laptop tv on the road

[benny the deuce]

anybody use any of the software for tv viewing via truck stop wireless connections??
if so what do you use and how much

[Born and RaiZed]

I refuse to use truck stop connections! I will not pay how much they want!...

You could buy a real nice TV for the price of just 1 year subscription to the internet via TS.


When I feel like going online I try to find a industrial park or a business somewhere and use their internet :twisted: I run a program called Net stumbler and it will help you find a hot spot. Ive parked at shippers and recievers many many times and found a decent signal.. FOR FREE!

Illegal? yep.. but oh well.
I usually make it quick and then move on..

www.netstumbler.com
Click on Downloads in the menu, and follow the directions. I Love it!

[benny the deuce]

so how much does a t/s connection cost..i thought it was free or very low cost.......

[Rev.Vassago]

streaming video like that is a good way to get your wireless aircard cancelled.

[Tillerman]

Cingular has a service that you can get up to 18 channels (sports/news/movies) available even while driving. Based on network of WAN locations around the country. Service is about 100 a month but includes internet, text messaging, media bundle and cellular service.

[stevedb28]

Originally Posted by Rev.Vassago

streaming video like that is a good way to get your wireless aircard cancelled.

sprint has completely unlimited usage. Thats just a ploy others use to share bandwidth amongst many users. Probably because they dont have the infrastructure to handle the bandwidth in the first place.

[Rev.Vassago]

Originally Posted by stevedb28

sprint has completely unlimited usage. Thats just a ploy others use to share bandwidth amongst many users. Probably because they dont have the infrastructure to handle the bandwidth in the first place.

Better check those Terms of Service a bit closer. Sprint's service is not unlimited, even though they tout it as being so.

(d) You agree to comply with any bandwidth usage or other limitations on the Services set by Sprint in its sole discretion. If Sprint determines that you are exceeding bandwidth limits, you will be notified by mail and given 15 days to bring your usage within appropriate limits. If excessive use continues after the 15-day period, Sprint may take any action it deems necessary, including, but not limited to, terminating the Services, to ensure that your usage does not adversely affect Sprint's ability to provide the Services to other customers. Sprint will notify you of any such action via mail or email.

http://www.sprintbroadband.com/polic..._customer.html

1.2 You are responsible for ensuring that your usage of the Services does not improperly restrict, degrade or adversely affect any other user's use of the Services, nor represent, in Sprint's sole judgement, an unusually large burden on the network itself. You must comply with the then current bandwidth, data storage and other limitations on the Services. If Sprint determines that your account is exceeding the limits, you will be notified by mail or e-mail. If the excess use continues for more than 10 days, the Services may be suspended or terminated. If excessive bandwidth or service utilization is determined by Sprint to adversely affect Sprint's ability to provide the Services for its other customers, immediate action may be taken to alleviate the problem. In such event, you will be notified by mail, phone call or e-mail as soon as practicable.

http://www.sprintbroadband.com/policies/acceptable.html

[ben45750]

Originally Posted by Rev.Vassago

Better check those Terms of Service a bit closer. Sprint's service is not unlimited, even though they tout it as being so.

http://www.sprintbroadband.com/polic..._customer.html

http://www.sprintbroadband.com/policies/acceptable.html

So whats the limit that you can have per day? There is a difference between using it as a personal connection rather than using it for a business application where you have several computers using 1 connection. I seriously doubt that if you have a Sprint Aircard you are going exceed the bandwidth limit but maybe you can educate us on this Rev?

[Rev.Vassago]

Originally Posted by ben45750

So whats the limit that you can have per day?

It is not rated on a "per day" basis. Most wireless providers regulate on a "per month" basis. Most of the other providers allow a 5 GB per month allocation. The problem with Sprint is that they use all the same wording in there user agreements regarding "overuse", but they do not say how much bandwidth they allocate to each user.

