I have an aircard that we use when wifi isn't available. It's from Sprint and has a 5 GB limit per month. I have never busted the limit and we do a lot of internet surfing. I also upload weather data to my server 24/7. I've come close a couple times, but that was because the DW had to download a big Microsoft security upgrade for her laptop.

I use a Mac and I can share the connection from the aircard to the Macs built-in wifi radio. By doing that I create my own wifi hotspot so DW can get on with her laptop.

Bottom line is the salesman gave you some bad information. There are numerous ways to accomplish what your wanting to do...the new mifi is built to do exactly what you need, connect multiple computers to the internet. Tethering is an option but I do not have personal experience with it so can't speak to it. I believe Howard tethers his phone. And as I mentioned you can use an aircard, then either share that via your computer, or, you can purchase a router that will accept the aircard and share the connection. I don't recommend this as the router is really not needed in most situations, but a lot of people use this setup.

Go to Verizon store and either buy for full price the latest usb modem or sign up for two years data service and get it for free.Take your laptop with you .They will help you get it up and running.When you get home get ahold of 3Gstore.com and buy a Cradle Point router.Have them help you set it up with your Verizon card now in the router.You now have your own secure wi-fi system.My wife and I both spend around 5 hours each surfing the web and doing all our financial business plus I publish my blog and we have never come close to the 5 Gig limit.Do not download movies though or you WILL use it up in a hurry.Thats what satellite tv is for.By the way don't mention to the Verizon people you will be putting the modem in a router.They don't have a clue about that.FYI we do nor use Verizon phone service,all we buy from them is data.

Dreamers wrote:

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You may be on to something.

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I would hope so I work in the wireless industry.... for now.

Verizon, as all other providers charge $59.99 a month for their cellular data cards for 5 Gigabytes of data per month.

3G Store just announced a cheaper alternative to the 2 year contract, it's a month to month service for $49.99 (It's Verizon).   Check with them for details, it's technically still Verizon, but it's through what we in the biz call an MVNO.  As long as the MVNO stays in business, you're golden, if they fold.... then there are problems.  Yes, they fold a lot!  I'm sure 3G Store can give you the straight info on what exactly this is.

Just a FYI, 3gstore has excelent customer service and technical support.I paid only slightly more for my cradle point from them than I could have paid for one off of E-Bay, but good tech support is a real plus with items like this.

Just some quick help. My wife and I both use our blackberry devices and tether them to our computers. We pay an additional $30 a month for this through verizon and it gives us both 5Gig. I have never come close to running out of data. With windows 7 I can turn my computer into a hotspot that my entire rig can share. It is great! The speeds are just as fast as cable and we have been very pleased. Let me know if you have more questions about this. I also have a wireless network in my rig with wireless printing and network data storage. I guess when a thirty something and his family does fulltime, we take our technology with us! We love it!!

bjoyce wrote:

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T-Mobile hasn't turned on their 3G service yet

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Actually they have Bill.  Been online for awhile now.  Since they're a GSM network there are only a few of cards that work with them.   They're also using a completely different chunk of spectrum - the AWS 1700/2100 MHz frequency-band.  There's only one card that I know of that takes advantage of AWS and that's the Option Wireless 452.

 

Dreamers wrote:

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Yesterday, I visited our local AT&T store to inquire about Internet Air Cards.  Well, I wasn't met with any encouragement at all.

So, please help!  Input please.

Thanks,  Judy and Bob

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It isn't uncommon to find cell store employees who have no clue.

A USB aircard and a wireless router like the Cradlepoint mentioned is outdated technology if one wishes to connect more than one computer. A fairly new device called a MI-FI card provides simultaneous connect for up to five computers. You can even connect to a desktop by plugging in a Wireless G USB Adapter to it. I have a MI-FI card sitting on the desk here with two desktops and one laptop wirelessly connected.

Here is a website that may be helpful.

http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/mobilebroadband/?page=products_mifi

 

TXRVr wrote:

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Dreamers wrote:

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Yesterday, I visited our local AT&T store to inquire about Internet Air Cards.  Well, I wasn't met with any encouragement at all.

So, please help!  Input please.

Thanks,  Judy and Bob

---

It isn't uncommon to find cell store employees who have no clue.

