Re: [A/S] Cell Phone Internet Connection

[Rick Kunath <k9ao@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

Keep in mind that the Verizon high-speed plan you mentioned is available 
separately from the voice plan, (I think that's what you just said) it's 
available without the voice plan too. (So is the Cingular/Ameritech plan that 
is even faster than 1xRTT CDMA.)

This is so that you can use the high-speed digital plan with an external 
high-speed 1xRTT modem (that's the Verizon CDMA protocol currently in use.)

These external modems will deliver lots higher speeds for the same monthly 
charge as you're paying now because they can time-slot bond, something your 
hand-held  cellphone can't do.

If you're satisfied with the speeds you're getting now, you're all set. Just 
don't think that the speeds you're seeing using a hand-held cellphone are the 
true speeds the Verizon network is capable of. They aren't. Not even close. 
And the Cingular/Ameritech GPRS EDGE network is an order of magnitude faster 
yet.

What you get with the hand-held phone is the ability to get lower digital 
speeds (and pay for more air-time) than the network is capable of and carry 
it around in your pocket. 

What you get with a proper external 1xRTT CDMA modem is all of the speeds the 
network is capable of, and a bigger box that won't quite fit in a pocket 
(almost though) and needs external 12 V power to operate.

If all you ever do with the digital plan is Internet, and you use a computer 
that won't fit in a pocket, there's no disadvantage to getting a real modem, 
other than you'll have to get used to the much higher access speeds or lower 
air-time charges.

Rick Kunath
WBCCI #3060