Anyone using a PC Card for...

[BarFlie]

broadband internet access? Looks like Sprint and Verizon are the only ones offering these now. I'm a Verizon customer and thinking of getting thier V620 card for my laptop to connect to the net just about anywhere. When I say anywhere I mean I live in the Chicago area and it looks like accessability is pretty good for the entire northern IL, IN, southern WI area. I realize speeds will be slower than cable but the price is the same for what I currently pay Comcast for cable internet. Some input on pros and cons of these PC cards would be appreciated.
Thanks, BarFlie

[ElTaco]

I have considered getting one myself, but unfortunatly Nextel (work accounts) doesn't yet have the service and I can't get the sprint one. Obviously the speed is slower then your average high speed internet but it is still respectable. The larger problem is to make sure that you get the high bandwidth digital network in your primary area. Basically as long as you are on their coverage network, you will get some internet access, but you have to be on the data network, aka G3, EV-DO or whatever they call them now, to get the high bandwidth connection.

[Dinsdale]

My goodest buddy has that setup(Verizon?).

Pays a bunch, thanks to the longterm contract, and never uses it. It's probably a little more hilly here than a lot of other places, and you have to be sitting in a pretty nice spot to get it to work for a crap. I', guessing in the flatlands, it might not be such a problem.

Of COURSE, the worst place he's found for reception is his living room...of course(and that's in the middle/flat part of town).

From what I've seen and used of it, you have to be pretty desperate for a hookup.

I think the best he sees is maybe a 800kb connection....but that's few and far between. 14,400 isn't out of the realm of possibility, either.

[BarFlie]

I'm thinking location is the big issue for the best service. My sister works in real estate in Atlanta and the sprint card her boss supplies works well whenever she's out of the office.
Metropolitan areas are pretty well covered so I'm about ready to give it a go. To get the best deal I have to sign a 2 yr contract though. I'd hate to get stuck with the $60 bill each month if it wasn't living up to my expectations.

[Dinsdale]

My sister works in real estate

As does my aforementioned buddy. Getting internet service in the field is pretty clutch.

To get the best deal I have to sign a 2 yr contract though. I'd hate to get stuck with the $60 bill each month if it wasn't living up to my expectations.

I think it was $75 when my bud did it. That's for starters. Says if he actually uses it, the bill goes way up from there.

If you're in Chicago, I'm guessing terrain won't be nearly the problem.

Around here in Portland, people leaving their wireless router unsecured(which many/most do on purpose) provides generally better coverage that the network ripoffs. Plus, the entire city is getting hooked up with free public wireless anyway pretty shortly, which should render the celly-tower-internet useless.

[BarFlie]

My sister works in real estate

As does my aforementioned buddy. Getting internet service in the field is pretty clutch.

To get the best deal I have to sign a 2 yr contract though. I'd hate to get stuck with the $60 bill each month if it wasn't living up to my expectations.

I think it was $75 when my bud did it. That's for starters. Says if he actually uses it, the bill goes way up from there.

If you're in Chicago, I'm guessing terrain won't be nearly the problem.

Around here in Portland, people leaving their wireless router unsecured(which many/most do on purpose) provides generally better coverage that the network ripoffs. Plus, the entire city is getting hooked up with free public wireless anyway pretty shortly, which should render the celly-tower-internet useless.

The $60 a month is for 'unlimited' access. Your buddy may have had x amount of transfer or pay as you go service. I do run across unsecured hot zones here and there such as the sports bar down the street from where I work. I often pull into thier parking lot for a quick email check. I work for a printing company on the production floor. My PC is work related and not connected to the net. They used to have a wireless network in the office that I got on with my laptop but now everything is hardwired to SBC. I work a lot of overtime and internet access while at work would be aces. I think they plan to hook up my puter to the SBC line but that ain't gonna happen anytime soon. Being online anytime, anywhere is what I'm after.

[Dinsdale]

Being online anytime, anywhere is what I'm after.

Can't say I blame you.

I wonder if they have an opt-out period in the contract, like within the first 30 days? That would be ideal, then if access sucks at work or home, you're not on the hook for $1500 of useless shit.

But on the positive side, when my bud's works, it offers pretty nice service. Not trying to make it sound all bad.

[ElTaco]

Most Verizon and cell services have a 15 to 30 day money back guarantee just in case the service sucks or isn't available or you want to up to a different phone so I'm fairly certain Verizon (and probably Sprint too) has some type of a return guarantee that would allow you to try the service out. As I said, the big thing you should be looking for is to make sure that the digital service is available in your area, which you can usually go around and test with your Verizon phone or Sprint phone. If you get their EV service on your phone then I think you should be good to go.

[Dinsdale]

the big thing you should be looking for is to make sure that the digital service is available in your area, which you can usually go around and test with your Verizon phone or Sprint phone.

Not the case. At my bud's house(where I actually spend quite a bit of time, and am the "computer fix-it-guy....heaven help him), phones work perfectly, and always show maximum signal. And the wireless celly internet SUCKS. Just SUCKS.

A few blocks down the road, it works great.

[Shlomart Ben Yisrael]

WAR ~ war-driving