Need high-speed Internet via cellphone

Hello gurus,

After reading the newsgroups and Google I'm still somewhat confused
about the current hardware needed to get high-speed wireless access to
the Internet via a cell phone tethered to a laptop.

I would like access speed of at least 144 kbps and have decided to go
with EDGE technology if it is available as part of Cingular's
MediaWorks plan (at about $20./month). I understand that to get that
plan one must also use one their cellular phone plans. I already have
the AT&T GoPhone plan but from what I've learned, it is not compatible
with the Cingular MediaWorks plan. Apparently I'll have to purchase an
EDGE cellular phone and find a compatible calling plan. Does Cingular
offer a pay-as-you-go plan that uses an EDGE phone? What type of EDGE
hardware or phone gets the best speed? Which high-speed EDGE phone is
the least expensive?

I've also read that an alternative way of getting cellular Internet
access is by purchasing an EDGE PCMCIA card, but that will be a cost
of about $80./month that's in addition to my cellular calling plan and
the cost of the card. Would Bluetooth technology be of any use here?

Can someone suggest the best combination of Internet access speed and
cell phone plan costs? Any help appreciated. Thanks.

---

› See More: Need high-speed Internet via cellphone

I use the EDGE PCMCIA card myself. I do know that you need to check
what class of service the EDGE phone or card uses to get the fastest
data speeds. The higher the class, the better. My Sony Ericsson GC83
card is a class 10 EDGE device. The Sierra Wireless 775 Aircard is a
class 12. As I understand it (it's been awhile since I read this), a
class 10 device uses 10 slots (channels) - some for sending, and others
for receiving. A class 12 device uses 12 slots (channels). If you are
buying a phone, check to see what the class rating is.

Note that unless you get unlimited service, you will be very limited in
how much you can use the service for normal web browsing, as it will
end up being prohibitively expensive. Data transferred accumulates
quite rapidly, and the cost per megabyte adds up. I have the Laptop
Connect unlimited plan for $80/month.

I haven't really looked into it, but bluetooth should work. It will
consume the batteries faster in the cell phone and laptop however.
Infrared is another option. Tethering is probably the best for battery
life if you don't want to use a PC card. It really depends however on
how long you will be using the service at each sitting, if battery life
is really going to be a factor.

> Note that unless you get unlimited service, you will be very limited in
> how much you can use the service for normal web browsing, as it will
> end up being prohibitively expensive. Data transferred accumulates
> quite rapidly, and the cost per megabyte adds up. I have the Laptop
> Connect unlimited plan for $80/month.
Though I've been told here that MediaWorks works, my phone doesn't seem
to agree with that. So on a recent trip I had to sign up for DataConnect.
Foolishly thinking I didn't need much I signed up for 5MB. Performance
was awful - about 19200 baud - but just a few days checking web mail
amounted to 13.9MB for an overage charge of $70. YMMV

"GomJabbar" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I use the EDGE PCMCIA card myself. I do know that you need to check
> what class of service the EDGE phone or card uses to get the fastest
> data speeds. The higher the class, the better. My Sony Ericsson GC83
> card is a class 10 EDGE device. The Sierra Wireless 775 Aircard is a
> class 12. As I understand it (it's been awhile since I read this), a
> class 10 device uses 10 slots (channels) - some for sending, and others
> for receiving. A class 12 device uses 12 slots (channels). If you are
> buying a phone, check to see what the class rating is.
>
> Note that unless you get unlimited service, you will be very limited in
> how much you can use the service for normal web browsing, as it will
> end up being prohibitively expensive. Data transferred accumulates
> quite rapidly, and the cost per megabyte adds up. I have the Laptop
> Connect unlimited plan for $80/month.
>
> I haven't really looked into it, but bluetooth should work. It will
> consume the batteries faster in the cell phone and laptop however.
> Infrared is another option. Tethering is probably the best for battery
> life if you don't want to use a PC card. It really depends however on
> how long you will be using the service at each sitting, if battery life
> is really going to be a factor.
>

actually the class has nothing to do with how fast the device is because i
believe cingular tops out at class 8 speeds.
you dont really need to pay the 80$ a month unlimited internet unless you
have to have an outside IP address.
I.E. you need to log into a server that has to have a firewall set up.

the 40$ month unlimited PDA plan should work just fine with any edge capable
cards.

if your looking for data only and NO voice, i would suggest going with
T-mobile.. they have a good unlimited internet with an edge card for 30$ a
month.

