Take the Internet on the Road!
Monday, August 20th, 2012
Summer vacation is a great time to get away from it all, but you don’t have to leave your Internet access behind. There are several ways to stay connected almost any where you go.
You can find free wireless access at many restaurants and public establishments, and most major hotel chains provide free WiFi for their guests, but what do you do when you are on the road, or are staying off the beaten path?
Use your Smartphone as a WiFi Hotspot.
Most current Smartphones have the ability to act as a WiFi hotspot. Most carriers charge about $20 per month for this add-on service. You can enable the service for a month, and disable it when you are done using it.
Once it is enabled, you can connect using your Kindle, iPad, laptop, or nearly any device that utilizes WiFi. This works great on road trips, since you can provide Internet access for everyone in the car. Anywhere you can get 3G or 4G cellular service, you can surf to your heart’s content, or to your plan’s bandwidth limit, whichever comes first.
Use a Cradlepoint Router with your Cellular Data Card
For around $100, you can purchase a Cradlepoint WiFi router that works directly with most 3G/4G data cards. You just plug the router into a 110V outlet, and connect to it wirelessly using the password on the router.
This is pretty convenient if you are staying in a hotel or condo that doesn’t provide Internet access. This can also be used in a vehicle, if you have a 12VDC to 110VAC power inverter. This solution requires a subscription to a cellular data card and data packages.
Please check with your wireless carrier for plan details.
If you have any questions, call one of the friendly technicians at CompuType and we’d be glad to help!
While these solutions don’t work everywhere, they do provide access in most metropolitan areas and along most of the major interstates. If you find yourself in a remote area that doesn’t have 3G or 4G cellular service, then maybe you should consider putting down the laptop and picking up the fishing pole anyway.
Have a great summer!
