What Do You Do For Internet While Traveling?

not any different than the Pringles can or coffee can antenna mods.

I agree 100%.

MiFi devices do not limit you to just a Windows-based (or in some cases a specific type of Linux or MacOS based computer). Now all your wifi-capable gear can get access (well up to 5 devices) and MiFi's now sport battery life (so no need to rush to find that USB cable).

That's good to know, thanks!

I use my iPhone . I can do everything that I can do on a computer at home.

In the future, will be taking the new BB Playbook with me. Far more portable than my laptop, and way better than my phone.

I would suggest you play it safe once you find the house that has the unlocked router. Knock on their door and ask them permission - I mean who can refuse an honest request like that? Just reassure them that you wont be visiting any crazy sites and that you're 100% normal

...But how well does this actually work???

I carry a thumbdrive loaded with Foxfire portable software. Stick it in the computer at the motel and operate off my own software, leaving no history.

we pack a laptop so when we stop we can connect at the motel, thought a Garmin 295W might fill the need with its WiFi capability stopping fast food places, not so much too small. Finally got a prepaid phone and for 45 a month have unlimited access. Although limited connection speed and not an android or apple operating system. Can get basic news and email on the road, and for the price is a good fit.

a wet blanket regarding "no internet while on vacation" but that is precisely why I call it a "vacation." I didn't miss it a bit, as this old world keeps spinning on its axis whether I stare at a screen or not. I enjoyed the opportunity of getting away from all the negative news, and other things over which I have very little to no control. I am certain, though she said nothing, that my spouse of over 40 years was supremely happy to get me away from it. Just some thoughts…

BlackBerry and PlayBook. I have no problem with connection to broadband (tethering or wifi) and maintain communication as I travel across the country.

But, when I was in Panama, used internet cafe's a lot.

The Wok-Fi I built works very well. For example, at my home I can detect 5 Wi-Fi signals when I do a scan using the Wi-Fi built into my laptop. Switching to the Wok-Fi, I can see 18 sources in the neighborhood. The math indicates about a 15dB signal gain using my wok pan lid Wok-Fi that cost $5 at a cooking store.

Unlike the "Pringle's can" type of home made antenna, Wok-Fi uses a USB Wi-Fi adapter instead of a stub antenna and coax line, so you don't have the line loss. At 2.4 GHz, line loss can add up quickly. USB is generally limited to a 15 foot cable, but there are inexpensive active extenders available if a longer line length is needed.

I usually don't use the internet while driving. I find it's mentally healthy to not be online for awhile.

I will check my email from time to time with my phone, just to make sure I don't miss an emergency. But I just check the subject.

Generally, I'm not fond of using the Internet so much in a car--in the car proper, I just have the smartphone, and at most the Internet gets used (via 3g and HSDPA) if I have to look up something on Google Maps that Copilot doesn't have listed for some reason.

Otherwise--even though I'm not usually the one driving--the data traffic is kept off and I look at CoPilot (which doesn't require data traffic ).

At the hotel, I usually use the free wireless provided (as well as free wireless at food stops and rest areas when having a picnic lunch).

When actually doing vacation-y stuff, though...again, off-line map tools for the GPS are a lifesaver, as I tend to go to places where there isn't data service of any sort...no phone service, no Internet, just the wilderness

I use a Verizon MiFi when traveling out of state, also good to have internet in the car for the kids. When I'm the passenger in the car, I always check ahead of our route for traffic, and view live traffic cameras, example, traveling through Atlanta GA, nice to view live traffic cameras in Atlanta way before the city to determine if we need to take the Atlanta bypass, I see traffic information way before I get an alert on the GPS traffic feature.

The internet has many applications outside of reading the news. While on vacation, it can be used to find things of interest where you are, check the weather, etc. It can actually enhance a vacation.

When the wife and I are camping in our fifth wheel we try to stay in campgrounds with wifi. I use an external usb antenna on my laptop called the WiFire. It is a directional antenna and the range is unbelievable. I can pick up most neighboring wifi networks from quite a distance away. I like to keep up with my forums and email while away from home.

I thought I would miss internet on cruises but I did not. I had maybe a day of withdrawal and then I was fine. You could get on the internet from the boat we took both times but it was expensive and slow so we did not bother. In a true emergency you can phone to a cruise ship but that is expensive too. So we had peace and quiet for a week. It was nice.

Jim

I have a laptop that I take for extended trips but otherwise, I generally rely on my Samsung Charge smartphone.

This weekend I drove across the state for the Dayton Hamvention, starting at 0046. I gassed up twice on the way. On the 2nd attempted fueling my Bank of America card was denied at the pump.
It so happened that BofA had immediately sent me an email explaining what they had done, but I didn't know this until hours later when I reconnected to the internet.
I had a backup credit card & using that to get enough fuel to get to Dayton by 0400. I was up at 0700 and continued. I stopped at a McD for their biggest breakfast and tried using my BofA card - still denied. Then I used my backup card - that was denied also. Then I used my next level backup card, which was accepted.
At breakfast I used my cell phone to call BofA about this. After a long time on hold I reached a bank rep who spoke very faintly, softly and with an accent --very hard to understand in a McDonald's dining area. Best I could figure out BofA didn't like something about the data submitted by my 2nd fuel stop and so put a hold on my credit card. They DID notify me immediately, but by email.
One of the security questions the rep asked was the email address I used for my BofA card. Wouldn't you know, I couldn't remember which one I was using, since I didn't have my laptop with me (it was in the car). A backup question was the mailing address I had before my present one -- this info was 32 years old. Somehow I remembered that, probably due to the Starbucks Grande I had consumed 30 minutes earlier.
BofA restored my credit card to life, and I went on and made multiple charges at the Hamvention.
The 2nd card denial was a mystery. Hours later I called that bank, they said there was absolutely no issue with their card, it should have been accepted at McDonald's.
How would you have handled that without the internet and/or a cell phone?
If your credit card is inactivated while you are traveling, you could be in a heap of trouble.
Since then I have changed my BofA preferences to sending their emails as SMS text messages to my cell phone. That way, if they should ever put a hold on my credit card, I will get the message ASAP without having direct access to the internet. I figure that in places without the possibility of SMS reception, I won't be needing a credit card either.

