Internet access on road

mcclainlogis · May 28, 2008

I have to have pretty dependable internet access on the road when I go back out Monday 6/2/08.

I am not a big fan of Flying J even though I hear their internet wireless service is decent out in the parking lot and inside for the price.

I like the Pilots and TA's mainly - so what would you folks suggest for internet access.

Verizon, Sprint?

Thanks folks!

dpea9 · May 28, 2008

I had good luck using the Verizon aircard.

Turtle · May 28, 2008

Greg, as a fleet owner (of which I am not, BTW), you need something more reliable than a truck stop Internet connection, not to mention something that's a lot more flexible. You may very well need to access the net while waiting at a shipper or consignee, or in places where you won't find a TA or Flying J (Siricomm no longer provides Internet access at Pilots at all).

Verizon is the way to go.

RLENT · May 28, 2008

I have internet access thru the J - I'm usually out in the front lot (Sprinter), so it can be a crapshoot on reception - but most of the time it works fairly well.

Beyond that we have ATT DSL at the house - this gets you ATT Wifi Basic Access out on the road for free:

AT&T Wi-Fi Basic service is FREE and already included if you subscribe to AT&T High Speed Internet, AT&T U-verseSM or AT&T FastAccess® DSL with a speed of 1.5 Mbps or higher. No ordering required! Simply use your AT&T high-speed Internet membership ID and password at any AT&T Wi-Fi Basic hot spot.

That's over 10,000 hotspot locations nationwide. Some of the more popular places are McDonald's, Starbucks, and Barnes & Noble - plus a number of hotels, airports, etc.

ATT Wifi Premium ($20/month) gets ya access to over 71,000 hot locations.

So far I haven't seen the need to upgrade.

pelicn · May 28, 2008

We use a Sprint air card. We had terrible luck with Verizon.

blaaze · May 28, 2008

it is coming very soon high speed mobile Internet. I use the J and Boingo now but here is a service we will all want, as I understand it this service should go live in July starting in Texas California and Washington and cover all of North America in less than 12 months I can't wait Long Range Mobile Wireless Internet

babs3361 · May 28, 2008

Love my verizon. Have never had a place where it didn't work.

LDB · May 28, 2008

I use the Sprint aircard and have very rarely had complaints.

ebsprintin · May 28, 2008

I have had good relations with my sprint service via an aircard. Anywhere I have cell phone coverage I have internet access. In certain metro areas they classify the speed as "near broadband", and when visiting friends and comparing connections sometime I can out speed the cable connection. This has been my sole internet access the last two years. To get aircard service, Sprint requires a basic phone service in addition to the aircard.

eb

CharlesD · May 28, 2008

I have Sprint and that's the only service I have with them. I don't know anything about them requiring a phone as well. I get good coverage with Sprint. As an independent it's important to have coverage wherever, not just at a truck stop.

Jack_Berry · May 28, 2008

like rlent i pick the j. it is certain to work. there is an area for computer users to get out of the front lot and look at the world thru someone elses windows. ta has been spotty for me. works well in one spot and not at all in others. more often than not.

Tennesseahawk · May 28, 2008

Ditto on the Sprint card. I can usually get service while my nephew is driving. It's too important to have to rely on a J or McDs being around. I need it when I need it. And it pays for itself by not having to dh to a service area.

I'm also checking out a Wilson signal booster. I've heard that's the only amplifier worth the money.

EagleRiverWI · May 28, 2008

Flying J is the best truck stop service but I still had problems if I was not parked in the front row of the truck parking area. My Verizon aircard and cell phone cost $99. a month. That is with a Fed Ex 20% discount. I no longer work for Fed, but their drivers can link to the Verizon from the company web site for the discount. When I am near enough to a cell tower, the signal is good enough to watch ABC, FOX TV and some pirated movie sites online. In 2 years we might be seeing a more modern version of Wi Fi. The big phone companies are starting to buy up the analog TV bandwith that will not be used anymore next year. Verizon has the land line phone service in northern Wisconsin, and is going to convert the TV signal to Wi Fi. I don't know how they are going to convert analog TV to digital internet, but that their problem.

easyrider2697 · May 28, 2008

interesting...I only have aircard service (sprint) with them, no other services

LDB · May 28, 2008

I believe Sprint does not require cellular service but has lower rates for the aircard if you have a phone also.

arrbsthw · May 28, 2008

I have a Verizon USB720 internet card and it works great.
I have been using Verizon for 3 years now. Dependable & Works for me. If you try Verizon.. make sure you get a
USB card.

ATeam · May 29, 2008

Users of Sprint and Verizon air cards regularly report high satisfaction with the services. At the moment, we are online with an air card, and also backed up to a loading dock, waiting for the shipper to arrive. We are at least 10 miles from any WI-FI access point that might be around and at least 100 miles away from a major-name truck stop.

It is not at all uncommon for one of us to be online while the other drives down the road, and we are often able to remain connected without interruption for hours at a time. Having used air cards for several years, we have seen the range and reliability greatly improve. If you have an older air card, the service may not be as good. This is a case where upgrades make a significant difference.

EASYTRADER · May 29, 2008

I use 3do card, it runs about 50 bucks a month. I'm using it now. It seems to works pretty good. It is a rare instance where I don't get a signal, there is decent coverage over all the interstates, I would say it is accessible about 95% of the time. Everywhere we have laid over I have been able to get a signal. It one of the reason we are able to stay in service so much, pay all our bills online!!!

Also FYI sprint has a new cellular promo going on now 99 Bucks, a month gets you unlimited talk time, no roaming, unlimited Text, and Inet access to the phone, and GPS.

So if you phone bill is more than a hundred bucks it would be worth the change

rdtrpn · May 30, 2008

Sprint is definately a good service. except in laredo lol it goes in and out there. anywhere else its pretty dependable and it works when your going down the road. Unlimited is the way to go $59 a month but no discount if you have phone service through them, which i do, i asked. havent used any other service and dont want any either. 'nuff said!

rdtrpn · May 30, 2008

Oh yeah if you go with sprint i would recommend the novatel ovation u727. its usb which supports quick disconnect removal and its more compatible because all laptops have usb, they dont all have the card adapter slot. so if you buy another laptop in the future there is no problem even if you can use either type of wireless card. also with the u727 you can download and store stuff on a mini sd card. if you can pick one up at an IC connections at the TA's i think they may still have a $50 mail in rebate, plus a $25 in store credit. I got a free cigarette lighter charger for my phone with the in store credit. but if you search ebay you might be able to get a good enough deal to just go that route. good luck