Aircards and Other cards for Internet use on the road?

[Michael Carlson]

I was wondering about Aircards and other forms of internet for a laptop. My dad uses is phone as a modem but it doesn't cut it when staying connected, always loses connection and I have heard that Aircards and other internet cards are the way to go! Just wanted some opinions from all of you about cards and which serves works best for the plains.

 

[John Diel]

Michael,

I'm using an older Sierra 775 PC Card with an external antenna. It's not lightning fast, but faster than dial up. I have used a Sierra 860 PC Card and it's a little better, but not enough to justify the extra expense at the time.

Now, this is a seperate phone number for the card. Basically like having two accounts. My service is AT&T/Cingular and I run the unlimited account.

A couple of weeks ago, I did run into an area that I couldn't get service in the Glass Mountains near Fairview, OK. I had great cell phone connection, just no data. Drive a couple of miles in either direction on US 412 and I got the data back. Go figure.

 

[Gordon Spencer]

EVDO is the way to go . All 3 EVDO providers now have plans at $60 per month . Your choices ar Alltel , Sprint and Verizon . Try to get a EVDO Rev. A card no matter who you choose. Alltel would be my first choice if it was available here.I have had Verizon for 3 years and I am very happy with them Just make sure you get one of the New EVDO Rev. A cards. It all depends on what is available in your area

I was wondering about Aircards and other forms of internet for a laptop. My dad uses is phone as a modem but it doesn't cut it when staying connected, always loses connection and I have heard that Aircards and other internet cards are the way to go! Just wanted some opinions from all of you about cards and which serves works best for the plains.

 

[David Wolfson]

There're several ongoing threads about this. If you're just considering it you definitely want to look at Rev. A cards, and make sure the card has drivers for your OS.

An aircard is basically a special kind of cell phone. It has it's own phone number and is mated to your carrier's system the same way, thus you must pick an aircard your carrier supports. AutoNet Mobile http://www.autonetmobile.com/wp/ is fixing to roll out what seems to be a multi-carrier solution combined with a wi-fi hotspot. A few Stormtrackers have taken test units in the field in this thread http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/showthread.php?t=12220

Personally I have Verizon as my carrier and added mobile broadband in April using their recommended PC5750 card, which is actually made by Audiovox. I used it on the road last month plugged into a Linksys [SIZE=-1]WRT54G3G-ST wifi router and with the same Wilson magmount antenna as I use for the cell phone.

I kept an internet radio stream going to test connectivity and keep it live. Coverage is way more than the Verizon map shows in the areas I traveled, such as western NE, SD, KS, and the TX Panhandle. CO rocked, except in the Commanche Grasslands, as noted by someone else. All in all I was very pleased with the service (but not with my chase success ).

From what I saw, I think an amplifier would be a worthwhile addition for better service, such as discussed in [/SIZE]http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/showthread.php?t=10276.

The wifi router allows cable-free multiple connections over several hundred feet and has worked flawlessly so far. The site http://3gstore.com/ has excellent resources and info links, but the above Gordon Spencer's site http://www.maximumsignal.net is also worth a visit and is of course a friend to Stormtrack.

 

[Michael Carlson]

Thanks guys for all the advice! It helped a lot to see what you guys used for your laptops. I know I will deffinetly go with MaximumSignal for my booster set up and now i will look into the cards. Thanks again!!!

 

[Mark Blue]

Micheal,

I use the Sprint EVDO Rev A service and a Novatel / Merlin EX720 card, which is for the Expresscard slot in the newer laptops. Merlin also makes a model called the S720 that is for the older cardbus slot, but in any event that still seems to be widely available. If your laptop has both slots then you can use either card. I am somewhat dissatisfied with the 34 mm Expresscard format as the actual data card is narrower than the card slot in the laptop, which lends itself to the card getting bumped and connections being dropped when in close quarters in the car. If I could do it all over again I'd get the older cardbus slot format, or the Merlin S720 since the card is the same width as the cardbus slot (if that makes sense). I also use the hardwired amplifier that Gordon Spencer sells, which makes a big difference in being able to maintain a connection in remote areas. If you can swing the extra money, get the wireless amplifier model though. (as I wish I would have in hindsight now).

Mark

 

[Michael Carlson]

Why the wireless amp and not one of the other packages? I understand about the slot for the card I looked at some of the photos and saw that there were smaller widths to the cards and I think I will need a fatter one.

 

[David Wolfson]

The advantage of a separate wireless amp IMO is that you can use it either with your digital cell phone or with an aircard, whether the phone or aircard is tethered direct to a computer or multi-ported through a wi-fi router, etc. So long as the aircard has an external antenna connection adapted for the wireless amp, it should work with most any card, big or small, fat or thin.