There is a difference between using it as a personal connection rather than using it for a business application where you have several computers using 1 connection. I seriously doubt that if you have a Sprint Aircard you are going exceed the bandwidth limit but maybe you can educate us on this Rev?

Streaming video, running webcams, streaming audio - all these things have caused others to void their contract with the wireless provider. They are heavy bandwidth uses, and many providers specifically state in their TOS that you cannot do these things with your wireless connection. Sprint uses a broad brush, and just says that you cannot "disrupt" their system by using too much bandwidth.

For example, in October of this year, I used a total of 1.92GB of bandwidth on my aircard, and that was accomplished without any streaming video, webcams, or streaming audio. 5GB is not that hard to use if you are streaming.

[ben45750]

So if you have an aircard and you go over 5GB you have to pay a fee?

[Rev.Vassago]

Originally Posted by ben45750

So if you have an aircard and you go over 5GB you have to pay a fee?

It depends. I would wage a guess that if you just slightly went over for one month, they would give you a written warning. If it becomes a pattern, then they cancel your contract. I know people who have gotten their contracts cancelled for running a webcam.

Perhaps someday, as the technology improves, they will have the available bandwidth to allow streaming video, webcams, etc. on a wireless connection, but the total bandwidth that they currently have does not support this.

[marylandkw]

I have a slingbox at home and use my Sprint Aircard or my Sprint cell phone , PPC 6700, to view TV. I have been using both for about 3 months without so much as a word from Sprint. Heck, the box for the PPC 6700 and Sprints own website indicate that slingbox is compatible with their phone and service.

Just checked my lifetime date use for my phone and in 4 months I have accumulated just over 24GB of data usage.

Does this mean I will not get a letter? Does this mean Rev is wrong? No of course not. But for now it has been great.

[PhuzzyGnu]

If there's a Sprint bandwidth limit, I haven't hit it. :wink:

I use the hell out if it.

-p.

[slider64683]

Sprints Wireless Connection has no limit. I am an ex sprint sales rep and know from experince. What you are looking at is home service. As far as there mobile broadband is unlimited. For $59.99 a month you get unlimited bandwidth. That is if you have a voice plan with them. If not it runs you $79.99 a month. You can buy bandwidth limited connections threw them also. But there is no restriction on the 59.99 a month plan. I use mine to shoot video while I am driving for my kids. I use over 15GB of bandwidth every month easy. Hope this clears somethings up.

Happy Holidays

[billnliz]

Just go out and buy a TV card..I bought mine for a hundred bucks.. Plugs in via USB. Hook up an antenae to it do a quck scan for local channels and viola!! Instant TV..Now of course reception is only as good as your antenae or the area your in but thats the same for any TV..Get a satelitte hook up and yur good to go..I use Pinnacle and it comes with a remote too
Bill

[spencerian]

The Rev may be a little wrong. The Sprint site he quoted from is the RESIDENTIAL service. Sprint DOES offer DSL type service in some areas for HOME users, not the broadband card users. They may be limited, but the post by the Rev neither proves or disproves this.

[serbie]

All of the major carriers have used this threat since the invention of the data card. If you have singed up for the UNLIMITED BROADBAND service through your carrier, your service is Technicly, UN-LIMITED. This means you can stay connected 24 hours a day, all month with normal website, e-mail useage.

The grey line becomes visible when people stream, download, upload large amounts of data. This is why you won't find an actual figure to the bandwitdh your allowed. Streaming video, audio or up/downloading large files puts a strain on the network. Though staying connected 24 hours a day say, just to keep AIM or Yahoo IM open, doesn't use large amounts of data, and puts little to no strain on the network.

So feel comfortable staying connecting as long as you like. Just keep away from large downloads. Things like a song here and there, and the occasional vdeo from a joke site is no issue. But when you fire up the webcam to broadcast your 11 hour drive, you gonna get a call.

[devildice]

One thing I have noticed with my Verizon card is that if I leave it connected but unattended for a short period of time (not sure how long, never timed it), it disconnects itself