I recently finished training and im set to begin my solo OTR career sometime within the next 2 weeks and I've been looking at air cards and service providers out there.
I would really like to hear the pros and cons of air cards and overall coverage of the companies from the guys who live on the road.
Any and all replies would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

 

Air cards run off of cell towers. If you have a cell phone signal you should have an air card signal. I have used a Sprint air card for several years. I have had a signal pretty much everywhere I have traveled. An air card gives you the flexibility of being able to get on the internet most anywhere you go. Sprint, Verizon, AT & T and T-Mobile all have air cards. T-Mobile is the least expensive as far as I know. The other three cost about the same per month. I spend about $60/month plus sales tax.

 

I don't know how I managed before I got my aircard (Sprint also). The places with no service are far and few between. The closer you are to a city, the better your speed is on average.

 

I use verizon and I rarely have no service.

 

I use my phone as a modem instead of a separate air card. I have unlimited everything for 99 a month with Sprint. :clap:

 

I tried that. The problem was that a) the phone wasn't being recharged while in use and b) I couldn't use the phone while connected to the 'net.

 

I started with the sprint PAM plan (Phone As Modem) but gave up on it eventually. Your connection speed is limited by the processor in your cell phone, which is usually designed to be more efficient than quick. Plus the potential issue with missing calls if your phone can't take calls and keep the internet link active at the same time.

I've used the sprint air card for almost two years now. I got one of the old PCMCIA kinds and subsequently grabbed a router that you can plug the card in to then go out to one or more devices (eg laptops) simultaneously.

Sprint has good coverage in most places I've been except for the northern mountain states (Montana, Idaho, Wyoming). In most places you will have at least dial-up speed and more often than not you'll have the equivalent of slow broadband. I'm currently in the boonies in Oklahoma and I've got broadband here for some reason.

Jim

 

I've had a Sprint aircard for several years now, and I have not had any problems with service, $59.99 for unlimited KBs, the new plans they have now have a cap on the KB's

 

I use ATTs aircard......Supposedly it can connect at up to 3 MGs....Best I've had is 1.8,which is plenty fast......I only go to Utah,Colorado,Wyoming,New Mexico,Kansas,Oklahoma,Arkansas,Texas and Louisiana......There are dead spots,where I have no cell service,but I have service in 99% of the places I stop long enough to get online.....Unlimited service at $40 per month,because of a discount we get through my wifes job.....

 

I use the Sprint Card $60 a month unlimited usage. I never leave home without it.