I use Sprint & have it through a router sm

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.

• Wireless USB data cards routers, and multiple computers - and multiple computers
  • I use a Belkin wireless router - jlo
    • I use dial-up- no cable or DSL here. - mtathome
  • I use Sprint & have it through a router sm - FlaMT
    • air card usage - momofjets
      • I also have external antenna & amp sm - FlaMT
  • air cards - momofjets

The messages you are viewing are archived/old.
To view latest messages and participate in discussions, select the boards given in left menu

"air" cards that allow you to go wireless provided you are in their service area.   The service is about $50/mo I think and then you have to buy the card.  I think the card is about $200, but they have deals sometimes where if you commit to 1 or 2 years that you get the card for free.   You can probably go to the websites of both companies to check to see if you have service in your area.  

We also have a service in my area called Clearwire.  They have a modem that you plug into an outlet and you can take it and plug it in and get service anywhere within range.  They have different levels of service, similar to DSL, where the faster the download the more the $$.  I think the cheapest package is $25/mo.   They may have the same service under a different name in other areas. 

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!

a map on their website showing coverage area.  I haven't used a broadband card yet.   I know someone who used a Verizon air card and they said they were able to get service everywhere they went.  They were on the west coast, where it seems more reasonable that there would be a wider range of service.   You can check Verizon's website for coverage area too.  Another option may be for you to get dial-up at your mother's house.   You can get People PC for $10.95/month, but I don't know if they require a contract.   If none of the big ISPs have a local number you can get service through a small local provider and they usually do not require a contract.  I have traveled extensively and have spent several weeks in some places where dial-up was the only available option at the time and even though I had an ISP they did not have local service.  

Another option is to try the free trials with various ISPs if they have service in your mom's area.   There is no charge is you cancel before trial period is up. 

K(eyboard)V(ideo)M(ouse) switch lets you share those three devices across 2 (or more) PCs, using a hotkey or a button on the KVM to toggle which one is active.  Best Buy* has them for $35 or so.

You need a router to share the DSL connection.  There are options for hardwired only or hardwired with wireless -- so if you want to have your primary work machines connected with an ethernet cable, but also have the ability to have your (your kids, your guests, etc.) laptops connect to the internet using wireless.

Again, Best Buy has routers -- price depends on options per above, also have tech support to help you configure for your DSL provider.

*Not endorsing Best Buy specifically;  any local computer store or national electronics chain should be able to provide.  You could probably shout out "Anybody here a hardcore gamer?" in a local mall and get help configuring the router from the first teenager who replies....

I need to get a new router (not wireless).  Does anyone know of a good one?  I don't want to spend any more than I need to but would rather spend a bit more if it makes a big difference in the quality.

Thanks! 

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.

Does anyone use 2 different computers for two different jobs and have a router to connect both to cable internet?  What do I need to get and is it easy to hook up?  Brands?  Computers are right next to each other if that matters.  Thanks for any and all help.

We have a Netgear wireless router.  I hook my computer directly to the router but we have two computers upstairs on the wireless plus my husband has a laptop.  It worked fine for a while but then kept losing the signal.  We tried lots of fixes.  Finally I went to Best Buy and purchased these plug in signal boosters,  It plugs into an outlet on the wall and then into the computer.  You plug one in by the router, and into the router, the other one goes upstairs plugged into an outlet and into my son's computer and my other son is still on the wireless but has not had a problem since the booster is making the signal stronger.  It works great and there is no more of the maybe it will work, maybe it won't that seems to happen with wireless.  I love it.  Came two in a box for like 80.00.

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.

i set up a router on my main computer to my son's computer.  i then set up the e-mail account on his to match the ones on mine.  now, my son's computer is getting all the e-mails and mine gets none.  How can i set it up so both computers get all the e-mails.

thanks

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.