Hi, I'm a new member and actually don't own an RV yet. I'm still investigating it as an option. One thing I'm trying to figure out is how feasible it is to run an internet business from one. So far I've read that satellite internet is the best option, but those cost some where near $5k? Does anyone have any experience using WiFi hot spots or a Wireless card like this http://www.wireless.att.com/busines...lltoaction

Help will be much appreciated.

~Roy

Roy,
Welcome to the site. I've used the Sprint wireless cards in my laptop with great results. They are about $100 and $40 a month for service. Not quite super speedy but better than expected.

Hi Roy
I'm another person with a "Sprint broadband card" (595U) and I've been with WIFI which at best was spotty to none available.

Many WIFI expensive antennas with big wire to cut the loss was purchased and it still failed at the majority of places visited.............

Decided to try the broadband and do it right, Sprint & Verizon are the best two (IMHO) and with a "Wilson" trucker antenna mounted permanently above the roof (drivers side near the windshield) provided the right stuff.

Next was the "Wilson amplifier" (801245) mounted in a cabinet which is a dual band (800-1900) and with the inside antenna 22 feet away from the outside antenna this combo cranks out some power both inside & outside.

$500.00 should cover everything except the cost of the broadband card (your choice)......My rig is parked inside a steel building and reception with the AT&T cell phones is terrible (dead zone) but with my system powered up the boyZ can make calls without dropping off.............

They have cut me a deal with free electricity to leave it powered up LOL

Remember a stronger signal... The faster the computer will run, Downloads are 1,000kps or so and uploads are around 600 kps.

Jim

Thanks for the input. I think I'll try the wireless PC card route...looking at AT&T. I'm thinking this will be an emercency back up to any wireless service that I can find available at campsites. I'll be more of a road warrior and less of the back woods type when in the RV, so I'm hoping to find campgrounds that offer good wireless internet? Maybe?

Jim, is the set up you're talking about kind of like this? http://www.radiolabs.com/products/w...erv.phpant

I guess the part I'm having trouble understanding is, can you use the same amp/antenna to boost both WiFi (if available) or your reception via wireless card?

Seems to me, if I were at an RV park that offered free WiFi, that would serve better than the wireless card would...is that not true?

Brubakm, That website refuses to work for me 

Wi-FI and broadband cards are different, My broadband card operates on
a 1900 signal like my cell phone (Sprint).

The "Wilson trucker antenna" is a dual band frequency (800-1900) since some of the cell phones still operate with the 800 range.

After thinking about it the decision was made to purchase a "Wilson Electronics"
dual band amplifier (801245) which works well with the antenna and will work
well outside of your rig within a small circle & distance.

The only thing "Wilson" suggest is that the distance between the external/internal antennas should be 20 feet or greater and it works perfectly.

Jim

Sorry this is a couple of days late.
I've been using a Koycera KPC650 air card with Verizon serivce.
The saleskid at Verison suggested I make sure I get a card that can use an external antenna.
Card was about $80 or so, I forget, but there's newer cards out now,
$19 for an antenna
$10 for a card specific connecter cable. (connects card to antenna)
I pay $60 a month.

I get great coverage in places where I didn't think I'd have any service...e.g. Tumcumari NM KOA... and some other KOA's out west. Better signal than my cell phone.
And so-so service in Medina, Ohio,....But  I was staying in the basement rec room at my friend's house, and was between three airports and close to some high tension lines. But in the frontyard,  I got 4 bars. Out by the barn, I got 5 bars.

Since the card is basically a cell number, line of sight is important.
In Kemp, Texas, I could hardly get a signal in the summer in the house due to all the trees. I put the antenna on the roof of the MH... got 3 bars and very few drops.
Here by Dallas, 2nd floor, I get 5 bars.
I also have a pc adapter card that I installed in my destop computer, I can switch the card between that and the laptop.
The only down side is that occasionally the card drops the signal. Usually, I can just reconnect and no problem with what I was doing.
Mary

Mary (and everyone), Thanks for the help. This sounds like the best option. I'll be sure to give my opinion on the forum once I've had a chance to set it up and use it.

Hi there, We started travels without a laptop and now wouldn't remember how to live without it!! We started with the air card almost three years ago and used our phones as a modem with the cord and disc before that for about the cost of a DVD. Now we pay for unlimited service at around 60 with the taxes and equipment insurance. That later item is a good idea if you keep the card in the computer. Heat will break-down the card with age and thats one of the reasons to get a router to put the card into so we could have two computers at the same time. We chose a USB type of card as the works are on the outside of the computer and this computer doesn't have a Express card or pcmcia card slot. The USB is also a Type A card in that where there is type A service you get super fast speeds when connected. I have used DSL and Type A is close but in another year or two they will be bringing out type B service!! Sprint and Version will most likley be first with that type of service, But Alltel has been right there and so has AT&T. Type A is in the range of 2+ KBPS!! Thats Fast!! Can go as high as 2.6KBPS! The Newer Type B will Be over 4KBPS!!! How fast can you go?? I used the old KPC-650 in a KR1 router and was able to handle three computers without any slowdowns and with this USB card and the soon to be released KR2 I can't think of any other reason to worry about speed!!! I have heard of 5-6 computers on those new cards with a router and with the built in wifi the router has, there is no need of a faster service. This card is a UT Starcom UM150 USB and with a two year commentment, was really reasonable, and is Vista and Mac OSX Compatiable. Lots of people run Businesses with these cards and they depend on them so they are pretty dependable. And are being Improved all the time. This card is supposed to be upgradable to the new type B service when it becomes avaiable. If you would like to find out more about the different company services and types of cards out there and other things like routers and Antennas or Amps, Check out this site!!   www.evdoforums.com Dan

Thanks Dan, but just to be clear, you mean type A is in the range of 2,000 kbps (kilobits), right? Cuz 2 kbps is very slow. I'm getting 1274 kbps on an okay connection in my basement right now.

