Wireless Internet - Is it worth it?

[seanet126]

verizon works great, only a few spots it does not work. not high speed but acceptable. here is a great example, just a few days ago we were going through tx. and there was tornado warnings. logged on to the nws- ridge doppler site and watched the storm live. we were able to stop far enough away to let the tornado go by in front of us. would not have been possible if we did not have mobile wireless!

[trux]

I'm using the Sprint U720 USB aircard. $59 and change per month. So far works well. One thing I like to use it for is finding a place to turn around after a wrong turn in someplace like Chicago. I just zoom in on the neighborhood with GoogleEarth and check out what's around.

I also used GoogleEarth in New Jersey. When the map doesn't show whether a road cross is an over/under or if it's one level with stop lights you can zoom in. You can also see if there's trucks on the road to verify a truck route.

So far I'm real happy with it.

[Doghouse]

I use T-mobile $29.95 a month unlimited,..its slow sometimes, but I just got a wilson cell signal amp. that should speed things up,...I'll let you know.
Right now I'm useing the air card in O'Hare because they want you to pay for their wireless signal,....cheap bastards.

[dbkevindb]

I have acer , theres an antenna inside, never used cards lol.

[countryhorseman]

Since I got my Sprint Aircard, I have not had any reason to use the WiFi at the trucks stops. It comes in handy when using GoogleEarth to look at an area or keeping in touch with friends and family when sitting at a jobsite for an early morning delivery. At 59.95 a month it is worth every penny. Oh, did I mention being able to get instant weather information, priceless.

[tdriver1959]

I have a T Mobile card. There are areas where it dont work but for the most part have no problems with it.. Sure beats having to be at a truckstop. Can be at a customers dock for several hours and have service with it.

[Raafi]

i did the flying j and i did the siricomm

nothing beats my sprint wireless novatel

except when you hit some dead spots and get download speeds of 8kbps

many times, i get over 100kbps downloads, i would say the average is about 50kbps

but those wifi's at the truckstops didnt work for me

plus you have to stop at THEIR truckstop, and sometimes, i drive late and there are no spots, so i am stuck at a rest area or other places

[Bandit102]

I've used Verizon aircard for about 2 years now. They're getting better service all the time. I don't have any speed or connection complaints at all. I love it. I use it all the time in the truck, loading, etc. I'll never be without it.

[MoneyCat]

Is there nothing for cingular/at&t ? I mean, no one has experience using it with them?

[myminpins]

I got an air card for USA - Verizon and one for Canada - Bell - and used them constantly on the road. Definitely worth it for me since I was the passenger so wanted to be online 24/7.

[CharlesRosenow]

Have you guys ever thought of parking near hotels (if possible)? I know that some hotels have free WIFI.

[headborg]

Is there nothing for cingular/at&t ? I mean, no one has experience using it with them?

I use AT&T formerly known as cingular/ I use the Sierra 875 duel band aircard w/ the Wilson antenna. I haven't found a real need to pony up the dough for the booster. My family cell phone plan is thru Cingular so my monthly bill for my aircard is around $80.00(with all taxes and fees)UNlimited-- it would be the $99.00unlimited plan if I didn't have my phone thru them.

The aircard isn't as fast as the LAN truckstop Wi-fi--for general use.

But, not being restricted(tethered) to a LAN is very great.

I'm setting a shipper right now.

The aircard is faster than a LAN wi-fi---if you're using a downloading- P2P program--simply because-- the wi-fi provider detects you're using high bandwidth(usage) and then THROTTLES back your bandwidth to be "fair"
to all the other girls and boys in the parking lot----so much for "unlimited"
service.

The TA wi-fi (Colubrus.com) there system plays havoc with Toshiba Computers or any other brand using a Athros Wi-fi card at 54Mbps---you'll get constant BSOD's(Blue Screens of Death) and will have to restart.

Pilot, Petro, Loves- are all on the same wi-fi ---siracom---which makes it the Best Buy wi-fi.

Flying J- for years, this was the best/only one I'd use-- it was almost always--Up, Strong, never broken----but, sadly now--they desided to start
rationing data usage---and claiming to cut your connection if you exceeded
your Ration in a 24hr period. So, they had to go.
I used to download --P2P like crazy----guess I was one of their "abusers" whom was "hogging" all the bandwidth in the lot------Sorry, but what part of "unlimited" was I not suppose to exploit?

[cdltpx]

I can e mail pix quickly has lots of storage 8 gigs, cost wise it is less expensive to use this just $40 extra on your regular phone bill. I have found net cards to be nearly $70 a month to use and besides the I phone is with you all the time you can use the maps to see true satellite pix of an area and secure parking when an area that has too many trucks at a truck stop or you can get information about a customer quickly. It is slow if you are use to fiber optic at home but if you dock it up with your computer it will have you favorites on it and it like having a real computer. I hate the keyboard it takes getting use to to type a messge or adress but it is possible besides I can get my information faster than the time it takes to unpack a computer. I have stored hundreds of pictures on it at a time and had tons of room for more. I don't really use it for the ipod music since satelitte has incredible programming.

It isn't perfect but it is the best I have found so far.

[Drew10]

Headborg....You are using the same aircard as me....I was wondering, where did you find the adapter wire to connect to the Wilson antenna. I have been unable to locate one for the 875. I got the Wilson antenna, but have yet to beable to use it??

[headborg]

Headborg....You are using the same aircard as me....I was wondering, where did you find the adapter wire to connect to the Wilson antenna. I have been unable to locate one for the 875. I got the Wilson antenna, but have yet to beable to use it??

I think it was from a Pilot T/S. The package doesn't actually name the 875
but I believe it does say Sierra Aircard adapter. I'll look next time I'm at a pilot.

[Malaki86]

How much better is the signal using the Wilson? I have an aircard (can't think of the model right now). I'm going to upgrade my aircard to a USB model later this year.

[headborg]

How much better is the signal using the Wilson? I have an aircard (can't think of the model right now). I'm going to upgrade my aircard to a USB model later this year.

Does the USB model have a way to plug in a ext antenna? I was thinking of getting one of those later too-- so I could plug it in the front of a desktop- instead of installing a PCMIA(card) to PCI adapter in the back(for AirCard)

Yes, I've noticed a 1-2 bar increase in signal strength when using the Wilson connected to my aircard-- especially when the single is soo week you keep losing connection-- it works wonders then.

[headborg]

Headborg....You are using the same aircard as me....I was wondering, where did you find the adapter wire to connect to the Wilson antenna. I have been unable to locate one for the 875. I got the Wilson antenna, but have yet to beable to use it??

I think it was from a Pilot T/S. The package doesn't actually name the 875
but I believe it does say Sierra Aircard adapter. I'll look next time I'm at a pilot.

@ Drew ,

Hey buddy, I found that adapter today -- 3 of them- 1 at ICC at T/A Eaton, Oh i70 ex 10 - $9.99, 2nd on shelf at T/A same location $14.99, and a third one here at T/A Jeffersonville, Oh I-71- $9.99

It's Wilson Part # 359912 the label reads:
Aircard
Sierra Wireless

it lists compatible with the 850 & 860 model it just doesn't list the 875
but it works with it-- hope that helps.

http://www.wpsantennas.com/index.asp...ROD&ProdID=166