New info on wifi in theVillages

[yorkmaine]

Anything new?

[champion6]

Not sure if this is what you are looking for... nationally, all Starbucks are now offering FREE WiFi. I guess they used to make you subscribe.

[mulligan]

Actually, York could use some free wifi. Surfing moose pictures anyone??

[Pat_RI]

Free wifi throughout TV would be ideal but I don't see it happening any time soon because it seems like we get charged for everything.

[Rag Bagger]

Free wifi throughout TV would be ideal but I don't see it happening any time soon because it seems like we get charged for everything.

I agree, it would be very inexpensive to add antenna at pools and rec centers and I think the entire community could be covered fairly cheap.

When we were RVers nearly all the RV parks did free wifi that could be picked up at each site. Even parks with hills and trees could be covered.

It's just rediculous what embarq and comcast charge for connectivity but we have no other choice. Either that or nothing.

[memason]

There are options to "wired" internet. It's possible to get a MiFi (Verizon) or Overdrive (Sprint) that allows you to connect to the internet via 3G or 4G network. Up to 5 devices can connect to your "personal" WiFi hotspot.

This might be a very good alternative, once the 4G or LTE networks are fully functional. Will rival the speed you get with cable or DSL connections and it'll work anywhere.

Anyone have one of these devices or done any research ??

[ajbrown]

A friend of mine visited our place in TV last April. He now describes hiself as a day trader (I pray for him :)).

He took out what looked like a mini laptop each morning. He told me the laptop comes "free" from AT&T when you sign up for some wireless service.

I am not up to speed on the achronyms to describe the service, but it looked very functional. I am guessing he connected at 3G. As this trend continues and speeds increase, I assume I will soon see my neighbors driving down the street in a golf cart with a mini laptop on thier knees checking TOTV:22yikes:

[zcaveman]

A friend of mine visited our place in TV last April. He now describes hiself as a day trader (I pray for him :)).

He took out what looked like a mini laptop each morning. He told me the laptop comes "free" from AT&T when you sign up for some wireless service.

I am not up to speed on the achronyms to describe the service, but it looked very functional. I am guessing he connected at 3G. As this trend continues and speeds increase, I assume I will soon see my neighbors driving down the street in a golf cart with a mini laptop on thier knees checking TOTV:22yikes:

How much was the wireless service?

[ajbrown]

How much was the wireless service?

I want to say around $70/month, but we had a fun week and that memory may be off.

Now that I think of it this service is called wireless broadband.

Here is a thread I found doing a search for wireless broadband:

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24544&highlight=wireless+broadband

Within the last two years we replaced our land line for phone with mobile phones and Skype and I imagine the day will come that I replace Comcast Hi speed with a mobile broadband technology.

[memason]

Z....

I'm guessing it was a netbook, with wireless broadband built in. Verizon sells a netbook for about $150 (with 2 yr. contract) and the monthly services is $59.99 for 5GB data, which they term a heavy user. You can get 250mb/month for $39.99, but that wouldn't very much for someone who is trying to replace the home internet connection. I'm not sure 5GB would be enough either. Like everything else, it would depend upon how you use it. Lots of videos would be a killer for data, but email and normal surfing would be easy with 5GB.

I still like the MiFi option, since I can use it with any computer. Data charges are the same; not sure about the device cost. I can't seem to get the website to work for me, here in Germany