Truck Stop Internet (warning: lots of techno-speak)

Discussion in 'Truck Stops' started by mjfreespirit, Oct 25, 2014.

  1. mjfreespirit

    mjfreespirit Light Load Member

    257
    170
    Dec 4, 2012
    Florida
    0
    When I'm on my 10 or 34 my truck is my home at that truck stop. Most truck stops charge us fees, and that would be fine if the providers of these unreliable hotspots would provide fast, consistent service.

    If I had an angel investor, I swear I would start up a broadband company solely marketed at Truck Drivers with Wi-Max technology (Here's a link to what WiMax is: http://www.tutorialspoint.com/wimax/what_is_wimax.htm) and start offering High-Speed, at-your-home-style, broadband internet service up to 50mbps depending on a plan a Driver would be able to choose. I'd choose a major truck stop chain, negotiate with them on using their site for infastructure, negotiate with the cable company to run high-speed fiber optic cables to my towers located on or near truck stop property to deliver super fast, high-speed internet. Eventually I'd expand to major Distribution Centers that are notorious for long delays (such as Smithfield), and just start growing the business to offer truckers an amazing home-style, affordable internet service.

    Bandwidth is scale-able, and always has been. Current truck stop wifi providers only allow users a maximum of 2mbps, and that speed is not guarenteed. If one has a fiber optic line running to a WiMax tower the speeds can be amazing. See this article: http://www.metafilter.com/131783/The-data-capacity-of-a-fiber-optic-cable.




    So, you see the "Big Rig Broadband" ssid, and you click to connect, and you're greeted with a nice log-in/signup page and when you do, you are given these options:

    Daily Plan Options

    o 0.00 1mbps 1 hour time blocks. No more than 7 free sessions in one week per user/ip address. Max 5gb usage per session.
    o 1.99 2mbps 24 hour time block. 10gb usage included. Additional data usage $2 per 10gb
    o 5.99 5mbps 24 hour time block. 15gb usage included. Additional data usage $2 per 10gb
    o 10.99 10mbps 24 hour time bock. 20gb usage included. Additional data usage $2 per 10gb

    Monthly Plan Options
    o 24.99 20mbps 30 day time block. 250gb usage included. Additional data usage $2 per 10gb
    o 49.99 50mbps 30 day time block. 250gb usage included. Additional data usage $2 per 10gb
    o 79.99 50mbps 30 day time block. Unlimited data usage.

    Yearly Plan Options **All yearly plans are governed under a fair and reasonable use policy**
    o $238.99 20mbps 365 day time block. Save 20%!
    o $449.99 50mbps 365 day time block. Save 25%!
    o $675.99 50-100mbps 365 day time block. Save 30%! (speeds higher than 50mbps are where available)





    *
     
    tech10171968, LGarrison and Mr.X Thank this.
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. stabob

    stabob Heavy Load Member

    862
    483
    May 25, 2011
    Sebring Fl
    0
    Me no understand
     
    okiedokie, skibum_63 and joseph1135 Thank this.
  4. iraqralph43

    iraqralph43 Road Train Member

    1,650
    2,604
    Jan 9, 2012
    0
    your rates are WAY TOO HIGH....what I have at pilot/J....is only $149 a year....with speeds fast enough to watch netflix...or anything else
     
  5. mjfreespirit

    mjfreespirit Light Load Member

    257
    170
    Dec 4, 2012
    Florida
    0
    The idea here is to give drivers a Broadband Internet Service that is EXACTLY like home. Wandering Wifi at Pilot/Flying J and Loves, doesn't do this. Nor does Interstate at Petro/TA.

    Wandering Wifi gives you 12gb a month (unless they changed this) which if you watch too much Netflix, you have to pay more. I have been at multiple Pilot/Flying J locations and the speeds were un-reliable at best. Get too many truckers in a truck stop using their laptops watching Netflix, porn or downloading their 8000 songs to their new iPod you're going to be a pissed off yearly customer. You can't tell me the speeds have NEVER slowed down, or you waited an awfully long time for a video to buffer... Wandering Wifi works like this. They have their wifi routers and repeaters which are receiving the internet from their provider. They divide that bandwith that's available among all customers. It usually averages out to 1mbps. This is the same wifi you can get for FREE at McDonalds.

    The prices are based on what a driver would pay for Cable Broadband Internet at home, GUARENTEEING the driver his own personal bandwith, for his session allowing him to not clash with other driver's activities.

    I would rather pay more and get better quality and faster internet, than pay less and get mediocre internet.

    I usually strive to find CableWifi hotspots or XfinityWifi or any of the other cable provide wifi hotspots because the speed is extremely consistent, but they usually don't have them near truck stops.
     
    driverdriver and Raiderfanatic Thank this.
  6. CargoWahgo

    CargoWahgo Road Train Member

    3,912
    3,944
    Jan 10, 2012
    Louisville, Kentucky
    0
    I go across the street to McDonalds...

    Free refills.
    Free ac
    Free toilet.
    Free ppl watching.

    McDonalds rules.
     
  7. gokiddogo

    gokiddogo Road Train Member

    8,773
    14,725
    Mar 5, 2012
    Ontario Canada
    0
    My Verizon 4g unlimited works pretty good and almost everywhere ... Included in my phone bill .. and my laptop can connect to phone. It is fast enough for netflix. This is your competition ... The idea of having to park somewhere specific isn't very appealing to me unless you have so many places its surprise when you CAN'T get a signal ...
     
  8. mjfreespirit

    mjfreespirit Light Load Member

    257
    170
    Dec 4, 2012
    Florida
    0
    Verizon has data caps. Their 100GB plan is nearly $300 a month. I will say, Verizon is fast.

    My dream internet service would offer a signal that would hit an entire truck stop parking lot, and eventually expand my network to include entire stretches of Interstates and rest ares.
     
  9. Mr.X

    Mr.X Heavy Load Member

    737
    596
    Oct 31, 2013
    Spokane, WA
    0
    Great idea, but why cut the truck stops in on the money? Why not just setup a typical WIFI access point (http://www.ubnt.com/) using a tree on local property, give the land owner free internet. Point the signal in at truck stop/truck stops. When a driver clicks on that available connection the login form pops up with a contact phone number where the driver can join up! Down the road a few years maybe could have radio signal from mountain top towers for full coverage of entire cities, or could partner up with a decent home broadband provider.
     
    Last edited: Oct 25, 2014
  10. gokiddogo

    gokiddogo Road Train Member

    8,773
    14,725
    Mar 5, 2012
    Ontario Canada
    0
    Yea I consider myself lucky to have their unlimited still. The plan I am still on is from 2011 I think ... they call once in a while to offer me a new phone ... but won't let me stay on what I am on if I do that ...
     
  11. mjfreespirit

    mjfreespirit Light Load Member

    257
    170
    Dec 4, 2012
    Florida
    0
    Part of my grand scheme would be to boot Wandering Wifi out of the truck stops. I do not like that provider.

    Google has done a great job at Starbucks locations.
     
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.