Internet Service

You can find a lot of good info here ---> http://www.thetruckersreport.com/truckingindustryforum/electronic-connection/

I would use a Verizon air card of Mifi device.

 

A card from Sprint- $60.00 a month.

 

I carry an Alfa AWUS035H USB adapter (best adapter on the market IMHO) and simply connect to the myriad free connections out there. Of course, if you get stuck in the middle of nowhere you'll not find many free access points. If you need a dead-bang reliable connection every time, you may want to pay for one of the aforementioned air cards. I just drove from one side of the country to the other and back, and there was only one night I had to do without internet

 

I will be using my android phone as a hotspot. I can use my laptop off of it, as well as my ps3 for some online gaming. I would go with a smartphone being as you will pay more monthly for a wifi device or for an aircard. Just make sure it has an unlimited data plan.

 

I use an old Droid with verizon. It has unlimited data on the phone, but they would not allow me to add a data package to tether it to a laptop for an internet node.

They said it was not supported.

So I use the app PDANET and it works fine, for free... I offered to pay them.

Mikeeee

 

Another with a Droid tethered using PdaNet

 

Are you able to securely check email/bank data using an open wifi connection?

 

You have several options out there. From free wifi hotspots, I think the url is freewifihotspots.com to air cards. Some state rest area's and independant truck stops have free wifi.

Each of the truckstop chains have their own wifi service for about $20 a month. But you deal with some spots not working to signals bouncing all around all the trucks. You usually need to be pretty close to the antenna with a good line of sight. You'll find companies wanting you to fuel at one chain and that chain is usually were you spend alot of your free time. So $20 a month ain't bad.

Better options are the air cards and Verizon has the best coverage. But Verizon is the most expensive and limits usage on many plans.

I was at Walmart the other day and they have the Verizon card and VirginMobile has a $50 a month unlimited plan which runs off the Verizon network. 3 gigs of speed and a mifi card. You can't beat that plan.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Virgin-Mobile-Broadband2Go-MiFi-2200-Prepaid-Broadband-Device/14321312

On the road, you'll find yourself frequenting Walmarts for the ease of truck parking and shopping. Or you re-up online or on the phone.

 

Rooted Sprint Droid using wireless tether.