Wireless at the lake...wahoo!!!

[CTSLICK]

We are at the inlaws place this weekend (nice house on a lake in northern Minnesota) and its somewhat remote. I was pleased to find that I can get a decent Sprint PCS signal. Awesome!....Powerbook with bluetooth...T608 with bluetooth...voila...internet access. Very nice! Speed is pretty good.

So here I sit, on the deck overlooking a lake browsing the internet...days like these I say technology RULES! Just thought I'd share :)

[that_kid]

Now that's cool, next you have to take a picture of the lake and from the deck e-mail it to all your friends and family. I did that at the beach once, we took a picture then I used my ipaq to e-mail the picture while we were still on the beach. I got a kick out of everyone when they returned home only to find a picture of us at the beach in their inbox.

[Ryan Joseph]

That is a great idea! My family is going to Florida this summer and I'll have to try that! They'll love it! :mrgreen:

[CTSLICK]

Sure, I could pull that off too with the Powerbook or my PDA! I've got a bluetooth card for my Axim...use it all the time to hook to the internet.

[Zack Mahdavi]

Hey, how is Sprint's wireless access speeds? I have a similar setup (Powerbook + T610 + bluetooth), except I use T-Mobile. Frankly, their speeds are about as fast as dial-up... :(

I can't really complain as it's free. How much are you paying for your wireless access with Sprint?

[Janak Parekh]

Hey, how is Sprint's wireless access speeds? I have a similar setup (Powerbook + T610 + bluetooth), except I use T-Mobile. Frankly, their speeds are about as fast as dial-up... :(
Both Sprint and Verizon are much faster than GPRS -- on the order of 80kbps-100kbps.

--janak

[CTSLICK]

Hey, how is Sprint's wireless access speeds? I have a similar setup (Powerbook + T610 + bluetooth), except I use T-Mobile. Frankly, their speeds are about as fast as dial-up... :(

I can't really complain as it's free. How much are you paying for your wireless access with Sprint?

I think Janak's estimate seems about right. Better than my old T-mobile setup using a T68 and GPRS. I've never found a good speed test to see how I'm actually doing. If I remember right data (Vision) on Sprint is something like $15/month. But my voice cost me about $5/mo more so its all about even. I had to pay for data on T-mobile since I needed a secure connection which if I recall did not work with their free connection.

[Jeff Rutledge]

It's sure easy to get used to wireless access, eh? I was at my in-laws over Easter and set up a WAP just for when I visit (they're an 8-hour drive). 8)

[Zack Mahdavi]

If I remember right data (Vision) on Sprint is something like $15/month. But my voice cost me about $5/mo more so its all about even.

Wow, I'm a little confused... are you only paying $20 total for voice + data? That's a great deal. Could you tell me the exact names of the plans you use? I'm beginning to get REALLY interested in Sprint now.. :)

[Janak Parekh]

Wow, I'm a little confused... are you only paying $20 total for voice + data?
CTSLICK, technically, that's a phone-only data plan, right? So, in theory, Sprint could yank it. It's supposed to be more expensive...

--janak

[CTSLICK]

ok sorry for the confusion

zkmusa: I pay $15/mo on top of my voice plan

Janak: You are correct, Vision is technically a phone data plan and if Sprint becomes upset with my usage that could choose to revoke my plan. shhhhhh! I don't want to pay the $85/mo they want for a true unlimited data plan

[Janak Parekh]

shhhhhh! I don't want to pay the $85/mo they want for a true unlimited data plan
Don't worry, I'm not telling. ;)

zkmusa: In general, 1xRTT is a bit more expensive than GPRS. For example, Verizon sells a unlimited 1xRTT PDA plan for $44.95 -- that's what I have set up. There are other tricks, though -- CTSLICK mentioned one, and on Verizon there's a way to get Express Network to use your minutes instead of by the byte at no additional cost -- although it's also unofficial.

--janak