Cellular Internet Service
Cellular has become the most popular method of connecting, and it is getting better with every new cell tower installation or upgrade. Verizon is the most popular service among RVers because they generally have the best coverage as you travel. You can buy USB cellular modems to plug into your computer or router, you can buy a Mi-Fi which is a small, standalone device that creates a personal Wi-Fi hotspot. Then, your computers, iPods, iPads, printers, etc. can connect to it.
Geeks on Tour Tether their Droid
We (Jim and Chris of Geeks on Tour) plan to get the new 4G Mi-Fi real soon now ... but for now, we're using our Droid smart phone to tether to our computers for Internet service. The video below was recorded last summer on the road and we demonstrate how we tether the Droid. For more information, see our website page on Wireless Internet.
This is one of our 'Gabbing with the Geeks' video blogs. It's from summer 2010.
Just wanted to say I use the PDA.net on my android and Apple MacBook and it works so well, I did away with my WiFi at home and allows you to connect to matter were you are as long as you have a cell signal on your phone! For a non-computer geek you simplify everything so I can understand, so thank you and keep your videos coming!
ReplyDeleteOr, you can use a smartphone that has a "Mobile Hotspot", such as the Palm Pre, that connects your laptop to itself by wi-fi, for 1 low price and 5 GB every month, up to 5 people can connect at one time, for my travels, this had been a great deal, and is offered by both major providers,
ReplyDeletePDA.net works well but I have found Easyteather Pro to be my go to when I'm on the road with no wifi handy. If you don't need to visit https sites you can do the standard Easyteather which is a free application but for a few dollars on time expenditure you can upgrade to their PRO and you have full access to http and https.
ReplyDeleteYou do need to read your provider carrier's usage contract carefully. Some of the older Verizon and T-Mobile contracts specifically state if they determine you are using your phone as a tethering device they will cut off your service and you will still be liable for the length of your contract, so something to check out before you start tethering like crazy.
In reality if you keep your usage below 5GB a month you'll most likely not have a carrier issue.
Tethering is a great solution to getting online if you're in the passenger's seat during long drives to your next destination, as you can get work done :-)
The article Picture shows and iPhone but explains how to teather a Droid. I had my hopes up that the teather application was available for the iPhone but it's not.
ReplyDelete