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.

[seraphim]

Just a quick note on AT&T:

Read your contract. It forbids tethering and you can be assigned additional fees if caught. I'm not suggesting you do or don't tether, but wanted people to be aware. Last I checked, they have a 'tether' package but I don't recall the rates.

I've got the iPhone 3G which can be tethered by JailBreaking the iPhone OS (voiding the warranty) but haven't had the desire to do so yet.

[AlexSian]

xctraveler wrote:
I have VZ BlackBerry 8330. I cannot share my broad band connection over the WiFi any longer ... I have seen a box that will accept tethered BB 8330 on Verizon and create a WiFi cloud. Does anyone have any experience with this kind of setup? Is there an alternative (the box cost $200)?

the cradlepoint CTR350 will allow you to share 8330's connectivity via WiFi and is way less than $200

[xctraveler]

I have read back to March and see no reference to my question.

I have VZ BlackBerry 8330. I tether to my laptop and get excellent data connect, sometimes in places where voice is marginal at best.

We have two Win XP laptops. I cannot share my broad band connection over the WiFi any longer (was able to do so with Kyocera SmartPhone, but VZ Software seems to block the access to WiFi when phone is connected). I have seen a box that will accept tethered BB 8330 on Verizon and create a WiFi cloud. Does anyone have any experience with this kind of setup? Is there an alternative (the box cost $200)?

I see the MiFi above, but I need to keep the datapak on my phone as I rely on the email when away from the coach (I still work - sorry about the swear word) and do not want to pay for two datapaks at $60/mo ea. I have run up 4 GB in a month so I need the "unlimited" and we have North American calling plan as we have family in Canada as well as US.

[MrWizard]

an update on the MiFi device

Take Your Wi-Fi Hotspot On The Road With The New Verizon Wireless MiFi 2200 Intelligent Mobile Hotsp...
The World’s Smallest Mobile Wi-Fi Hotspot Turns Wi-Fi-enabled Devices into Mobile Internet Tools

Verizon Wireless will introduce the highly-anticipated MiFi 2200 Intelligent Mobile Hotspot on May 17. Developed by Novatel Wireless (NASDAQ: NVTL), the MiFi 2200 lets customers create a personal Wi-Fi cloud capable of sharing the reliability and high-speed Internet connectivity of the Verizon Wireless 3G Mobile Broadband network with up to five Wi-Fi-enabled devices such as notebooks, netbooks, cameras, gaming devices or portable media/MP3 players.

The MiFi 2200 is small enough to fit in a pocket, measuring 3.5” x 2.3” x 0.4” and weighing 2.05 ounces. It combines a variety of features into its streamlined form factor, including integrated internal CDMA and Wi-Fi antennas, advanced security and authentication technologies. When one device is connected through Wi-Fi, the MiFi 2200’s rechargeable battery provides up to four hours of active use and 40 hours of standby time on a single charge.

“The MiFi 2200 gives more than 86 million customers access to the nation’s largest and most reliable 3G network,” said Mike Lanman, vice president and chief marketing officer for Verizon Wireless. “With projected growth rates of over 30 percent for Wi-Fi mobile phones, MiFi will be of great benefit to both business customers and consumers. It gives customers the flexibility to transform their Wi-Fi-enabled consumer electronics into Mobile Broadband devices and to choose how and when they need to be connected at a price point that will match most budgets.”

“The MiFi 2200 offers unprecedented possibilities for students, mobile workers and families to all stay connected while on the go,” said Peter Leparulo, chairman and chief executive officer, Novatel Wireless. “We are very pleased to work closely with Verizon Wireless to deliver the most advanced connectivity solutions possible to our combined customers.”

The MiFi 2200 will be available online and in Verizon Wireless Communications Stores for $99.99 after a $50 mail-in rebate with a new two-year customer agreement. Customers can select from various price plans:

* $39.99 monthly access for 250 MB monthly allowance and 10 cents per megabyte overage
* $59.99 monthly access for 5 GB monthly allowance and 5 cents per megabyte overage

Customers can also use the MiFi 2200 with Verizon Wireless’ Mobile Broadband DayPass for $15 for 24-hour access when the device is purchased at full retail price without a monthly service plan.

[anchor]

With BBA you get 5g and your minutes DO NOT COUNT. Have used this for years. We pay $60.00 a month when traveling.

[Pirate1]

BCam wrote:
Good news! I'm finally online via Verizon with my LG VX8360 tethered to my laptop and am posting this message via that connection.

I did have some problems with getting VZAccess to work properly but Verizon tech support was able to get me working.

