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Internet Via Cell Phone-Tips?

Yahoo Message Number: 1554
I just bought a tri-mode phone and the software to hook it up to our laptop from Verizon. We signed up for the National Plan (400 minutes + 3200 night and week-end for $55.00). It offers 100% no roaming, free long distance(yeah, right)unlike the America's Choice plan. The AC plan is limited to free roaming only where Verizon has cell sites.
I looked at the map and it appears to be along most interstate highways and in cities. it is my opinion that the NP is better for those of us who "wander as we wonder"!
Any tips or advice? I thought there was some info on the group site, but I cannot seem to find it.

Thanks,

Charles Gauthier
Trabuco Canyon, CA
2000 Intrigue 11142

Re: Internet Via Cell Phone-Tips?

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 1556
I recently signed up for Cingular National plan... 500 anytime + 3500 nights (9PM) & weekends... NO long distance.. for $50. Their coverage is pretty good and there are no roaming charges anywhere in the lower 48. I thought that would give me the best available for my travels.
My worst headache is has historically been weak signals in some of the out of the way places I like to visit. I just installed a "car kit" with a rooftop antenna in hopes of better reception. So far I'm not impressed and haven't even been in the boonies yet. Suggestions from anyone would be welcomed.

As for Internet, the signal strength is the key so my hopes for gaining access to the web and e-mail will die if I can better my signal. It's great in the big city but...... we'll see.

Dick May

2002 Intrigue, #11438
Member: CCI, FMCA
Dick May
2002 Intrigue, #11438, towing a
2014 Jeep Gr Cherokee ecoDiesel

Re: Internet Via Cell Phone-Tips?

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 1558
I suspect these services are all much of a muchness. I have been using Sprint PCS with a Motorola Timeport phone for the last year. Their "evening" hours are better than the others (8:00PM to 7:00AM as opposed to 9:00PM to 6:00AM) but the coverage is about as you both describe. Most cities of 25,000 and up seem to be covered as is most interstate east of the Mississippi. Chunks of I-75 in southern Kentucky have nothing and I am sure there are other dead spots in the east. Out west, there is nothing for miles on I-70 in eastern Utah for example, but that about matches the population density there. Realistically, it's almost certain (and quite common sensical) that most of these services share some facilities with the obvious result of a more or less identical footprint in the low use areas.
Email and some Internet browsing have been fine, although the 9600 baud (if the wind is in the right direction etc.) is a little tedious. One of the most mysterious aspects of the service is the new math practiced by Sprint.
I am on their $34.95 plan with 200 anytime minutes and 1000 evening and week end minutes. Although I have always stayed under both of these limits my bill is ALWAYS between $49.00 and $50.00. I have given up on-hold music and phone company double talk as to why this is and just accept that 35 phone company dollars take 50 of my measly dollars to get even. Interesting, isn't it.

Peter

Britannia Inc.
800-274-5245

Re: Internet Via Cell Phone-Tips?

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 1560
Tips? Charge the phone up Friday! My biggest problem is that the battery runs down long before I finish surfing and the AC adapter doesn't fit while I have the serial cable connected. Oh, well...too much surfing isn't good anyway. I have successfully used the Qualcomm QCP 2035a with Verizon all this year in about 80% of the places we traveled. No cell at all in the UP of Michigan, so we had to rely on campground connections. Sometimes I have the analog signal which won't work with my phone setup (need the digital signal only)...but otherwise, I'm quite happy with Verizon and the phone.

Jan McNeill

2001 Intrigue 11320

Re: Internet Via Cell Phone-Tips?

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 1590
Jan,

You may want to try for a second battery @ http://www.newegg.com They have a Li 850 mAh battery for the 2035 for $9.
I recently bought a battery from them and it works well.

Doug Yunker

Re: Internet Via Cell Phone-Tips?

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 1615
I use a StarTac with Verizon for 99.9% of my internet time.. I changed my plan recently from SouthWest (regional) to America Choice. I was very hesitant because of the spotty coverage, but the National Plan did not have the night/week end provision. I will go back into the office and see if it has changed since I was in there. Before I changed, I got a phone from Cingular and was just going to have 2 phones so I would have better coverage. After fighting with the phone for 3 days and unable to get on-line, I called customer support to find out the modem speed and was told it was 9600. The salesman said that it was "as fast as my computer could handle". I did not believe *that* story, but my StarTac is 14,400. I took the one back to Cingular. I am still waiting for the phone bill. I monitor the minutes almost daily and did not go over my allotted time last month, but the bill was $50 too much. Will fight it out when I get the statement!

ree

1999 MADP 4080 LR slide

http://www.home.earthlink.net/~jurhee RV Club 542 NKK Escapee Coast to Coast Vagabundos del Mar FMCA Good Sam Life Currently stuck in Victoria, Texas

-----Original Message-----

From: intrigue11142 [mailto:DoveCanyon18th@...] Sent: Saturday, April 13, 2002 10:31 AM To: Country-Coach-Owners@yahoogroups.com Subject: [Country-Coach-Owners] Internet Via Cell Phone-Tips?