Question:
Wi-Fi or wireless sat.? From what I've seen the Sprint wireless fees are EXPENSIVE. I know Wi-Fi is only at the hot spots. Let's hear some opinions. Are there any other options ????

Answer:
I use Wi-Fi. I bought the Flying J's Wi-Fi but if I find myself camped out at a T/A I can buy a 24 hour access 'pass' for around $5-6 and use theirs.
When Truckstop.net was up and running, I could buy a 24 hour access from Loves, Petro, Pilot or any of the other truckstops that had it.
You only need to buy the one (1) 802.11 card. Purchase the access pass and enter your 'access code' and get online.
Flying J's subscription rates can be found here. www.tonservices.com or www.flyingj.com
As far as the 'real' wireless cards from Sprint, Verizon & AT&T, well, I can't justify spending around $80-$90 per month for their service.
My Flying J Wi-Fi cost me $100 for the first years subscription and this year it cost me $149 to renew (special offer via email).
Having wireless internet to pass the time while sitting for a weekend or the night is great. Beats the hell out of spending money sitting in a bar, casino, or game room.
The only thing that I don't like about Wi-Fi is that I'm 'tied' to a truckstop to use it.......well, that and when some jackass stops directly in front of my truck and blocks the signal.

Answer:
WiFi at the T/S's will be the least expensive.
T-Mobile offers internet service through an Air Card @ $29.00 Month. Service coverage is pretty good, Check out their Nationwide service area on T-Mobile's web site. I forget how much the T-Mobile Air Card cost.
Verizon is $80.00 Unlimited plus taxes. ( taxes went up recently) Plus $$ Air Card. $300.00 minus rebate= $49.00
I Currently have both, T-mobile and Verizon.
I don't want to be tethered to a truck stop. Like now, I'm at my customers typing this message.

Answer:
Hoss & Dak, thanks for the info. That $80.00 + per month price tag on the wireless service was a kick in the head when I inquired at the TS. Guess it'll have to be WI-FI at least for now. Who knows, maybe in time - after they have screwed people enough to get the profit margin up, they'll come of that proud price for the wireless.

Answer:
I have the exact duplicate as Hoss. For the occasional banking,email, we surfing it is the cheapest way to go.
I can't justify the 80-90 bucks a month. I can simply wait till I am at a truck stop. Grab a shower, some dinner, and check my e-mail......which nowadays is 95% ads for Viagra, stocks, and other silliness.

Answer:
I have the exact duplicate as Hoss. For the occasional banking,email, we surfing it is the cheapest way to go.
I can't justify the 80-90 bucks a month. I can simply wait till I am at a truck stop. Grab a shower, some dinner, and check my e-mail......which nowadays is 95% ads for Viagra, stocks, and other silliness.

Answer:
UnkaD helped me get started on what to do as far as access on the road, per his advice, I bought a card from Comp USA (around 60 bucks) you can buy them anywhere that sells 'puter stuff, mine is a Belkin, had it installed in my laptop. I am using it now at a Flying J, have also used it at T/A's T/A is nice, as I just use the points off my shower card, J's, I just go for the 24 hour rate, have also used it on some other hook up. Just log on and it will tell you if there is a signal available.
If I had time to slack like the Wonder from Thunder I may have went with the J's yearly plan!

Answer:

I'll have you know that I do not 'slack'...............OK.......so I lied! I'm a SLACKER.
The reason I got the 1 year subscription is because it's cheaper to buy 'quantity'. More bang for the buck type thing.
Besides, I like to play online.
I also have about 12 hours per day (minimum) to screw off. I can't sleep the entire 12 hours. I sure as heck ain't gonna spend the time in a game room, casino or bar........usually.

Answer:
T-mobile has $20 add-on for my $40 cell phone plan. It's $29 by itself, but you save $10 if you add it on to phone plan.
It's the speed of regular dial-up and not fast like high speed wireless or wi-fi.
For $60 I have national phone plan and dial up internet at regular phone speeds. A compromise in speed and value I thought.
Doesn't bother me too much because I never used high speed. It's just like my home phone service.

Answer:
I use Flying J's WI-FI. I like it. Had it over a year, now. When you go for the second year, they give you a cheaper rate of $ 149 per year.
A friend of mine uses his Sprint phone as a modem, with Snap Dialer software. He has an older Samsung phone that allows him to hook up over 200 kbps. Works fine for him. You DO NOT have to use the Sprint Wireless card to do this. Your regular cellphone works just fine. Make sure you get the Vision plan or you have to pay extra for the online time.
Also, you HAVE to be in a regular Sprint cell. Won't work in a roam cell. Sprint's network is getting bigger all the time, so unless you're in Podunk, MT, it'll work fine.
Answer:
Be careful with the Wi Fi, though. I am led to believe that there are security vulnarabilities. Just email, may not present too much of a problem, but I'm not sure.
I feel fairly secure with Verizon, yet I took the extra precaution of making sure my open ports were closed, with this link, called Shields Up.
http://www.grc.com/x/me.dll?rh1dkyd2Government Ain't YO' Friend. Nor your Servant.
A Tax Reduces Incentive & Capacity. A Regulation is also a TAX.


Answer:
Another issue with WiFi is that most of the network traffic is not encrypted. It's not difficult to sit in the parking lot and read everything that's going over the network.
Things like banking transactions and online sales transactions are generally encrypted and safe, but your e-mail, MSN chats and many other things aren't.
Just something to keep in mind as you're sitting there typing away

Answer:

I've heard this also!
If you're gonna do stuff like banking transactions online, it's best if you drag your laptop inside and hook up to the data jacks they have available.

Answer:
The data jacks may more secure, but I still wouldn't trust them. It all depends on how they have the network setup.
As far as banking transactions go, I don't have a problem doing my electronic banking anywhere. All my transactions are encrypted with 128bit SSL from my notebook to the bank. It's about as secure as you can currently get.
I'd just like people to remember that when you send private information through email or chat programs or even message boards, it may not be as private as you might like it to be

Answer:
Buy an antenna. Not a cheap one. For a bill you will get connected more often and trucks parking in front of you will not matter. In fact park across the street if you wish, it will work.
But for those that are scratching the tilly. You can build your own out of a can, coaxial etc.. for about $5.Dreams my future
charley