3G Internet?

[juppy]

Got a question for anyone that knows about 3G networks.

AT&T rolled out their 3G network a couple weeks ago in the city we live just on the outskirts of (Enid, Oklahoma). Their coverage area map shows that where we live is well inside the area for voice AND data. Question is this.....is the 3G network capable of or available for home internet usage (as in no roaming, just a home computer)? Because, as most of you know, I'm still on dialup out here because AT&T won't run DSL to us.

An article I read in our local paper said the 3G would have "internet services" available, but all I can find on AT&T's site is stuff about getting internet on your cell phone or laptop. Personally, I would think if it's available for a laptop, it would be available for any computer, but then again, all I can find are these "Air Card" things that seem to hook to a PCMCIA slot *only*. So is this 3G stuff just for cell phones and I'm still out of luck for getting on the broadband bandwagon? *maybe should've just called that the broadbandwagon

Any knowledge appreciated, because I Googled for 45 minutes already and found zilch.

[mbossman2]

3G wireless internet is fine for phones, backup/failover on a business router (like this) and for road warriors (via this) but if you are thinking about using this for your everyday internet access, this is not ready for prime time from a cost perspective.

see the data connect plans. As you can see, the low $$ plans are also limited, rather significantly, in their data limits and if you go over them, you absolutely get creamed.

I just had this discussion with my wife about this and, for me, the costs do not outweigh the benefits. Plus, if there is a public hotspot available, the cost for internet access drop to nothing

[glc]

Check the plans carefully, if you do it, get a USB aircard. The other option is a Sierra 881 aircard and the Linksys router made for it, it has a slot for it.

http://www.evdoinfo.com/content/view/2043/64/

60 bucks a month only gets you 5gb data transfer per month without overage charges.

[juppy]

Thanks for the info, guys....especially that link to the data plans, mbossman....I hadn't been able to find that, for some reason. I have to agree with you guys though; the costs look pretty outrageous for no more data than you get. I mean, heck, the lowest plan, at $20.00 has a 10MB limit per month? I go through that much *easily* each night with my slow-as-sludge dialup connection!

I had read that the connection speed might be slow at times too, but when compared to my usual 21k, even their "slow" was pretty darn fast. Not for that price though.....especially with that much of an overage charge too. Oh well.....guess I'm still stuck in the land of dialup. *sigh*

Thanks again for the info and suggestions.

[glc]

Juppy, go here:

http://www.onelasvegas.com/wireless/OK.html

Search the page for "enid" and check out all the hits. You may find an acceptable plan. These are local ground-based fixed wireless providers, not 3G cellular. They put a small antenna on your roof.

[juppy]

Thanks for the link, glc. I only found three sites on there for our area......one was under construction and the other two pointed to the same business. That business was like most of the other places I've checked into.....high setup fees. For instance, their "bronze package" is only $16.95/month, but the setup fee is $474.00. Out of my price range, unfortunately.

There's another place around here that does that same type of connection, but I can never get ahold of their "guru". Every time I call, I get their secretary telling me "The person you need to speak with is out of the office at the moment, please call back later". When I call back later, I get the same response. I tried asking HER if she at least knew the pricing and whatnot, but she didn't know diddly squat. I've tried contacting them about 3 or 4 times and never found him "in the office". Maybe I just need to go down to their business and camp out until he comes back in, then tackle him.

When I checked for AT&T's availability (DSL) it always says it's unavailable and tries to point me to their satellite internet crap. Neighbor had that and said it sucked, so I'm not even going there. (That's the neighbor, BTW, that *can* get DSL at her house.....AT&T just won't run the cable another quarter mile to us.)