CELL PHONE INTERNET ACCESS

[DanaMc]

CELL PHONE INTERNET ACCESS

This is designed to explain the basic approach to using your cell phone with your computer to connect to the internet. It is not intended to be an in depth coverage of the topic. Rather it is intended to help folks get acquainted with what is necessary and a suggested resource or two. The first step in this process would be to check with your cell phone carrier. Make sure there is no reason you can’t use your phone like a modem. Some carriers can provide this for an additional fee.

It is the most cost effective way to keep up with your email and favorite web pages from nearly anywhere. In most cases you do not need a separate or different phone plan. You will use your plan minutes and can manage it to take advantage of the unlimited nights and weekends just as you might for conversations. Regular cell phone roaming charges may apply depending on where you are and whether your carrier has an agreement with the local service provider. This is no different than any other situation.

The key components needed are your cell phone, a special USB cord designed specifically for your cell phone. It will connect your cell phone directly to your computer via a USB port on the computer. Finally you will want software to manage the connection and compress the data being sent. There are many sources for this equipment. You can check with your local cell phone retailer. Radio Shack is a good source on this topic as well. But they will only be familiar with the phones they sell. I have been using SnapDialer. I have been very happy with the combination of Verizon and SnapDialer to connect to the internet.

Once your software is installed and configured for your internet service provider, you will only need to click on the Icon to launch your internet session. What service provider you use is not part of this topic. However there are many low cost or free email services such as Google’s Gmail, Microsoft’s Hotmail, or Yahoo.

Below is some additional reading on this topic:

HOW-TO: Use your CDMA cell phone as a USB modem

Cell Phone Internet Connections

Cellular Fills Gap Between Hotspots

Looking for a boost in your signal? There are third party systems that can enhance your cellular signal and/or facilitate the use of a cell phone in your RV or your home. One example of this is Wilson Cellular Antennas & Amplifiers. Properly installed, these systems can enhance your range of coverage.

[Mike_Schriber]

Good point. I think I'll add VCAST today and see what happens. I can always cancel it.

Thanks!

Mike

[MrWizard]

vcast should work, but the $60 feature, is just that a feature, if you add it ,then remove a few days later or 10 days, it gets pro-rated at $2 a day or possibly $2 per 166mb/day ( 166 mb being 5gig/30days )

being that can use it during the day or night $6 for a weekend or $28 for a (2) week vacation could be considered reasonable

yeah spending $60 a month if not using it all the time is over kill.

[Mike_Schriber]

Doh! I'm on a trip in Michigan and just tried to connect using my phone and got the Verizon broadband message. I have an old America's Choice plan without VCAST. It worked in SoCal a few weeks ago.

So, is the thinking that adding VCAST will get me going or is that been proven as a dead end?

What a bummer. There is no way I can justify $59.95 a month to use it one or two days. Argh!

Mike

[MrWizard]

regarding sprints 5gig data cap
For what it's worth, there is a
got this from another forum, text is exerted from the linked webpage

first-hand report by Kent German at Crave/Cnet that clarifies Sprint's unlimited data policy:

"the Simply Unlimited plan is not affected by the data usage cap, which applies only to connection card and phone-as-modem plans (tethering)"

* The vast majority of current users (about 99.5 percent) shouldn't be affected. Whether it's the 300MB roaming limit or the 5GB limit on total data usage, that's enough data to meet the regular monthly usage habits of almost all of our customers.
* Going over either limit will not cause a card to suddenly stop working.
* Going over once in a while is OK. We'll check usage using a rolling, three-month basis.
* Customers would have to exceed the limit in two out of three consecutive months to face termination.
* Initially, we are contacting customers first, to make them aware of the new limits and give them a chance to change their usage, if they want to continue using the service.
* We're investigating additional options for customers who need to use more data.
* Users will be able to check and monitor their total data usage on Sprint.com beginning June 8.
* The caps are being applied to new and existing consumer and individual-liable accounts, but not corporate-liable, business contracts, Public Sector, or government contracts. We're working on additional processes and pricing to appropriately address the needs of heavy roaming and data users among the corporate liable customer group.

[MrWizard]

the basic plans ACII or NW are the same price for the same number of minutes ( voice account )

and you have (14 days )(I think ) to switch back to ACII/old plan, if your not happy with NW ( double check this with the CS rep )( if you do this, do it by phone ) the phone reps know more than most store reps, and its easier to get the supervsior for help, if the CS rep doesn't know.
IF you do this DO NOT mention PC & internet, to them, they will either play dumb or say no.

all i know is, 'its working for me ' and we knew this was comming,

[Jbird]

OH OH. I have AC with Vpak and am having no luck. Sounds like I might be better off to be on Nationwide?

