Truly, a Wireless Environment

• Initially purchased as a workaround solution at the Las Vegas NAR Conference and Expo.
• The cost was $150 for the card and just under $60 per month for unlimited data.
• The speed is not guaranteed, but I've always averaged about 1.2mbps (3G network).
• Its cellular broadband, so cell coverage is required.
• You can even share your connection.
• Great for when you’re on travel.
• True mobile solution.

First, I must mention that this blog post stems from Sharon Simms’ blog post named Broadband Air Card. I commented on her blog then thought to myself that it would best benefit the masses if it were a blog entry rather than a simple comment. So, here we are.

In this post, I will be discussing cellular broadband technology. This is not the same as Wi-Fi which you may be using at your home, office, or local Starbucks. Please click here to see how Wikipedia defines cellular broadband. They also have a good read on Wi-Fi. There’s a big difference, so it’s worthwhile to familiarize yourself.

I’m not a Realtor (please don’t throw any tomatoes :-), but I work with the Real Estate industry and have heard one constant message. You folks need your Internet, and you need it NOW! The industry has tried to adapt tools, such as the BlackBerry or Treo. But, let’s be honest they aren’t always the best way to do business. They are nice to check emails and keep your task and calendar together, but that’s really about it. Yes, you can browse the Internet, but it’s more of a pain than it’s worth (IMO).

Enter, Cellular Broadband!

Cellular broadband provides you with a truly mobile Internet solution. This provides you with a decent Internet connection pretty much where ever you get a cell signal. Let me define ‘decent Internet connection’. Cellular broadband is currently maxed out at about 1.2mbps, at least on AT&T’s 3G network. That speed is right around were your basic package home DSL speeds are at. If you have a laptop, cellular broadband is perfect for you.

We initially got cellular broadband when we exhibited at the Las Vegas NAR Conference and Expo in November 2007. The Sands Expo was charging about $2000 (that’s right, two-thousand dollars) for an Internet connection. I thought to myself, how ridiculous, there’s got to be a better solution. I mean, we didn’t need anything ultra fast; we just needed a connection to the Internet to demonstrate our services. So, I went searching. Our local AT&T shop was nice enough to allow me to use a demo card/account to see if it would work. It did, so we signed up.

I purchased a Sierra AirCard 875 (PC-Card flavor, not USB, more about why later) and signed-up for AT&T’s unlimited data plan. The card cost me $150 (after rebates) and the plan is just under $60 per month. They have other plans, but I would highly suggest the unlimited data plan. I then tasked myself with testing this in a number of different environments and situations. I tested it in hotels in Los Angeles, Sacramento, Las Vegas, Anaheim, Valencia and San Francisco. Overall, my tests were very positive. I had a few issues with the signal, but when this happened, I simply moved my chair until I received a better signal. So, there I was, browsing the Internet without having to worry about wires or the hotel’s expensive Internet charges. I was a happy camper (yes, you can get cellular broadband camping as well :-).

My next hurdle was to figure out how I could ‘share’ this connection. By default, the cellular broadband card fits into the side of your laptop and provides only you with an Internet solution. At the expo, we needed the ability to have more than one demonstration going on at any one time. Yes, I could have purchased an additional card and plan, but I’m cheap, so I didn’t.

Enter Linksys Wireless-G Router (Model WRT54G3G-AT or WRT54G3G-ST is for Verizon cards).

This Linksys device is specifically for sharing cellular broadband Internet access. Let me just say, it worked perfectly. There was a little tweaking involved, but for the most part, it was pretty straight forward. I was now sharing my Internet connection. I would suggest that you only have 2 or 3 computers connected at any given time. This is only because the more devices you have on your wireless network, the slower the connection will be. I would also highly recommend securing your wireless connection. Please read my blog post on ‘Wi-Fi, to secure or not to secure’.

Some important details that you should be made aware of:

1. Its cellular broadband, so cell coverage is required. AT&T's coverage viewer can be seen at, http://www.wireless.att.com/coverageviewer. Under the 'Coverage Type' heading, click the 'Data' link. Click on the map to narrow your search. The '3G/Mobile Broadband' is the fastest, but you'll need a card that supports it (most do). The 3G network is not available in all areas, but the 3G network is always expanding.
2. Sierra AirCard 875 is a PC-Card solution. Sierra AirCard 875U is a USB solution (will not work with Linksys WRT54G3G-AT). Option GT Ultra Express is for the express card slot on newer laptops (will not work with Linksys WRT54G3G-AT). Pay attention when you buy one of these. Most new laptops have the express card slot, so the AirCard 875 will not work unless you choose to purchase the Linksys WRT54G3G-AT.
3. Review the list of compatible cards from Linksys before you sign-up with AT&T or Verizon. Compatible cards for the WRT54G3G-AT. | Compatible cards for the WRT54G3G-ST.

If you have questions, please contact me directly. I will do my best to provide you with a quick and simple answer.

Happy mobile browsing!