A laptop, wireless router or a card from say Sprint, good battery

• Post below about transcribing at Starbucks is why - no one respects MTs
  • I'd never transcribe at Starbucks!!!!! - MT
  • Please, I transcribe from a lounge chair at the pool during the summer. - CamMT
    • I hope your PC falls into the pool...nm - ****
      • Don't hate! - Grow Up! You sound like a 2 year old. NM
    • You are a joke! Are you for real? I bet you don't even know what MTing is!...nm - ****
      • If it means chained to a desk, I guess a lot of us don't know. - MTTwo
        • Oh, yeah, and don't forget the catheter with those - chains to the desk and...
        • Why doesn't she take the PC into the pool , that might also work...nm - ****
          • A laptop, wireless router or a card from say Sprint, good battery - headphones, footpedal (?)
          • You're sounding bitter about your cubicle. - MTTwo
          • Great idea! - Grow Up! You sound like a 2 year old. NM
    • Nothing to do with needing silence - anon
      • No one really cares what your typing. - sm
  • Why not? - who cares if we transcribe
    • the profession is not respected because - dnh
      • Define professional - MTTwo
        • like someone above said.. - dnh
          • Not to make light of pt privacy, but - MTTwo
        • Exactly... - sm
      • What? - sm
      • Thank you for the - voice of reason - nm

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You don't say what kind of router your have but your wireless router DOES NOT need to be connected by ethernet cable to your computer--you only need to connect by cable when you initially install the router software.  Next, if your router has WEP or WAP security enabled, your laptop wireless will not be able to just connect automatically.  Copy your router settings from your main computer (the one you installed the router software to) onto a USB flash drive if you have one and load those settings on your laptop.

The easiest way to set up your network if you have Windows XP is to go to control panel, then go to the Wireless Network Setup Wizard. It will prompt your on how to set up a secure wireless network if your router has it and how to add other computers to your wireless network.  It is very easy if you have a USB flash drive--otherwise you'll have to manually add in the settings. Good luck!!

My Sprint USB card is in my husband's PC, connected to a Linksys router and then to mine with Ethernet cables. You just have to run the internet connection sharing wizard on XP. I've been using this for almost 2 weeks now and absolutely love it. Also, Verizon has a cap on how much bandwidth you can use each month (5 GB) and you have to pay for overages. Sprint has unlimited usage for the same amount per month ($60). If you have any questions about it, I can give you the website where I purchased my equipment. My e-mail is pixie.chick@earthlink.net.

I don't mean to hijack the OP question, but you mentioned you use a PC card for your Internet since you live in the country. I too live in the country and do not even have cable available - only dial-up.

I recently purchased a laptop and it only came with an ExpressCard slot (which it is my understanding that laptops in the future will be built with these and not PC slots). The ExpressCards have not hit the local Verizon or Sprint stores yet but I hear they are to soon and I plan to try one. I hope to be able to drop my dial-up ISP and just use my laptop for my on-line job. I also have my own local account where I pick up tapes and deliver their transcription and I can continue to use my regular PC for that work if I choose to.

Anyway, I would really appreciate knowing how you like your "card" for connecting to the Internet and how well it works out for you. Do you know if Verizon or Sprint has more coverage area? Have you traveled much with yours to see if you are able to get connections? How reliable has this been and how fast of a connection rate do you get on average?

I sure would appreciate any info you could share regarding this. Thanks so much.

Sandi

Hi to everyone!

Is anyone out there using the wireless broadband, like Sprint or Verizon (not so unlimited)?  I am currently using Verizon and have now found out the unlimited is not so.  I have ordered Sprint and the USB modem will be here in a few days, but am now paranoid about 0ver-Use on that!

I just moved to a house in the country, with no DSL, no cable and am unsure about Wild Blue for satellite because of the start up cost and then not being satisfied.

Any country living transcriptionists out there with advice?  I am in northern CA.

Thanks for any help!

When you use a laptop or desktop computer for that matter, and a "wireless" router is involved, you still have to hook up an ethernet cable from your computer to the router in order to be able to get a signal.

On a laptop computer, there is a slot for a wireless PC card, which you can get through Sprint and Verizon and possiby other cellular carriers. The card works in much the same way and has the same type of signal as a cell phone does and since I am out in the country for the time being, that is what I use.

Hope this helps.

