Wireless Mobile Internet

[mrbojangles]

I have been considering my options for wireless mobile Internet in Toronto. I know that you can get it free at many coffee shops but that is not always convenient for me.

I have a BlackBerry Storm which is fine for looking at the Internet but I need to be able to create, edit and post ebay auction listings.

One option I have is the Bell Internet stick as I am with Bell Mobility. I can also teather my laptop and use the BlakBerry as a modem

Can anyone suggest another solution, perhaps another carrier?

I just need access to the Internet wherever I go (i.e. the car).

Thank you in advance.

 

[SecretRendezvous]

I use the roger rocket, same as the bell stick.

I only use it when I can't find a free WIFI spot. Easy, fast, convient. My laptop goes everywhere with me.

 

[mrbojangles]

Do you find the Rogers wireless fast or slow compared to at Internet at home?

The drawback about the Bell stick is that you are charged a system access fee every month because it is like a separate cell number.

 

[doggee_01]

bell and telus have a new system up and running it is amazingly fast.....

 

[Fred Zed]

There is no activation fee for Rogers stick if you sign up for a 3 year term

 

[Riley.Royal]

I am in the proccess of cancelling my bell stick as I am more home then on the road.

cause the cost of the internet stick for the month is the same cost as home internet basic packages.

and cancellation fee isa bitch to pay.

 

[serviceman]

I use my iPhone to tether to my laptop with no problems. Not as fast as wifi, but gets the job done. And luckily I get 6gb of bandwidth per month for $30 so it doesn't really cost me extra.

 

[JohnHenry]

Use your Blackberry to tether to your notebook. So extra fees like the stick AFAIK.

If you meant "No extra fees", check your contract, it specifically says that there are extra charges for doing this.

 

[ig-88]

In the States, there's a mifi device, a portable router/hotspot, that you can use with any wifi device (phone or laptop).

http://reviews.sprint.com/5611v2/115/mifi-2200-by-novatel-wireless-reviews/reviews.htm

I guess this will be available in Canada some time soon.

 

[SecretRendezvous]

Do you find the Rogers wireless fast or slow compared to at Internet at home?

The drawback about the Bell stick is that you are charged a system access fee every month because it is like a separate cell number.

Connection is very fast.

I do believe that Rogers is the same with the access fee. I don't know, I have never really looked at my bill. The stick acts like a phone number as well. It was free with the contract.

The thing that is great about it, I haven't found a spot it would not work. Including the hospital. I would give it to my mom to surf the net while she was sick. Was able to use it anywhere in the hospital even if a cell didn't work. Don't know why, but it was great.

 

[dreamblade]

Any of the sticks have a separate phone #. They need to in order to be able to connect to the cellular data network.

They are good for people on the go, but weren't designed as a replacement for regular home internet. The connection speeds depend on your location (urban=faster, rural=slower), and WILL NOT, at this point in the technology, equal Wifi or LAN. I wish the salespeople would stop promising that.

As an analogy, think of it this way: You have a car or a truck to get you places. Then you buy yourself a scooter or a smartcar. The same can be said of cable/DSL vs the USB modem: It'll get you from points A to B, but you can't do all you can with a more traditional connection.

Things to be avoided on a USB modem: Downloading, File Sharing, excessive streaming, MMOG.