A USB aircard and a wireless router like the Cradlepoint mentioned is outdated technology if one wishes to connect more than one computer. A fairly new device called a MI-FI card provides simultaneous connect for up to five computers. You can even connect to a desktop by plugging in a Wireless G USB Adapter to it. I have a MI-FI card sitting on the desk here with two desktops and one laptop wirelessly connected.

Here is a website that may be helpful.

http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/mobilebroadband/?page=products_mifi

 

 

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There is nothing outdated about a USB adapter and Cradlepoint router!  The MiFi is a nice device, but does not have an external antenna jack so you have to buy a wireless amp to use an external antenna or a special $130 device to boost the signal when needed (which only works with the MiFi).  I camp in enough places where I need the antenna on the roof to get a good internet signal that the MiFi is a nonstarter for me.  

If I went with Sprint/Clear 4G/3G I need to use USB and my Cradlepoint router will work with it, that is not outdated technology. 

Edit: Fixed typo

-- Edited by bjoyce on Tuesday 18th of May 2010 09:13:13 AM

Thanks for the simple MIFI information. I've looked at a few threads about it but they were all written in... "geek". Now I know I don't need it.

I still use wifi while traveling. I'm waiting for data prices to get a bit more reasonable, like Straight Talk. The 3G store's offering looks like a step in the right direction. Thanks to the OP and all those who answered.

fleamarketeer

We are part-timers and have dsl at home so we didn't want a contract.  Just bought a card for pre-paid mobile broadband with Verizon.  Haven't been on a trip yet, but it works at home.  Limited data allowance, but I think it will work for us.  1 day - 75mb - $15.  1 week - 250mb - $30.  1 month - 500mb - $50.  If we decide to go full-time, can convert to Verizon contract.  Just want to check e-mail, limited surfing, and check financials. Card was $129 at Best Buy, but saw an ad this week for $99, maybe with contract.

-- Edited by bshart on Tuesday 18th of May 2010 07:34:18 PM

Can you use the MiFi with the Cradlepoint or an external antenna/booster?

Gary wrote:

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Can you use the MiFi with the Cradlepoint or an external antenna/booster?

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You can use the MiFi with the Cradlepoint to boost the wifi range out from the 30 feet the MiFi does on its own.  The external antenna needs to hook to the MiFi, not the Cradlepoint, since it is boosting the cell phone signal to the MiFi. But there is no external antenna jack on the MiFi so you have to use other methods to boost the cell phone signal.   There is a $130 booster that only works with the MiFi.  There is a passive adapter that works with external Wilson antennas and amplifiers, but these are getting hard to find and only boost about half what a wired antenna port will do.  You can also get a pricey ($200 for cheap ones and up to $450 for the really good ones) wireless amplifier that hooks to an external antenna.   Reports are these wireless amps do not provide full internet speeds since they are intended for voice. 

The MiFi has many pluses, it is all in one, it is very small, it runs on batteries (there are a couple Cradlepoint routers that also run on batteries but they are physically larger than the MiFi), and you can often get it for free.  For many it works well.  There is no speed advantage to the MiFi, it is EVDO RevA just like most all of the aircards from the last three years or so.  

I also tell people not to take advantage of the "new every two years" offers for aircards if they already have a working EVDO RevA one like the UM150 or USB720 since the new aircard will not be any faster.

Once the carriers move to 4G (LTE for Verizon, AT&T and probably T-Mobile and  WiMax for Sprint which exists today) there will probably not be external antenna jacks on any of the cards since the frequencies are not in the same range as cell phones.  The Sprint/Clearwire 301 is out and has no external antenna jack.  I suspect companies like Cyfre and Wilson will have wireless amplifiers and antennas that will help these cards and phones, but they do not have them today.

Buy today what works today.  The offerings are changing fast.

Satellite internet is still around for those who travel into Canada and Mexico (or Canadians who travel into the US), into the boonies where cell phone internet is slow or nonexistent, or where you need more than 5GB per month.   We use both satellite internet and a Verizon aircard and kept satellite for all of the reasons I stated (we travel into Canada, we stay places like Long Beach, WA and Bullhead City, AZ where Verizon has terrible speeds, and we use more than 5GB some months).

 

lb311 wrote:

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Although not a full-timer yet, I have worked quite a bit from all parts of the US the past few years. My software job requires that I have solid internet connectivity. So far, nothing has compared to Verizon for data coverage. If you stay in metro areas, ATT and Verizon will be fairly comparable, but venture out a few miles from a metro area or interstate highway, and you'll likely only find Verizon coverage.

