Since there have been other discussions about internet access methods, I thought I'd relate my most recent setup. I'm writing this as I am connected to the 'net through Nextel's Packet Gold service, using my cell phone as a modem. It's a "virtual" 56K connection, actually accomplished at 19,200, but giving the appearance of a 56K connection through compression. It operates at about the same, or a little faster, than a standard dial-up connection, unless the download is already compressed (like many pictures), in which case it can't be compressed any more, and the download is at the "actual" speed of 19.2K.
While this is considerably slower than my cable broadband, it is also a lot more flexible. Cable, of course, is limited to the physical location of the cable hookup. I'm about to step up to the next phase of our property development, where I will spend about as much time in Okeechobee doing construction as I will at home, 45 miles away. There is no cable or DSL access in our rural setting, and it will be a while until there is a suitable spot for a satellite. There is a WISP (Wireless Internet Service Provider) recently set up in the coastal counties which provides broadband access for $50/month over a radio setup, but they require a permanent site for an antenna, and they have not yet extended service to towers in Okeechobee. Obviously, I won't have a land line set up at my property for some time to come.
Therefore, this is the only feasible way I can see to get internet access regardless of where I am. It isn't perfect, but I'm surprised it works as well as it does.
Some of the other cell phone companies offer a similar service, some are faster, and some are cheaper, but none offer the service in my area as widely as Nextel, plus I already have a Nextel account. Many of the others are only offered where they have "enhanced" digital service. My son's workplace, for example, has provided them with Sprint wireless access, but the coverage is spotty in our area compared to Nextel. My wife's workplace uses Verizon, but it does not work well from Okeechobee. And a real estate friend of ours has signed up with TMobile, but she can't use it at our property. Only Nextel seems to be strong enough in the rural area.
But, best of all, sometime in the next 4 to 8 months, Nextel will be offering a faster service from Motorola called wIden, which will have a physical connection of over 70K and a virtual speed of about 300K. The technology is either in place or being installed, now. It is supposed to be at about the same price.
The service costs $55/month, but it is actually a savings for me. Until now, we had two cable internet accounts -- one at home, where we pay residential rates, and the other at my commercial property, where I had to pay $70/month for it, because it was a commercial address. Now that I'm close to selling the commercial property, I've canceled the $70 service and substituted the $55 Nextel account. The Packet Gold service is for unlimited time; there are no minutes or transaction sizes to worry about, and I can still use my phone as a phone while it is connected to the internet.
The neat thing is, I could be anywhere right now and would still have the same access. Unless the WISP extends service to Okeechobee (they run at about 2 Megabits), and lets me use some sort of portable antenna, I'll be using this service for the next 6 months to a year while construction is in progress. I'll be using my motor home in Okeechobee as a construction "trailer".
While this is considerably slower than my cable broadband, it is also a lot more flexible. Cable, of course, is limited to the physical location of the cable hookup. I'm about to step up to the next phase of our property development, where I will spend about as much time in Okeechobee doing construction as I will at home, 45 miles away. There is no cable or DSL access in our rural setting, and it will be a while until there is a suitable spot for a satellite. There is a WISP (Wireless Internet Service Provider) recently set up in the coastal counties which provides broadband access for $50/month over a radio setup, but they require a permanent site for an antenna, and they have not yet extended service to towers in Okeechobee. Obviously, I won't have a land line set up at my property for some time to come.
Therefore, this is the only feasible way I can see to get internet access regardless of where I am. It isn't perfect, but I'm surprised it works as well as it does.
Some of the other cell phone companies offer a similar service, some are faster, and some are cheaper, but none offer the service in my area as widely as Nextel, plus I already have a Nextel account. Many of the others are only offered where they have "enhanced" digital service. My son's workplace, for example, has provided them with Sprint wireless access, but the coverage is spotty in our area compared to Nextel. My wife's workplace uses Verizon, but it does not work well from Okeechobee. And a real estate friend of ours has signed up with TMobile, but she can't use it at our property. Only Nextel seems to be strong enough in the rural area.
But, best of all, sometime in the next 4 to 8 months, Nextel will be offering a faster service from Motorola called wIden, which will have a physical connection of over 70K and a virtual speed of about 300K. The technology is either in place or being installed, now. It is supposed to be at about the same price.
The service costs $55/month, but it is actually a savings for me. Until now, we had two cable internet accounts -- one at home, where we pay residential rates, and the other at my commercial property, where I had to pay $70/month for it, because it was a commercial address. Now that I'm close to selling the commercial property, I've canceled the $70 service and substituted the $55 Nextel account. The Packet Gold service is for unlimited time; there are no minutes or transaction sizes to worry about, and I can still use my phone as a phone while it is connected to the internet.
The neat thing is, I could be anywhere right now and would still have the same access. Unless the WISP extends service to Okeechobee (they run at about 2 Megabits), and lets me use some sort of portable antenna, I'll be using this service for the next 6 months to a year while construction is in progress. I'll be using my motor home in Okeechobee as a construction "trailer".
