Wireless (cellular) internet services for RVing and photo uploads

"Bob Giddings" <bobg@escapees.com> wrote in message
news:gsa5f3lknkcm06duvusv120g62td6csafk@...
> On Thu, 20 Sep 2007 13:04:17 -0400, Hunter
> <airstreamingypsy@geemail.com> wrote:
>
>>On Thu, 20 Sep 2007 09:56:43 -0700, JC Dill <jcdill@> wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>6) Is there a limit on how much data you can upload or download, or
>>>is the service measured or metered in any way such that transfering
>>>large files would increase the bill above the basic monthly service?
>>
>>Most RVers use Verizon.
>>
>>Verizon will cut you off completely if you use more service than they
>>think is okay to use.
>>
>>Hunter
>
> The limit is 5 gig per month. That's a pretty high limit.

I'm sure that would be true if you are on cell service but I have downloaded
more than that in one night since I've been back on cable.

When I get back on T-Mobile's wireless service I will not be making those
large downloads anymore.

Bruce

"Hunter" <airstreamingypsy@geemail.com> wrote in message
news:7v95f39v2ntfiuo3np8f0i4beurafv5qoh@...
> On Thu, 20 Sep 2007 09:56:43 -0700, JC Dill <jcdill@> wrote:
>
>>
>>6) Is there a limit on how much data you can upload or download, or
>>is the service measured or metered in any way such that transfering
>>large files would increase the bill above the basic monthly service?
>
> Most RVers use Verizon.
>
> Verizon will cut you off completely if you use more service than they
> think is okay to use.
>
> Hunter

What makes you say most RVers use Verizon? Have you seen or done a poll?

Nate

JC Dill wrote:
>
> 7) Can you use Skype or other VoIP services over this internet
> connection?
>
>
> jc

You can, but why? Most voice plans have free national long distance, (there
are some regional plans that have more minutes and no national LD, but if
you are travelling in your RV, you'll probably have a national plan anyway,
think about getting the national plan and using the monthly fee for
skype/other voip instead to just increase the minutes on your national voice
plan)

I'm using the Sierra Wireless AC595 broadband card on Sprint (no usage
limitation).
At home I use a wireless router w/ a Yagi antenna and on the road, a Wilson
magnetic mount antenna

At home, I'm on the fringe of the High speed Rev A service area, get 100%
signal and usually download between 80-140 KBs
On the road, in most metro areas or along major roads I get full EVDO Rev A
speed, but in other areas I get 1xRTT speeds of 20-40KB
Even in the Badlands and Black Hills of South Dakota, where they have little
or no coverage of any sort and cell phones wouldn't work, I got sufficient
speeds to do my work.

The cost is $60/ month which is the same cost I had w/ Hughes Sat. The card
gave me the freedom to work online while driving or remote horse camping

While I have an occasional issue w/ my router, the card service has been
rock solid

Hope this helps

Barry

"JC Dill" <jcdill@> wrote in message
news:0695f3l4b6i8btnqu1qs6mdmmlv1mijdd6@...
> My sister uses a Verizon card in her laptop while she rides on
> CalTrain between San Jose and San Francisco but she doesn't go into
> rural areas, or transfer large files. A friend just got a Sprint card
> on a free trial (free until the end of the year) but I don't know the
> details of his account. My father sold his house (finally, yeah!) and
> needs to get wireless internet for his travels and we are trying to
> research more to determine which card best meets his needs.
>
> If you use a wireless (cellular) card, I'd love information and
> feedback on the following:
>
> 1) What service do you use?
>
> 2) What does the card cost?
>
> 3) How long was the initial contract? Any "sign-up fees" other than
> purchasing the card?
>
> 4) How good is the coverage in urban areas, in remote areas?
>
> 5) How fast is your upload speed, your download speed?
>
> 6) Is there a limit on how much data you can upload or download, or
> is the service measured or metered in any way such that transfering
> large files would increase the bill above the basic monthly service?
>
> 7) Can you use Skype or other VoIP services over this internet
> connection?
>
> 8) Is there anything you really love about this service?
>
> 9) Is there anything you really hate about this service?
>
> Thanks!
>
> jc
>

JC Dill wrote:

> My sister uses a Verizon card in her laptop while she rides on
> CalTrain between San Jose and San Francisco but she doesn't go into
> rural areas, or transfer large files. A friend just got a Sprint card
> on a free trial (free until the end of the year) but I don't know the
> details of his account. My father sold his house (finally, yeah!) and
> needs to get wireless internet for his travels and we are trying to
> research more to determine which card best meets his needs.
>
> If you use a wireless (cellular) card, I'd love information and
> feedback on the following:
>
> 1) What service do you use?

Verizon

>
> 2) What does the card cost?

That depends. Do you want one that take a Wilson antenna, or do you want
the cheap one that won't work in lots of places?

My KPC650 cost about $180 with a 2 year contract.

>
> 3) How long was the initial contract? Any "sign-up fees" other than
> purchasing the card?

See above.

>
> 4) How good is the coverage in urban areas, in remote areas?

With the Wilson antenna, we've only had 2 nights that we couldn't
connect in the past 17 months. At the Grand Canyon, and beside I-10 in
Junction Texas.

