PC Data Cards - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Postalpair · RV-Dreams Family Member

PC Data Cards

emeacham · RV-Dreams Family Member

PostalPair, I use a data card from Verizon, but no router - yet. I'm interested in getting one too so I'll be watching for responses here. I've talked to Verizon employees and they tell me I can't do this, but I don't believe them as I've read about people setting up a wireless network in their rig using these types of cards and special routers. I talked to a rep at 3GStore.com and he rattled off the type of router that I should consider. It's going to be about $250.

I paid $50 for my card. My monthly bill for unlimited hours online is $59.99. I get decent connection in most places, even on the road while in motion. I'm pretty happy with it, just want to be able to set up the network.

So, I hope to learn as well.

Happy Travels smile

Ellie

Racerguy · RV-Dreams Family Member

If you could round up a June 2007 copy of Trailer Life Magazine there is an article that is very interesting.It involves using a Smoothtalker antenna and booster and a Kyocera KR 1 Mobile Router and A Kyocera KPC 650 PC card with exterior antenna port. This all ties into Verizon some how.( I'm somewhat pc technology deficient). Hopefully some of our best and brightest on this site can explain all this in laymens terms.

Darrell and Judy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hi guys and gals,

We just purchased the Kyrocera KR-1 with a Wilson 3 Watt amplifier and a booster antenna using the Sprint Merlin 720S air card and it's great to have on line capability 24/7. For some in debt information go to http://www.seeya-downtheroad.com and select Norm's article about the internet while on the road, our setup is identical to his. There are drawbacks; for instance, if you can't get cell phone coverage, then you won't be able to get online. But we are generally in areas where that is not an issue. Also, there are things to consider when deciding which air card to purchase - ATT, Sprint, Verizon. Right now ATT does not have anything worth purchasing leaving Sprint and Verizon which have good coverages but Verizon has limits on downloads. Further Verizon charges $70 per month if you do not have their cell phone plan. That left us with Sprint at $60 per month.

There is an earlier thread on this forum that had a lot of discussion about various methods of recieving the internet while on the road. It's under "technology on the road".

I purchased my system from 3GStore. Hope this is a little helpful as I am not all that savy when it comes to computer technology.

Darrell

Postalpair · RV-Dreams Family Member

AWESOME!!!! I knew I came to the right place to get the information that I needed!!! We currently have Alltel and are thinking about upgrading our phones and getting the data cards. The gentleman in the Alltel store was telling us to get the router someplace else, as Alltel sells their router for $250 and he got his at Best Buy for $175. As far as Alltel's air cards, they started at $59 and went up to $150. Their monthly unlimited use was $49.99.
Does anyone out there have Alltel?? Have heard nothing but great things about Sprint and Verizon.....
I am going to go online and see if I can find that article in Trailer Life and see if I can create a link to it. If so, I will post with more info.

Thanks again everyone!!! biggrin

mrscrj · RV-Dreams Community Member

A couple of quick questions about the Data cards and service. First is about monthly fees with Verizon & Alltell. Do I understand it correctly the monthly fee of $49.99 is unlimited service with Alltell and Verizon runs $59? Are these the fees if you do not have cell phone service with them?

Secondly, my laptop doesn't have a place to place an aircard, does anyone know of any other method to use one if there is no port?

Thanks, mrscrj

D and J · RV-Dreams Family Member

Becarful about "unlimited use" There is a limit to how much data you download. Verizon's limit is 5gig a month, but there is no limit to how much time I am connected. There is a post somewhere in evdo forums that shows "how much" 5 gig equals.

Also there are now some "cards" that plug into a USB port instead of a PCIM slot.

We (wife and I) average about 1 gig a month with "normal" use.

If you want to watch youtube video's or download music or movies, you will use up 5 gig pretty quickly. Verizon's software manager shows you how much you have been using, I assume Sprint software shows you too.

I found ATT's broadband coverage to be too limited for our use (a lot of Iphone folks are complaining about this too)

Hope this helps! Doug

Edit- this post made from my Verizon air card!

-- Edited by D and J at 10:05, 2007-09-09

-- Edited by D and J at 10:05, 2007-09-09

Judy · RV-Dreams Family Member

Only use the Verizon air card here and have had no problems using it wherever we are.
southwestjudy & Bob & 2blackdogs

mrscrj · RV-Dreams Community Member

Thanks for the information Doug. Right now we're at home and using DSL from Embarg. It's our only option at this time for our land line telephone/DSL but between the regular phone bill and the internet, our monthly bill runs about $85 and that's without long distance calls since we use calling cards. We also use a router in our house for each of our PCs and a laptop for work. Since we're hoping to start traveling frequently, I wonder if it's possible to use a PC data card at home and change to Vontage for our phone since the combination wouldn't be much more expensive and give us connections with internet and phone while we're traveling.

Only thing I'm not sure about is when we're home, there a way to plug in the PC card and then go to the router for the other PC/laptop. Think this is possible?

thanks, carol

Tylersamma · RV-Dreams Family Member

As for not having a card slot, I just purchased an air card from AT&T that connects into a USB port. The salesman told me it works better, but we shall see.