  Now you know why I need a wife!!! Sorry, You were right I was wrong...Again!! Becoming a habit!! yes 2000kbps is or can be the older type O cards but these newer models can get over 3000kbps!! I have heard of the newer type B that when it comes out will beat broadband and any high speed wired cable speeds up and down!! I think the type a card I am using right now is a fast card and is faster than the old card I had and I am at the same spot and  the same computer also new! right now I am typeing this and have a upload for my logbook and am doing a download and I have been on almost a hour and I have speeds up of 94kbps and downloads of 600 kbps and I am roaming with non type a service but last night down in town [Tucson] I was smoking at 130 up and 2000 down and was like that all evening!! I just checked my logs so I could give you that the download is finished and the up load is done too! My doc is keeping me on the log for my blood sugar levels as I am a newer Diabetic and have had some weird readings and she is concerned so I have to get off and get ready for tomorrow, Doctors appointment. I think she is going to change my med.
  I keep hearing about the satilite broadband but they want so much for the service and equipment and These are so cheap in contrast. i renewed my contract and with the new card at 60 a month and less than what 150 for equipment and I used that old card all over the country!! I only had ONE time that I couldn't get any signal and I was back in West Virginia at my Brothers, and thats way down in the sticks!! i thought I would have problems in Colorado or up in Winconsin but I had great speeds and no issues anywhere up there!!
  Anyway enjoy,I got to go, Dan

Dan, yes, the KBps vs kbps thing was really confusing me too, I spent about an hour doing Google research on the differences. 2000 kbps sounds great though. That's an encouraging figure.

I actually pick up my RV today! I'm excited and nervous at the same time. I'll have it stored at an outdoor lot until I get the net set up and then head out from Ohio to Arizona for my first long trip. Good luck at the Doc!

 Glad to be able to help!! Have a good one and tell us about the adventures and travels!! capt Dan said it!!!

 Just to show how these things are doing I have a session log on this card that shows the sessions and what speeds we were getting. Here are a couple:

  Duration.. 6minites 33 seconds , Bytes sent 225.5kb, bytes rec.768.4 total bytes 993.9 total bytes
 one night I was setting up this computer  after we got it and here are the session log for getting the windows and hp updates that evening.
  Duration 2:39:57  Thats hours minites and seconds 23.3 MB received, 2.2 mb sent total bytes 25.5 mb that is not bad for speeds anytime!! Bytes sent is your upload speed and download speed is received!! Most times you will send more than received but when you are doing multi downloads for updates when starting up a new computer I went the other way but should give you some idea as to what I was getting. I am in a EVDO area right now Some areas will give you 1X speeds but that is still better than dial-up!! Most major citys have Type A service and that is real close to Broadband!! In another couple of years the Type B service will blow Broadband away for sure!!
 Hope this helps, Have a good one, Dan

i live in my camper all year yound and i use a wireless internet card from my cell phone company. depending on weather depends on my speed but i can tell you this i always get internet. i also use a 32 db external antenna. i didnt go with dsl because if you dont have a southern sky in view its usless. also i stayed at a camp ground that gave access to free internet via wireless.

my card is a serria wirleless 595u air card and antenna came from ebay for good price .my cell phone dealer is sprint. i was skeptable if it was as fast as they sayanticipating if i would bring it back befor the 30 day your stuck with it period. for sitting outside the coverage area and getting a weak signal. i got to say im impressed. i watch live tv from alluc.org with it only when the weather gets bad does it decide to buffer on me

That's good information.  Thanks.

Does anyone have any experiences on the Canadian side of the border?  I wil be trvelling from Nova Scotia to Yukon this summer and would like coverage ( at a reasonable cost)

No input on CA, but thought I would check back in and report my experience so far. I went with the Novatel 740 ExpressCard and Verizon's service. I had great luck for the first month, then I was only get speeds of 20-200kbps. After lots of long calls to VZ's techies, the problem miraculously fixed itself and it's been working great ever since. I get speeds consistently over 800kbps here in Mesa, AZ. Sometimes up to 1300kbps!

The only thing to warn over is that there is a 5GB data transfer cap. It's sneakily hidden in their contract. Should be no prob for most, but I hist 10GB twice and crossed my fingers that they wouldn't cut my service, which they didn't. I was also gaming and uploading to Web servers. But still should be aware of this detail before signing up for 2 years...

Sorry about that. Yes that is 2000KBPS and if they do Rev b I heard about speeds up to 4000KBPS!! Check out this site for more info, Dan

http://www.evdoforums.com/