mobile internet access

I work for a non-profit and one of the things I do is teach basic computer skills to seniors.  We bring several laptops to two different locations each week for the classes.  We are currently paying for internet access in both locations and using a router to get them on-line.  I am interested in seeing whether there is any more cost-effective way of doing this--does anyone have any expereince with this?  Are there mobile devices we could be taking from one location to the other to enable us to connect with the internet so that we are only paying one rather than two access fees each month?  Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

If your teaching sites have good wireless access from the Cell carriers (Like the Verizon wireless card) you can get a router that will let you share one access card among several computers.  Look for an EVDO router.  I'm using this for one of our sites that cannot get any other Internet but dial up and ti works as well as the poor wireless connection (for us that is about a 200k down 20k upload, if this were in town we would have a 3mb down connection)

Another option if you have WiMAX in both locations would be to use that as a portable rig,  around here that is marketed by Solo Connect  and another one that I can't think of the name.

Dave

The easiest thing might just be to partner with a nearby business and piggyback off their connection.

... but that's no fun to talk about :)

As for as I know, to get "portable" Internet, you have to use a cellular modem. It may or may not be fast enough for your classes. They run at around 500KB / second, so it could work for smaller classes.

To set it all up:

You could plug a cellular modem into one of your computers and share the internet connection.

OR

Verizon just came out with MiFi, a combined cellular modem/wi-fi router, for around $40 - $60 a month. To find out specifics, go to the Verizon Wireless website and search for MiFi (it'll ask you for your zip code and show your local price/availability)

David Pogue explains it pretty well in his article about the new MiFi router, Wi-Fi to Go, No Cafe Needed:

"[In the past,] if you want to get online while you’re on the move, in fact, you’ve had only one option: buy one of those $60-a-month cellular modems from Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile or AT&T. The speed isn’t exactly cable-modem speed, but it’s close enough. You can get a card-slot version, which has a nasty little antenna protuberance, or a U.S.B.-stick version, which cries out to be snapped off by a passing flight attendant’s beverage cart."

...

"...the MiFi converts that cellular Internet signal into an umbrella of Wi-Fi coverage that up to five people can share. (The speed suffers if all five are doing heavy downloads at once, but that’s a rarity.)"

I never hear about WiMAX anymore... forgot it was even around. Are people actually using it or did EVDO steal the market?

We have two carriers of WiMAX around here.  if you are in the right part of town it is a great deal about 3mb for about $30.00 per month no contract.  If you are not in a tower area, forget it.  If $60.00 EVDO and free WiFi has won,  I'd wonder about long term and expansion.  But if I was in the right area it would be a great option.  However I know a construction co that tried it for their construction sites, some times it worked, many areas they had to go Cellular, so they finally gave up on it.

It would be worth trying if it was available.

Dave

I've just been looking for something similar where I could basically get internet access from one provider anywhere I go. So far, I've found out about Virgin Mobile and their Broadband2Go service. You just buy a Broadband2Go USB device from BestBuy ($149) and then they have various pay-as-you-go plans so you can access internet/email from anywhere.

Check them out here: http://web.virginmobileusa.com/broadbandPlans

Good luck, and let us know if you find any other options.

My reply doesn't tackle ANY of the technical questions or options out there, but I thought I'd throw it into the mix for consideration anyway. 

I don't know any of the details of your classes, but many public libraries offer free rooms that can be reserved for community space and many these days also have free wi-fi. If your class size is small and flexible, perhaps check with your local library to see if you could hold your basic classes there and it wouldn't necessarily have to cost you a dime (well, at least not anything more than the tax dollars you already pay).

Feel free to disregard if it's not a viable option for your needs. I know here in Oakland, CA, that ad hoc computer classes have been set up at many libraries that are organized by community members and they've been using donated/refurbished computers or personal laptops and the library's free space and wi-fi networks.