The $10/mo for web access with Sprint ONLY applies to the use on the
phone. When you plug in the data cable, and use it as a modem, its like
$0.30/kb. Learning that lesson cost me.
The unlimited phone-as-a-modem or data card rate is around $39/mo.
Does anyone know if there are drivers/capabilities to link a data card
to a Mikrotik or StarOS box? I guess that there are other Linux drivers
out there, so my thinking may work.
I have considered for some time the possibilities of making a box to
mount in my car (car-puter) with a Sprint (or Cingular, or Verizon, or
whoever) cellular type data connection, with a WIFI client as the
primary (or secondary) mode of connection. With DDNS, access to the dash
mounted camera, GPS stream, etc should be easy enough, making it a
roll-your-own LowJack type system. Also, in the car, an ethernet jack to
plug a laptop into could be nice, as well as opening the possibilities
to put in an ATA to make VOIP calls, as well as adding a WIFI AP. $39/mo
for unlimited data connectivity, especially if it gives the
speed/latency required to do VOIP, seems like a bargain compared to
$129/mo for 2000 minutes. I guess a Windows-based system could do all of
those things, but the RAM/processor/etc/boot time/bluescreens associated
with Windoze don't seem to make it conducive to this type of project, IMO.
The car-puter installation plan things that I have read about seem to
focus on GPS and MP3 playing. Since my wreck 6 yrs ago, where I couldn't
prove to the insurance company (5 eyewitnesses from every direction from
the intersection and a police report weren't good enough) that I had the
green light. I have been thinking about a car-mounted DVR with cameras
in the grill, the dash, and in the back to offer video defense in a car
accident claim. Showing the judge, the insurance agent, or whoever a DVD
of the video surveillance of the accident could save a lot of time and
hassle.
What I wish someone would sell for a car (these things probably all
exist in one form or another with various systems) is a computer that
will act as a:
DVR security cam recorder (cam pointed at the driver seat to
prosecute the car thief, + cams on bumpers to witness accidents)
Data port (ethernet + WIFI AP)
Web server (with DDNS support to access the stored data, even when
the car is away from the house, like at an impound yard or after being
stolen)
MP3 player
Realtime ODBII scanning/recording/diagnostics of the car.
VOIP system.
GPS stream recording. (to show he teenage driver when/how fast she
was really driving)
I would think that these things could all be incorporated for under $2k,
mounted in the trunk, and it would be something that would sell like
crazy for $3k installed.
I guess what I would like is a retail version of this with more features:
http://www.popsci.com/popsci/how20/d04305f2dbbf1110vgnvcm1000004eecbccdrcrd.html
pd
Rich Comroe wrote:
What a rip! Sprint told me it's only $300-400 to get out of a Sprint
contract. What's it cost to early terminate a Cingular contract? Why
doesn't he just terminate? Getting a $1200 monthly bill is
ridiculous! UNLIMITED data to a Sprint windows phone is only about
$10/month, and there's no way to limit it to not operate tethered to a
computer (other than unreasonably large download usage). And it's
EVDO, so it blows away that measley 125 - 175 kbit. I really think
those PCMCIA cards are a rip-off for service cost compared to just
getting unlimited data service to your cellphone. I love ppc6700
windows phones ... a lot lighter and smaller than a laptop yet nearly
as capable.
Rich
----- Original Message ----- From: "Mike Hammett"
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "WISPA General List" <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, May 10, 2007 8:08 AM
Subject: Re: [WISPA] Try it out vs. Cingular
oh, I'm most certainly under $1200, even for a whole year. :-p
Anyone have experience getting out of a bad Cingular deal?
-----
Mike Hammett
Intelligent Computing Solutions
http://www.ics-il.com
----- Original Message ----- From: "Scott Reed" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "WISPA General List" <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, May 10, 2007 7:48 AM
Subject: Re: [WISPA] Try it out vs. Cingular
Even if he can't get out of the Cingular contract, I would think
paying you your normal rates would cost less than $1200 to
Cingular. Suggest that your unlimited service is still less
expensive than overages.
Mike Hammett wrote:
I have a potential customer that wanted to "try out" my service.
He's got money, so I wasn't afraid he was looking to get something
for nothing. He has Cingular now and can only get 125 - 175 kbit
out of it. I clearly can provide a faster less latent service for a
lower monthly cost (costs him $70/month).
Apparently he wasn't on the unlimited rate plan and got hit with a
$1200 bill. He doesn't think he can get out of his Cingular. *argh*
That said, can anyone think of a way to hookup a standalone fax
machine with the Cingular card? I can't contemplate anything at all.
-----
Mike Hammett
Intelligent Computing Solutions
http://www.ics-il.com
--
Scott Reed
Owner
NewWays
Wireless Networking
Network Design, Installation and Administration
www.nwwnet.net
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