Cell phone & modem reception can be very different sm
Posted By: FlaMT on 2008-03-17
In Reply to: Out in the boonies. - mtathome
I have very iffy cell phone service with Sprint but have been using a USB modem through them for the past month with an external antenna and amplifier. I get up to 1200 kbps download speeds without the antenna being installed outside yet (it's sitting in my window until we get a lightning protector). 3gstore.com is where I bought my equipment, and they can answer any questions you have. In fact, the tech person I spoke with has actually written transcription programs, so he definitely knows what is involved.
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I have a pay as you go cell phone
I got one for emergencies only that I pay as I go. There are several different kinds out there, you just have to keep your eyes open and watch what you get and for what price. I got mine at Radio Shack and re-up my minutes every other month for $30. They have discontinued that particular program for new people though. You can get Trac (sp) phones at places like K-Mart, Wal-Mart, and I think you can buy a year's worth of minutes on that one for about $99. Keep an eye on commercials, too. I saw one on MSNBC yesterday that I had never seen before.
Cell phone
Tracfone. Its on the web, if you want to check the specifics. www.tracfone.com
Unless you only use your cell phone
and internet for work, you cannot take a full deduction, only a percentage.
I don't even own a cell phone..sm
I used one that belonged to a family member and they are pretty fast and reliable. But, when I called to try and get one, because of my "not so good" credit, they wanted like a $700 deposit.
Also, I am afraid if I go over the allowable amount....as I tend do a Lot of movies on my computer.
I will go with the Satellite, people in the area do not have problems with it, I will just have dial up for backup when the clouds do come in. LOL....
I am not going to worry myself over it much longer.....I tend to slowly wean away from MT once I move anyway. :)
A cell phone is not secure, so using it to
listen to dictation is not viable. I have downloaded digital files via cell phone in a pinch, like during storms when I lose land-line. If you got dictation via cell, you would have to re-record because there is no way to start/stop the dictation to transcribe live. The quality of the dictation would not be as good as a land line or digital or whatever. When you have unlimited service, it usually doesn't include unlimited data transfer so would not be feasible for downloading consistently.
Just not a good idea any way you look at it, especially if this is your primary source of obtaining work.
Tracfone cell phone
 This is a place where I value your opinions, so here goes on a non-MT question: I recently bought a Tracfone because I truly only need a cell phone for emergencies and thought prepaid was the way to go. After the first time I reloaded minutes, I got "No service" message; then 1-1/2 hours later with customer service, I was informed they would send a new SIM card. I installed the new SIM card and still no service. Next I tried calling customer service back and found out they are down for maintenance. Ditto for website. Anyone else had a similar experience? Which prepaid should I go with next time if this is not resolved? BTW, I am thinking of forming a militant branch of SHHH--the society for hand-held hushing!!
Cell Phone Laws
Here in NYS there's a law that you can't be on your cell phone unless you have a headset. The police rarely enforce the law. Every day I see someone on their cell phone. I wish they'd catch these people before they kill someone. I'm sorry your son had to go through the accident because of someone's stupidity.
can't you get her number off his cell phone?
I don't blame you for being mad but I wouldn't call the friend's wife and tell her b/c its not good to get involved in marital disputes and it is technically not your business. BUT your husband is another story! First off, why won't he give you her phone number?? And secondly, if it were me, I would most definately call her & tell her NOT to involve your husband in their affair! 
OT: Amp'd Cell Phone Service
I am looking for a new cell phone service, preferably pay-as-you-go or something really cheap because I barely even use 100 minutes a month most months. Has anyone tried this new Amp'd broadband cell service? What'd ya think?
Thanks!
