Does anyone use laptop & cell phone/Internet Card for work?
Posted By: At Home MT on 2006-06-03
In Reply to:
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.
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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
Anyone use a PC Card for their Internet/MT work?
I am bringing my question to the top from my response to someone's post below.
I 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
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.
Thanks! It sounds like an air card can also work between desktop and laptop
Thanks so much for all this info...It sounds like you can get air cards that plug into USB ports that you can interchange between your desktop computer and your laptop for on-the-go or if there were a power outage. Am pretty low tech but seriously considering this. A lot would depend on the dependability of the signal from my home. If it were steady, I would consider cutting (ha ha) the cable internet which is 48$ plus taxes and just have the broadband (60$ ?) which I could use with my desktop computer or take with me using a laptop and also could use with a laptop in case of power outage. hmmmmmm
All things being equal, do you prefer to work with a C-phone or use WAV files over the internet? sm
What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of each. I have only ever used a c-phone but think I may bet getting ready to use WAV files and foot pedal for an account and am a little anxious! TIA
They do have wireless with laptop through cell phones now
I have it but it is slow too. Probably as slow as satellite. It is supposed to be DSL speed, but I dont think it is. I have never had DSL to know for sure. It is faster than dial up but it is slower than cable. I am able to work, but you can forget about fast downloads. Small jobs are fine. The only thing that takes so long is the actual sending/receiving dictation.
They do have wireless with laptop through cell phones now
I have it but it is slow too. Probably as slow as satellite. It is supposed to be DSL speed, but I dont think it is. I have never had DSL to know for sure. It is faster than dial up but it is slower than cable. I am able to work, but you can forget about fast downloads. Small jobs are fine. The only thing that takes so long is the actual sending/receiving dictation.
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
Cell phone & modem reception can be very different sm
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.
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?
.
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.
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.
verizon has broadband internet card
for laptops.. it is about 15 dollars/wk but you can write it off.. i do lots of stuff in the car and verizon works everywhere..
Okay, I guess I'm wondering about a cellular modem card for my laptop. SM
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.
A laptop, wireless router or a card from say Sprint, good battery
you could work anywhere. Being wireless has great benefits, say if you are in the hospital, dying, why you could make a few bucks to pay for the funeral.
You need an air card to connect to the Internet. Once you're connected, you can do what you norma
do. I have Sprint PCS and like their service. There are different plans you can choose from. Some give you the air card if you sign up for their better plans. Hope this helps.
I renew my subscription to Norton each year it is due by credit card through them on the internet.
If I change computers how do I get that back into the new computer as I dont have a disc or anything I just do it over the internet. I have the original disc that I purchase 2 years ago but have since upgraded over the internet as I said.
As long as they have decent internet service there, you should be fine and if you use your laptop no
my laptop because it uses a 9-pin foot pedal and I havent been able to get an adapter that works. Obviously, most all laptops these days have the USB on them. What I have had to do is bubble wrap my computer (I have a small desktop and flat screen) put it in the suitcase and off I go. Also, doublecheck on your time change. I take mine to Hawaii and have to remember there is a 4-hour difference so you'd have to factor that in if someone needed you to do something a certain time. Just check on your internet service before you go etc.. I travel all over with my computer. I cant afford to miss work. Best of both worlds..vacation and work..Nothing is nicer than sitting out on the lanai in Hawaii with that gorgeous view i.e. sunset and working away. I mean I could be home staring at the four walls..boring...
Working on laptop using a C-phone?
 Considering taking a position where I'll have to use a C-phone. I travel and work on my laptop frequently. Does anyone know if this is possible while using a C-phone? Sorry, may be a dumb question but I'm not that computer savvy.
How about gift certificates to her favorite restaurant? ATT long-distance phone card so she can cal
My siblings and hubby and his siblings started doing this a few years ago and they were a big hit. We also used to buy my grandparents gift certificates to the local grocery store and they would use them to buy treats form themselves, things they wouldn't ordinarily buy for themselves. Hope this helps.
Another option - tether laptop to phone
Instead of having an air card, I chose to have the internet put on my phone. Then when I want to work, I use a USB data cable and plug it into the computer (tethering).
My work use is also occasional, and this allows me the flexibility of using the internet at other times on my phone (mapquest when traveling, checking email, etc.). It is the same 60 a month for the 5 gb.
Not all phones will tether; their websites advises which models do.
Good luck!
Broadband/Internet Phone - sm
Hi - I've been using USA DATANET (it's available in my area) without any problems on a Lanier and DVI (Like C-Phone). Mine is $24.95/mo for unlimited long distance. I can turn my Internet modem off at night, and therefore, can't use the phone if that is off. Otherise, no problems. Hope this helps.
It's just a phone. Not internet anything. Real SM
easy once you learn how to use it. It doesn't have anything to do with the internet, you could type the work on a typewriter or write it -- it's just a way to hear the dictation.
Is anyone using the new internet phone service through
your local cable company or Vonage or something like that. How do you like it? Any troubles we should be aware of? Thanks for any info.
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