wifi connections

[orama43]

Okay, here's the million dollar question, what is the best (preferably least expensive) way to go wifi?
I have done so much research; heard so many differing opinions.
Yes, Verizon (and others like them) are the best for connectivity, but come on, a 2 year agreement?!?!?! I'm sure everyone knows, with the advances in the computer industry, why in the world would I sign a 2 year contract?!?!?!
So, next idea was to buy my own wifi card and just get connected at the truck stops (Pilot, etc). But now I'm hearing they are the worst for connectivity; some have even suggested not being able to connect in their parking lots, what is up with that?!?!?!
And yes, I've even researched the free hotspots, but my preference is to be able to connect while on the road. As everyone knows, we get paid to drive, not to stop; find a hotspot, and connect.
So, does anyone have any alternative suggestions, that I've not already considered? Or, do I just give up and wait a few months til the next wifi industry alternative is revealed????
Any help or reasonable suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[meanbone79]

I usually use the truckstops wifi connection. Some areas of the parking lot are deadspots for wifi. Make sure that you can see the yagi antenna on top of the building for a good connection. Large trucks between you and the building will usually block your signal. I usually ride around the parking lot until I can find a spot where I will have a "line of sight" on the antenna. Usually if you can't see it from your driver seat you will usually have a difficult time connecting or have very low signal strength.

I'm going to be experimenting with this soon. I intend on giving Verizon Wireless a shot. From what I gather you can get broadband wireless in most major areas, but if you are out in the boonies kinda you can get their NationalAccess instead, which is a little bit faster than dial up speed.

I hope it works out. They want a 2 year contract and the package is going to probably look something like phone + internet access = $119 / month

Anyone have any luck with that?

[cdreid]

to bump an ooold thread.

But Verizon has a 1 year agreement. THe card just costs more. You could probably get a shorter agreement. The thing is you just choose whether you buy the card now or pay for it over time and are locked in. But you're going to pay for the card. PS make SURE you get a card that accepts an external antenna

[ct77]

used to just surf the internet when i shut down and was at a truckstop that was close to a motel(free) u would be amazed how many places have wifi which is unsecured. but what i fell in love with is my blackberry (19.99) a month unlimited internet usage and other than the small screen is very practical.

[tbaarr]

any bosselmans trk stop

pilot gives free wi fi

I80 in nebraska has 3 x107 is best

all rest stops in iowa are free for 1hr you can get 2 if you wait ten minutes and relog in

i like the one at the minn ia border as they have a casino there

the ttt trk stop in tuscon az has free wi fi

wal mart has a nice wi fi toshiba laptop for 598 right now

0% financing for 6 months

makes it cost 110 a month including tax

[doodude]

Has anybody got any updates to add to this post?
Im looking for a wifi service. I had a cingular GSM83 card & account for the past 2 years @ $40 a month. It was fairly reliable, even in out of the way places.
But Ive just purchased a new wifi laptop & PDA & want to sign on to someone.
What about this company that covers the Petro/Pilot/Loves TS? Anybody use or have anything to say about them?
Any other suggestions????
Thanks in advance...

[slider64683]

Srpint. Unlimited bandwidth. Connects anywhere almost. 59.99 a month or if you have no voice plan its 79.99 great deal. better than a truck stop wifi

Happy Holidays

[birddogg18603]

I have Verizion DSL service at home and a wireless card for it. I took it to a local truck and had a easy time getting connetion. Also All McDonalds have WIFI connections that are free. McD's has a good range also in most places.

[thebaldeagle655]

Check out www.goautonet.com/wp/ unfortunately it isn't available until spring but it looks like it has potential. If we can get Swift, Schnieder, JB Hunt and a couple other majors to supply them to all their drivers all we will have to do is pull up next to them in a truckstop and hack in with our wireless!

Seriously, it does look like it may have potential if not too overpriced.