Any suggestions for anyone out there that uses more than one computer that is either wireless vs plug into a router.  I have three computers in my house that run off a plug into a router.  I am going to be starting for a local hospital from home and will need the internet and I have to use their computer.  I have so many wires going everywhere that I thought it might be easier to go wireless with all the computers or maybe just put the hospital computer on a plug in and the other three wireless.  I also have to have another computer that I do my two other Docs on the side, but cannot use the hospital computer to do this work, so I have to have that computer in the same room.  Any suggestions on the easiest plan for all four computers. Two of the computers are in different rooms and then I need the hospital computer and my other work computer in one room.  There are also only two outlets in this room, which makes it a little tricky when you have to plug all this stuff in.  I cannot use the hospital computer for any of my side work.

Thanks for any comments.

An air card pulls the signal from the air similar to a cell signal.  It is a type of internet the same as cable or DSL.  What you are needing is WiFi capability, to connect to an existing network.   If they don't already had a network setup maybe they have high-speed internet and you can just hook your computer to the modem, at least long enough to download. 

If relatives only have one computer they wouldn't need a router unless their computer was a laptop and they wanted to work in other rooms of the house. 

here is the section on Cingular's web site.  Sprint also has one.

http://business.cingular.com/businesscenter/solutions/wireless-laptop/modem-cards.jsp

do you actually have wireless internet?  We got a Wii last Christmas and I use a wireless router and we haven't had any problems at all. 

If you are using a router you may need to adjust the channel settings on it.  I think Nintendo recommends channel 11.  You can go to Nintendo.com and see if you can find a solution or Google it and if no help there call Nintendo.  Their customer service isn't in India. 

WiFi compatible all you do is connect to the existing network.

There are lots of ways to connect with traveling.  As far as I know there are two air cards, Verizon and Sprint.  Neither card will always give you coverage.  Just like with a cell phone they each have their own coverage areas.  If you travel in the larger cities you should be good, but if you get in the mountains or in the out of the way places you might have limited to no service.

With an air card there is a one time charge, sometimes $200+ and then there is a monthly fee of about $60/mo.  They frequently offer deals with a free or discounted air card, but you have to sign up for a service plan, much like a 2-year committment on a cell phone plan. 

I've traveled extensively over the past 7 years and I always have a plan B as far as internet goes.  If you are able to download work and then work off-line then you might could do with finding a Starbucks, but if you have to work on-line and need broadband then you may be limited in your travels.  If you are staying in hotels you shouldn't have an issue, as most chains now have WiFi service.  If you are camping then things can get tricky.  Most campgrounds will have some type of service, but it may only be dial-up or WiFi restricted to a certain area, so it takes some planning. 

I am using a wired PC with a DSL connection.  Last night I set up a new wireless router and a laptop.  I had to have Linksys help me so I know we did it how they told me.  Both computers can connect to the internet, but now on my wired PC I cannot connect to my clients.  I have one I connect to with VPN and another over the internet through Citrix.  That one I can connect to initially, but it keeps disconnecting itself.  Help anyone?

Anyone using one of these wireless cards.... I currently only have dial-up internet and will NEVER, NEVER be able to get DSL or cable... I am able to get Verizon cell phone service finally at my house and was wondering about using one of these new cards...  can anyone tell me are there any compainies that allow wireless internet access??   

I don't want to invest $$$$ in satellite since so many companies say NO to that too... thought I might try the Verizon wireless but it is a 2 year agreement... and I hate to have to carry that and my dialup service too???    Any names of companies that would allow wireless or satellite would be appreciated...thanks...

 What's a country gal to do???

You said in an earlier post that wireless internet through your cell phone carrier is a better solution than fixed wireless.  I have a cell phone, but often have to walk around the house to get one bar for a signal.  Does this not factor in?  Where my desk is now, forget it. 

I am not real computer literate but am wondering if I couldn't get unlimited Internet with a cell phone plan and use that for my on-line job/Internet connection exclusively. I have found plans for around $70/month.

If so, I was thinking too I could possibly give up my land line phone, Callwave, my dial-up ISP (as that is all we have available where live) and actually save a little money by doing so. I don't make/receive a lot of land line calls and I have a TracFone cell phone that I don't use much now. I get excellent reception with that where I live. We have a huge tower within walking distance of where I live but we live out in the "sticks". :D I know my connection would be dependent on the reception where I live and the cell phone service I would use. I am not sure which one truly has the best coverage and/or who may be using the tower by our home but TracFone apparently does. :)

TIA. 

That would allow me to connect to the internet via a cellular network, right?  Maybe I just need to call Cingular and ask them if I can get that on my current plan.