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A friend who blogs has a Verizon aircard and an iPhone (AT&T) and has encountered two places lately where Verizon didn't work and the AT&T did.  These were in Tennessee and Arkansas.

 

KarenInTheWoods wrote:

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I am with AT&T because they are the only providers with a signal over my home.  This is our only way to connect to the internet.   We have no other internet other than the aircard.   When we get ready to fulltime in 2013 I think we will switch over to  Verizon.

I only use 3 to 4 GB a month, so the 5GB limit is comfortable. I don't download movies or music, so my internet use is basically email, browsing and sending photos to family and friends.

Since using the router, I have not had to buy any more air cards!  (grin grin)

.

 

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Who knows what will be possible in 2013?  I don't.  I am sure that if you are using 3 to 4GB now it will creep up in three years and mostly it will not be your fault.  More and more websites are playing videos on startup, often ads.  More and more apps are autoupdating, like Google Earth does.  Plus the web is getting richer and richer with content, so it takes a bit more bandwidth.  Hopefully there will be affordable options that give you more than 5GB in 2013.

 

Just to throw in my two cents worth. We started with a Sprint Air Card and found that it worked great near cities and the interstate, however, in more remote areas it was extremely slow if it worked at all. When the two year contract was up we switched to Verizon air card which we use in a Cradlepoint router. We have had good coverage where ever we've been (out west in the desert maybe another story). Anyway, we never come close to using up the 5GB allowed per month. The only time we came close was when we shared our connection for two weeks with a group of people that we were with on a Habitat for Humanity Build (that is, we allowed them to login to our router signal so they could send emails, surf the internet, etc.). We do use AT&T for our cell phone (love those rollover minutes) but wouldn't recommend them for an air card. Obviously your AT&T sales representative didn't have a clue when it comes to air cards. By the way, we purchased our router and air card through Alex at the 3G Store, they are more up to date as to what's happening in the industry. I-Pads are now coming out with a $29.99 unlimited connection - right now they are using AT&T which I believe is the same 3G signal as AT&T's air card.

Dreamers wrote:

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Judy & Darrell, thanks so much for your input. If I understand all of this technology (which I don't), I will need both a mi-fi and a cradlepoint router. I will then connect my mi-fi into my cradlepoint. At tht point we will have internet service in both laptops and without having to leave a designated master computer on. Am I right?

Now, I think what everyone is saying is that I can then also, plug a desktop computer (should I decide to take it) into the cradlepoint and it will also have internet.

What is the difference between an air card itself and the mi-fi?

Someone please let me know. I'm definitely not technology savy. I think that 3G will probably be my best bet and let them walk me thru everything I'm going to need. I understand they will do that, right?

Thanks, Judy and Bob

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Perhaps I am confused here because I have kind of gotten out of the technology business (I used to manage a Radio Shack store), but if you have the Verizon MiFi, it doesn't necessarily need a router.  We have a MiFi and both our desktop and our laptop can be connecting to the MiFi with just the internal wireless capability.

Plus, while there is a "socket" in the MiFi, it is for tethering directly to the computer or as an input for a power source to charge the internal battery.  I don't recall seeing any other "socket", so I would assume that if one does use a Cradlepoint with the MiFi, it would have to be able to charge the MiFi as well as connect for signal purposes.  Or, am I confused as well?

Terry

 

Does anyone have any experience with using Windows 7 as a wi-fi hotspot?  I tried to get Connectify.me to work, but I get a "no internet found" message.  Any ideas?  We have US Cellular as our cell phone carrier and tether to our laptop.  We just bought the second laptop with Windows 7 and were hoping to us it as wi-fi.  US Cellular doesn't have mi-fi.  The 3G store said we could try using the Sprint router and it might work.  If not, we have to pay for return shipping.  It sure would be easier to use the Windows 7.  Any help or advice would be very much appreciated.

Alex does not work at 3GStore.com any more. But 3GStore should have people who can answer questions. Alex does pop into the Escapees forum and the InternetByDataCard Yahoo group to answer questions, but not for 3GStore.

Dreamers,

With regard to your last question, you DO NOT need both a Mi-Fi AND a Cradlepoint.

