New Verizon Wireless Air Card

[JavaJelly]

After much research and help from this forum I just purchased a Verizon Air Card 595. Thank you all for your speedy and thoughtful responses.

Price - $150. There is a $50 rebate. 2 Year agreement at $60/month. I can suspend up to 6 months a year if I don't need to use the card.

I selected Verizon for a few reasons:
National Coverage - (BTW, it is the only service that works where I am)
I am an existing customer and have been for some time
Planned upgrades to their network
I got $100 credit for having an original air card that is at least 5 years old. (If you are doing your math, I got it for free. )

The new card I chose is the only one compatible w/Windows Vista, will work with Rev A, due out on the network later this year and has an external antenna port. It is the latest and greatest until next week at least.

I also purchased the window mount external antenna, $15. I will be looking into wireless routers at a later date so DW can share the connection.

I am traveling to Newmar on Sunday and putting the card through its paces. I will report back then.

Also, started looking into a Datastorm. Hopefully will be seeing Bob at Newmar and get the scoop and a demo.

[JavaJelly]

After much research and help from this forum I just purchased a Verizon Air Card 595. Thank you all for your speedy and thoughtful responses.

Price - $150. There is a $50 rebate. 2 Year agreement at $60/month. I can suspend up to 6 months a year if I don't need to use the card.

I selected Verizon for a few reasons:
National Coverage - (BTW, it is the only service that works where I am)
I am an existing customer and have been for some time
Planned upgrades to their network
I got $100 credit for having an original air card that is at least 5 years old. (If you are doing your math, I got it for free. )

The new card I chose is the only one compatible w/Windows Vista, will work with Rev A, due out on the network later this year and has an external antenna port. It is the latest and greatest until next week at least.

I also purchased the window mount external antenna, $15. I will be looking into wireless routers at a later date so DW can share the connection.

I am traveling to Newmar on Sunday and putting the card through its paces. I will report back then.

Also, started looking into a Datastorm. Hopefully will be seeing Bob at Newmar and get the scoop and a demo.

[Rick 2005 Dolphin 5376]

Good stuff. Can't wait to hear the report on how it works.

[slabman]

Java, your card will work well with the Top Global MB6000 which is the one demonstrated to me today. (See my other thread on this). I think you'll be amazed at the performance.... I was.

[Frankie]

Java, I just got the 595 aircard. I have 5 phones on my family plan and was do a free upgrade on all my phones. One of wich I had a $100 credit , so got the air card.From what I read,It is treated like a reg phone ie; free nights and weekends. I hope they dont tack on an extra $60 a month.

[Gary RVRoamer]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">From what I read,It is treated like a reg phone ie; free nights and weekends. I hope they dont tack on an extra $60 a month. Confused </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Sorry to inform you that your data (air) card will indeed cost you an extra $60/month. It has its own phone number and Verizon account and it must have an associated data plan. It doesn't do voice, so the free nights & weekends on your voice plan are irrelevant.

[Frankie]

Yup,air card is gone,cant justify the extra expense

[Hemi]

Hello, this is a good forum. I currently use verizon dialup with my cell; I have used it for 2 years on trips but it is too slow for my appliaiton and thus I need to upgrade to broadband speed.

I visited my local verizon shop the other day. The sales showed me two products.

1. Aircard which is being discussed here. I will be locked into a $60/month charge.

2. cable attached to a new verizon phone to laptop (basically the phone will be a free purchase when i turn in my old one)....now here is the difference: the monthly charge is $60/month but in this plan you can call verizon to shut off the service when you don't need it, thus avoiding the 60/month at times when you don't need it on the roade. Has anyone investigate this option?

The salesperson said the performance is as good as the air card on either upload or download (can't remember which one)...but he said I would probably not notice the difference.

I am interested in this application because we travel about 2-4 months per year and then are at home base and don't need the additional broadband.

Seems interesting..again, does anyone have experience with this no. 2 system? HEMI

[John Hilley]

The information is correct. You would only have to pay the $10/mo for the phone if you had data turned off. It will probably work with a router using the USB interface also.

[rebelsbeach]

Just found this thread that Scott started about his air card....

I did meet Scott in Nappanee and he had great success in Nappanee with his card.

I have an air card as well that I use for those instances where I am under a tree or away from the rig. As most of you know,I swear by the .98 meter dish on my roof, but I also have the need for the card.

I do pay an extra $60 a month as it does in fact have it's own phone number assigned to it.

From my research I've found Verizon to be the best provider.

[JavaJelly]

Card works great. RevA is really fast.

One problem I have while on the 1x network is that if it goes into dormant mode and there is a network loss (i.e. the signal bars go to zero temporarily) you can't reconnect w/o restarting. The area at Spartan Chassis has very poor reception especially w/in the building, so learned this the hard way.

However, that condition is rare. It is also the reason for those w/critical use needs should have both the satellite and card.

[Hemi]

John, thanks. Do you have any experience with this verizon product....that is using cell phone to laptop for broadband? IWD

[TXiceman]

I have been using the Verizon Air Card for a bit over a year now and very few problems. Mostly where i travel, I can get a signal. I could get an external antenna to help out if I needed.

Ken

[JavaJelly]

The last post remeinded me to mention that I do have an external antenna. It was $10 or less, has about a 6' cord and sticks to any window. It does help quite a bit in marginal areas. Gets at least 1 extra bar, usually 2.