Question about WIFI

Hey there -

Yep, I had problems too. Some places are better than others, but depending on how far away from the building you park definately affects the speed and reliability. There are certain truck stops that offer Free WiFi, but unless you carry your laptop inside the building and sit at a table in the restaurant, your chances of staying online are hit and miss.

What I ended up doing was buying a Netbook through my cellular carrier. I purchased it during "a deal" and paid 200 bucks for it (much less than the cost of a laptop) and I pay 60 bucks per month for the connection. The netbook is just like a laptop, and after buying an external CD drive, it is no different than a regular laptop with the exception of the fact that it is smaller and the screen is considerably smaller.

But I am quite happy with it. I decided that it was going to cost me 20 bucks per month to have a wifi subscription at a truckstop, and if I wasnt able to get to that truckstop, I wasnt going to be able to connect. With the netbook, it was going to be 40 bucks more, but I could connect literally anywhere I had a cell signal, and for the additional $1.50 per day, it would be well worth it. And I was right. Now I can connect at truckstops, rest areas (some which offer free wifi anyway), loading docks, and on the side of the highway. And if there is free wifi somewhere, I can choose to use that rather than the cellular connection.

There is a limit (5GB) per month of usage before additional charges, but I do a lot with mine (including Skype video conferencing) and I have yet to exceed my usage limits.

Just my two cents.....

 

The aircard is worth it. I wouldn't want to be at the mercy of finding a wifi signal. I can log-on virtually anywhere, anytime. I don't have to worry about too many other users slowing me down or kicking me off. Plus, I use mine for financial transactions so I feel better not having that broadcast over a wifi signal.

 

I have the verizon aircard and i am very happy with it. I pay 59 dollars per month...

 

I have TONS of issues with the wifi offered at the truck stops. Interstate, and IdleAir are the ones I always try to use. Anytime i truc drives past me, just like with my awesome digital TV reception, my wifi drops too. THe speeds are barley better than dial up. You got to remember, they are sharing a dish internet connection, which already has terrible latency issues, and slow speeds. Now split that between 10s to 100s of others...

One thing you can do other than an air card, is use your phone and tether it to your computer. Verizon offers this service (i'm sure the others do too). It's $10 cheaper a month, and there is no contract. I started a thread here about it if you want to look into it. THe speeds are the same as an aircard.

 

I have a MacBook Pro, with the factory installed Apple AirPort 802.11N wireless card. But, I frequently stop at places with no WiFi, or weak WiFi signals. So, I broke down and bought the Verizon Wireless Broadband service. It allows me 5gb a month, and I have never come close to going over on my allowance. So, now, I spend the $54.95 a month for that, which is a bit pricey, and use it when necessary, but use the WiFi, when I am able to connect for free. I rarely find a location I cannot connect reliably, one way or another.
If you can afford both the price of a wireless broadband connection, and have a WiFi card, this gives you the best of both worlds.