>
> 5) How fast is your upload speed, your download speed?

Fast enough. I'm not big on speed tests. I can upload every picture I
have wanted to send. What else matters?

>
> 6) Is there a limit on how much data you can upload or download, or
> is the service measured or metered in any way such that transfering
> large files would increase the bill above the basic monthly service?

Our basic service has covered everything we want to do. $63 per month,
including taxes.

>
> 7) Can you use Skype or other VoIP services over this internet
> connection?

I give up. Can you?

>
> 8) Is there anything you really love about this service?

Nearly everything, including the fact that we plug the card into a
Kyocera KR1 router so we both can use it via wi-fi.

>
> 9) Is there anything you really hate about this service?

Sure. I wish it was free. I hate paying for it. LOL

>
> Thanks!
>
> jc
>


WElcome.

on

Hunter wrote:

> On Thu, 20 Sep 2007 09:56:43 -0700, JC Dill <jcdill@> wrote:
>
>
>>6) Is there a limit on how much data you can upload or download, or
>>is the service measured or metered in any way such that transfering
>>large files would increase the bill above the basic monthly service?
>
>
> Most RVers use Verizon.
>
> Verizon will cut you off completely if you use more service than they
> think is okay to use.
>
> Hunter

How much is that?

Lon

"Janet Wilder" <kelliepoodlem> wrote in message
news:46f30845$0$8158$c3e8da3@news.astraweb.com...
> Peter Pan wrote:
>
>>
>> Nope... you can do both voice AND data (including video), with a tethered
>> verizon phone, however, if you happen to call outside the us, it will
>> cost per minute... I would think if you are in the RV full timing,
>> chances are that you won't be driving it across the ocean to europe.....
>> For stuff inside the US you don't NEED skype/voip at all :)
>
> How would you do that? How can you talk on the phone while connected to
> the Internet with the same phone? I've never seen a phone that allows you
> to connect to two different numbers at the same time. I'm talking about
> doing voice and data together and the only way I know how to do that is
> via Skype
>
> --
> Janet Wilder
> Bad spelling. Bad punctuation
> Good Friends. Good Life

I know my father does it with a Windows Mobile based smart phone using
Cingular (Now AT&T). His phone connects to the network using a different
process than the phone uses for well...phone. Maybe it has two separate
processors. I don't know what model phone it is. Looks very similar to an
IPhone only black.

Nate

"Janet Wilder" <kelliepoodlem> wrote in message
news:46f419ec$0$8111$c3e8da3@news.astraweb.com...
> Nate wrote:
>>
>> "Janet Wilder" <kelliepoodlem> wrote in message
>> news:46f30845$0$8158$c3e8da3@news.astraweb.com...
>>> Peter Pan wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>> Nope... you can do both voice AND data (including video), with a
>>>> tethered verizon phone, however, if you happen to call outside the us,
>>>> it will cost per minute... I would think if you are in the RV full
>>>> timing, chances are that you won't be driving it across the ocean to
>>>> europe..... For stuff inside the US you don't NEED skype/voip at all :)
>>>
>>> How would you do that? How can you talk on the phone while connected to
>>> the Internet with the same phone? I've never seen a phone that allows
>>> you to connect to two different numbers at the same time. I'm talking
>>> about doing voice and data together and the only way I know how to do
>>> that is via Skype
>>>
>>> --
>>> Janet Wilder
>>> Bad spelling. Bad punctuation
>>> Good Friends. Good Life
>>
>> I know my father does it with a Windows Mobile based smart phone using
>> Cingular (Now AT&T). His phone connects to the network using a different
>> process than the phone uses for well...phone. Maybe it has two separate
>> processors. I don't know what model phone it is. Looks very similar to
>> an IPhone only black.
>
> That sounds interesting. Maybe your Dad's gizmo uses the camera phone
> that's built in, but we were talking about either an air card or
> tethering a cell phone. I can't see how one can use a web cam and talk at
> the same time unless you have Skype or a similar web-based voice program.
>
>
> --
> Janet Wilder
> Bad spelling. Bad punctuation
> Good Friends. Good Life

What?

Nate

"JC Dill" <jcdill@> wrote in message
news:05ucf3d8jhpbdh43ohcnv867hb08b9idc1@...
> On Thu, 20 Sep 2007 17:08:40 -0700, "Bruce S" <bruce.snell@>
> wrote:
>
>>I used Skype extensively while in Mexico. The cell service was $1.49 per
>>minute plus the Mexican surcharge (14 cents/minute I think). I don't know
>>what other services charge, but that rate was too high for me to call home
>>very often.
>
> He plans to travel in Mexico quite a bit so this would be very helpful
> too! Did you use Skype on a cell-data internet connection while you
> were in Mexico? If so, what provider were you using?

I used Skype thru a wifi connection provided by the various RV parks I
stayed in. The computer has a built in wifi connection, so I did not need a
cell/data card. I used a tethered phone for data service when in the
States. (I got cable at the beginning of the summer - will be traveling
again soon, so will be going back on tethered phone.)

My cell service is T-Mobile - which I got because it is an international
company and I was planning to travel, especially to Mexico - but they do not
provide any service in Mexico. So, to use cell in MX, I had "roam" which
was very expensive.

Bruce