Internet/Telephone Service

[Don Barber]

Hi;
Looking forward to going south again this year, but there are some concerns with 2 items. One is our cell phones from Canada. We use Telus and go on their north american plan which costs about $100.00 plus all the usual add-ons. We are also concerned with internet services and have looked at getting an air card to use for internet connection. Wow!! could run over $225.00 for cell and internet services. Now the the question, has anyone signed on to either Sprint or Verizon and gotten their cell and air card services. It appears that the cost could be about half of what we would pay using a Canadian service. I will look at this idea when I,m in the south come October but in the meantime I thought I would ask if anyone had used the US phone suppliers. The other question is whether you can turn off the phone and aircard for 6 months when we are home in summer. I guess the other question is if it's that much cheaper maybe I could use either Sprint or Verizon at home as well. I do have access to a US address for a home base but I do know that you can receive your bills on-line so mail won't be an issue. Any comments? This may belong on the technology page but I wanted a Canadian view on this if I could
Don Barber

[Don Barber]

Hi;
Looking forward to going south again this year, but there are some concerns with 2 items. One is our cell phones from Canada. We use Telus and go on their north american plan which costs about $100.00 plus all the usual add-ons. We are also concerned with internet services and have looked at getting an air card to use for internet connection. Wow!! could run over $225.00 for cell and internet services. Now the the question, has anyone signed on to either Sprint or Verizon and gotten their cell and air card services. It appears that the cost could be about half of what we would pay using a Canadian service. I will look at this idea when I,m in the south come October but in the meantime I thought I would ask if anyone had used the US phone suppliers. The other question is whether you can turn off the phone and aircard for 6 months when we are home in summer. I guess the other question is if it's that much cheaper maybe I could use either Sprint or Verizon at home as well. I do have access to a US address for a home base but I do know that you can receive your bills on-line so mail won't be an issue. Any comments? This may belong on the technology page but I wanted a Canadian view on this if I could
Don Barber

[Skip298]

I dont understand a lot of it,, DW takes care of it.. We have the North American Plan with Bell sympatico....I use the CG internet computer room..I dont have a laptop.. isnt there connections that you can pay for at your campsite that will give you internet access?? I am equally interested in the answers..I may get a laptop and it will save a lot of questions..

[Dona and Elvin]

at our CG in Arizona we have the local phone service and their internet. Phone was 39/month and internet unlimited 16.95. We have aol here in Ontario , so we put our service to basic for the 6 months 6.95/month, that way we can check our email(since we have a web site and run a home based business. This has worked for us. I have a Verizon cell phone, just keep basic service of 15.00/month on it-use it for emergency. may check into Tracphone(walmart and target in the US. Stores around here never heard of it. Its pay as you go..and then get rid of the Verizon. We have excellent coverage with Verizon wherever we travel in the southwest..If someone has better ideas, I'm sure willing to hear them..
Dona
just my 2 cents.

[Skip298]

We have all our services thru Bell...Phone..Cell Phone..Satellite..internet...we head to the RGV for 3-4 months..DW will..suspend the phone,,the internet and the satellite..(there is a small fee attached but you still save a good sum)I have a hotmail.com account so no matter where we are I can go online and use the internet..The Cell Phone is increased to a business plan and it includes roaming.and 300 minutes/mth costs us about $100 a month..(I may not be correct,, I will ask her when she is awake)..I would love to have a laptop and use it in the trailer rather than go to the computer room or find a library when we are travelling..I would like to find a beter Cell Phone deal..and I would also like to dump bell as they can be a lot greedy at times

[brad03ca]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">..(there is a small fee attached but you still save a good sum </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
... I think the reconnect is like 50.00 Skip. Totally very cheap compared to leaving the service on. We made the mistake of leaving the cell phone on(roaming)during a trip to Ga. Made one call home for 6.00....roaming fee for the time gone.(two weeks)......100.00. We changed that plan in a hurry.

I'll be getting a lap top this winter, in the South.

[Skip298]

Getting a laptop in the US may not be the best idea unless you live close enough to get there if it kacks..it is my understanding that the warranty is not honoured out of country(that goes both ways btw)..I nearly bought one in Brownsville and a best buy? store..I asked about the warranty and the salesguy hesitated then said it should.. When I asked him to confirm it he couldnt. he called a supplier and they confirmed it.. no warranty..I should have known that because our 1 year old Toshiba fizzeled a circuit in AZ and they wouldnt repair it...its Canadian we cant fix it on warranty.. even wally mart wont do it..

[Little Kopit]

& watch the question of shipping.

I'm going to be moving provinces. Unless I'd want to be shipping a laptop for repairs, I have one outfit I can buy from - one chain that has a store near me and not all that far from where I expect to relocate.

Of course, this is other than Walmart.

[Skip298]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Little Kopit:
& watch the question of shipping.

I'm going to be moving provinces. Unless I'd want to be shipping a laptop for repairs, I have one outfit I can buy from - one chain that has a store near me and not all that far from where I expect to relocate.

Of course, this is other than Walmart.

</div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Hey LK.. The Bruce Peninsula is wide open..

[Little Kopit]

What, and be that many miles from salt water. Nah.

Where people say they are from "THE Island". Paternal roots are there. There may be a departure fee, but it sure is less than the to and from this island cost. I don't know where yet, simply because A) prices are better in off season & B) who wants to make payments forever and a day.

[Obi-Wan Kenobi]

Hi Don
I purchased the Sierra Wireless Aircard 860 directly from the manufacture in BC. It is an unlocked version, so I can sign up with any carrier who supports this aircard which are basically Rogers in Canada and Cingular (AT&T) in the usa. While in Canada, I use rogers who do not require a contract and have service for $100 month for 200MB. While in the usa, I had to sign a 3 year contract for $60US for unlimited service for the aircard and I found the service and coverage accross the usa in last 11 months as not too bad at all. This plan can be upgraded to the international plan if you go out of country like Australia or Mexico and also able to use on Holland American cruise ships I understand. Let me know if you need any additional info. The Cingular plan can also be put on hold, but I do not know for how long.