Aaron wrote:
>
> the 40$ month unlimited PDA plan should work just fine with any edge capable
> cards.
>

Wouldn't $20 unlimited MediaNet work fine too? Are there any restrictions?

Thanks.

--
DG
NJ

I beg to differ. See PC Magazine article (dated 3/2/05) below:

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,1770749,00.asp

The following is quoted from the above article:

"There are 12 classes of EDGE devices, based on the number of time
slots they can use; higher classes offer faster data transfer. The most
advanced EDGE phones currently use Class 10, with four downloading
slots and two uploading slots. And though Class 10's theoretical
maximum speed is 236 Kbps, we maxed out at 220 Kbps during testing."

I don't think media net will allow laptop tethering. This is awful
with Cingular. Using Verizon I could connect direct to the internet
for free. It was a life saver when my Cable modem would go out.

Dmitry Gromov <[email protected]> wrote:

>Aaron wrote:
>>
>> the 40$ month unlimited PDA plan should work just fine with any edge capable
>> cards.
>>
>
>Wouldn't $20 unlimited MediaNet work fine too? Are there any restrictions?
>
>Thanks.

Howard Huntley wrote:
> I don't think media net will allow laptop tethering. This is awful
> with Cingular. Using Verizon I could connect direct to the internet
> for free. It was a life saver when my Cable modem would go out.
>

Hm... Really? I have MediaNet unlimited an have no issues using it with
my laptop via SE S710a... Web and IMAP/SMTP work fine.
I thought, there are some other restrictions, like they monitor
excessive use and close many ports...


--
DG
NJ

[POSTED TO alt.cellular.cingular - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

In <[email protected]> on Sun, 18 Sep 2005 20:39:48 -0500,
[email protected] wrote:

>> Note that unless you get unlimited service, you will be very limited in
>> how much you can use the service for normal web browsing, as it will
>> end up being prohibitively expensive. Data transferred accumulates
>> quite rapidly, and the cost per megabyte adds up. I have the Laptop
>> Connect unlimited plan for $80/month.

> Though I've been told here that MediaWorks works,

It does (MEdia Net that is).

>my phone doesn't seem
>to agree with that.

May not have been configured properly, or your account may not have been
provisioned properly.

>So on a recent trip I had to sign up for DataConnect.
>Foolishly thinking I didn't need much I signed up for 5MB. Performance
>was awful - about 19200 baud -

Sounds like you were using CSD (9600 bps) rather than GPRS (up to about 50
Kbps).

>but just a few days checking web mail
>amounted to 13.9MB for an overage charge of $70. YMMV

That's why I use and recommend MEdia Net Unlimited.

--
Best regards, HELP FOR CINGULAR GSM & SONY ERICSSON PHONES:
John Navas <http://navasgrp.home.att.net/#Cingular>

[POSTED TO alt.cellular.cingular - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

In <[email protected]> on Sun, 18 Sep 2005 19:05:02 -0700,
"Aaron" <[email protected]> wrote:

>the 40$ month unlimited PDA plan should work just fine with any edge capable
>cards.

The $20/month MEdia Net Unlimited option works just fine with EDGE-capable
handsets (including tethered use of a computer) and PC Cards.
--
Best regards, HELP FOR CINGULAR GSM & SONY ERICSSON PHONES:
John Navas <http://navasgrp.home.att.net/#Cingular>

[POSTED TO alt.cellular.cingular - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

In <[email protected]> on Mon, 19 Sep 2005 01:44:52 -0400,
Dmitry Gromov <[email protected]> wrote:

>Howard Huntley wrote:
>> I don't think media net will allow laptop tethering. This is awful
>> with Cingular. Using Verizon I could connect direct to the internet
>> for free. It was a life saver when my Cable modem would go out.
>
>Hm... Really? I have MediaNet unlimited an have no issues using it with
>my laptop via SE S710a... Web and IMAP/SMTP work fine.
>I thought, there are some other restrictions, like they monitor
>excessive use and close many ports...

I've seen no evidence of monitoring for "excessive use" (and I sometimes have
had very high usage), and the only port issue I've encountered is VPN (no
problem with SSH).