Shelby
you can get a net service through cell phone. sm
i have altel and their plan in the south is $25/mo for unlimited use. it picks up anywhere you would get a cell signal. software was around $99 i think. it isn't as fast as DSL or cable, but would work if desperate. you plug your phone into your laptop via the software/cable and it uses your phone as the modem to dial in and connect. downfall is you can't receive phone calls while using it, calls go to voicemail. do you have to continually download voice files so that you couldn't download before you left? not sure a VPN connection would work with cell if you used that for national.
can also use your cell phone but it's rare
If you have bluetooth technology on your cell phone, you can get a cheap bluetooth plug-in for your laptop and use the cell phone as sort of a modem. Good luck trying to do it, though :*( I have Verizon and have everything I need but they have some double-knot top secret spy access phone number that they don't give out. If you can somehow get that number, you can connect anywhere you can get phone service. (and if you can get it, PUHLEEEEASE let me know it! LOL) I think that most, if not all, of the major cell phone providers have this same capability.
Barring that, you can get a card from your laptop maker (i.e., Dell).
Here's a link to Sprint's mobile broadband card. Through 6/17/07, they have a promotion going and the card itself is free after a $49.99 mail-in rebate. You have to sign up for their service, which is $59.99/month if you have their voice service (i.e., you have a Sprint cell phone and calling service) or $79.99/month if you don't.
http://mobilebusiness.sprint.com/px500/?id12=SHOP_Promo3_UHP_060207_PX500
Verizon has several mobile broadband cards (you want one that is 'Rev A' compatible/capable). Here's a link to a page with all of them and their prices ($9.99-$179.99) which are 2-year contract prices.
http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/store/controller?item=phoneFirst&action=viewPhoneOverviewByDevice&deviceType=Wireless%20PC%20Cards
They have 2 plans: National Access $59.99/month & Broadband Access $79.99/month.
Hope this all helps!
BJ :D
cell phone telemarketers
This is a SCAM. It was originated by internet thieves to get our email addresses. I used to fall for these kinds of emails all the time. Now, I always check www.snopes.com before I ever forward anything to anyone. And probably 99% of them are scams. This particular hoax has been in circulation for years. Also, when I DO forward an email, I send it to everyone as a blind copy (Bcc). Most email programs have this option. If they don't, then I wouldn't forward it.
Turn off that &%*@* Cell Phone...sm
I know docs need to remain available but give us a break! When it rings, please either turn it off or turn off the dictation machine and tend to your call. I dont need their ------g phone blasting high volume in my ear, often while some inconsiderate jerk is trying to dictate over the loud ringing. I had one clown the other day who actually left his cell ringing the entire 5 to 6 minutes during his dictation. I felt almost deaf by the time he finished. 
I was told to have 2 phone lines, one can be cell. But (sm)
The one time I needed to use modem for backup, it was virtually impossible to type, so having the second line is useless. Having a second HSI connection would do the trick in the event some castrophe took place and the HSI co. went out for a day or so.
Think of WiFi as a cell phone signal.
Have you ever had a call dropped, or the signal go from 5 bars to 1? WiFi speed depends on the amount of traffic, weather, interference from construction, etc. I think it is always wise to have some form of backup available just in case. I have Earthlink cable, but I also get 20 hours of dial-up with that. I have a laptop, so if my power goes out at least I can download and continue to work with a dial-up connection.
I am wondering too. I have cell phone for back up
if cable service goes down so that is not a concern any more. Want to discontinue SBC (now AT&T) and get the cheapest possible second phone line I can.
In fact, I am considering just having a cell phone for phone service and that is it. Does anyone do this?
Thanks!
I have her on my quick dial on my cell phone
but I wouldn't share it without permission. She is Editor of one of Elsevier's MT publications so visit their web site and you may be able to find an email address for her. She still frequents another MT web site and you could put out an SOS call for her there. Good luck.
Listening to a cell phone conversation
My doc left his recorder on again. LOL
How did SHE get YOUR husband's cell phone number? nm
nm
I have had cell phone for 2 years, newbie but
yesterday had 2 text messages (I do not do those myself) from my cell carrier. Never before had I gotten the first thing like this.
He also listed his cell phone number. (no msg)
xx
If you don't get your wireless through cell phone signal,
I haven't heard of any other way to get wireless broadband other than through the cell phone companies.
