[Orefsmisits]

I'm looking for a reasonable wi fi plan for a laptop. I checked into Clearwire, but you have to use their big-assed modem/bridge thing, and it has to be plugged in to AC or an inverter. They're eventually going to get a laptop card, but until then.....anyone have any experience with plans from Alltel, Cingular, etc?

[abouthotels]

I've used sprints wireless internet card for laptops.
It isn't Wi-Fi it's a cellular modem & depending on where you are it's speed is comparable to low end DSL. (mostly in cities)

I borrowed one for my laptop when I went on vacation.
It was a little faster than a dial-up modem out in the country where you only have their standard network to connect to. (If they have service out there)

Again though, it's Dependant on your location so you would have to contact sprint.

[annouhMus]

vendetta, exactly how in the world do those things work?

[anxpuna]

It's just a cell phone for your computer.

[urbalatte]

Unless you travel extensively it is not worth the cost. I have cingulars, it cost me $59 a month. and I have only been one location that I was able to use cingulars wi-fi that was a starbucks in downtown san antonio.

other than that I use the GSM that is available and it is not worth a crap most of the time. It is only as good as the cell phone signal you can get, because that is what it is. I have been able to get out at a lot of motels that only had dial up, and it was faster that dial up, but a lot of places the connection is not that good.

I have ended up using the wirless connection on my computer more because there are a lot of motels that have wireless.

Now on the other hand if your laptop does not have a wireless connection (which now days very few do not have it) the card would be excellent to have because it would allow you to connect to the available wireless networks.

[bawayTeen]

The sprint card I used was cellular only.
It did not come with wi-fi.

Cingulars have wi-fi built in?

[Inenuedbabnor]

I apologize, I guess wi fi is a separate issue. I'm looking for something that works when you're away from free wi fi hotspots (such as the ones at restaurants, hotels, Barnes and Nobles, etc).

Clear Wire has coverage in most large cities. I'm assuming the phone companies have coverage in the same areas as their phone services.

Vendetta, how much did you pay per month for your service, and did it require an existing phone plan or could you get it without a phone plan?

[MadMark]

Clearwire operates using licensed Wi-Max towers to provide wireless internet access to those within range of their towers. It is in the same domain as plain old Wi-Fi, but the range is greater and the frequencies are licensed and protected, unlike Wi-fi which can suffer from interference even a short distance away from an access point. Wi-Max is like Wi-Fi on Steroids.

For the road warrior that sticks to Clearwire Cities, soon subscribers will get to boot the large modem box and go with a Card Solution.

Additionally, Clearwire recently inked a deal with EchoStar/DirectTV

As for the Cellular Solutions (1X and EV) they are nothing more than high speed cellular modems. Not all Cell Towers can accommodate the signal, and you have to have a cell phone plan in addition to a data plan. With Alltel, their EV network is pretty fast (near DSL), but it has a SMALL footprint. The 1X network is larger, though the speeds are more typically like 3x Dial-Up. Either way, you are looking at $75~$100 a month for the Phone/Data plan and you have to have a smartphone with a USB modem cable and drivers, or your have to spring for a cellular modem card in addition to your normal Cell Phone.

If you are staying in the large Metropolitan Areas, you can usually get service through multiple means for a reasonable price. If you want the access out in West Texas, good luck with that. With the decommissioning of analog towers and the shrinking wattage of cell phones, there are more and larger "Cell Hell Holes" out here than there were 10 years ago in the infancy of digital cellular technology.

This technology is hitting its stride in the Metros and will only get better, out here in the sticks, (outside the City Limits of Mid/Od) don't expect a good experience.

[cigattIcTot]

Vendetta, how much did you pay per month for your service, and did it require an existing phone plan or could you get it without a phone plan?

The card cost my friend $150 up front plus $65/mo for unlimited usage. This was a yr ago.

the new options are, free card with rebates & $60/ unlimited.

http://nextelonline.nextel.com/NASAp...BroadbandCards

[AbraroLib]

You guys are talking a broadband card, right?

[xquFzpNw]

You guys are talking a broadband card, right?

I am.

[Blotassefesek]

Clearwire operates using licensed Wi-Max towers to provide wireless internet access to those within range of their towers. It is in the same domain as plain old Wi-Fi, but the range is greater and the frequencies are licensed and protected, unlike Wi-fi which can suffer from interference even a short distance away from an access point. Wi-Max is like Wi-Fi on Steroids.

For the road warrior that sticks to Clearwire Cities, soon subscribers will get to boot the large modem box and go with a Card Solution.

Additionally, Clearwire recently inked a deal with EchoStar/DirectTV

As for the Cellular Solutions (1X and EV) they are nothing more than high speed cellular modems. Not all Cell Towers can accommodate the signal, and you have to have a cell phone plan in addition to a data plan. With Alltel, their EV network is pretty fast (near DSL), but it has a SMALL footprint. The 1X network is larger, though the speeds are more typically like 3x Dial-Up. Either way, you are looking at $75~$100 a month for the Phone/Data plan and you have to have a smartphone with a USB modem cable and drivers, or your have to spring for a cellular modem card in addition to your normal Cell Phone.

If you are staying in the large Metropolitan Areas, you can usually get service through multiple means for a reasonable price. If you want the access out in West Texas, good luck with that. With the decommissioning of analog towers and the shrinking wattage of cell phones, there are more and larger "Cell Hell Holes" out here than there were 10 years ago in the infancy of digital cellular technology.

This technology is hitting its stride in the Metros and will only get better, out here in the sticks, (outside the City Limits of Mid/Od) don't expect a good experience.

After doing some research this morning, I'm thinking Clearwire is the answer. I just can't get anyone to commit on whether you can jet the modem (and the $4.95 per month charge) once the new Moto Expedience card is available.