Wireless Broadband Access

[phatlip12]

I was thinking about getting an EVDO card for my laptop but I want to avoid getting locked into a contract. Is it possible to only pay each month without getting locked into a contract? What if I only need it a month or two?

[tokenuser]

Nope. No pay as you go data plans. We looked into it for work.
Thats a HUGE reason why I don't jump to an iPhone - tethering my Crackberry as modem when needed to get EVDO speeds is essential for me.

(For those that are wondering why I tether rather than connect Blutooth to my laptop ... EVDO runs faster than BT, so by tethering, I move the data bottleneck back to the phone)

[masherscf]

Nope. No pay as you go data plans. We looked into it for work.
Thats a HUGE reason why I don't jump to an iPhone - tethering my Crackberry as modem when needed to get EVDO speeds is essential for me.

(For those that are wondering why I tether rather than connect Blutooth to my laptop ... EVDO runs faster than BT, so by tethering, I move the data bottleneck back to the phone)

I recommend the same. See if your existing carrier has a mobile office or data capability. for example VCAST Verizon phones work off the EVDO network. Some even have blue tooth. Your Macbook just needs a data cable or bluetooth and you can use that phone as an EVDO modem without a data plan. You just use up your call minutes.

[tokenuser]

I recommend the same. See if your existing carrier has a mobile office or data capability. for example VCAST Verizon phones work off the EVDO network. Some even have blue tooth. Your Macbook just needs a data cable or bluetooth and you can use that phone as an EVDO modem without a data plan. You just use up your call minutes.I could be wrong on this, but unless you are subscribed to a data plan, you are essentially just using the phone as a modem as a 14k4 modem, and still need a point to dial into.

[masherscf]

I could be wrong on this, but unless you are subscribed to a data plan, you are essentially just using the phone as a modem as a 14k4 modem, and still need a point to dial into.

I can only speak to what my phone can do. My provider provides a number for a dataline. Of course, I have wireless web and VCAST on my phone which required a EVDO connection. The phone acts as a modem in the customary modem fashion. But, the wireless provider is the ISP. I am not subscribed to any extra data plan but I'm charged for the time I'm connected at the usual rate.

[tokenuser]

I can only speak to what my phone can do. My provider provides a number for a dataline. Of course, I have wireless web and VCAST on my phone which required a EVDO connection. The phone acts as a modem in the customary modem fashion. But, the wireless provider is the ISP. I am not subscribed to any extra data plan but I'm charged for the time I'm connected at the usual rate.When I am online with my Crackberry, it dials into Verizon data line - so Verizon is my ISP in that sense. I don't connect to RoadRunner (via TWC) at all.

The number dialled by the phone to connect is something like #777.

Is that how you are doing it? VCAST relies on EVDO for its connection, but I suspect that unless you are a data subscriber (in addition to your regular airtime minutes) then you only get the VCAST connection at the higher bandwidth.

Any way to confirm that?

[masherscf]

When I am online with my Crackberry, it dials into Verizon data line - so Verizon is my ISP in that sense. I don't connect to RoadRunner (via TWC) at all.

The number dialled by the phone to connect is something like #777.

Is that how you are doing it? VCAST relies on EVDO for its connection, but I suspect that unless you are a data subscriber (in addition to your regular airtime minutes) then you only get the VCAST connection at the higher bandwidth.

Any way to confirm that?

Probably not, I only set it up once and connected as a proof of concept. The Motorola mobile office suite is really bloated and has a tendency to try and take over when the 802.11g wireless lags. Cellular signals are kind of sketchy when your on the train because you're traveling between cells and I've been able to find open wi-fi nearly every other place I've had a need to use my laptop. Of course, I don't travel as much as you.

So, I uninstalled the stuff.

I'll just assume that your correct and you don't get high speed data without a data plan. However, the 56k "plan" is good enough for emergencies. I assume that anyone who lives on their laptop is gonna want a data plan anyway because burning your celling minutes online is a little stupid.

My point was, my Motorola KRAZR, like your blackberry can act like a EVDO modem. I'm wondering if Phatty's cellphone might be able to do it too.

[tokenuser]

My point was, my Motorola KRAZR, like your blackberry can act like a EVDO modem. I'm wondering if Phatty's cellphone might be able to do it too.True. Good for emergencies. My wife did some work in the car on the drive back from Charleston last Sunday. She was online for 2 hours using terminal server to run some data mining experiments on her servers back at the university. Did drop a connection once, but soon reconnected.

Phatty's cellphone is an iPhone isn't it.

Can I laugh now or would that be rude?

[masherscf]

Phatty's cellphone is an iPhone isn't it.

Can I laugh now or would that be rude?

The irony...

[tokenuser]

The irony...I think you mean ...

The iRony.
Think different - like all the other drones in the room.

[phatlip12]

Probably not, I only set it up once and connected as a proof of concept. The Motorola mobile office suite is really bloated and has a tendency to try and take over when the 802.11g wireless lags. Cellular signals are kind of sketchy when your on the train because you're traveling between cells and I've been able to find open wi-fi nearly every other place I've had a need to use my laptop. Of course, I don't travel as much as you.

So, I uninstalled the stuff.

I'll just assume that your correct and you don't get high speed data without a data plan. However, the 56k "plan" is good enough for emergencies. I assume that anyone who lives on their laptop is gonna want a data plan anyway because burning your celling minutes online is a little stupid.

My point was, my Motorola KRAZR, like your blackberry can act like a EVDO modem. I'm wondering if Phatty's cellphone might be able to do it too.

I have a Motorola RAZR as well (though verizon). Such a system may work great for quick net access but I'm not sure if it's the ideal solution for what I may be doing.

[masherscf]

I have a Motorola RAZR as well (though verizon). Such a system may work great for quick net access but I'm not sure if it's the ideal solution for what I may be doing.

Get a USB cable and steal the Motorola software off the pirate bay...if they make a MAC version.