Does anyone use a cell phone for their long distance to transcribe? I am just
wondering if this would work since a lot of plans have free long distance now. I'm assuming there must be some kind of adapter out there to connect your cell phone to your PC or laptop. I am wondering if anyone has tried this and how it worked out. Thanks!
is there such a thing as a cell phone with pre-paid minutes,
and no monthly bill? A couple years ago i heard one was being developed, and yet, at least here in the middle of the country, have yet to see such. I would like to have a cell phone for emergencies or very occasional use, but can't go for the monthly bill...
LOL. That's funny. I like the retro cell phone headset. nm
nm
If you have a cell phone, why not use that for your LD calls and CX the LD on the land line?
.
The hospital where I work took down the no cell phone signs
last year. Apparently they aren't as much of a problem as they once were. Also, I was an inpatient last year and was allowed to use my cell phone in my room.
It seems like I was told that they have machines that block the phones from getting a signal in areas of the hospital where they may cause interference with equipment.
I transfer my calls to cell phone during work. nm
nm
Cell phone dictation in the middle of the night
First, they are inaudible, and they are so tired that they forget where they are at and backtrack or forget parts of the surgery. Then you have to figure out what they are saying when yawning and everything else. Also, I hate it when there are screaming kids or a bunch of people in the background that are louder than the dictators, and the dog is barking like crazy. Ambulances: Why do doctors dictate in front of ambulances when the siren is going?
Also got rid of our house phone because we all had cell phones and that saves me about 75.00 a month
or so.
That's an idea -- does it matter that my cell phone won't work from the house??
It rings but then cuts you off as soon as you answer. I think we are too far from a tower.
Does anyone use laptop & cell phone/Internet Card for work?
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.
not sure about cell phone, but you can sign up for free efax messenger. sm
you can get a free efax messenger as long as you don't care what number they assign you. then you can have them fax to that number and it will come into your email inbox and you can print from there.
c-phone from cell phone
I believe if you check with your cell phone carrier they have an adapter that you can use to plug into your cell phone from the c-phone. Not sure about this but I think I had a friend tell me she had to do this but it was a year or so ago. Hope this helps.
I went to a reception like that once! It was awful! (s/m)
It was at a lovely place up on a hill. But we were having a heat wave, and it was about 104 degrees in the shade. There was a bar, but you had to PAY. But no water, juice or soft drinks were available. There never was ANY food! You could just hear all the rumbling tummies! When I finally felt I'd stayed long enough to have counted as having attended, I finally got up, announced to my table that I was making a McDonald's run, and did anyone want to go with me. I had a whole carload of hungry people, and we brought McDonald's takeout back to others at the reception. A tacky reception calls for a tacky hunger-abatement tactic! Hehe....
Wedding Reception
I was married last month. I had the reception right next to where the wedding took place. I know this isn't always possible, but I wanted it to be as easy as possible for my guests. They just walked right on over to the reception. I also booked rooms at a hotel right next to that, so they could just walk over to the wedding and then walk back to the hotel after the reception.
I alloted about 30 to 45 minutes for the pictures after the ceremony. It only took about 30 minutes....but I arranged for the caterer to have a punch fountain and servers to pass around a few little nibbles, while the guests waited for us to arrive. I cannot imagine leaving them there for a long period of time, especially with nothing to eat. The bar was also open for them (host paid for beer and wine - they had to pay for any hard liquor or mixed drinks - I thought that was fair). Anyway....it all worked out very well. I think it is very rude to keep guests waiting. It sounds like just poor planning and no thought given to the guests.
Off the subject - wedding reception -sm
So the wedding season is upon us. I went to a wedding this weekend. It was an afternoon wedding with reception "immediately following" but it turned out the reception did not start for 1-1/2 hours after the ceremony ended. I thought it was a bit rude to keep the guests waiting without even as much as a glass of water on the table and no announcement about where the bride/groom, bridal party was. The reception hall was only a few miles away. Was it just me, or was this a long time in between the wedding and the reception?
taking photos after ceremony, before reception
.
not the modem..sm
it depends on what phone number you are dialing into, how many people are also on that phone number, and the capacity of the server to handle that amount of dial up phone calls. location, location, location. been there did that. and I was not knocking earthlink. it just depends on where you are and server capacity for that area. if you want to spend 45 minutes waiting for 20 files to download, I guess that is okay. just my experience.
modem on
I also turn my modem off. Just be sure to turn it back on. I unplug my computer from the surge protector.
