smartphones...iphone or the droid?

[Liquid]

Howdy folks, I am not a tech savy guy, and could use some advise from the many very smart people on this board.

Here's my situation. My internet connection is absolutely horribe. When it's not completely down, it's slower than molasses. I honestly think it's slower than the old days of dial-up. It only works while I'm at the dock, when it's working at all.. and makes me want to toss my laptop overboard.

I was thinking of getting a smartphone, and trying to connect the smartphone to my laptop for internet. If I could do this, I would hope to have internet even if I am swinging on the hook at anchor.

Can the iphone or droid do this?

The only other requirement I really would like, is a gps marine navigation software. I've seen iphone's version of it, and it's absolutely fantastic. It has all the marine charts, and tracks the exact position of the boat while sailing.

Any ideas or personal preferences with these phones?

[Ares]

Howdy folks, I am not a tech savy guy, and could use some advise from the many very smart people on this board.

Here's my situation. My internet connection is absolutely horribe. When it's not completely down, it's slower than molasses. I honestly think it's slower than the old days of dial-up. It only works while I'm at the dock, when it's working at all.. and makes me want to toss my laptop overboard.

I was thinking of getting a smartphone, and trying to connect the smartphone to my laptop for internet. If I could do this, I would hope to have internet even if I am swinging on the hook at anchor.

Can the iphone or droid do this?

The only other requirement I really would like, is a gps marine navigation software. I've seen iphone's version of it, and it's absolutely fantastic. It has all the marine charts, and tracks the exact position of the boat while sailing.

Any ideas or personal preferences with these phones?


You can do tethering which is what you are talking about, natively with a Droid. I have a HTC Droid Incredible. I've used the Wi-fi tether quite a few tims. Works flawlessly.

Just checked the Android market for the marine apps, and they have them for east/west coast, great lakes, or other oceans throughout the world.

[SLV^GLD]

I personally use a BlackBerry.

IINM, Droid is specifically a Verizon phone. Verizon tethering is a hefty fee as you have to pay for a $30 data plan and an additional $30 to tether and they have effectively removed the ability to tether without paying the fee.

You might consider procuring a USB or PCMCIA cellular modem. You would get the same level of connectivity on Verizon with this device but not be paying the tethering fee, so it's half the cost. That way, if you still have a phone you can actually use it because a tethered phone does not work as a cell phone.

You selection of carrier would have a great deal to dow ith your hardware options.

My company sends me out in the field with a PCMCIA modem and it is very nice. I'm not sure what kind of connectivity you get on a shoreline but my modem stays connected even when driving down the interstate.

[Ares]

IINM, Droid is specifically a Verizon phone. Verizon tethering is a hefty fee as you have to pay for a $30 data plan and an additional $30 to tether and they have effectively removed the ability to tether without paying the fee.

You can thether without the additional cost on Verizon with Droid.


You might consider procuring a USB or PCMCIA cellular modem. You would get the same level of connectivity on Verizon with this device but not be paying the tethering fee, so it's half the cost. That way, if you still have a phone you can actually use it because a tethered phone does not work as a cell phone.

Newer laptops do not have a PCMCIA slot. They're moving to USB modems.

[Liquid]

You can thether without the additional cost on Verizon with Droid.

Newer laptops do not have a PCMCIA slot. They're moving to USB modems.


I did a quick search on tethering and iphone, and the new version offers tethering, however they charge you for it. It's an extra $20 a month, with a 2 GB limit on data usage. If you go over that, it's en extra $10 for an additional GB.

Is Verizon's tethering free then? and if so, is there a cap on the data usage?

[Ares]

You can thether without the additional cost on Verizon with Droid.

Newer laptops do not have a PCMCIA slot. They're moving to USB modems.


I did a quick search on tethering and iphone, and the new version offers tethering, however they charge you for it. It's an extra $20 a month, with a 2 GB limit on data usage. If you go over that, it's en extra $10 for an additional GB.

