Homestead mailing list

[Don Bowen <don.bowen AT earthlink.net>]

At 8/31/2004, you wrote:
> I'm interested in wireless connection options. Anyone have any 
> recommendations?

Go with Verizon.  Here is a tutorial on how to do it.

Cheers,
Don Blake, Moderator - InternetByCellPhone
Fulltimer, Boondocker, Kayaker, Dirt Biker
Wandering the Western states since 1998
-----------------------------------------------------
===========================================
       INTERNET CONNECTIVITY TUTORIAL   (V8/22/04)

Over the past two years I have been "surfing" the internet
10 to 15 HOURS (600 -900 minutes) each WEEK through my  cell
phone coast to coast and border to border and my
recommendation for Internet access is as follows:

Get the Verizon nationwide "America's Choice" Plan.  You
will have Unlimited free Night & Weekend minutes, unlimited
free mobile-to-mobile minutes, and free internet access with
the Verizon "Quick 2 Net" (Q2N).  Also, Verizon is your ISP
at no additional cost.  There is no need to pay monthly for
an ISP like AOL or Earthlink unless you just want to keep
the same email address, or you have a "home base' with
landline connectivity.  With two  mouse clicks, Verizon
internet access takes about 8 seconds then the Verizon
"QuickLink Mobile" software starts Internet Explorer and
your Home page begins to load.  Or, if during the day
when minutes are ticking, you can click on Outlook
Express (or other Email program) as your Home page
loads and send/download your email in a minute or two.

Verizon America's Choice Plan coverage can be seen at:

1. Verizon Digital & Analog voice coverage:
http://tinyurl.com/24mp7
2. Verizon Digital-ONLY Coverage (Voice & Internet):
http://tinyurl.com/37r2l
3. Verizon High speed "National Access" (1XRTT) coverage:
 http://tinyurl.com/246v6


Verizon Single Rate Plan (no free minutes) coverage:
http://tinyurl.com/z9sk

Verizon, AT&T, Cingular & Sprint comparison
http://tinyurl.com/5trrx

The America's Choice Plan is $39.99/mo w/400 regular
minutes; or $49.99 w/500 regular minutes, or $59.99 w/800
regular minutes, etc.  Your only other expense would be a
one-time purchase of the Verizon "Mobile Office Kit" for
about $40 which I highly recommend.  It will have; (1) a
cable to connect your phone to your laptop (or desktop), (2)
"Quicklink Mobile" software to automate internet access,
along with other utilities, and (3) the Verizon/Smith Micro
Venturi accelerator software which works on the Verizon low
speed Quick2Net (Q2N), as well as on the current Verizon
high speed data net now called "National Access".


For any internet access on any Verizon data network you must
have a digital signal.  Internet "access" on the "Q2N" is
free with ANY Verizon Wireless account.  "Time" on-line on
the Q2N is also free when accessed during free minute
nights, weekends and certain holidays.  During the day, time
counts against regular Plan minutes. There are three plans
(extra $$) for access to the high speed "National Access"
net.  However, new subscribers are automatically having a
feature called "National Access Extended Service Access"
added to their America's Choice Plan at no monthly cost
when they purchase their phone and service.  Having this
feature  provides  "backdoor" internet access for just
"Minutes of Use" on your Plan.  Use of the high speed data
network (and the Q2N) is therefore free on nights,
weekends and certain holidays with an America's Choice Plan.

If you are an existing subscriber you can also get the no
cost 'National Access Extended Service Access" feature added
to your plan.   Just call 611 and ask for the feature so that YOU
CAN USE GIN (Get-It-Now) STUFF".   (GIN stuff relates to
downloading (for a fee) Ring Tones, Games, Pictures, and
other items.)  DO NOT ask for it in order to access the
Internet with your computer.  Do NOT complain that all NEW
subscriber Plans include the feature.  Do NOT discuss the
issue if refused;  just call again.

Verizon Wireless does not currently provide email addresses
for cell phone accounts.  SKP's can get a "Free For Life"
email account through the Escapees Club
(http://mail.escapees.com ).  I primarily use the Lycos.com
"Premium Service" for $1.67 a month. (Excite & Yahoo, MSN,
etc  also have "Premium".)  With any of these Email accounts
you can send/download your mail in under a minute or so
during the day when minutes are ticking, then read/compose
off-line using Outlook Express, Eudora, etc.  Another very
useful (free) service is "Efax". You can be assigned a 10
digit fax number by "Efax" by going to:
>> https://www2.efax.com/efax/twa/signupFree <<
Folks can then send you a fax from their home or office
machine; it comes in as an attachment to an email.

Be sure to go to a Verizon "Company" store.  DO NOT go to a
Verizon "Partner" store like Radio Shack , Circuit City, nor
even a Verizon kiosk in a Mall.  Generally, the sales reps
at these locations do not have a clue about internet access
with a cell phone; they just sell 'em!.  Also, the
"proprietary" and manufacturer" connectivity kits that
"partner" stores sell do not include the Verizon/Venturi
accelerator software, nor will these non-Verizon kits
necessarily work properly for both of the Verizon data
networks.  IF THERE IS NOT a "Company" store nearby, CALL
1-800-2-Join-In; you will have your phone and Mobile Office
Kit in two days.  If they just do not offer a Mobile Office
Kit for your phone, there may be workable alternatives;  ask
on the InternetByCellPhone Forum.

But first, you need to chose a phone. Here are the current
"Tri-mode" choices available.  but NOT ALL are available in
all Verizon markets.  You can check these phones in more
detail at www.phonescoop.com/phones/finder.php .  If a phone
you like is not available at your store or on the Verizon
Website for a your Zip Code ( www.verizonwireless.com ), it
can probably be obtained by ordering directly from Verizon
at 1-800-2-Join-In.

Audiovox CDM-8600
Audiovox CDM-8900  (Camera Phone)
LG VX-7000a  (Camera Phone)
Motorola  C343a
Motorola V60s
Kyocera KX414
Nokia 3589i / 3587i
Samsung SCH-A650

There are still a lot of "Analog" areas around the country
so be sure your phone supports "AMPS 800", as well as
Digital "CDMA 800 & CDMA 1900", as well as High Speed Data
"CDMA 2000 1XRTT".  You can not even call 911 if in an
Analog area with a "Digital Only" phone.

Then later, when talking with a Verizon sales Rep, BE SURE
your choice has a companion Verizon "Mobile Office Kit"
available.  Some phones do not.

==========================================



Don Bowen
Awl Knotted Up Woodworking
Valley Center, CA             http://www.braingarage.com