Modem
What type of modem do people use? I am on my third Linksys. Most of the time it works great (but not right now). Is there a better one to use? I have a cable internet connection (not wireless). Thanks!
Most likely the modem will be provided by (sm)
the phone company (at least it was for me by Verizon).
Not only that, but for those with cable modem
connections, or high-speed cable, did you know that even when our computers are shut off, hackers can hack into our cable and access our computers? We don't even know it. That is per Comcast cable themselves, confirmed by my bank, etc. So just because the computer is turned off, unless you unplug the internet cable from the back, anyone with a laptop and computer knowledge can pull in front of your house and jump onto your ISP. Happens all the time where I live. Scary stuff.
only if you have an external modem
Most modems are internal and you have to plug the phone line directly into it. If you have an external modem, it is possible but troublesome.
Verizon USB modem
I have been using a Verizon Wireless with 5GB limit as a backup internet connection the past couple months and for traveling. I have successfully worked with it without using very many MB (that's MB, not GB) at all. On evenings when I work and don't surf, my usage comes up to less than 100 MB for about 3-4 hours of work. 5 GB translates to 5120 MB. The evening that I decided to watch a Netflix video in a hotel room, I used over 500 MB, so I really wouldn't recommend trying to watch videos very often if you want to stay under your 5 GB limit. However, Medquist's DocQScribe program doesn't use much at all.
Also, when I have to use it from home because of my cable internet being down (frustrating, but it seems to happen a lot!), the whole thing works slower because I only get 1 bar of service here. From home, I can't even watch Netflix at all on Verizon because the connection speed isn't fast enough. From the hotel with full bars of service on Verizon, Netflix worked as well as it does from home when my cable connection is working properly.
Good luck! But seriously, if you're only working and doing emails on your Verizon, it should be within your usage limits without any problems!
Does anyone have wireless using a USB modem? sm
Have you ever been rejected for a job because of it? I just was. Also does anyone know if there is a difference between a card and a USB modem as far as speed? I just got rejected for a work at home hospital employee job because the supervisor was convinced my wireless would not be fast enough for their system. They use Dolby. I have the USB 727 modem from Verizon, use VPN on it and have never had a problem. Must say I'm pretty bummed. I really needed that job and the benefits.
I use my DSL modem for my router. sm
I would think it would depend on whether you have cable or DSL. I have TDS Metrocom for my phone and Internet. When I went home to work I called to find out what I needed to look for in a router. He told me my DSL is a router and all I needed was an ethernet cord. I went to Radio Shack and bought a 25 foot ethernet cord to run from the router to my new work computer. I ran the cord from the back of my DSL modem to the ethernet port on the work computer and haven't had a problem yet.
Yes. Have you looked on the back of your DSL modem to
see if it has both ethernet and USB ports? If not, you can rent or buy one that does. You should be able to hook both computers up and surf the 'Net on both at the same time without having to plug and unplug the modem. I've actually got three going on my DSL now with a networked minihub hooking up my two office computers and a longer cable out to the family computer in the living room.
I am probably going to be changing from dialup to DSL - just exactly what do I need - new modem? nm
nm
Never heard of a PC-DART modem -sm
Where I work uses PD-DART player to play the voice files, but you don't have to be on line to work. I go to a FTP, download my work, get off-line. Do my work, and upload the finished work to the FTP site. Check and see if this is what you can do; or if you misunderstood anything, as I said I never heard of a PC-DART modem.
wireless modem from Verizon
As long as you have a relatively strong cell phone signal at home, a wireless modem should work fine, speed is a bit different from DSL or cable, so you might have problems with some of your larger downloads.
Also, I found out recently that Sprint (my cell phone carrier), now offers a wireless modem/card that uses a USB port as well, so you could use it with either a desktop or a laptop.
Hope this helps.
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