Free wireless internet for my car...

Defiler · 11-23-2002, 09:45 PM

Update on 1/30/03...seemed more like a hardware thread...

I've been using Sprint PCS for a few months now and a few weeks ago they changed all the vision plans (high speed <<cough>> internet)to unlimited because people had a hard time figuring out how much data they accualy used. So, I just bought a USB data cable for my Samsung N400 phone, should be here by next week, and with the software provided by Sprint you can connect to the internet, with your computer, at speeds up to 144Kbs.

Now I know 144 is not what I will get 99.5% of the time but it is still free internet anytime, for as long as I want, anywhere in the US, IN MY CAR!!!

Sometimes I just love technology...

Stine161 · 11-23-2002, 10:09 PM

guessing thats a cell phone your hooking up to then in your car? then its not totally free, still paying air time (depending on your contract) and wont be high speed in yer car more like a 14.4 modem speed if your going threw cell lines....

Defiler · 11-23-2002, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Stine161
guessing thats a cell phone your hooking up to then in your car? then its not totally free, still paying air time (depending on your contract) and wont be high speed in yer car more like a 14.4 modem speed if your going threw cell lines....

Wrong and wrong...LOL Just kidding.

It's my work phone and they foot the bill.
Second, it's a 3G system not 2G...big difference in speed.

saabmp3 · 11-24-2002, 02:19 AM

The fact that it's 3G doesn't matter. When traveling in your car your going to be going through many different cell towers every minute you will get a very low connection speed. I hate to say it, but that's the state that technology is at at the moment.

BEN

eeguru · 11-24-2002, 02:39 AM

It's phase one of cdma2000. They've upgraded the packet network behind the air interface with an upgrade of the air interface still to come. It not quite '3G' yet. Basically you can use all the available bandwidth on a tower after voice packets for data communications. If a lot of people are talking, you're bandwidth goes down. Same with a lot of people browsing. With CDPD or cell modems you were limited to the same quality of service as a single voice call.

Sprint advertises a nationwide network, but PCS coverage outside of KC can be spotty. Especially in deep buildings. Great for a car computer, but if your going to use the phone a lot, do a lot of research, referals, and test drives before you buy.

True 3G is deploying in Europe and has already been deployed in Japan. 1.5Mpbs stationary and upto 144 true bps at 60 mph! Drool! Don't hold your breathe in the states though. Not even going to auction off the frequency band for a couple more years.

Defiler · 11-24-2002, 11:00 AM

OK OK...So it's 2.5G...LOL

STILL...If I really needed something off the internet while I'm on the road it's there...From what I understand next year will bring faster speeds. Who knows what that means but I'll be happy...

I'll run a speed test to see what I get when it comes in.

eeguru · 11-24-2002, 12:44 PM

I'd be interested in hearing your experiences. I'm one of the 2 people on earth that do not have a cell phone. Sometimes I just want to have an excuse to be out of touch. However I've been looking at PCS for a while. The signal strength is pretty crappy where I work (north Atlanta), but unlimited internet access 24/7 in the car is really really tempting! Especially if I could throw up the traffic camera image 5 miles up the road automatically!

Superfly · 12-01-2002, 02:57 PM

I am using my Ericsson T68i for GPRS wit AT&T and it works pretty well....concidering work foots the bill....it rocks!

Defiler · 01-28-2003, 06:24 PM

Well, I finally got a cable after waiting for the "Hydra" cable to come out. I got mine at Radio Shack for $19.99.

Now the results...I get, with two bars on my Samsung N400, between 47 and 54Kb/s consistantly.

Not the fastest connection but still up there with a 56K modem.

Needless to say I'm happy.

Goodluck to all...

FALLENNITE · 01-28-2003, 07:32 PM

iF YOU WANT HIGH SPEED INTERNET BUT DON'T WANT TO SPEND MONEY FOR IT there are ways to get it. Of course it will not be able to get it everywhere but certain parts of the city even whole cities. 802.11b is everywhere and certain people are making it free for uses to everybody. This only works in the cities not out in the boones

wysiwyg · 01-29-2003, 12:07 AM

I don't care what speed it is at, internet in your vehicle is awesome.

cproaudio · 01-29-2003, 01:42 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by FALLENNITE
iF YOU WANT HIGH SPEED INTERNET BUT DON'T WANT TO SPEND MONEY FOR IT there are ways to get it. Of course it will not be able to get it everywhere but certain parts of the city even whole cities. 802.11b is everywhere and certain people are making it free for uses to everybody. This only works in the cities not out in the boones

Even big cities like Las Vegas and Los Angeles don't have access points everywhere. I was in LV a few weeks ago. I never locked on to any access point. Even when I was parked right next to CES. Same with LA. Same with SD. Even if you were able to pick up an access point, the signal is weak and it won't let you connect to the internet. By the time the computer recongize an access point, you have already pass it. We're/I'm looking for an internet access where ever, when ever and traveling at any speed we/I want. Not just when/where an access point is available and sitting still.

Quote:

Originally posted by wysiwyg
I don't care what speed it is at, internet in your vehicle is awesome.

I used to think like you. I didnt care what the connection speed was. I just wanted internet in my truck and I don't want to spend alot of money as I will only be using it maybe once a week or so. I currently have Nokia 8290 with Cingular wireless. My phone transmits data through the IrDA port. I bought a MA620 USB IrDA B/C I know for a fact that it works with my phone and many many others as a modem. I tried it out and my phone displayed "CHECK OPERATOR SERVICES" and disconnects. I called Cingular and turned on the data connection for 3.99 a month. It uses my regular minutes instead of amount of data being transfered like almost every other services. Once I got it all hooked up, I did a test run. It connects at 9.6kbps every single time. From the time I hit connect on my PC to loading google.com as homepage took about 3 minutes. Then from that to the mp3car.com forum took another 3-4 minutes. It was painfully slow. I'm currently looking for other cell phone service that provides at least dial up speed and dirt cheap service.

ddt · 01-29-2003, 02:05 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by cproaudio
Even big cities like Las Vegas and Los Angeles don't have access points everywhere. I was in LV a few weeks ago. I never locked on to any access point. Even when I was parked right next to CES. Same with LA. Same with SD. Even if you were able to pick up an access point, the signal is weak and it won't let you connect to the internet.

Wow... here in Houston alone I've mapped out a few hundred AP's most I can connect to within a few seconds. I'm suprised LA doesn't have many...

BTW, what kind of antenna are you utilizing?

cproaudio · 01-30-2003, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ddt
Wow... here in Houston alone I've mapped out a few hundred AP's most I can connect to within a few seconds. I'm suprised LA doesn't have many...

BTW, what kind of antenna are you utilizing?

I live about 2 hours from LA. The times that I was there, I couldnt pick up any access point. I have a Linksys USB adapter mounted right under the top of the dash cap. If you've seen my install, it's right behind the monitor. The antenna on it is not extendable.

Defiler · 01-30-2003, 05:40 PM

Ok. I was in jacksonville when I did the first test and now I'm in my home town of Tampa.

Well I tested the connection at a test FTP site and the results were amazing!!!

I maxed out at 3.75Mb/s!!!

That's right 3.75Mb and would bounce between 3.25 and 3.65Mb.

The odd thing about it is http doesn't seem to go nearly as fast nor does streaming audio from shoutcast...I'll have to look into this.

Wouldn't it be great to stream audio 24/7 to your car??!!!

UPDATE:

Broke my record!!!

Notice the size of the file and the amount of time it took to download...

Gotta love technology!

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