Tamaroak wrote in news:r8CdnZYSzsx9HbreRVn-
:

available then that I should start watching for?


Iridium. How much money have you gots?...(c;

--
Larry

Tamaroak wrote:
I'm going to be doing the Great Loop (south through the Great Lakes to
the Mississippi, down the Tenn-Tom, around Florida and up the ICW to
Canada, then back to Lake Superior) starting next August and returning a
year later. My kids will be learning online and we will need some sort
of reliable and medium fast Internet connection. What is going to be
available then that I should start watching for?

Capt. Jeff

This summer I've used a cell phone connection through Cingular. The
computer is "connected" to the phone through Bluetooth, and is using
the WAP connection that is primarily marketed for stock quotes, news,
etc. The $20 unlimited service works fine, though there is some
debate as to whether Cingular will permit this in the long run. If
you talk to support, it is not allowed, but nowhere on the site or in
the contract is it mentioned. The data connect is faster than a high
speed phone line, but its a stretch to call it broadband. I'm told
that the "proper" connection, for which they charge $75 a month, uses
EDGE which is somewhat faster, but since Cingular is not very
forthcoming about this, the info is largely myth and rumor. Verizon
has been marketing something similar for $60 a month unlimited usage.

I've also used the data mode on the phone when I've traveled, mainly
for weather radar and stock quotes. I've been surprised that the
coverage has gotten much better over the last few years. In fact, I
was able to surf the web halfway between Boston and Ptown, at least 10
miles from any land.

I'm going to be doing the Great Loop (south through the Great Lakes to
the Mississippi, down the Tenn-Tom, around Florida and up the ICW to
Canada, then back to Lake Superior) starting next August and returning a
year later. My kids will be learning online and we will need some sort
of reliable and medium fast Internet connection. What is going to be
available then that I should start watching for?

Capt. Jeff

Larry is right. The only sure way to connect is satellite. I did the Loop a
couple of years ago and the only access for most of it was via private homes
or an occasional cybercafe. Even cellphone service was spotty on the
TomBigBee. If I were to do it again, I would map out the wi-fi spots before
I left and plan accordingly. Nevertheless it is a great trip. Enjoy.

Tom


"Larry" wrote in message
...
Tamaroak wrote in news:r8CdnZYSzsx9HbreRVn-
:

available then that I should start watching for?


Iridium. How much money have you gots?...(c;

--
Larry

Tom R. wrote:
...snip...

If I were to do it again, I would map out the wi-fi spots before
I left and plan accordingly.

...snip...

Where would you find locations of wi-fi spots? Cruising guides?

Thanks,

tom
of the Swee****er Sea

There are a number of wifi spot locater pages:
http://www.wi-fihotspotlist.com/
http://www.wififreespot.com/

Tom


"Tom Shilson" wrote in message
...
Tom R. wrote:
...snip...

If I were to do it again, I would map out the wi-fi spots before
I left and plan accordingly.

...snip...

Where would you find locations of wi-fi spots? Cruising guides?

Thanks,

tom
of the Swee****er Sea