Autonet Wifi for your car?? Worth the $199??

**Cartastic** · 09-21-2009, 01:19 PM

Originally Posted by 2k1Toaster

AT&T charges $30/mo (as of today 08/09/2009) for unlimited data (which is really 2Gb/mo as explained before). That's $1 more per month for something you can take anywhere, connect any number of devices to, is not a unitasker, is usable in 95% of the world, and has better coverage areas.

And for the 1yr contract, who doesnt already have a cell phone? And for those that don't how many of them would want a wifi router in the car or even know what wifi is? The contract is really a moot point.

It's $30 per month for the data going to your blackberry or smartphone ... and if you have tethering it's $60 per month ... http://www.wireless.att.com/business...comp-table.jsp

The big problem is also the battery usage as well.... if I could just use my blackberry for my 3G connection .. my battery would always be dying.... and I was also told that if they figure out you are using it for your internet they will take action against you.

So it still seems like the Autonet is way cheaper... $29 a month for a gig ....

**2k1Toaster** · 09-22-2009, 03:50 PM

you dont need to sign up for tethering to get it tethered. It is impossible to trace where the data went once it enters the phone, therefore impossible to prove it was or was not tethered.

**jeremyislame** · 09-25-2009, 02:34 PM

Actually .. the major difference with the Autonet product that nobody has mentioned.. is that they actually manage the data for you.... so say the police are using a cell card to transfer an incident report and the cell card loses connection.. this could either cause the data to be entirely lost.. or corrupt the database. ....the autonet router will essentially put the data on pause ... holding it's place ... saving any data from being lost and avoiding corruption... this is part of the TRU technology they developed that also manages the connection ....eliminating the drop call/connection syndrome we all experience.

**HiJackZX1** · 09-25-2009, 03:44 PM

Well on my setup, I use a Belkin Access Point, which is then connected to a ethernet switch, which is then connected to the 7 Car PC units. The main PC has the data card to connect to the internet and all computers have access to it. Alot of the stuff was stuff no longer used at my job.

54G Access Point: FREE
8 Port Ehternet Switch: FREE
Future Data Card: $145 / $39.99 a month for true unlimited.

**justchat_1** · 09-25-2009, 03:51 PM

Originally Posted by jeremyislame

Actually .. the major difference with the Autonet product that nobody has mentioned.. is that they actually manage the data for you.... so say the police are using a cell card to transfer an incident report and the cell card loses connection.. this could either cause the data to be entirely lost.. or corrupt the database. ....the autonet router will essentially put the data on pause ... holding it's place ... saving any data from being lost and avoiding corruption... this is part of the TRU technology they developed that also manages the connection ....eliminating the drop call/connection syndrome we all experience.

A tethered cell phone will do the same thing...or at least most of them will.

**Cartastic** · 09-28-2009, 04:31 PM

Originally Posted by justchat_1

A tethered cell phone will do the same thing...or at least most of them will.

My blackberry definitely doesn't manage the data and connection.... if I submit an online form and lose connection ... I have to re-type in all the information.

**soundman98** · 09-29-2009, 06:41 PM

Originally Posted by Cartastic

My blackberry definitely doesn't manage the data and connection.... if I submit an online form and lose connection ... I have to re-type in all the information.

so, in your opinion, is it worth $200+$30mo. For caching?

**justchat_1** · 09-29-2009, 07:13 PM

Well i have a 4 year old bottom of the line LG phone that does...

**jeremyislame** · 09-30-2009, 07:55 PM

Originally Posted by soundman98

so, in your opinion, is it worth $200+$30mo. For caching?

I think so .... WAY cheaper than a cell card and it doesn't lose data if you drop connection

**Cartastic** · 10-12-2009, 07:08 PM

Ok so ... I got my router installed and working! Here is my review with the experience so far.

Delivery- Came fast and easy.. I ordered from Amazon.com and the cost after rebate was a little over $200.00 ! $386.94 plus tax with a $200 rebate!

Installation- I had my local stereo store install it under my seat for $50! They told me it took about 30 min!

Performance- First off.. one thing I learned that the Autonet router does that I didn't know it could do is the system actually manages the data for you.
Lets say you are moving down the highway ...uploading a document and you lose connection to the tower...... Autonet will put the upload on pause.. and resume once you re-establish connection. This means you won't lose the data you are transmitting or send half of a document .. possibly corrupting a database. Amazing!

I would say Autonet is pretty spot on with what they claim. It seems to work seemlessly while in motion.... MUCH better than my cell card did. I am able to stream pandora without choppyness or lag ... I will say that every now and then you may get a second of hiccup but it's not enough to annoy you.... like once every 30 minutes.
Video streaming also works pretty good... granted it's still a 3g connection so the loading can be a little combersome but once it's starts streaming I have noticed very little hiccuping. It's for sure better than a cell card.

Range-Autonetmobile claims you can use it up to 150 ft from the vehicle and I would say this is accurate. I didn't bust out a tape measure but I was about 120-140 ft away with no problems.

All in all I would say I feel really good about the price and the performance... in the long run it will save me money for sure ... my cell card was costing me about $80 per month on average and Autonet is $29 FLAT rate. No taxes, no overages, no roaming.

I am definitely excited to road trip it up now!!!!