Verizon Wireless for Laptops

[fkj2]

Has anyone used Verizon for wireless internet and what is your opinion?

Thanks.

 

[RussN]

Has anyone used Verizon for wireless internet and what is your opinion?

Thanks.

Your talking about the EVDO Verizon modem, correct? If so, it's great. I've used Verizon's EVDO, Sprint's EVDO and AT&T UMTS cards. Verizon and Sprint are about "tied" in my opinion. I wouldn't recommend the AT&T 3G network at all.

 

[Rpsemont]

We use it and we love it.
Of course, when I first got it a year ago, there was no DSL, or cable available. The only other choice besides dial up was Satellite and that was more expensive. I pay $60/month ( I think) and it has worked great for us. we're in a location at home with only 2 bars (service reception)
The big plus, is using it for roadtrips. Times, when we have driven the 3 hours to NH, I have been able to be on line the wholetime. Airports, other business trips, hotels, especially in urban areas, it's great - an secure (not like some wifi) and fast.
DSL has JUSt been offered in our location - for $20-$40 month, depending on the speed. I have another year on my Verizon Contract. While I really enjoy the ability to use it while I travel, for $40 month, I might forego. Hopefully though, maybe they'll lower the price by then.
If you're going to try it out, I suggest beginning when you have a trip planned or any other travel that you regularly do. The first month I had, I went to NH, FL, Boston and stayed home. When it worked great everwhere, I kept it. I think you have 30 days to cancel.

good luck

 

[RussN]

One additional caution, with all the providers now they have a 5 GB "cap" on their EVDO modem service. This cap goes by very quickly if your not watching it and the overage charge can be quite expensive...

Just a word of warning...

 

[sherry7]

........DSL has JUSt been offered in our location - for $20-$40 month, depending on the speed. I have another year on my Verizon Contract. While I really enjoy the ability to use it while I travel, for $40 month, I might forego. Hopefully though, maybe they'll lower the price by then.......

Just a FYI...call your Verizon office to inquire about the price of DSL, for the most up-to-date pricing and promos. In many regions, they're giving 6 months for free when you sign a contract. Just a month or two ago, it was on special for $9.99 (or $10.99?) a month for the lower speed DSL. The promos change all of the time, and vary depending on region. (Disclaimer: I work for Verizon. )

 

[Vickmeys]

We use it and we love it.
Of course, when I first got it a year ago, there was no DSL, or cable available. The only other choice besides dial up was Satellite and that was more expensive. I pay $60/month ( I think) and it has worked great for us. we're in a location at home with only 2 bars (service reception)
The big plus, is using it for roadtrips. Times, when we have driven the 3 hours to NH, I have been able to be on line the wholetime. Airports, other business trips, hotels, especially in urban areas, it's great - an secure (not like some wifi) and fast.
DSL has JUSt been offered in our location - for $20-$40 month, depending on the speed. I have another year on my Verizon Contract. While I really enjoy the ability to use it while I travel, for $40 month, I might forego. Hopefully though, maybe they'll lower the price by then.
If you're going to try it out, I suggest beginning when you have a trip planned or any other travel that you regularly do. The first month I had, I went to NH, FL, Boston and stayed home. When it worked great everwhere, I kept it. I think you have 30 days to cancel.

good luck

Is your plan unlimited internet usage? Do you have a regular cell phone plan included? If so, how many "anytime" minutes do you have?

I have been wondering how this works . . .

 

[pixeegrl]

One additional caution, with all the providers now they have a 5 GB "cap" on their EVDO modem service. This cap goes by very quickly if your not watching it and the overage charge can be quite expensive...

Just a word of warning...

We have it from Verizon and never had an overcharge....and with 3 computers in the house we have gone way over 5GB a month. We love it, especially since it beats dial-up any day!

 

[mesnowwhite]

I have DSL at home, but have the Verizon Modum as a USB device that plugs into my laptop and I can take it anywhere. The cost is added to my cell phone bill. I can use it on my laptop when I'm at work or traveling. I initially got it to use at work, b/c we can't use the work computers for anything personal but found that its been good to have when I'm waiting on picking up the kids from after-school lessons or whatever. I've never gone even close to the 5GB cap, and there is a way to check your usage as you go each month to make sure you don't go over the cap.

 

[fkj2]

I actually have a conference planned for January so I might wait until end of December/beginning of January if I have a 30-day test drive period.

Somebody had recommended ATT but my current cell phone contract is with Alltel, which Verizon is supposed to be buying, completing the deal within the next month or so.

I too am hoping for a better deal than $60 a month.

Thanks for everyone's input.

