service was much slower than Verizon's(it uses GPRS vs EVDO/1xrtt) you can just have the verizon service on the aircard and have your cell with T-mobile. If not see if T-mobile will let you try thier card and return it if it is not fast enought for you.

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom Nikkor 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6G IF-ED

04/21/2006 02:45:00 PM · #23

T-Mobile Card

But as someone said, their access is slower.

joebok

Fujifilm X100F

04/21/2006 03:02:29 PM · #24

Originally posted by JelloPhotog:

Originally posted by joebok:

Originally posted by JelloPhotog:
"For cell access - well - try the Howard Forums - cross index your equipment with your provider and be prepared to spend a lot of time reading."

Why complicate and confuse people.

? This is how I learned - fact is, depending on your carrier/equipment it can be complicated and confusing. For my combination, Verizion w/ Motorola V3c, your "future dial" didn't offer a solution for wireless internet.

Going to Google and typing -> Motorola V3c modem

Led me to Wireless Emporium, for 54.99 found this -> took under 4 minutes to do.

//www.wirelessemporium.com/store/catalog/product/details.asp?itemid=8740&relatedId=0

My route cost me nothing, and I know a lot more than I did before. Your solution is better for some people, mine is better for others.

Edit: Lest anyone be fooled, the link above is for a bluetooth dongle to allow a pc to connect to a bluetooth phone - it is not clear it will work for a V3c (only lists V3) on the Verizon network.

Message edited by author 2006-04-21 15:08:04.