--
Best regards, HELP FOR CINGULAR GSM & SONY ERICSSON PHONES:
John Navas <http://navasgrp.home.att.net/#Cingular>

[POSTED TO alt.cellular.cingular - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

In <[email protected]> on Mon, 19 Sep 2005 00:27:00
-0400, Howard Huntley <[email protected]> wrote:

>I don't think media net will allow laptop tethering. ...

It's not supported by Cingular, but isn't prohibited and does work.

--
Best regards, HELP FOR CINGULAR GSM & SONY ERICSSON PHONES:
John Navas <http://navasgrp.home.att.net/#Cingular>

[POSTED TO alt.cellular.cingular - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

In <[email protected]> on Sun, 18 Sep 2005 22:51:41 -0400,
Dmitry Gromov <[email protected]> wrote:

>Aaron wrote:
>>
>> the 40$ month unlimited PDA plan should work just fine with any edge capable
>> cards.
>
>Wouldn't $20 unlimited MediaNet work fine too?

Yes.

>Are there any restrictions?

1. No support for tethered devices -- you're on your own.
2. Some services (e.g., VPN) won't work. (Most services do work fine.)
3. No Data Acceleration (primarily lossy image compression, available on more
expensive Data Connect service).

--
Best regards, HELP FOR CINGULAR GSM & SONY ERICSSON PHONES:
John Navas <http://navasgrp.home.att.net/#Cingular>

[POSTED TO alt.cellular.cingular - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

In <[email protected]> on Sun, 18 Sep 2005 19:02:09
-0500, M.L. <[email protected]> wrote:

>After reading the newsgroups and Google I'm still somewhat confused
>about the current hardware needed to get high-speed wireless access to
>the Internet via a cell phone tethered to a laptop.

Either a handset or a PC card will work.

>I would like access speed of at least 144 kbps and have decided to go
>with EDGE technology if it is available as part of Cingular's
>MediaWorks plan (at about $20./month).

EGPRS(EDGE) can meet that speed requirement, but only with Class 10 or 12
devices, and only in good signal areas.

The option is actually "MEdia Net Unlimited".

>I understand that to get that
>plan one must also use one their cellular phone plans. I already have
>the AT&T GoPhone plan but from what I've learned, it is not compatible
>with the Cingular MediaWorks plan. Apparently I'll have to purchase an
>EDGE cellular phone and find a compatible calling plan.

Correct on all these points.

>Does Cingular
>offer a pay-as-you-go plan that uses an EDGE phone?

No.

>What type of EDGE
>hardware or phone gets the best speed?

Class 10 or 12.

>Which high-speed EDGE phone is
>the least expensive?

Used PC Card (e.g., Sony Ericsson GC82) on eBay.

>I've also read that an alternative way of getting cellular Internet
>access is by purchasing an EDGE PCMCIA card, but that will be a cost
>of about $80./month that's in addition to my cellular calling plan and
>the cost of the card.

"MEdia Net Unlimited" for $20/month will work on a PC Card. Subscribe to
SIM-only service (1 year plan) and buy your own PC Card.

>Would Bluetooth technology be of any use here?

Sure -- that's how I connect my notebook computer to my Motorola V551
(EGPRS/EDGE Class 4, about 100 Kbps versus 150 Kbps for my PC Card).

>Can someone suggest the best combination of Internet access speed and
>cell phone plan costs? Any help appreciated. Thanks.

Cheapest voice plan plus "MEdia Net Unlimited" with a Class 10 or 12
EGPRS(EDGE) device.

--
Best regards, HELP FOR CINGULAR GSM & SONY ERICSSON PHONES:
John Navas <http://navasgrp.home.att.net/#Cingular>

[POSTED TO alt.cellular.cingular - REPLY ON USENET PLEASE]

In <[email protected]> on 18 Sep 2005
18:02:14 -0700, "GomJabbar" <[email protected]> wrote:

>I use the EDGE PCMCIA card myself. I do know that you need to check
>what class of service the EDGE phone or card uses to get the fastest
>data speeds. The higher the class, the better. My Sony Ericsson GC83
>card is a class 10 EDGE device. The Sierra Wireless 775 Aircard is a
>class 12. As I understand it (it's been awhile since I read this), a
>class 10 device uses 10 slots (channels) - some for sending, and others
>for receiving. A class 12 device uses 12 slots (channels). If you are
>buying a phone, check to see what the class rating is.

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--
Best regards, HELP FOR CINGULAR GSM & SONY ERICSSON PHONES:
John Navas <http://navasgrp.home.att.net/#Cingular>