Even though I think Wi-Fi is the greatest thing since sliced bread (you know, sliced bread must've been a really big deal when it was first introduced), I understand that a whole herd of people would like to make a connection to the Internet from any place they might park. If you usually spend the evening, or day, as the case may be, parked in a cozy truck stop parking lot then I think Wi-Fi is, for a number of reasons, the best Internet connection choice. However, if you often find yourself parked in remote locations you might be in the market for one of the other wireless Internet connection options.
Cellular Data Service
Pretty much anyplace you've got a signal on your cell phone you can get connected to the Internet. Sounds great. The primary problems surrounding cellular data services, though, are big ones: speed and cost. While most of the major cell data providers offer a high-speed service it's generally limited to areas within the larger U.S. cities. That's great if you're a business traveler spending a lot of time in downtown Dallas or Chicago but if you, like me, generally find yourself spending the evening so far from the major metropolitan areas that the city's just a glow in the distance; high-speed cell data service is something you'll rarely experience. Granted, the slower cell data connections are still, generally, better than dial-up but the cost is considerably higher.
It seems, though, that life is full of trade-offs. Wi-Fi's fast and fairly inexpensive; but you can't get connected unless you're in range of the hotspot access point. Cell data service can be relatively slower and somewhat more expensive; but you can connect to the Internet from anyplace you've got a cellular signal. You decide.
Cellular Solutions
There are, basically, two methods of making a cellular connection to the Internet, seemingly millions of different plans offered by the various cellular data providers, and several cellular data standards from which to choose. Here's a brief breakdown:
Hardware:
The two primary methods of making a cellular connection to the internet include the following:
- Cell Data Card: A cell data card looks very much like a Wi-Fi adapter card. Most of them are designed to be inserted into the PCMCIA slot on a laptop but there are a few laptops that include integrated cell data capability and cards that using the new, smaller, PC Express slot are beginning to appear on the market.
- High-Speed Cell Phone: Using a data connection kit, normally available from your cellular provider or the phone manufacturer, it's possible to plug your cell phone into one of the USB ports on your laptop and use it as a modem.
Standards:
There are several cell data standards built under the two main cellular standards:
GSM: Global System for Mobile communications is the standard used by Cingular and T-Mobile. Under the GSM standard you find the following cell data standards:
- GPRS: General Packet Radio Service offers average data transfer rates reminiscent of dial-up: 30 to 50 Kbps.
- EDGE: Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution is an upgrade, or, enhancement of GPRS and is, therefore, sometimes known as EGPRS. This 3G (third generation) standard offers data transfer rates up to 236 Kbps.
- UMTS: Universal Mobile Telecommunications System supports speeds up to 1.9Mbps but real world users will experience data transfer rates maximums of 384kbps. This standard allows for the merger of both voice and data transmissions.
- HSPDA: High-Speed Downlink Packet Access has the potential of providing data transfer rates as high as 14Mbps but, as currently deployed by Cingular, maximum speeds of 700kbps are the reality.
CDMA: Code Division Multiple Access is the cell standard on which carriers like Verizon, Alltel, Bell South, and Sprint, have built their cellular networks; although Sprint PCS uses frequencies that differ from the others. The cell data standards built under the CDMA banner include:
- CDMA2001x: Single Carrier Radio Transmission Technology, better known as 1xRTT uses a 1.25MHz carrier signal. 1xRTT offers average data transfer rates of around 70kbps; the standard's capable of higher speeds but most providers limit the maximum data rate to 144kbps.
- CDMA2000 1xEV-DO: Initially named CDMA200 1xEvolution-Data Only, to indicate the standard's direct evolution from 1xRTT, the name was changed by marketing departments to the more positive sounding 1xEvolution-Data Optimized and is commonly known, simply, as EV-Do. Average data transfer rates range between 300 and 500 kbps; although the standard promises Wi-Fi rivaling rates as high as 2.4Mbps.
- CDMA2000 EV-DO Revision A: More commonly called EV-DO Rev A this revision to the EV-DO standard opens the door to maximum data transfer rates of 3.1Mbps.
If cellular data service sounds, to you, like the best thing since sliced bread than you should take a close look at Chapter 7 of Over the Road Wireless For Dummies.
Satellite Internet
In Chapter 9 of Over the Road Wireless For Dummies I provide an in-depth look at satellite Internet. For the most part, even though I have seen a few trucks and truckers using either a self-deployed or manually-deployed satellite Internet system, I don't think most of us are going to find satellite Internet services to be a good alternative to Wi-Fi. A self-deployed satellite system is expensive, adds weight to the roof of a sleeper-cab and, in some situations, may be blocked by your own trailer or the trailers of others. A manually-deployed system requires more storage space than most trucks have available, a clear area for deployment, and the use of accurate pointing tools. My advice, leave the satellite Internet systems to the RV crowd.
If you're in the RV crowd, or you just don't agree that satellite Internet is a poor fit for truckers, here are a few links to sources of satellite Internet information:
- Over the Road Wireless For Dummies: Check out Chapter 9 for a comparison of self-deployed and manually-deployed systems as well as other useful information.
- DataStorm Users Forum: Here you'll find a ton of information regarding, primarily, the self-deployed systems using HughesNet. Bill Adams, a roving satellite system installer, is a frequent contributor and full of useful information.
- Orbital Enterprises: These guys offer a manually-deployed system that complies with both the letter and spirit of the StarBand Satellite Internet user's agreement.
| Introduction | Getting Started | Finding Wi-Fi on the Highway | Wi-Fi Alternatives |