 

[Gordon Spencer]

direct connection will always give you your best amplification . The new wireless units will handle multiple phones or devices. That is the simple breakdown in devices

Micheal,

I use the Sprint EVDO Rev A service and a Novatel / Merlin EX720 card, which is for the Expresscard slot in the newer laptops. Merlin also makes a model called the S720 that is for the older cardbus slot, but in any event that still seems to be widely available. If your laptop has both slots then you can use either card. I am somewhat dissatisfied with the 34 mm Expresscard format as the actual data card is narrower than the card slot in the laptop, which lends itself to the card getting bumped and connections being dropped when in close quarters in the car. If I could do it all over again I'd get the older cardbus slot format, or the Merlin S720 since the card is the same width as the cardbus slot (if that makes sense). I also use the hardwired amplifier that Gordon Spencer sells, which makes a big difference in being able to maintain a connection in remote areas. If you can swing the extra money, get the wireless amplifier model though. (as I wish I would have in hindsight now).

Mark

 

[Mark Blue]

Thanks guys for all the advice! It helped a lot to see what you guys used for your laptops. I know I will deffinetly go with MaximumSignal for my booster set up and now i will look into the cards. Thanks again!!!

Maybe I have a case of always wanting the one I didn't buy, or the grass is greener on the other side, but for me it's just one less cable to connect with the wireless unit. Having cables runnning all over lends itself to a "rats nest" in the cabin of your vehicle. According to Gordon's comment you get the best amplification with the hard wired model, so that's a plus in and of itself. I haven't actually tried the wireless model, so maybe I would prefer what I have if I actually did give it a whirl???!!

Another option for multiple connections off of one data card is one of the 3G routers that Linksys and D-Link sells as part of their lineup.

Linksys
http://www.linksys.com/servlet/Sate...nksys/Common/VisitorWrapper&lid=9873239789B01

D-Link
http://www.dlink.com/products/?sec=0&pid=524

A company called Top Global also has a mobile hotspot solution that looks pretty sweet to me. There are some threads regarding that model that Jay McCoy started last April if you're interested. I think Gordon sells those on his website as well.

Mark

 

[Stephen Reynolds]

AirCard Antenna Improvements

For those of you who aleady have Air Cards and want to improve their operation, an external antenna may help. Almost every aircard has a little rubber cover on the side or bottom. This covers up the External antenna connection which is really small. The folks over at Wilson Antennas have many models and adapters which will improve both fixed and mobile applications. I use one with my aircard with the antenna stuck on the inside of the windshield using the two suction cups. Web site: www.wpsantennas.com
Good Luck
Steve

 

[Gordon Spencer]

Most of the members here are quite happy with our products ( antennas and amplifiers) and especially our prices. Wilson makes a good product we have a great product , LOL. One of members here even detailed a head head comparison where our amplifier proved superior

For those of you who aleady have Air Cards and want to improve their operation, an external antenna may help. Almost every aircard has a little rubber cover on the side or bottom. This covers up the External antenna connection which is really small. The folks over at Wilson Antennas have many models and adapters which will improve both fixed and mobile applications. I use one with my aircard with the antenna stuck on the inside of the windshield using the two suction cups. Web site: www.wpsantennas.com
Good Luck
Steve

 

[John Erwin]

Most of the members here are quite happy with our products ( antennas and amplifiers) and especially our prices.

Hey Gordon, I'm sure a few members would be pleased to see you sponsor a banner ad on this site; while some of us are aware of your products this would give you greater exposure.

Cheers.

 

[Gordon Spencer]

A little pricey at this time for me , I have made donations to the site and as sales warrant to members here will definatley be making more.

Hey Gordon, I'm sure a few members would be pleased to see you sponsor a banner ad on this site; while some of us are aware of your products this would give you greater exposure.

Cheers.

 

[Blake Michaleski]

I run the EDGE/GPRS Sony Ericcson card from AT&T... not as fast obviously as EVDO as discussed in other threads but is a good choice for those living in teh Southeast and use the internet while mobile often.

I can say tha tthey stay connected very well. I drove from Baton Rouge, LA to New Braunfels, TX (about 8hrs) and maintained a solid connection the whole time. Granted I was on Interstate nearly the whole way, but it handled jumping from tower to tower no problem.

No matter what card you choose, make sure it has provisions for an external antenna. I dont know if any of the EVDO cards are like this or not but one of the best features about the sony GC83 card i have is it fits entirely inside the cardbus slot. the only thing sticking out is the little factory supplied antenna which unplugs and an external pigtail adapter put in place. This means the card never leaves my computer and isnt subject to breakage like some of the other cards are.