Internet Router for Vehicles?

[LSUmom4kids]

Just curious if there are any internet routers available for vehicles? We will be driving to Orlando and we have two laptops. Rather then signing up for a laptop connect card and a 2 yr. commitment, perhaps they have routers for vehicles? But maybe the cost is too high....

Anyone know anything about this.....

 

[chartle]

They make them but you still have to sign up for some kind of cellular data service which may or may not require a 2 yr plan. Basically you take that laptop connect card and plug it into a router which lets you share the connection.

Virgin mobile has pay as you go Laptop cards. http://www.virginmobileusa.com/mobile-broadband

Also there are devices like MiFi's which also have connect charges and plans.

Some phones like Droids, Blackberries and iphones have tethering and hot spot capabilities.

 

[doggydoc]

chartle is correct. Without some sort of cellular connection you won't be able to have internet while traveling, most cellular internet service requires a contract. I use a MiFi from verizon, allows connection of up to 4 devices wirelessly and works great even while traveling.

 

[LSUmom4kids]

The Novatel MiFi 2200 is a great device. It collects 3G signal from Virgin Mobile USA's network (a.k.a., Sprint), and creates a Wi-Fi hotspot that can be accessed by up to five other devices. It doesn't offer the sprightly WiMax-powered experience that the Sprint Overdrive does, but it trades raw speed for better budgetary options.
The device sells for $150 and can be used with Virgin's pre-paid Broadband2Go Web service. Users aren't charged activation fees. Data can be added to the Broadband2Go Top-Up cards for the low price of just $10. The plans are the same as Virgin Mobile's other pre-paid data plans.
The lowest plan costs $10, and that buys 100MB of data, which expires in 10 days. Virgin Mobile says 100MB is good for about five hours of Web browsing. For $20, users will get 300MB, which is good for 15 hours of browsing. The 300MB also expires in 30 days. For $40, step it up to 1GB, and $60 buys 5GB -- each expiring after 30 days. So if you pay $40 for 1GB and only use 500MB, you lose access to that unused 500MB. For reference, Virgin Mobile says that 5B of data allows for a whopping 250 hours of browsing time. That's way beyond a 40-hour work week for an entire month.

 

[bicker]

Note that accessing any video content, assuming that such connections are even possible, would blow those numbers out of the water. Video is generally measured in GB, not MB.

I have to look into this device LSUmom mentioned... sounds very interesting.

 

[Tara]

Verizon also offers a pay-as-you-go mobile broadband "card." (It's a USB, not a card.)

Here's the article LSUMom4kids was quoting:

http://www.informationweek.com/news...html?articleID=225701812&cid=RSSfeed_IWK_News

(I am currently online in the UK using a Vodaphone PAYG mobile broadband USB (aka "dongle"). It's awesome. And it's so cheap compared to the rates many hotels charge for internet!

 

[Brian Noble]

I use Virgin Mobile's pay-as-you-go stick. The MiFi device looks like a worthwhile upgrade. 5GB is probably okay for a trip as long as you aren't streaming video. If you are streaming video, you need something that is unlimited (and very few cellular carriers offer that---most cap at or charge after 5GB or so.)