andrewilley
GNU Terry Pratchett
- Joined
- Oct 17, 2007
- Messages
- 8,237
I'm from the UK, so while my mobile plan's free data allowance is ample for my phone to eat all it wants at home, in the past I've always turned all cell data off while in the USA as the roaming costs are completely ludicrous.
However now that I've got a lovely droid smartphone, I'd like to be able to use the neat real-time line wait time apps, etc. But data plans in the USA seem somewhat pricey compared to those in the UK - and anyway, I'd be limited to using slow 2G speeds due to the USA using different 3G frequencies to the UK and elsewhere (don't you guys do ANYTHING the same way as the rest of the world?
).
Anyway, I've come across this device from Virgin Mobile USA: http://www.virginmobileusa.com/mobile-broadband/peel-3200.html
It's basically a cheap portable wi-fi hotspot, designed as a case for an iPod Touch but it will actually work with any wi-fi enabled device, laptop, phone, pad, etc. In fact, you can apparently connect two wi-fi devices to it at the same time, and it gives full 3G internet access. Only about 3 hours of active usage per charge (although it does have a standby mode to help) but a little external USB battery pack should help with that if needed.
It's just $29.99 to buy the unit, and $20 for one month's usage of data up to 500MB (which should be fine for what I need for only 14 days; any downloading can wait until I'm back in the hotel room). It seems quite a cost-effective little data option to me - a lot cheaper than Virgin's or T-mobile's other mi-fi devices, but it seems to do basically the same job (if not quite as neatly). I'd just stick it at the bottom of my camera bag which I carry around anyway, and let it talk to my existing phone via wi-fi. Then it could live in my Owner's Locker until next year's trip.
Any thoughts, or any better suggestions from any of the tech gurus here?
Andre
However now that I've got a lovely droid smartphone, I'd like to be able to use the neat real-time line wait time apps, etc. But data plans in the USA seem somewhat pricey compared to those in the UK - and anyway, I'd be limited to using slow 2G speeds due to the USA using different 3G frequencies to the UK and elsewhere (don't you guys do ANYTHING the same way as the rest of the world?



Anyway, I've come across this device from Virgin Mobile USA: http://www.virginmobileusa.com/mobile-broadband/peel-3200.html
It's basically a cheap portable wi-fi hotspot, designed as a case for an iPod Touch but it will actually work with any wi-fi enabled device, laptop, phone, pad, etc. In fact, you can apparently connect two wi-fi devices to it at the same time, and it gives full 3G internet access. Only about 3 hours of active usage per charge (although it does have a standby mode to help) but a little external USB battery pack should help with that if needed.
It's just $29.99 to buy the unit, and $20 for one month's usage of data up to 500MB (which should be fine for what I need for only 14 days; any downloading can wait until I'm back in the hotel room). It seems quite a cost-effective little data option to me - a lot cheaper than Virgin's or T-mobile's other mi-fi devices, but it seems to do basically the same job (if not quite as neatly). I'd just stick it at the bottom of my camera bag which I carry around anyway, and let it talk to my existing phone via wi-fi. Then it could live in my Owner's Locker until next year's trip.
Any thoughts, or any better suggestions from any of the tech gurus here?
Andre