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.

[Fezziwig]

I'm against TV thru the internet because the Packet-switched network is grossly inefficient for Video transmission. As a result, people who are temperate users get saddled with the costs and delays of intemperate TV watchers.

If you want to watch a TV or Movie you can pre-load it to your Computer from a BitTorrent site (which will share internet use for all, treating packets fairly).

Also, most metropolitan geographic areas have excellent OTA (Over The Air) HD broadcasts free, including commercial TV and Public TV, as well as FM and AM.

Cellphone access to TV compounds the problem since telephone speech transmission is inherently low-speed packet transmission: very poorly matched to TV visual live transmission rates.

The oligopolies (joint monopolies) that dominate the internet these days simply shift the cost of over-priced communications from foolish TV watchers to the frugal low volume internet user this amounts to a regressive tax: i.e., tax the poor (frugal) to pay the rich (prodigal) user. It's a regressive tax. A reverse Robin Hood.

Transmission requirements exhibit a bi-modal distribution: there are a large number of low-speed users at one end, and a large number of high-speed users at the other. Since the carriers are an oligopoly (monopoly) they are free to administer prices as they please, so the low-speed users will suffer to finance high-speed (TV) watchers.

It's cheating.

It was a big mistake to turn over the internet to commercial enterprises, who, with unerring instinct, found the sure path to extract huge fortunes from technology that was *free* to them. We should have kept the internet in the Postoffice and the universities. Then, the cost would be lower, service better,and Public services would be regularly financed without public subsidies.

[RavensFan24]

Any recommendations for a cell signal booster? I have VZW and it works great in most places, but some spots while camping I have difficulty getting a signal. I work online, so I always need internet. Thoughts on the best cell signal booster? I was looking on Amazon and there are some that are $30 and others that are $300. I'd love some recommendations.

Side note: sorry if this has been addressed in this thread, but its 76 pages long, so I thought this would be the easiest method to get an answer.

[SlowBro]

Just be aware that FoxFi and other such hotspot hacks will likely violate your terms of service.

[xctraveler]

Regularly watch movies using FoxFi, pay for it ONE time and good to go. Last night our Roku had one pause for data catch up during a two hour movie. It was a perfect break moment too 🙂

since my data is unlimited we run 30 to 40 Gb per month using foxfi and another 4 to 6 Gb on the MiFi when the phone is with me away from the coach.

[Dave_From_AK]

Dirtclods wrote:
FoxFi will not run continually and it has adds. So if you want to watch a movie you'll have to reset it. And then it may not always restart but it's FREE. Verizon ellipsis is the way to go.

For $7.95 you can buy the paid version of FoxFi, which runs perfectly on compatible phones. The free version is merely a trial version and is hobbled.

[Dirtclods]

FoxFi will not run continually and it has adds. So if you want to watch a movie you'll have to reset it. And then it may not always restart but it's FREE. Verizon ellipsis is the way to go.

[doxiemom11]

When Millenicom was around, we were able to connect to internet with good speeds in a forest campground where cell phones did not work. You had to drive 1 mile out to the main road for either Verizon or AT&T. Coverage is different between cell and data, so, it is possible to have Wifi when you do not have cell service.
Too bad Verizon stopped allowing Millenicom to resell date/wifi. We had it for several years and always had a connection.

[MrWizard]

Many of us have FoxFi and love it

Unfortunately , it Doesn't help IF your in the wilderness, and there is no cell tower signal

[dshizzel]

My .02 -- Any Android phone with a data plan -- FoxFi found on the Play Store will turn it into a Wi-Fi hotspot and you can run all your wifi devices on it. This way, you don't have to pay Verizon's ridiculous fee for using data you already paid for as a hotspot.

If this has already been mentioned, my apologies, as I didn't want to read 5 years of posts 🙂

[ridingonfumes]

If you don't mind being throttled straight talks unlimited talk text web plan for $45 is still the best deal around. They have contracts with Tmobile at and Verizon the network you use through them depends on what phone you have
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Also Wilson electronics does a giveaway almost every Thursday on their blog or their Facebook page... Check it out if you have time : ) I won a sleek 4G signal booster from them

[ridingonfumes]

Yeah with all the changes this is more relevant than ever.

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The Tmobile unlimited true unlimited with no throttling is now available even in prepaid... Because of the failed merger of at&t and Tmobile a couple years back A&TT has to allow Tmobile use of their towers for 10 years. So being with Tmobile now gives you access to both networks....(provided your specific phone has the correct antennas built in)

[jobythebay]

Thank you for keeping this topic. I will post the question on the Newfoundland board but if anyone has experience with phones in Canada, can you give me some advice? 5 weeks is a long time to be away from the Web - yup even though I don't work. Thanks again.

[MrWizard]

there is only one way to connect if there is NO cell coverage

and that is using Satellite Dish internet

it cost more than cellular and is slower
but will connect if you have a clear shot of sky to aim at the Satellite

for most people blogs, email, and facebook etc.. and can wait

usually only people who must maintain a working business presence opt for satellite internet

[ecovidual]

Has anyone successfully won the battle for wifi in the wilderness? I do have an iPhone w/ Verizon plan that performs well as a hotspot and have not (yet) had the issue of expensive overage charges. The real issue that I have is that we are often off the beaten path and I need a connection to access online educational program and publish to a blog.

[MrWizard]

MrRules wrote:
Since this topic began over five years ago I think it is time to let it rest. technology has changed so much in this interval the discussion is now mute so moderators please remove the topic and save some bandwidth.

Stu

I was tethering my LG AirTel , cell phone back in 2002

Speed has changed, pricing has changed, portable hotspots have become available, phones are micro computers and have Wi-Fi routers
And we are still using them for internet

The topic is just as relevant today as it was five years ago