Wireless Connections

<...accessing the internet....while driving....access network TV stations....>

Do not access the internet or TV stations while driving!

I think that Don wants a GPS app that would talk to him while he is driving. (Usually they come with an annoying voice that tells you to turn right in 100 yards. Unfortunately they don't know that road work is going on and there is no right turn available!)

My wife and I used such a cell phone app while driving in Florida, worked well most of the time.

Where's nothing quite like one of those paper things. Oh, what are they called, now? Maps?

I think you may have to explain what a map is to some the younger folks.

My wife and I used such a cell phone app while .....

I have two of those, one on my iPhone, (verizon navigator) which is beautiful, that can redirect you. And I can choose what voice I want.

The other one, sits next to me,,....... and she has quite a dialog too.....

• Oh, your going this way? The other way is faster.....
• You should have turned here (as I pass the turn off).
• Is this longer in mileage? less miles is less gas you know, ect...

I can't shut her off, but, if only I can find the volume control.....

In the US, the iPhone has an additional paid service package called 'tethering'. A USB cable from the phone to a Windows 7 PC allows Win 7 to 'see' the phone as a 'modem' that provides data service through an internet connection (data service/internet is a paid service as well).

So, yes, internet access through an iPhone can be done. I don't know about other smart phones. I don't stream video, so I don't know how well tetherning works for streamning, but tethering does an OK job of grabbing static web pages.

There's an iPhone GPS app.

I can use my Samsung Galaxy SII tethered to by laptop/netbook etc. using wi-fi. T-mobile - no extra cost (apart from the internet usage tending to exceed the 'fair use' limit more quickly than it would if I only used the 'phone).

problem with tethering to your iphone is you have to jailbreak your iPhone. and if your supplier finds out, trouble may soon follow.

... just one of the reasons I won't touch Apple products (SII works off-the-shelf).

If I wasn't tied in by having to use the OS my customers use, I'd prob'ly kick MS into touch as well.

It's called a hotspot wifi app, all of the mobilel carriers now offer it, and it works with almost any (or most) smartphone, except Apple products. Apple does not want you to use your iphone or ipad to connect a device that might cause you to not have to buy another apple product.
You simply activate the hotspot, which works on any 3G or 4g network, or even with slower protocols. Mine is Verizon. Any laptop can then get net access from your phones router, you set the password. I use mine every day, never use hotel, airport etc hotspots. It's very fast, for general browsing, email, etc. I even skype and it works great, and I have a full screen and keyboard.

The IPhone is a lousy phone with a weak front end, but it has a great deal to offer in other directions... I use a tethered IPhone as my exclusive internet connection.. As long as I'm in contact with a cel tower I can surf and stream video as if I'm connected to a regular isp... My wife catches up on her e mail and any other business she needs to while I drive the hour commute we do, by tethering the phone to a laptop... Works great and we've cancelled our old twisted pair internet service... As to GPS, I use a free GPS app which does not need the phone to be connected to a cel tower as the maps for all Canada are stored in the phone... Free maps are available for the US too... Windows XP will also connect via I-Phone tether... The tethering plan I use charges an extra twenty bucks for tethering... Good surfing!

The new iPad works very nicely. It can switch between wireless and 4G for applications and you won't go blind trying to read it. Has nice features you will want to include in your search.

I resisted for years, but now I use it a bit more than my PC. One of these days, I'll get an iPhone.

I got my wife a new iPad a few months ago and she takes it everywhere when we drive some place.

I love it! It keeps her occupied enough that she no longer needs (or is paying enough attention) to feel compelled tell me how to get to where I already know how to get too when she doesn't!

So you can get maps and actually do useful things with those too? I am not telling her that though.

Thanks for all of the info. Yea, as far as accessing internet/TV, I don't do that while I'm driving. On the other hand, my wife will do that for doing business and personal tasks. I keep my attention to driving and taking in the scenery as much as I can, safely.

My wife operates the GPS and cross refernces to the vintage paper map while I drive. And, we accomplish that using our old GPS. What we are most interested in is being able to possibly connect our smart phone to our laptop and TV in the evening when relaxing in the RV park. So, can we do all of that with the smart phone and laptop or should we also consider using a satellite TV receiver? Thanks again.