Is Verizon's tethering free then? and if so, is there a cap on the data usage?


For full disclosure I'm not sure if Verizon charges more for tethering or not. I know it's offered on the Droid X. But I've rooted (jail broken if you're familiar with that term for iPhone) and can wi-fi tether without the additional charge. I do know that there are several apps on android market that can wifi thether without you needing to be rooted on the phone.

[chad]

what? i have an iphone, i tether it all the time, never been charged a penny. this is news to me. maybe it's new with the iphone 4.

[Ares]

what? i have an iphone, i tether it all the time, never been charged a penny. this is news to me. maybe it's new with the iphone 4.


But is your iPhone a "jail broken" iPhone? :)

Here's the AT&T data plan that took effect this year.

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/06/att-adds-iphone-tethering-kills-unlimited-data-for-ipad-smartphones/

[chad]

what? i have an iphone, i tether it all the time, never been charged a penny. this is news to me. maybe it's new with the iphone 4.


But is your iPhone a "jail broken" iPhone? :)

Here's the AT&T data plan that took effect this year.

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2010/06/att-adds-iphone-tethering-kills-unlimited-data-for-ipad-smartphones/





no, not jailbroken. i guess it's because i am under (grandfathered in) the old data plan. i have unlimited whatever for 2 phones.

[Ares]

no, not jailbroken. i guess it's because i am under (grandfathered in) the old data plan. i have unlimited whatever for 2 phones.

Yeah more than likely. I know that Verizon and AT&T have been having bandwidth problems since the sales of smart phones have been skyrocketing. So more than likely they are going to try looking at ways to limit the bandwidth.

What I want to know is why they charge for txt messages (outrageous at that) when it cost them NOTHING to send a text over their network. As the SMS message piggy backs on the control signal. (The signal from your cell phone to tower).

[chad]

do this:

http://gizmodo.com/5301225/enable-tethering-on-your-iphone-3g-and-3gs-with-only-safari-mms-vv-fix

works wonderfully. i have os 3.1.3 (7e18) on my phone, not sure if it works with other ones...

[Gknowmx]

Just curious, when you say your internet only works when you are "at the dock", just were exactly are you on water? How far away from ANY cell tower are you? Your issue may have nothing to do with Aps or cell phones, or networks if you are sailing where there is no network at all. Maybe I am missing something? Can you tell us more about your boating habits and needs?

Also, Sprint is implementing WiMax which is about 3.75 G and Verizon is said to soon be launching a true 4G network using LTE. HTC makes the Evo for Sprint, but I don't know of any phone that is LTE capable yet. New phones are coming (of course). I have no idea how WiMax or LTE may solve your network issue.



Howdy folks, I am not a tech savy guy, and could use some advise from the many very smart people on this board.

Here's my situation. My internet connection is absolutely horribe. When it's not completely down, it's slower than molasses. I honestly think it's slower than the old days of dial-up. It only works while I'm at the dock, when it's working at all.. and makes me want to toss my laptop overboard.

I was thinking of getting a smartphone, and trying to connect the smartphone to my laptop for internet. If I could do this, I would hope to have internet even if I am swinging on the hook at anchor.

Can the iphone or droid do this?

The only other requirement I really would like, is a gps marine navigation software. I've seen iphone's version of it, and it's absolutely fantastic. It has all the marine charts, and tracks the exact position of the boat while sailing.

Any ideas or personal preferences with these phones?

[1970 silver art]

I have the Palm Pixi smartphone but I do not connect it to my laptop. I have Internet access on my smartphone so I do not have to worry about connecting it to a laptop.

[Liquid]

Just curious, when you say your internet only works when you are "at the dock", just were exactly are you on water? How far away from ANY cell tower are you? Your issue may have nothing to do with Aps or cell phones, or networks if you are sailing where there is no network at all. Maybe I am missing something? Can you tell us more about your boating habits and needs?