Thanks again to everyone who helped me walk through this sometimes difficult process.

Oh, the tech support guy did confirm that I can turn the feature on and off at will and that I'm not limited to once a month as I was previously told by Verizon. This is consistent with what StuartT previously reported.

I'm still confused, slightly. I am thinking of getting that same phone (8360) for tethering. The plan I want is a basic plan w/450 minutes, nothing else. Will that work? Can I turn on/off broadband as you describe without having to have the other $15 per month add on? I want to be able to access the internet only when camping, which hasn't been very often, and then turn it back off. Am I on the right track? Thanks.

One more question - So I am on the 450 minute plan. Does the time I am on mobile broadband count against my minutes? Thanks.

[AlexSian]

pauldub wrote:
Is the LG Dare the only Verizon phone that can be tethered for EVDO Rev A? I'm not asking about smartphones, just non-smart phones.

the list of handsets that qualify, changes pretty quickly.
this EVDOforums thread tracks verizon and sprint rev-a handsets.

[pauldub]

Is the LG Dare the only Verizon phone that can be tethered for EVDO Rev A? I'm not asking about smartphones, just non-smart phones.

[BCam]

clinthia wrote:
I'm connected via Verizon and it's working just great.

Clint

Congratulations!

[clinthia]

I'm connected via Verizon and it's working just great.

Clint

[clinthia]

Well I did it. I called Verizon via *611 option 2 and a nice gentleman (Dave) set me up with the mobile broadband connect feature. We will be on the road in a couple of weeks until the 12th of April so the free trial month will come in handy.

Thanks to everyone that helped, Clint

Does anyone know if TMobile offers something similar?

[HobbsHauler]

Thank you Don, I will check out the Wilson site.

[wepampercampers]

Hey hobbshauler.......I am a verizon air card person with a booster.

I use the regular air card, have an cellular booster with a cellular truckers antenna........I have used it in the middle of the mountains where cell service is weak for regular cell phones at best.....the great thing in I can boost my regular cell service with it also....so we are rarely out of service.

I currently use a smoothtalker booster. it is all hard wired together and is plain and simple.......my next system will be from

www.wilsonelectronics.com they have mobile (rv or car models) that are wireless to the air card and phone. this is good cause many phone manufacturers are no longer building antenna jack into their phones. Plus from what I've read the wilson is even more powerful than the smoothtalker........as we maintain a website also the faster speeds are more helpful.

technical support from verizon has been great when we run into a challenge......usually caused by us.......hahahahaha

happy trails
Don

[BCam]

clinthia wrote:

BCam wrote:
Good news! I'm finally online via Verizon with my LG VX8360 tethered to my laptop and am posting this message via that connection.

I did have some problems with getting VZAccess to work properly but Verizon tech support was able to get me working.

Thanks again to everyone who helped me walk through this sometimes difficult process.

Oh, the tech support guy did confirm that I can turn the feature on and off at will and that I'm not limited to once a month as I was previously told by Verizon. This is consistent with what StuartT previously reported.

BCam, do you recall what number you called and the options you chose in order to get to the right person?

Thanks, Clint

I talked to a lot of people, including a store rep but, if I were to start today, I'd call *611 (some other postings refer to #611, but it's *611) and select either Option 2 (Add Feature) or Option 4 (Tech Support). If you're not a Verizon customer, call (800) 922-0204. Whichever one you contact, make sure you specifically ask about the "Mobile Broadband Connect" "Feature" and that you confirm that they're on the same page with you by confirming that the "Feature" will enable you to tether your phone to your computer and use it as a broadband modem.

One new thing I discovered is that I'm now on a free trial until the end of my April billing period so I was advised to not have the feature turned off until then or I'd inadvertently end my free trial. I didn't find this out until I called to turn the feature off after testing it yesterday. Thankfully the tech explained the downside of turning it off now.

[HobbsHauler]

I've read numerous pages and things are clicking, and I realize that most here use Verizon. I would love for someone to tell me exactly what to buy (inexpensively) to make things work for me. I use AT&T, have a Samsung SGH-c417 flip phone and a new to us MoHo. I would like to discontinue my WiFi from the furthest mountaintop to my home and use WiFi that I can use in my home and on the road, the same service. However, my cell service in my home is one bar at best unless I go outside, so that makes me worry about using an aircard, unless there is some sort of signal booster that I can stick to my window to boost up the reception. I was hoping that I could use a booster and aircard for house and MoHo, that way I would only have to pay one fee a month. Is this possible?? Or is it better for me to tether my cell phone and use that on the road and hope that AT&T has the on/off pro rate option?
Thank You, Judie