Where is the Wi-Fi?

AB_Monterey · 05-02-2009, 08:52 AM

Thanks very much for the info.

We'll definitely look into the wireless option for home as well as up north.

Lakepilot · 05-02-2009, 09:11 AM

We also have a Verizon Card that we use all around the country and the Lakes Region. It does rival Metrocast at times.

John A. Birdsall · 05-02-2009, 09:57 AM

That's cool, take the laptop out on the boat, boss thinks I am working from home and here I sit on the computer in my boat, fishing line in one hand beer on the shelf, and doing my work on the computer.....That will work for me!

Slickcraft · 05-02-2009, 11:26 AM

We use a Verizon broadband card for internet assess on the island as well as when traveling. It was also good when the power out and metrocast cable went south. The Verizon broadband service here is usually good; at times it slows on busy weekends.

For travel we use the card even if wi-fi is available. We don't have to bother with any motel specific log-in and we are not part of a local unsecure wi-fi net.

MWSP · 05-02-2009, 11:39 AM

Funspot in Weirs Beach has free Wi-Fi.

Ropetow · 05-02-2009, 01:06 PM

I just visited the local Verizon Wireless store today. Even though I'm a Mac guy, I cannot justify an iPhone because ATT sucks for my needs. There is a huge dead zone north of the Hampton tolls on I95 that extends nearly to Newington, and we all know that two tin cans with string are better than ATT on the Lake. They brag about their "3G" network...I'd be happy with a single 'g', or even a single 'w'! So, I'm thinking about a Crackberry Storm. (data plan for $29 per month on top of the cell plan) With that, Verizon said I wouldn't even need the Card (and the $59 per month charge). Verizon would sell me a cable for, I think, $29, that would connect my MacBook Pro to the Crackberry, with the Crackberry serving as the modem. Pretty cool! Hmmm...If I do that, and spend lots of time working on the boat, I wonder if that makes the boat a tax deduction?

Argie's Wife · 05-02-2009, 02:26 PM

If you're using the Blackberry as a modem, as you say, can you use more than one computer with it?

And is your cost for a single or family plan?

Just curious...

PS
Someone here in Alton is a big iPhone fan and says he has great reception with few problems. He commutes to Nashua each day for work and has few complains about calls being dropped... Something to consider, I guess...

Ropetow · 05-02-2009, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Argie's Wife

If you're using the Blackberry as a modem, as you say, can you use more than one computer with it?

And is your cost for a single or family plan?

Just curious...

PS
Someone here in Alton is a big iPhone fan and says he has great reception with few problems. He commutes to Nashua each day for work and has few complains about calls being dropped... Something to consider, I guess...

The price for the card and the cable is for one of each....using on one computer at a time. The cost of the data plan is per Crackberry. I can't believe anyone gets great reception with an iPhone in Alton, except for perhaps a pocket or two. Our plain cell phone is useless in the Bay area. The ATT service map basically shows Alton as a dead zone. )-:

Irrigation Guy · 05-02-2009, 07:40 PM

Just called Verizon and it would cost me the same $60.00 to do what you guys are saying either way. You need a data plan, and then a blackberry plan and there are bandwidth restrictions, so it would not be able to replace my home ISP.

Orion · 05-02-2009, 08:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Argie's Wife

If you're using the Blackberry as a modem, as you say, can you use more than one computer with it?

And is your cost for a single or family plan?

I'm using the VZ Broadband Wireless modem and I share the connection out from my laptop to other laptops via WiFi and with Xbox360 via an Ethernet crossover cable. Single plan rate.

brk-lnt · 05-03-2009, 12:23 PM

You can do BlackBerry tethered access on a Mac or PC (and with many of the routers that allow you to share the connection just like with a cablemodem (FTR, I use a Cradlepoint router with my USB720 Verizon Wireless card)).

However, I don't believe that you can make or receive calls when the BB is in data mode. So that is something to consider if you plan to stay connected for long durations.

All things considered, I would just go with the dedicated wireless broadband account.

SteveA · 05-03-2009, 07:50 PM

My IT Dept. tested the tethered BB idea. They found you could "take a call" while the BB was being used as a modem, but the internet connection became so slow as to be about useless. It didn't disconnect, just slowed to a crawl.

ossipeeboater · 05-02-2009, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ropetow

I just visited the local Verizon Wireless store today. Even though I'm a Mac guy, I cannot justify an iPhone because ATT sucks for my needs. There is a huge dead zone north of the Hampton tolls on I95 that extends nearly to Newington, and we all know that two tin cans with string are better than ATT on the Lake. They brag about their "3G" network...I'd be happy with a single 'g', or even a single 'w'! So, I'm thinking about a Crackberry Storm. (data plan for $29 per month on top of the cell plan) With that, Verizon said I wouldn't even need the Card (and the $59 per month charge). Verizon would sell me a cable for, I think, $29, that would connect my MacBook Pro to the Crackberry, with the Crackberry serving as the modem. Pretty cool! Hmmm...If I do that, and spend lots of time working on the boat, I wonder if that makes the boat a tax deduction?

as long as the Mac has a usb connection the cable comes with the BB. I use my BB teathered at my camp on Ossipee as well as a buds place on Moultonboro neck with no issues. Just got a Tmobile corp blackberry but I'm guessing with their horrible service I'll be needing to keep my verizon BB service through summer as well. Check to see if your employer has a discount, I have BES service for $32/mo and I believe my tethering is $12 on top of that. vs $39.99 and $15. Dont forget the BB service you must have with any BB plus your tethering and then the reg service.

