Advice on wireless internet while travelling in USA
 

I'm a challenged individual when it comes to this stuff - that's why I've got kids to setup new computers, DVD players, TVs, etc. However, in about a week, my wife and I will be heading your way for six weeks of driving in the US and it is becoming increasingly obvious that being able to stay in email contact with a number of friends and Pelicans along the way and being able to research where to go and what to do on the internet will be a great help.

Question is: what are your recommendations for setting up a wireless broadband internet account. Here in Aus, my eldest daughter has a USB thingy that she plugs into her laptop and that works wherever she is here, so I guess I'm looking for something similar, but for west and east coast coverage.
I've Googled the subject and had a bit of a browse around, but I can't find anything similar in the states.
Can someone recommend or steer me towards a reliable service provider?

I don't think there is just one, get a iphone and as your roaming around it will scan for wifi signals, most hotels have them.

I'm computer illiterate myself, but if your laptop has a wireless card there are any number of restaurants, bars, coffee shops, motels, etc that offer free WiFi. You just turn on your pooter and it automatically searches for an available network and you log on as you normally would. Don't know where you're staying during your trip but most hotels/motels, even budget ones have a computer in common areas available for use by their patrons. So you may not even need to drag the pooter along unless you want to download pics enroute.


Am I missing something? Like I saud i am pretty much a neophyte.

Where are you travelling to and friom?

I'm going to assume that you are looking for a mobile (cellular) data plan and not a WiFi connection. Unfortunately, in the US, there are very few options. However, I think these may suit your needs:

Mobile Broadband Service | Virgin Mobile

http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/mobilebroadband/?page=products_prepaidmb

If you want to go with a pay-as-you-go smartphone instead, you go go with this:

Boost Mobile - Compare Cell Phone Plans

Most of the cell phone companies have USB broadband modems, but there's spotty coverage. Probably the biggest coverage is Verizon, but there are many more. They should have coverage maps on their websites.

We use Verizon modems at work, but I stay near the office or a hotel so I don't usually need one. I borrowed a Cricket broadband modem the other day and it worked pretty good where there was coverage, but it was a little slow. I think the Cricket modem is $140 plus $40 per month unlimited use.

While we have a wireless system for the house, we only have one Verizon wireless modem for travel...coverage is great, speed serviceable.

When we go on vacation, I head to the nearest Verizon store and ask if we can try a wireless modem for a month for one of my kids computers.

Verizon allows customers a one month trial period for just the cost of the service. When you return the modem you get your money back for the price of the modem.

We always return the modem to the same store...I'm not sure if you can return the modem to any Verizon store, but it is worth asking if you can.

We've done this four or five times and it works great.

free wi-fi hotspots wifi cafes coffee shops hotels airports RV Parks

McDonalds, Panera, Barnes & Noble.... Many retailers/coffeehouses/restaurants have free wifi around here.

For Broadband, I use my Iphone (AT&T) and have borrowed a Verizon card. Both work well, but are slower than WiFi.

If you're bringing a laptop and it has an internal wireless modem or a card that you insert (pcmcia) into the side of the laptop, you don't need to do anything.

Unlike Oz (I was there for 3 weeks in Jan, including Perth), you can get wireless internet in most every city, usually for free.

If you don't have a computer with a wireless modem (not cellular), then you could get a cellular modem but that would be a hassle.

Also unlike Oz, there are very few Internet Cafes with computers + access that you can use for $.

Hope this helps and if you're coming my way, let me know. I'll regale you with stories of traveling the Nullabor on a bmw--no Wolf Creek stuff, though. Jack

The Verizon air card works for me.....sometimes slow but reliable. Not good for downloading movies as yo are limitted to 5K of downloads a month.....you can get about 2-3 movies, that's about it. But good for cruising the net and getting email and updates for your Operating Systema and anti virus.

Skype allows you to use airport or hot spot access and pay for it with SKYPE credits that can be paid via PayPal.

Problem with all the above options, ie cellular USB cards, is that all of them will probably want a two year commitment. I am not sure of any plans that will give you unlimited internet for one month sign-up.

Best bet is to check your hotels ahead of time for free internet. Enjoy your trip!

Thanks for the input guys.
I will bring my laptop and see how it goes for first week of trip.
For that week, I will be staying with friends in Carson City so I will have time to follow up on some of the options above.
Thanks again.

Verizon has a pre-paid no contract plan, but it's not cheap.

+1 to the McDonald's (et al) idea. That's all I did on my recent trip.

My kids have already clued me in to using McDonalds :)