Using alltell wireless to get my laptop online during treatments...

[GonePostalWV]

Just picked up an Alltel USB adapter to allow me to logon during my dialysis treatments.

Where my center is located, I am limited to either using Fresenius's highly limited wifi,
or spending the $60 a month for the wireless.

Was wondering if any one else has gone that route?  You see everybody online talking
about being able to watch tv from your laptop (yeah right) or playing intense online
games (not happening on my end) via the wireless... but I'm not seeing that kind of
results.  I'm supposedly in good area for reception, but am only seeing speeds of around
.85 mbps down... and .08 mpbs up.  (Compared to my broadband dsl at home...
2.99 down/.73 up.

Is anyone having better results with Alltel?  If so , any tips or advice?  I called alltel tech
support, and the gal said the wireless wasn't designed for video or gaming... just basic
web browsing.....

I have a two week trial period where I can cancel if I'm not happy.  I haven't tried it
at my dialysis center yet.... I'll do that tomorrow and post results.  If I do not see
a better outcome... I'm sure I'll be cancelling the service.

Thanks for any help on this.....

[Sluff]

I used to use my AllTel for Internet on my laptop too. It worked great but eventually got slow. But it's great and it charges your cell phone at the same time.

[hurlock1]

I was using the cricket version and it was NOT broadband. It was somewhat faster than a regular dial-up, but I hated it and ended up going with qwest. I use a regular PC and don't have a laptop, because I don't like laptop keyboards or the type of mouse that comes with a laptop. There is an internet hook-up on the TV (or vice-versa) at the fresenius facility where I get my treatments. But it's not a computer, with an onscreen keyboard that I have to use with one finger on my left hand (I'm right handed) because my fistula is in my right arm. I can't imagine using a laptop on my belly and trying to type and do graphic work with the thing on my belly inches from my face. How about it? Does anybody do actual work at dialysis on a laptop? No one else, at least while I'm at the center uses one

[Savemeimdtba]

I basically used my laptop for DVD's and movies I had downloaded.  The Fresenius WiFi never worked and I wasn't there long enough to invest in a portable router. 

[Deanne]

Is Clear available where you are yet? It's fairly new, so it might not be yet. www.clear.com. It's WiMax. I have it in Portland and it allows me to go anywhere in the area and stay connected. The speed is pretty good -- not as fast as broadband, but still good.

[paddbear0000]

I was using the cricket version and it was NOT broadband. It was somewhat faster than a regular dial-up, but I hated it and ended up going with qwest. I use a regular PC and don't have a laptop, because I don't like laptop keyboards or the type of mouse that comes with a laptop. There is an internet hook-up on the TV (or vice-versa) at the fresenius facility where I get my treatments. But it's not a computer, with an onscreen keyboard that I have to use with one finger on my left hand (I'm right handed) because my fistula is in my right arm. I can't imagine using a laptop on my belly and trying to type and do graphic work with the thing on my belly inches from my face. How about it? Does anybody do actual work at dialysis on a laptop? No one else, at least while I'm at the center uses one

I do. I just don't recline in the chair and I use a Microsoft Wireless Notebook Optical Mouse. The mouse has a little wireless USB antenna-like thing in the bottom of the mouse that you remove and plug into a USB port on the laptop. I use a hardback book next to me in the chair for a hard surface for the mouse.

My clinic doesn't have wifi (I've ranted about this before on IHD!). I do watch movies and tv shows on my laptop though. My husband downloads them on our regular computer, then transfers them to my laptop via the wireless network he has set up. He just drops them in a file on the computer upstairs and they appear in a file on my laptop downstairs! We use Verizon Wireless and I wanted to get their equivalent of the Alltel wireless adapter GonePostal is referring to, but we would have to pay an additional $80 a month! Forget it!! So, I will remain unconnected at  dialysis!! 

[GonePostalWV]

Hello folks,
Just a quick heads up regarding my search for a happy internet...

I tried the alltel wireless with poor results, so I returned it and
cancelled my service.

Next option was I brought out the big gun !!!  Instead of using my
Aspire one netbook... I took my wifes Sony Vaio into the center instead.

(It's a monster of a laptop. 18.4 inch screen, Blueray disc for movies,
1080p high def graphics, etc:)

Most importanly, it has "N" wifi.  This did the trick.  It allowed me to
pull in a wifi signal from the local college , and since it did not have
blocked ports, I was able to youtube to my hearts content !!

Other side benefit, I spent 4 hours in the chair playing Crysis... a first
person shooter video game  ...this made my treatment
fly by !

[Chris]

AllTell is in the process of being bought out by Verizon. If it goes like when Cingular bought AT&T, it was a hassle back then. When AT&T bought Cingular, the transition was better with no equipment problems.

The thing you need to pay attention to with these USB adapters is what is the cell phone company using 3G or something lower and now 4G is rollling out that is much better for speed and ability. Of course that's on paper so far and real world testing reports are not in yet.

[paddbear0000]

Crysis is my husband's latest video game addiction too. He'll disappear for hours up in the office!

The only wifi available at my clinic belongs to Dayton's News Channel 2 next door. Anyone know how to crack a secure wifi network?   

[Chris]

Slip one of the interns or production staff a Starbucks?