• After witnessing the continued decrease of involvement in the SpotterNetwork staff in serving SN members with troubleshooting issues recently, I have unilaterally decided to terminate the relationship between SpotterNetwork's support and Stormtrack. I have witnessed multiple users unable to receive support weeks after initiating help threads on the forum. I find this lack of response from SpotterNetwork officials disappointing and a failure to hold up their end of the agreement that was made years ago, before I took over management of this site. In my opinion, having Stormtrack users sit and wait for so long to receive help on SpotterNetwork issues on the Stormtrack forums reflects poorly not only on SpotterNetwork, but on Stormtrack and (by association) me as well. Since the issue has not been satisfactorily addressed, I no longer wish for the Stormtrack forum to be associated with SpotterNetwork.

    I apologize to those who continue to have issues with the service and continue to see their issues left unaddressed. Please understand that the connection between ST and SN was put in place long before I had any say over it. But now that I am the "captain of this ship," it is within my right (nay, duty) to make adjustments as I see necessary. Ending this relationship is such an adjustment.

    For those who continue to need help, I recommend navigating a web browswer to SpotterNetwork's About page, and seeking the individuals listed on that page for all further inquiries about SpotterNetwork.

    From this moment forward, the SpotterNetwork sub-forum has been hidden/deleted and there will be no assurance that any SpotterNetwork issues brought up in any of Stormtrack's other sub-forums will be addressed. Do not rely on Stormtrack for help with SpotterNetwork issues.

    Sincerely, Jeff D.

Mobile Internet

Joined
Feb 21, 2011
Messages
52
Location
Austin
Well I learned one thing from the chase yesterday in North Texas....T-Mobile's mobile internet service is anything but mobile. It SUCKS!!!


Next time, aircard it is....no more of this tethering the cell phone to the computer, the service was slow and the damn USB cable broke and would not connect to the phone after a couple of hours...what crap!

Anyway, all in all it was a successful chase and realized future needs for the next time.
 
Get a Verizon card and order an amplifier from Gordon Spencer. When I chased Saturday, I never once lost a connection in western Oklahoma. The amplifier makes a significant difference!

EDIT: I just looked at Jim's post above mine, and we pretty much agree! You can't go wrong with this setup.
 
I'm too cheap for an aircard, but I do use my Sprint Touch Pro 2 as a wifi hotspot. Usually works pretty good, at least until I get a call. ;-) It would be great to have an aircard for a consistant connection, but for as much as I am able to chase, it just wouldn't be practical.
 
I have a Verizon USB760 card but I also found out quickly I'm going to have to find a way to boost my signal, especially since there is none in NW OK. Is an amplifier a necessity or are there any antennas (read: less costly methods) that would do the trick?
 
How did you break the USB cable??

I tether to my phone (EVO 4G) via wifi with no problems; connectivity (phone-computer) or signal/speed. But then again, I'm in WI, we really don't have expansive dead-zones like areas of the plains.
 
I have a Verizon USB760 card but I also found out quickly I'm going to have to find a way to boost my signal, especially since there is none in NW OK. Is an amplifier a necessity or are there any antennas (read: less costly methods) that would do the trick?

I have the Verizon fivespot datacard. An antenna will help, but an amplifier is definitely a necessity if you want the most reliable signal possible. I procrastinated on getting an amp for a year or two, but now I regret it. If you depend/want the best signal possible with a data card, get an amplifier!
 
How did you break the USB cable??

I tether to my phone (EVO 4G) via wifi with no problems; connectivity (phone-computer) or signal/speed. But then again, I'm in WI, we really don't have expansive dead-zones like areas of the plains.

I think it might have been an older cable that he just grabbed, and with moving it around and stuff in the cab, it was intermittent, then finally gave up the ghost...
 
Depends on which amplifier , Direct connect or wireless. Cheapest route is a direct connect which work great with air cards . If you are looking to amplify multiple devices and or a mifi type device you need to go with a more expensive wireless amplifier system.

thanks for all the feedback on air card and amp, thinking that will be the ticket. how much is the amp?
 
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I have a Verizon USB760 card but I also found out quickly I'm going to have to find a way to boost my signal, especially since there is none in NW OK. Is an amplifier a necessity or are there any antennas (read: less costly methods) that would do the trick?
I have a Sprint Sierra Wireless 598u card and last year I ran it with just and extermal antenna and the results were OK, better than just having the card sticking out of the laptop. This year I added a Peak Reception "Rockies" Extreme Dual Band Amplifier from Gordon and a 9db mag mount antenna and my signal goes through the roof as soon as the power is switched on!!!!
 
I have a Sprint Sierra Wireless 598u card and last year I ran it with just and extermal antenna and the results were OK, better than just having the card sticking out of the laptop. This year I added a Peak Reception "Rockies" Extreme Dual Band Amplifier from Gordon and a 9db mag mount antenna and my signal goes through the roof as soon as the power is switched on!!!!

Thanks for the replies guys I know which way I need to go now. Thanks also to Steven for the timely thread, I spent a good portion of yesterday afternoon researching and was worried that I might spend a decent amount of money on something that wouldn't help.
 
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