Internet Access on the Road

Tim,

There are two very easy ways (and maybe more by now) to do what you really want to do.
PDAnet with Foxfi
Easy Tether

PDAnet now includes Foxfi so, it does both a cable and a WiFi tether. If you use the wifi tether, you had better have power to the handset or it won't last long.

Easytether is cable tether only and it powers from the computer, I just have to remember to shut the screen down or the phone battery gets low.

Both are buy-once and then look out for your data limit (instead of 30$ a month and watch out for your data limit).

When we are traveling, I can burn 3g a month even if I can't find any 4G.

Matt

The thing you plug into the side of the laptop is technically just a minuature cell phone radio with a USB connection. Its not different than your phone from a technology standpoint.

Depending on your speed requirements and usage I would look at:

Verizon
Millenicom
Internet to Go (Through Walmart)

Purchase a MIFI Mobile hotspot and a corresponding plan based on your needs.

You may want to do some searching here on the forum or read through these articles for a better understanding:
Changing Gears-Internet Access
RV Internet and Mobile WIFI * The On the Go Guide
Your RV Lifestyle - RV Internet Access

Dutch_12078 wrote:
We use the 20GB/month data plan from Millenicom.com. The service is through Verizon, and the coverage is excellent. Millenicom's "Unlimited" plan uses the Sprint network, and their "Basic" plan uses T-Mobile.

I can't say enough good things about Millenicom. We went on a five month trip last year from Oregon, south to Yosemite, east to Mississippi, north to Michigan and west back to Oregon. I can only think of a few times we did not have good internet. We bought a Wilson Cradle (from the 3G store) to go along with it and it really was well worth it.

3G Store
1 x Wilson Sleek 4G-V Signal Booster for 3G and Verizon 4G LTE - 815126

And I can give two times I was amazed.
1. We were camped at North Pines in the Yosemite Valley and I had internet signal enough to send and receive emails.

2. We were camped in Death Valley and got a PHONE CALL.

We can put our phone on the Wilson Cradle and boost it's signal, too.
We have an old clam shell Sprint cell phone.

TCBaxter wrote:
I am trying to find the best way to get internet access while on the road or in an area with no wi-fi. I have a droid type phone that I have been told I can use but it drains the phone battery quickly plus there is an add on charge through Verizon.

\

The battery life issue is no big deal, you just plug the phone into a charger when you are running it as a hot spot.

If you have one of Verizon's Shared Data plans there is NO additional charge for using your phone as a wifi hot spot. Don't let anyone here tell you differently; this was the result of a lawsuit against Verizon last year. The only people who have to pay for hot spot usage are people with grandfathered unlimited data plans.

you can get a plan through Verizon for tethering...
or you can use PDANet......

That thing that plugs into a computer is also a cellular connection and also requires additional charges.
There is no free lunch when it comes to internet on the road other than hooking up to someone's free WiFi.
Most phones can be tethered to your computer and you just leave the phone plugged in so it doesn't kill your battery. In most cases you can use up to 2GB/month for about $20 in that manner. If you go with a separate service where the phone is a hotspot or you want to use a cellular data card (as described at the start) you will be looking at service starting around $50/month for 5GB of service but there are other plans available as well.
Let us know more about what you would like to be able to do.

We use the 20GB/month data plan from Millenicom.com. The service is through Verizon, and the coverage is excellent. Millenicom's "Unlimited" plan uses the Sprint network, and their "Basic" plan uses T-Mobile.

If you don't want to use your phone you have very few alternatives, because that's the best way.