[pepe4158]

Yeah I a little naive cause I have been in Asia last couple of years, but do ALL truck stops pretty much have wireless internet connections? Well bought two so far, at a Pilot and a TSA. The TSA didnt work :-p , and when I called tech support, I was connected to some lady in the Philippines, (first think I said was, 'damn you sound like my wife with your accent lol' ) so basically out the $5 or so dollars .....hmmm what truck stops have you guys gotten good results with, so far pilot for me, but kinda expensive.

[tootie04]

do you have a cell phone?? best thing to do is get the wireless broadband card from Sprint or someone. Ours cost 59.99 month and I have internet whenever I want.....not just at truck stops....as long as you have a signal for the card.

tootie

[TK THE TRUCKER]

Yeah the wi-fi at the truckstops isn't all that great. In my opinion wireless cards from cell companies is the way to go. I had good luck with Sprints wireless internet service but I dumped them completly when I got sick of dropped call after dropped call with the cell phone service.

[Rev.Vassago]

WiFi is slow, unreliable, and can only be used at the particular truck stop chain that you buy it through. Air cards are a whole lot faster, more reliable, and can be used anywhere you can pull a signal (with Verizon, that is almost anywhere). Air cards cost between $50 and $60 per month, which is about the same as getting a monthly subscription at T/A, Pilot, and Flying J combined.

[tdriver1959]

Air card is the way to go. I have t mobile with the family plan so added another line for 9.99 then had data added for 29.99.
It gives me unlimited Internet when ever I have cell service

[pepe4158]

K All...googled your suggestion....hmmm this is what you meant...right?

http://www.laptopdsl.com/

Quess I just stop by a Sprint store....ugggh this crappy Pilot connection is lagging soooo bad.
yeah my cell phone is an unlocked (the chip I plug in determines the carrier), quad band, so I can use it overseas, so wont do me much good for internet.

If you do get your own authority you will need a wireless air card for your laptop. You will also need a printer/scanner and Efax or something similar to get a fax via email so you can setup your jobs. Your not going to be in a place that has WIFI all the time. I've been in the middle of nowhere with my air card and able to get my next load. Most of the major truckstops can give you advise on a card to buy and how to get going. I've seen many truckstops that sell the card right there on the spot and can get your going. You don't need a cell phone to hook up to this service. You may get it cheaper with a bundle package getting a cell service and air card but not required. An air card has nothing to do with your cell phone with regards to getting hooked up. They are 2 separate pieces of equipment.

[serbie]

I'll throw out the shameless Cingular plug. Same as most here. $59 a month with a phone plan. Works great.

Rev's right, Truck Stop WIFI isn't the way to go, even on their yearly plans. Means you'd be tied to one truck stop chain. Why bother. Besides, to connect through T/S WIFI, you leave your self open to people possibly fishing through your computer.

[pepe4158]

well went with a cingular air-card....hmmm seems kinda slow right now as far as speed, likie packets get lost in the air or something. I didnt get any phone servce with it....did I get ripped or what?

[Red Clay Rambler]

No, you didn't get ripped. The aircard and the phone service are separate services. IF you CHOOSE to get phone service through the same company as the aircard you bought, then your aircard service itself is a little cheaper. If you buy only the aircard service, then it's a little higher. The aircard never COMES WITH phone service automatically, you have to select that arrangement.

How much hassle was the purchase/installation?