Also, Sprint is implementing WiMax which is about 3.75 G and Verizon is said to soon be launching a true 4G network using LTE. HTC makes the Evo for Sprint, but I don't know of any phone that is LTE capable yet. New phones are coming (of course).

My internet is a wireless access point in the marina I'm docked at, so the range is limited, and it's shared with the other boaters. My internet needs are very basic, I don't trust technology and don't do anything online that could be hacked, etc..banking, or whatnot. There are no files on my laptop that matter, ie, I could drop the thing overboard and be done with it. ;D

However, I do use the internet for some important information, weather, tides, traffic, news, etc. It really sucks when it's down, and I need to find out how long it's going to take for me to get to work.

I am thinking a 2 gig plan is really all I need. I won't be downloading movies or play games online. Also, if I go sailing and anchor out someplance, if I'm in cell range, it would be nice to find out weather information.

Thanks folks, for all the advise.

[still afloat]

How about building a high gain antenna and mounting it on your boat .
Go with a passive one which requires no power and on the water you could / should get signal in line of sight of a few miles from the marina or pick up on other open networks nearby.Thats wireless , if you can use a wired external antenna with your laptop you could do better . I tether my macbook to my LG VU through AT&T with the $15 data plan for dumb phones.
just checking emails and sites such as this , turn off images on your browser and block popups to cut down on the data useage so it does not show up you are teethering .
No problems doing this over the last 5 years.

[Ponce]

Liquid? if you are ignorant of what is going on then what does that makes me?.....I really don't know what the heck you guys are talking about and the only place that I have seen one of those berrys thingy is at WalMart........by the way there is no cell phone near me.

First post of the day.........good morning to one and all.

[LuckyStrike]

You can tether a jailbroken iphone 4 for free FWIW, not sure about droid, you might have to root it.

Have you looked into this as an option?

You get this as a wifi adapter and plug the usb into your laptop

http://www.data-alliance.net/-strse-73/Alfa-500mW-AWUS036H-USB/Detail.bok

then get an antenna like either of these even the omni directional should have a 1.5 mile radius range (depending on surroundings)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833164135&cm_re=wifi_antenna-_-33-164-135-_-Product

http://www.amazon.com/TRENDnet-Outdoor-Directional-Antenna-TEW-AO19D/dp/B000GHGCMW/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1279401977&sr=1-4

[Liquid]

Thanks Nordic and Stillafloat, good ideas.. Ponce, I am with ya there. I just figured how to access this site with dumb phone. That is a big achievement for me! :)

[Fortyone]

Just remember to chuck the tattletale POS in SHTF. They can lock right onto your position.

[k-os]

Hey Liquid, I am not sure if you have you heart set on buying a new phone, or if you just want wireless internet access, but here's what I have done for my RV trip:

I have two wireless cards, Verizon and AT&T (I am sure you could just have whichever company provides the best service in your area. Since I don't know what area I will be in, I took the biggest two, which should cover about 90% of the US.)

At the time I purchased them (one a couple years ago, and one a couple of months ago) each company only offered a 5 gig plan, with each additional MB over charged at 5 cents each. One is a USB, and the other is some slot thing. I prefer the USB one, which is Verizon. The plans are each approximately $50 a month, but both of the devices were free with rebates.

I seamlessly browsed on Verizon for 4 hours on the way back from the Keys in the RV. I believe AT&T is good for more than just the US, which was why I bought it a couple of years back. Not sure if you were planning on going far.

Please note that no matter what you choose from everything mentioned so far in this thread, a cell tower will need to be within range for you to get a signal. My friend's driod in Ocala National Forrest was equally as useless as my Verizon and AT&T air cards were. I don't think that would be too much of a concern where you are.

What I really want is satellite internet for the RV, but that's thousands of dollars at the moment. I can dream.

[learn2swim]

Take a look at the EVO 4g with Sprint..