What to use for internet access

[Manitou]

I'm getting the feeling, not many are in the situation I am. I know there's more and more people like me coming around... just not sure if we have any on this forum yet. What I mean is, I work remotely from the chinook "full time". I put that in quotes, because as I've mentioned, I travel to customer sites too (planes/rental cars/hotels). Normally, I have a home base and have internet access sorted that way. When I'm off on a road trip I use an AT&T Netgear cell based hotspot. It's limited to 5gig's per month then another $10/gig after that. I'm lucky in that my work pays for this and has never balked at the few times over gone over the 5 gig's. That said, they don't issue these things with the intent that they are our only internet source. The idea is, we travel and can't always rely on hotel/airport wifi... when a customer is upset, they have no patience for "the wifi doesn't work where I am right now". (out comes the hotspot) I can burn through all 5 gig's in 1 day of webex's. It's a constant battle when I'm away from my base in the chinook. 1st) make sure I have good signal.. or at least can get it with the little wilson booster (not great, but sometimes has gotten me enough to get a couple emails out.. and sometimes that all you need). 2nd) don't burn all your data plan in 1-2 days.. find wifi.. but where? Is there another way (satellite any good these days? used to be upload speed was unacceptable)? I could go on..

[Blue~Go]

I haven't found anything better than a hotspot. I don't work from it, but I do like my Internet!

I used to have Verizon service through the MVNO called Millenicom, and it was fantastic (and cheap), but Verizon sucked them back in last fall. I ended up with a plan right from Verizon because I still find their coverage to be the best in the most places. However I now get "less for more" in terms of GB per dollar. But I haven't found anything better.

Recently, I decided to supplement with a prepaid AT&T plan on my iPad (which can serve as a hotspot). I did this for two reasons: One was to take up the slack on months where I was going to have a Verizon overage; and two was because Verizon isn't everywhere, and so having another service can be a good backup. Where I'm parked right now Verizon was 1X (unboosted) - painful! But I fired up the AT&T hotspot and, voila, four bars of LTE! Since this is prepaid I don't have to get it every month, but only when I feel like it may be useful (I knew was heading someplace with dicey Verizon coverage).

I've found the app "Coverage?" to be useful in looking up specific areas. It shows overlays of the various providers, and you can toggle "3G," "4G" etc.

I'll be interested to hear what others use, and if there is anything better of course.

[Concourse]

Easiest/cheapest method to get internet is to park near businesses, hotels, etc. that offer free WiFi. Using a GPS with a current/updated WiFi POI can net suggestions. You already knew this I'm sure. One time I lost internet at home and needed access for work so I drove the Chinook over to the local library and worked from the "Mobile Office" using their WiFi.

Satellite is expensive to set up (hardware) plus very expensive monthly (~$100). It still is a lower download speed than other delivery methods but probably good enough.

Cellular is probably the best way to get internet if no WiFi options exist. The cellular network is big these days, getting bigger, and bandwidth is getting cheaper. You already have this but there might be bigger bandwidth with lower cost plans out there now. You can use an "aircard" direct to your laptop or hotspot through your phone (often a hotspotting fee on top of the phones data plan fee).

[Blue~Go]

You can use an "aircard" direct to your laptop or hotspot through your phone (often a hotspotting fee on top of the phones data plan fee).

Or a third variation is to have an actual physical "hotspot" (i.e. Jetpack, etc.) that also uses cellular/data. I have one of these because it allows me to use the phone independently, and also it doesn't then use my phone battery. My previous account (Millenicom) didn't have a phone associated with it at all, just the Jetpack.

(I've also used the aircard type plugged into my computer, but the hotspot is nice as you can connect a number of things to it wirelessly, and there isn't then a "thing" jutting out of the side of the laptop - I was forever catching that on stuff.)

[Skillet]

Has anyone tried using: http://www.amazon.com/Crane-Super-USB-W ... VESYJ95RFJ to pick up wifi from a distance? I was wondering if this could go into a wireless travel router which would then broadcast a signal into my rig that my devices could pick up and use.