05-02-2009, 09:57 AM	#3
John A. Birdsall Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Norwich, CT Posts: 599 Thanks: 27 Thanked 51 Times in 35 Posts	work That's cool, take the laptop out on the boat, boss thinks I am working from home and here I sit on the computer in my boat, fishing line in one hand beer on the shelf, and doing my work on the computer.....That will work for me!

05-02-2009, 11:39 AM	#5
MWSP Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 48 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Funspot in Weirs Beach has free Wi-Fi. __________________ The Miss Winnipesaukee Scholarship Program A Lakes Region Tradition since 1925

05-03-2009, 12:23 PM	#11
brk-lnt Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: South Down Shores Posts: 1,947 Thanks: 545 Thanked 570 Times in 335 Posts	You can do BlackBerry tethered access on a Mac or PC (and with many of the routers that allow you to share the connection just like with a cablemodem (FTR, I use a Cradlepoint router with my USB720 Verizon Wireless card)). However, I don't believe that you can make or receive calls when the BB is in data mode. So that is something to consider if you plan to stay connected for long durations. All things considered, I would just go with the dedicated wireless broadband account. __________________ [insert witty phrase here]

05-03-2009, 07:50 PM	#12
SteveA Deceased Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Gilford, NH Posts: 2,311 Thanks: 1,070 Thanked 2,054 Times in 497 Posts	Tethered BB My IT Dept. tested the tethered BB idea. They found you could "take a call" while the BB was being used as a modem, but the internet connection became so slow as to be about useless. It didn't disconnect, just slowed to a crawl. __________________ "Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in his shoes. That way, if he gets angry he'll be a mile away and barefoot!" unknown

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

05-02-2009, 08:52 AM	#1
AB_Monterey Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Alton Bay Posts: 293 Thanks: 86 Thanked 78 Times in 49 Posts	Thanks very much for the info. We'll definitely look into the wireless option for home as well as up north.

05-02-2009, 09:11 AM	#2
Lakepilot Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 446 Thanks: 70 Thanked 57 Times in 40 Posts	We also have a Verizon Card that we use all around the country and the Lakes Region. It does rival Metrocast at times.

05-02-2009, 11:26 AM	#4
Slickcraft Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Welch Island and The Taylor Community Posts: 3,388 Thanks: 1,260 Thanked 2,148 Times in 983 Posts	We use a Verizon broadband card for internet assess on the island as well as when traveling. It was also good when the power out and metrocast cable went south. The Verizon broadband service here is usually good; at times it slows on busy weekends. For travel we use the card even if wi-fi is available. We don't have to bother with any motel specific log-in and we are not part of a local unsecure wi-fi net.

05-02-2009, 01:06 PM	#6
Ropetow Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Rochester, NH / Bartlett, NH Posts: 322 Thanks: 228 Thanked 33 Times in 13 Posts	I just visited the local Verizon Wireless store today. Even though I'm a Mac guy, I cannot justify an iPhone because ATT sucks for my needs. There is a huge dead zone north of the Hampton tolls on I95 that extends nearly to Newington, and we all know that two tin cans with string are better than ATT on the Lake. They brag about their "3G" network...I'd be happy with a single 'g', or even a single 'w'! So, I'm thinking about a Crackberry Storm. (data plan for $29 per month on top of the cell plan) With that, Verizon said I wouldn't even need the Card (and the $59 per month charge). Verizon would sell me a cable for, I think, $29, that would connect my MacBook Pro to the Crackberry, with the Crackberry serving as the modem. Pretty cool! Hmmm...If I do that, and spend lots of time working on the boat, I wonder if that makes the boat a tax deduction?

05-02-2009, 02:26 PM	#7
Argie's Wife Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Alton Posts: 1,908 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 533 Thanked 579 Times in 260 Posts	If you're using the Blackberry as a modem, as you say, can you use more than one computer with it? And is your cost for a single or family plan? Just curious... PS Someone here in Alton is a big iPhone fan and says he has great reception with few problems. He commutes to Nashua each day for work and has few complains about calls being dropped... Something to consider, I guess...

05-02-2009, 07:40 PM	#9
Irrigation Guy Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Moultonborough, NH Posts: 484 Thanks: 89 Thanked 138 Times in 72 Posts	Just called Verizon and it would cost me the same $60.00 to do what you guys are saying either way. You need a data plan, and then a blackberry plan and there are bandwidth restrictions, so it would not be able to replace my home ISP.