I would go with the mobile satellite thing...and the smart phone GPS app's work well...I have an Iphone with several...

http://www.kvh.com/Leisure/RV-Systems/Television.aspx

Don't 3G (or similar) cellular-equipped tablets like the iPad, Kindle Fire, etc have this option?

Additionally you can get USB add-on cards that add cellular internet connection to your existing laptop.

There are apps available that will turn your 3G schmuttfone into a wifi hotspot. Get ready to pay for it though.

You can't use your notebook as a a monitor for a schmuttfone.

Some new schmuttfones have an HDMI output that will allow you to attach a monitor but you will still have to use the scmuttfone's touch screen to command it.

Cable TV? Not over your schmuttfone unless you consider streaming video to be what you want.

If you are on the road alot then the satellite TV option sounds good for your locale.

If wifi and cable are advertised as a service at the trailer park then why is it not available?

The wifi hotspot feature isn't an app, when you pay for the plan. (It is if you root and try to pirate that feature. If you suddenly start using high bandwidth they assume that's what you are doing and you're busted.) It's part of the OS.

And you can use a mouse and keyboard on a tablet if you like.

Satellite will cost a lot more than cell service.

Using a land based wifi is generally faster. (Using a wired network is even faster.) I suspect you may be parked too far from their router and have a weak signal. Maybe investing in a repeater would help this.

There are also stand alone hot spots like:

http://www.virginmobileusa.com/shop/mobile-broadband/broadband-2-go/sierra-overdrive-pro/features/

From Walmart for $17 works great for RV camps and marinas when you are farther away from their antenna. As for tethering, tethering works well but you may have to pay a good bit extra for more gigs of data transfer or get a new plan/fone. Samsung Galaxy works fine. I would love TV too but the flix type carriers do not usually stock the science and speedtv type channels, for streaming, that I would like. http://www.walmart.com/ip/Premiertek-PowerLink-Wireless-802.11b-g-n-USB-2.0-Adapter/16480821

Don, do you already have a phone? Who is the carrier?

I have a Samsung cell phone with service provided by AT&T.

I use T-Mobile's hotspot at the RV trailer we stay at. Works great the kid is even able to do online games. We have unlimited usage for three phones at less than $150. I'm sure other carriers have similar deals. I haven't tried get TV service with it but I'm sure the have an app for it just depends on cost. Another issue that might come in to play are dead zones.

http://www.ehow.com/how_6891794_can-cell-phone-screen-laptop_.html

It's a matter of Apps, which cell phone you choose, and software for computer. Also, the carrier may make a difference, like AT&T you will need unlimited usage package for usage. I have Sprint which is unlimited for any package you buy & decent service through out the nation. T.V. is a matter of Apps, Sprint does have Sprint T.V., but, don't expect them to be like regular T.V. where you can switch channels easily.

make sure what their definition of "unlimited" is. some plans were grandfathered in and do not offer that for new accounts. some "unlimited" plans really aren't. they are only up to a certain ceiling. some will charge you extra and some will just slow down your bandwidth.

also watch out for roaming. i thought that was a thing of the past until i got a warning from AT&T that I had gone 4 times over my roaming limit on a trip to Tennessee. I didn't even realize I was in roaming mode. (I was way under my monthly data limit.) To their credit, they did not charge me for my indiscretion.

I have an HTC android phone with HOT Spot for $25 extra a month....as mentioned in another thread, it broadcast a signal that you connect to with your laptop as you would in you house or hotel. Now you can surf and watch anything that you could do with any other internet connection.....I have heard an seen TV over internet but have not tried it....I assume that if you are watching live streaminng tv then you are probably paying someone if doing it legally. Netflix is cheap and you can watch movies until your so bored that you have to get up and leave.....$8 a month. The speed of your connection is based on your cell phone signal.....as long as it's got a steady signal even if 1 to 2 bars then your good......a bouncing signal causes lag which is still good for email but too much lag for browsing....I have hot spot and use it everyday so no guessing here......worth the $25 for legal mobile internet that I can use on any internet ready device (i watch netflix from my blueray dvd player's internet connection). oh yeah, I have a camper and its the main reason I add hotspot to my cell phone package.