 

[newsliner1]

anyone know if this would this work in the disney hotels? or would you have to pay the $10 a day fee for internet.
thanks
kim

 

[fkj2]

anyone know if this would this work in the disney hotels? or would you have to pay the $10 a day fee for internet.
thanks
kim

It's wireless...you wouldn't physically be connecting to anything. I'm not even sure Disney still charges for internet connection.

 

[Charleyann]

anyone know if this would this work in the disney hotels? or would you have to pay the $10 a day fee for internet.
thanks
kim

I'd love to know. Would be worth purchasing for a month!

Charleyann

 

[newsliner1]

I know that disney does not have wi fi only high speed with a cable. would this work or do you need the wi fi??

 

[pixeegrl]

Any where you get a good cell phone signal this will work. It doesn't matter if the hotel has wi-fi or not.

 

[prncess674]

I'd love to know. Would be worth purchasing for a month!

Charleyann

You would need to buy the equipment and most company's require a 1 year contract. It is like having a second cell phone plan.

I have the ATT 3G card and a coworker has a Verizon card and we have compared service while at the same sights and see no significant difference in service. I went with AT&T since I had my blackberry and cell phone plan already through them and it makes for one easy bill.

To learn more about the service and equipment:
http://www.wireless.att.com/cell-phone-service/cell-phones/pc-cards.jsp
AT&T 3g Coverage map
http://www.wireless.att.com/coverageviewer/popUp_3g.jsp

 

[RussN]

You could always rent a modem for a month to try it out before purchasing... Just a thought.

www.rovair.com

 

[mountdew1]

One additional caution, with all the providers now they have a 5 GB "cap" on their EVDO modem service. This cap goes by very quickly if your not watching it and the overage charge can be quite expensive...

Just a word of warning...

I second this. The current rates for going over are astronomical. AT&T works out to about $480 per GB of overage.

We have it from Verizon and never had an overcharge....and with 3 computers in the house we have gone way over 5GB a month. We love it, especially since it beats dial-up any day!

Two different things here. You have DSL. That is provided by Verizon the landline company. The wireless the OP is asking about is through their EVDO aircard and is provided by Verizon Wireless.

anyone know if this would this work in the disney hotels? or would you have to pay the $10 a day fee for internet.
thanks
kim

It's wireless...you wouldn't physically be connecting to anything. I'm not even sure Disney still charges for internet connection.

Its wireless, but not in the same sense that WiFi is. It is wireless in that it will connect to the internet anywhere you have a cell signal. Some places will be much faster than others depending on the network.
Disney has nothing to do with it since it goes directly to your cell provider.

 

[ginna74]

I go through verizon for my internet and love it dearly and it is about 50 dollars a month

 

[Imzadi]

Any where you get a good cell phone signal this will work. It doesn't matter if the hotel has wi-fi or not.

Can someone explain more how this works? Type slowly, as I'm going to have to read it slowly.

I just gave up my Verizon landline phone and am about to be switched over to a "dry loop" DSL service (phone disconnected but service still coming through the wire to router/modem) with a one year contract.

My laptop seems to have some type of wireless internal card installed. It will simply search for any service, but is programed to connect to my modem/router frequency (or whatever it's called.) When my modem is turned off, or the signal gets dropped, my laptop will try to connect to ANY signal it can find. I see a whole list of places. Often it hooks up to the hotels nearby. (They would require a payment & a password to use their Internet, so the connection never really goes all the way through.) I've never gone to a Starbucks to see what would happen there.

How is having Verizon wireless different? I know it won't be coming through my router/modem. Would that EVDo card that connects to the USB be the modem instead? And instead of it simply coming through my phone line, it comes though anywhere?

Should I cancel this "dry loop" service & go for the wireless? It sounds like it may be only a few dollars more than what I'm paying now and I'd get more, being able to travel. I guess I'm not sure I'd get a signal in my apartment. because wouldn't my laptop try to connect to it already? (I do have excellent Tracfone cellphone service in here. It is through Verizon.)

If I get a regular Verizon cellphone in the next couple of months, (not the tracfone,) would I need to order it again for the cellphone, or since I would already have the wireless EVDO service for my laptop, they could simply make sure my cell phone works with it too without paying more?

Thanks!

 

[Imzadi]

Its wireless, but not in the same sense that WiFi is.

Okay, this is where I'm having the confusion with terms. What is the diference between wireless & WiFi? The internal thingie in my laptop grabs signals floating around. Are they only grabbing WiFi signals? And are the signals only coming from DSL landlines which are coming from a wireless router/modem? (I may be using those words wrong. I mean the box that is connected to my landline wire, or the ones at hotels.)

Whereas,"wireless" is coming from cellphone signals?