Getting online when traveling

[NCC1701]

When I'm traveling, I go out of my way to get a place which supplies Wi-Fi internet. Seems to me that more often than not, actually getting online involves a call to tech support. Tonight was no exception.

A marvelously patient, professional sounding young lady on the other end determined that the problem was not with my computer or methods, asked me to hold for several minutes, then came back and said I was now able to connect. She was correct.

I made note of the fact that she hadn't had me make any changes to my computer and asked what she had done. She said she had to give me another 24 hours ... I didn't check into the hotel until this afternoon.

I asked why it is that I so often have to call tech support to get online when I'm traveling. She told me this is normal, and that at the first sign of connectivity trouble I should call. I find that this is NORMAL to be very aggravating. Most places advertise free wi-fi nowadays, but apparently it's a crap shoot as to whether or not you have to spend a half hour with tech support to actually get that connection.

OK, just venting. Lucky you, you read my venting.

[The Rigger]

Maybe I'm just lucky, but my experience has been diametrically opposite yours; everywhere I go - which I'll grant is in major cities - I've had virtually no trouble connecting at either the hotel or the theatre, and I've been on this tour for a little over thirteen months now. I can count the number of times I've had to call any tech support people on the fingers of one hand and still have a finger or two left over...

Oddly enough, the worst city for internet connectivity on this tour, either for WiFi or wired ethernet, was Seattle. Go figure...

[Kermit]

I seem to have good luck when traveling. Go figure.

I have had other problems before with various items and called tech support and gotten that answer of "this is normal". IMO - totally unacceptable since I am the customer. When I say I am the customer I mean I am the PAYING customer so I am always right.

[jwight]

Quit griping about free WiFi - just take the plunge and sign up for the cell phone-based services all the providers are offering. Get online anywhere you can get cell phone service, including cruising along the Interstates (for those installing a PC in their smarts.)

Just thought I'd throw that in since I know how much NCC likes cell phones.

[cubefx]

I am using Sprint Connect card for the past two years when I am on the road (which is hapeens very often). Love it. Even when I do have wi-fi available, sometimes it is just easier to use the card. Connection fast enough to use video VOIP and to watch the movies from my home DVR thru the Sling Box.

[headless]

I don't have any trouble over here in Britain connecting to wifi, in fact I am in the toilet now, gnnnnnnn, ahhhh
A little toilet humor there, haha.

[Fuse 11]

Originally Posted by cubefx

I am using Sprint Connect card for the past two years when I am on the road (which is hapeens very often). Love it. Even when I do have wi-fi available, sometimes it is just easier to use the card. Connection fast enough to use video VOIP and to watch the movies from my home DVR thru the Sling Box.

Many cellphones will support tethering either via cable or bluetooth.
(Verizon is noted for explicitly removing and/or disabling this funcitonality though).
Windows Mobile phones (when allowed by the carrier) have a bluetooth networking capability built into the operating system.
Palm phones (these days, the Centro, but the older models have it too) either can connect by built-in dial-up networking (DUN) or via a third-party application such as PDANet or Bluetooth Modem. Note that all GSM Palm OS phones prior to the Pre' only support EDGE speeds (2G) rather than HSDPA (3G).
Other phones with Bluetooth may have DUN capability also.

In any case, if you're going to do this, make sure you have your carrier's unlimited data plan! It will be quite costly otherwise...

-Rusty
(Sony Vaio P, connecting over AT&T Wireless through an unlocked Nokia E71. No, I'm not using built-in Verizon modem...)
Legacy Devices: Palm/Handspring i705, Treos 270-680, Samsung Blackjack, HTC TyTn II
Waiting for the Palm Pre' (Sprint release: 6 Jun 09)

[cubefx]

Originally Posted by Fuse 11

Many cellphones will support tethering either via cable or bluetooth.
(Verizon is noted for explicitly removing and/or disabling this funcitonality though).
Windows Mobile phones (when allowed by the carrier) have a bluetooth networking capability built into the operating system.
Palm phones (these days, the Centro, but the older models have it too) either can connect by built-in dial-up networking (DUN) or via a third-party application such as PDANet or Bluetooth Modem. Note that all GSM Palm OS phones prior to the Pre' only support EDGE speeds (2G) rather than HSDPA (3G).
Other phones with Bluetooth may have DUN capability also.

In any case, if you're going to do this, make sure you have your carrier's unlimited data plan! It will be quite costly otherwise...

-Rusty
(Sony Vaio P, connecting over AT&T Wireless through an unlocked Nokia E71. No, I'm not using built-in Verizon modem...)
Legacy Devices: Palm/Handspring i705, Treos 270-680, Samsung Blackjack, HTC TyTn II
Waiting for the Palm Pre' (Sprint release: 6 Jun 09)

I used to do this, but even with unlimited data plan Sprint terms and conditions not allowing to use the phone with laptop. You might get away with it for a while, if you use it just to check your email on the road, but with the heavy use Sprint will see that your bandwidth is way too much for the phone use.
There is the option to use the tethering, but the price is almost the same what I paying for the dedicated connection card.

Can't wait for the Palm Pre........

[NCC1701]

Ok, y'all, less than two hours after I started this thread the Wi-Fi carrier signal went out like a light bulb ... blink, it's gone, while I was using it. Got up this morning, still nothing. Called tech support back, got a much less professional (I would say snooty) guy on the line. Suggested I check with the front desk. I checked out of the hotel instead, and hope they want feedback from me regarding my stay at Staybridge Suites in Buckhead. In almost every other way the place was great (elevator was slow as sin and made an irritating 'duck' sound). They had amenities I haven't seen in rooms I paid nearly twice as much for. However, instead of conveniently reserving the room online, I called to reserve because the Wi-Fi was important to my stay and I wanted to ascertain its existance.

jwight, I am most likely going to subscribe to Autonet Mobile before long. No need to lower myself to a cell head to get internet on the road. But, it wouldn't have helped me last night, with the car at ground level in a concrete covered parking garage and me five stories up. I'll always feel entitled to "gripe" about paying for something and NOT getting it.

I just got home a short time ago. Looks like I got a couple of my best tanks yet. 307.4 miles at 38.4 mpg, and 353.0 miles at 43.5 mpg.

EDIT: Still investigating AutoNet Mobile. Trying to determine whether or not it will serve my needs. Beginning to have my doubts.

[Neonspinnazz]

I'll be using CricKet for my moble internet soon enough. $40 a month and offers 3G speeds faster than my Comcast (so embarrassing!)