Mi-Fi

As mentioned, the Mi-Fi is a combination "aircard"/router and has several benefits.  It's one piece of equipment instead of two.  The "aircard" part brings in the cell signal and the "router" part allows you to connect multiple devices to that signal.

But the "aircard" part of it is no better than other aircards on the market.  It's drawback is that it doesn't have that external antenna port to attach an antenna or booster to expand your coverage.

Often that extra coverage is not needed, but if you park in places where several of us do, you could be without internet or have very slow internet.  That's why many full-timers don't use the Mi-Fi but rather go with the other option.

Aircard with Cradlepoint Router

Another option is to go with an "aircard" that has an external antenna port to which you can connect an antenna and booster for greater coverage (i.e. you can draw in a cellular signal that might be just outside the range of the aircard alone).

With the aircard that has the external antenna port, you can then attach the aircard to a Cradlepoint router and have your own Wi-Fi hotspot to which any number of computers can connect wirelessly.  And some of the Cradlepoint routers have ports where you can connect by ethernet cable (i.e. desktop if you prefer to connect that way).


The bottom line difference between the two is the ability to expand the coverage to pick up a signal in more remote locations.

We have satellite internet, but we use the latter option as our back-up.  Actually, we have a phone that acts like an aircard.  Same premise, so I won't confuse the discussion. 


Yes, call 3gstore and have them walk you through it.  Though Alex left in February, there are other knowledgeable folks there.

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There is nothing outdated about a USB adapter and Cradlepoint router! 

-- Edited by bjoyce on Tuesday 18th of May 2010 09:13:13 AM

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Perhaps a poor choice of words on my part. No disrepect intended.

From reading everyone's comments, it appears that this is a convenience issue and has a cost factor to consider.  Both systems provide wireless reception and distribution for mulitple computers. If one needs the extended range and external antenna feature then Cradlepoint would be the logical choice. The Cradlepoint is only about 3 x 5 inches so is portable. The Mi-Fi is even thinner and smaller than that.  Very handy for a shirt pocket.  The cost in purchasing a Cradlepoint and a USB air device may be more than just a stand alone Mi-Fi card ( I only paid $25 for it).  Then there is an extra expense for a booster. But when you really need it for remote locations then the expense is justified.

 

In reading replies to other posts I came across this link: http://connectify.me/. I downloaded it and it is amazingly easy to set up. Had 2 computers connected to the internet in less than 5 minutes. Quicker and easier to set up than a homegroup. The computer you install this software on has to be running windows 7. Other computers that will connect just need wifi capabilities.

So. Dreamers ... which way did you go? Cradlepoint or MiFi?

We are on the verge of purchasing our RV and are also addressing this question. We currently have one laptop (Vista) and one (compact) desktop (Windows 7) that would be used in two separate areas. Our home systems use Linksys wireless connectivity and the original signal comes from cable.

Not being a techno-geek, what (in very simple language without acronyms and things that are only spelled with initials) would be the very basic setup we would need for an RV?

Paul

O.K. everyone, we went with the Verizon Mi-Fi. Currently we have one laptop and one desktop connecting to internet thru it. Installation was the easiest thing we ever did and it is working great. Plan to add a netbook and a wireless printer in the very near future.

A full time neighbor of ours here in the park where we have our RV sitting, has the Mi-Fi and he showed us his complete setup. I was also undecided at the time - Mi-Fi or Cradlepoint. He also informed me and showed me his setup that you can have an antenna and amplifer/booster for a mi-fi system. Wilson makes a trucker's amplifier that connects to the bottom of the mifi with a velcro strip and gives you additional distance & signal strength. Of course, you use an outside antenna that hooks to the Wilson amplifier. Since we have good coverage at the moment and our on the road departure date is still in limbo, we have not added this feature yet.

LIke you, Paul & Joe, we had a wireless system in our home with cable internet service. Only, we had the D-link equipment instead of the Linksys. Setting that up was the hardest thing we ever did. It took 3 days of screaming, crying, cussing and calling in sick to work a day to ever get it working properly. Of course, once we did, it worked great. This mi-fi was a piece of cake comparitively.

Hope I have helped! I think most people are unaware of this Wilson Amplifier/booster that works with the mi-fi because it seems that most everyone says you can't connect one to the Verizon mi-fi but I have seen it in use so I know you can.

Judy

-- Edited by Dreamers on Thursday 29th of July 2010 10:57:57 AM