[Mtc_Is_Hell]

I've been very pleased with TA's wifi.. I have been at the farthest side of the lot and got good reception.. Every ta I stopped at no matter where I parked I got on. Best part is I just use my road king card to pay for the internet 20.00 a month deal.. Also some shippers will have unsecured wifi. I cant picture my self signing a contract or paying 60 a month.

[dieselgrl]

I've been very pleased with TA's wifi.. I have been at the farthest side of the lot and got good reception..

Now that's the first time I've heard that... TA was always the worst of the bunch from what I found. In fact, the TA's with the best reception were always the ones with the rouge Flying J antenna up...

If you're constantly stopping at the same chain, then using the truckstop wifi is a decent deal. I tended to hop around though, and paying $20 a month at Flying J, Pilot, AND TA got expensive when you totaled them up. Heck, for the same figure, I have a card through my cell carrier (Sprint), and get signal anywhere my phone does... even at shippers or rest areas. Sure, it's a two year contract, but if you end up relying on the wireless like I do, it works out better in the end.

[tbaarr]

the nice thing about their wi fi

is you can pay for it with roadmiles

unlike the flying hook

it only takes me an hour to do email

and they will give you an hour for 149 roadmiles

the last time i used it

it may be more now

449 roadmiles for 24 hours

i like putting on 80gal of company paid fuel which is doubled to 160 in jan

and getting a free hour of wi fi

[billnliz]

Verizone does not require a 2 year ageement if you use your verizone phone as the modem rather than a network card. I am currently using it now. And while I would NEVER recommend verizon for anything cus they are money hungry penny pinching..well you get the idea. anyway, All in all I have had VERY little problems with the WIFI side of it..I get connected just about anywhere I am at a minimum of dialup speeds. When I am in bigger cities and surrounding areas some upwards of 60 miles out I am in digital which means I get much faster speeds seeminlgy typical of lower DSL speeds.. It costs 60 bucks a month and like I said since I use the phone no contracts..When I get a call I can answer talk hangup and it reconnects automatically. Or I can just hit the ignore button and keep on surfin..


Bill
P.S. I have never had good luck with any of the truckstops WIFI..Unless your practically sittin on top of that antanea forget it. And you have to either pay the high daily rates or hope your next stop has the same connection your paying 20 bucks a mnth for

[op6666]

I have a razor3 phone with edge. usb connect to my pc. 2yr contract $53
works great . wfi is ok but why paid $6 to $9 for 24hr if you only want to go online to check weather.

[mudawg]

I use the "J"s wifi and have been very happy.Sign up yearly and it ends up costing just over $16 per/month compared to most phone service cost of about $50.$600 vs.$199 a year,I can do plenty with $400 that's more fun then the net.There service works in a lot of non "J" places too,right now for example I'm at Jubitz all the way in the back corner with a full signal.

[Malaki86]

I use the "J"s wifi and have been very happy.Sign up yearly and it ends up costing just over $16 per/month compared to most phone service cost of about $50.$600 vs.$199 a year,I can do plenty with $400 that's more fun then the net.There service works in a lot of non "J" places too,right now for example I'm at Jubitz all the way in the back corner with a full signal.

I'm sitting at home in Mannington, WV - the closest Flying J to me would be just outside of Columbus, OH or Carlisle, PA - I don't think my wi-fi can get a connection to either of those. However, I can plug my Sprint card in and be on the internet.

I don't spend much time at truckstops, so those types of wireless connections are crap to me. I've used it a total of 3 times, and it was slower than what I had on my sprint card. For me, Sprint is the better option.

[Mrs.Bryan]

Just a question about Connections; will the WiFi Connections, such as what is being discussed here, be able to be used with a Home Desktop PC or only with a Wireless Laptop?
I am curious, because I need to switch carriers for I Net Service, and Hubby and I are bringing our Desktop PC with us on the Road.
I need to know who the best to go with is, and from what I am seeing here, it looks like Sprint may be best choice.