[LUNI] Cellular internet access & Linux

[Thomas Cameron (Red Hat)]

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Mike Scott wrote:
| I am considering a new laptop and was wondering if anyone out there is
| using a Cellular data plan.
| I was figuring that a PCMCIA card would be better than built-in so I am
| not locked into a particular provider (at least no longer than the
| contract term for the plan vs the life of the laptop).
| Which of these cards work well with Linux (or is it transparent)?
|
| Also which carriers should I avoid?  I seem to remember Verizon had some
| fine print whereby they could terminate your service if you do streaming
| audio/video and they determine you are streaming if your monthly
| transfer rate exceeds a certain threshold 9even though their plan is
| billed as "unlimited".
|
| - Mike Scott
|

I have a Verizon PC5750 Rev. A EVDO card, and I freaking LOVE it.  I've
seen well over 2.5 megs/second download in various cities (Dallas and
San Francisco come to mind), and when I was in Chicago two weeks ago it
was pretty darned fast there, too.  I seem to recall that I was seeing
about 1.2 meg/second or so in downtown.

The thing I have been really impressed with about VZW is that I get
coverage no matter where I am.  Even if there is no EVDO service and it
has to fall back to what is basically wireless dial-up, I've got
service.  Now I am literally all over the map, so that might not be a
big deal to you, but for me VZW EVDO is a real lifeline.

It's like $59/month for unlimited bandwidth, and yes, they do have the
disclaimer about excessive use/streaming stuff.  For me that's a
non-issue because I don't stream anything.  I have used the EVDO card to
download ISO images a few times, and to update my Red Hat Enterprise
Linux laptop.  Each of those was big transfers - anywhere from 300 megs
to a couple of gigs or so.  I never got any flack about it.

Thus far I have had no negative experiences with VZW, I recommend them
heartily.
- --
Thomas Cameron, RHCE, RHCX, CNE, MCSE, MCT
Solutions Architect Team Lead, Central Region
512-241-0774 office / 512-585-5631 cell / 512-857-1345 fax

Red Hat rated #1 in value by CIOs for four years running:
http://www.redhat.com/about/news/prarchive/2007/CIO_Insight_Study.html
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