[MrWizard]

confirmed from long beach , ca verizon LG 8100 ACII plan, 1xDUN not working

but for me with the NationWide plan and vpak, DUN is working

so put So Calif on the list of no more free 1xDUN back door, america choice plan

this info via HOFO where i have been trying to gather as much info about non-working areas's as possible

[MrWizard]

oregonrv2007 wrote:
To folkie:

Actually, I priced out the kit, and it is all very fair...

Router is normally $250 to $300
Amp is normally $300
Antenna is at least $100
The kit also comes with both wall and auto chargers (if you get the pieces individually, they only come with wall chargers) so I figured that must be worth another $50
The kit also comes with extra cabling $20
And a 3-way mount $20

That figures to be $790...oh...now let's factor in shipping for each item separately...wich would be from $70 to $100...so again, having it all in one kit is nice.

So I figure when I added it all up, it seems pretty darn fair what they charged. Also, you can't beat the simplicity of the kit. They made it very easy for me (all the instructions you need are on the inside label of the box...no configuring required, just plug it in)...at the same time, they saved me a lot of $$$$ in time researching this, as they have done it all for me.

I will let you know how it goes!

absolutely correct on equipment costs

folkie was way under estimating the cost of amp & router

a pkg deal on the equiment and you use your own cell carrier and account, good deal

[AlexSian]

the same equipment is sold by the company i work at for $540, and even less if a customer were to get their USB EVDO modem and service though us.

in addition, the company i work for has served the needs of thousands of RVer across north america, for years.

[oregonrv2007]

To folkie:

Actually, I priced out the kit, and it is all very fair...

Router is normally $250 to $300
Amp is normally $300
Antenna is at least $100
The kit also comes with both wall and auto chargers (if you get the pieces individually, they only come with wall chargers) so I figured that must be worth another $50
The kit also comes with extra cabling $20
And a 3-way mount $20

That figures to be $790...oh...now let's factor in shipping for each item separately...wich would be from $70 to $100...so again, having it all in one kit is nice.

So I figure when I added it all up, it seems pretty darn fair what they charged. Also, you can't beat the simplicity of the kit. They made it very easy for me (all the instructions you need are on the inside label of the box...no configuring required, just plug it in)...at the same time, they saved me a lot of $$$$ in time researching this, as they have done it all for me.

We use Sprint as the backbone ($59.99 for unlimited per month). We started out using free WiFi, but had a security breach, which prompted the need for a new solution...which led us to WiFi In Motion. I have to say, it is pretty cool for my wife to be on her laptop checking in on real estate transactions, banking, upcoming restaurants, weather, etc. and the kids can be in the back on their laptop. We have also become a hit at the RV parks because we share our WiFi connection (just make sure you aren't browsing any secure info like banking when you share).

I will let you know how it goes!

[folkie]

Has anyone tried to send and receive Fax's via Cellphone?

I am hoping the answer is yes. I priced e-fax using the Internet but to be HIPPA compliant (I'm in the Insurance industry) they want over $100/month. I'm researching alternatives.

[folkie]

What a great idea from WiFi in Motion, that was until I followed this link http://www.wifiinmotion.com/ (note there are two i's in the address, wifiinomotion' the first link did not work.)
Once I found their site, I was completely turned of with their pricing, at $795 this package is waaaaay overpriced for what's in the box.

Great concept though, Go to their website and watch the video, I heard the host say that their system works with all carriers except NexTel.

$795 seems to much to me, I'm estimating that the value of their kit should be around $360.

Router $100
Antenna $100
Amplifier $150
Cables $10

So even a price in the low $400's would be palatable, but $795 WOW! to much for this Scottish cheapskate. I hope they have competitors.

[MrWizard]

ok, you bought in one shot pakg, wht others have been piecing together, aircard or phone, amp & wifi router for the pc's, and whos your telco provider/carrier/ISP verizon, sprint, att ?

the wifi router shares the connection among PC's, the celluar part is the internet connection

wifi in motion is a reseller, most likely your service is provided by verizon

[oregonrv2007]

New to the forums...but I did want to add my two cents on this topic, as I just recently found THE solution. I went to a RV show in Portland Oregon, and found a booth called WiFi In Motion. www.wifininmotion.com This appears to finally be the answer to everything I've ever needed for Internet access while on the road. It essentially is a kit with everything I needed (cellular antenna, 3-watt amplifier, and a wireless router).

Now, my wife can be browsing the web in the passenger seat, and the kids can be on their laptop in the back, all while I'm driving down the road. Pretty slick technology!

[MrWizard]

let us know when you get one, and how well it works out..

since its NOT YET available, it is NOT yet a solution

you know, i can't recall even ONE post about somebody tethering his PC or MAC to an iPhone..

do you have the link to such a posting, people will need that info if they want to try it when the NEW 3g iphone, comes out