Valid point

-Thank you-

Very valid point.

It is nice to know many ways to be connected on the road. Today`s communications are very important, but we also want them to be safe.

Still using my lap-top... have not made it to the smart-phone crowd yet.

Get foxfi for any android device, its free and creates a free hotspot

I use my cell phone for internet while I am out. If I am in a hotel I will have my laptop with me and use that.

I have an andriod smartphone that I use while on the road and a Asus tablet that I use in motels, MacDonalds and the like. The combination isn't perfect but I get by very well. The Asus has an attachable keyboard with it's own battery pack so battery life has not been a problem.

I made a parabolic reflector using metallic duct tape (aluminum foil would work too) on cardboard (cereal box). It was designed so that it could be stored flat then folded and held in place with a paperclip to form the parabolic shape. There was a hole in the center for mounting a usb wifi adapter. Based on designs found on the internet. Worked great.

Sounds like a good low cost option.

Ron

Wherever we've stayed, there is
WIFI access with no problems. MOST HOTELS HQVE IT.

fRED

Many hotels charge for access. The rate varies by brand. Some offer 2 tiers, a "free" ad supported version that runs slow with ads that take about the top quarter of the screen to paid access which runs between $10 and $20 per day. I dropped one brand because they went from a half decent "free" system to one that was ad supported. I was Gold level on their rewards system. I've started tethering through my phone, the company pays for it and the monthly fee is less than 3 days charges at many of the business class hotels I stay at. (Oh, the speed is usually higher as well.)

Use cellphone data plan on smart phone. Or free wifi hotspots. ie McDonnalds, Starbucks, Library.

I stay at a variety of motel/hotels and have never had an issue getting access. It is all free and no ad supported. I have been in Best Western, Holiday Inn, Ramada, Motel 6, days Inn, and numerous other ones in my travels across Upstate NY.

I stay at Best Western's as well, been to quite a few over the years and have not been charged. Some have passwords, but no fees. Which ones charged for Internet access?

Hilton, Marriott, Wyndham. Marriott does not offer free Internet in any of their properties. Hilton will offer Internet in their bottom tiers, the same as Wyndham. But then we don't conduct our business meetings in Best Westerns, Holiday Inns Ramadas and the like. We normally need the meeting space for seminars and the lower tier places which do offer free Internet don't have meeting space, or large enough space for groups of 75 to 100.

That makes sense now. Interesting how the more expensive hotel chains charge a fee for Internet, and the cheap ones don't...

You took the words right out of my mouth...., and when I'm in the passengers seat, I read downloaded books on my "Nook Simple Touch" or use my wife's "Nook Tablet" for other things.

Don't need to find out where I'm going, that's what my Garmin's for..., and I already know where I've been.

Nuvi1300WTGPS

Yeah, I have found this too. Stay in a $70 Super 8 room and you get free Internet, but go to a $180 Marriott room and they charge you extra for Internet. Go figure.

You got me. You see I don't need to stay in the high priced motels. I don't need all the extra amenities that go with the higher cost. I just need good and clean.

Used to just bring laptop into motel and "hook" up to internet, then it was with the wifi, then it was my iPad with wifi. Now it's either the wifi available or use the iPhone as Hot Spot for iPad or laptop.
Internet available most anywhere in the country !!!!

Ah, modern technology !

It's all in who the hotels think is their market. The more expensive hotels figure that they are selling to the business traveler who passes the cost along to the company, for whom it is a tax deductible expense, or to the relatively affluent individuals and families who won't blink at the extra cost. These hotels figure that they will make more money per room without really impacting how many rooms they rent.

The less expensive hotels figure that they are selling to the people who keep a close eye on prices, and will go to a competitor who offers either better prices for the same total product or more product (Internet in this case) for the same price. These hotels figure that they will make less money per room, but will rent enough more rooms to more than offset the extra expense.

With best wishes,
- Tom -

My 7" tablet is all I need

... connected to the internet through which WiFi supplier?

Mickey D, Starbuck and many more

Has anyone figured out why the less-expensive hotels/motels offer free wifi, but the pricier ones also charge for it? You'd think with what they're charging to stay in their fancy room they could throw in wifi to boot! I don't need it that badly - just use my phone. (And don't ask me why an extra $10 a day for wifi makes a hill of beans - it's the principle of the thing!)

look up a few posts.

I agree with this! It's the principle "wrong is wrong."

For me when traveling it's the smartphone and laptop. Hopefully it's a true vacation and the laptop never even comes out of the case.

- - -I think that by comparison it shows how undeniably over priced some of them are, when they aren't even ashamed to also nickle and dime you on top of their already HIGH price!!!