In the past, the most challenging thing for truckers to do was accessing the Internet while on the road, away from a home phone line or broadband connection. This page explains some of the newest and best methods, as well as providing helpful resources to get you in the right direction.
'WiFi' (for Wireless Fidelity) allows you to have streamlined, unlimited, high-speed access to the internet without all the hassles involved with cables, telephone lines and connection kits. You must be in range of a WiFi 'hotspot' to access the Internet. Some of these locations offer free access, others you pay through a service like T-Mobile (by the hour, day, month, etc.). For example, many Starbucks and McDonalds retail locations are now hotspots. Other hotspot locations include airports, hotels and motels, RV parks and campgrounds, and libraries. For a complete list of free WiFi Hotspot locations across the country, click here.
If you're a trucker on the road, you can now access the Internet in the comfort and privacy of the cab of your truck. It is the newest and most exciting development for OTR drivers who rely on the Internet for both business and pleasure. All you need in order to enjoy this convenience is a WiFi compatible PC card, a small card that fits into laptops. Conveniently, the newer laptops now even come with wireless capability installed.
None of the truckstop hotspots are free. There are several truckstops which provide access through their own WiFi network. The next section describes these hotspots.
Truckstop.net
Truckstop.net 'hotspots' were not long ago the frontrunners in the truckstop WiFi providers. They were available in most of the popular truckstop chains (except for Flying J) and several independent truck stops, such as Rip Griffin, Love's, Pilot, Petro, Iowa 80 and more.
However, their service has been suspended due to problems (and pending litigation) with Sprint Communications (Note: Scott Moscrip, CEO of Truckstop.net announced on 01/01/05 that most current operations have been suspended pending litigation in the U.S. District Court in Idaho).
Whether you're parked in a truckstop, rest area, coffee shop, or at home, you can access the internet by plugging a PC Card into your laptop or notebook. Your laptop must have a Type II or III PCMCIA slot to install the card. If you have one of the newer laptops, you may already be wireless ready and don't need the pc card.The following are the lowest prices available on the most popular types of PC Cards.
The Netgear WG511 Wireless 802.11g PC Card offers speeds up to nearly five times faster than widely deployed IEEE 802.11b wireless networks found in homes, businesses, and public wireless hotspots around the globe. It works with devices that are compatible with both the 802.11b and 802.11g draft wireless standards to keep you connected today and tomorrow.
Put it in your notebook PC and no matter where you are, at home, at the office, at the airport or in other public access areas, this versatile adapter automatically selects the best connection available, giving you constant access to corporate resources, e-mail, and the Internet.
The complete Wardriving and extended-range WiFi kit combines the maximum amount of power commonly available in a WiFi card combined with a high-gain antenna designed for trucks and RVs to allow stable uninterrupted connections to WiFi hotspots at maximum range.
Different Ways to Pay for WiFi
You'll have the option of different payment plans. Monthly access is currently running around $24.00 for each of the major WiFi providers. You can also choose hourly or daily plans. Which plan you should choose depends on how often you intend to access the Internet, and how often you frequent certain truckstops. For example, if you only get the chance to access the Internet at a Flying J hotspot a couple of times a month, you would waste money on a monthly plan. So, you only have to choose between hourly and daily. If you plan on being online for less than 3 hours, hourly would be the way to go.
Planning ahead how you'll access the Internet will save you time and money. Taking the time to really research the options available to you will be well worth the effort.
Additional Ways to Get Online
The following are ways most of us USED to get online. They are not as fast as the wireless options available today, but are still used because they're cheaper.
Getting online through standard (dial-up) phone lines
First, you?ll need a laptop to bring with you on the road, and a good, padded laptop case to carry it in. Also, get a phone cord (get the kind that automatically winds up like a measuring tape) for connection to the phone line. To access the Internet from any phone line while you?re on the road, you?ll need local or toll-free access numbers. Fortunately, most ISPs (Internet Service Providers like AOL, MSN, Earthlink, Juno, etc) provide customers with either type of access number.
Phone lines inside the truck stop
There are several places in a truck stop where you can get online; phones at your booth in the restaurant, in the driver?s phone room(s), or sometimes in the driver?s lounge. To access the Web this way, you can usually either unplug the phone line and plug in your own, or plug yours into a separate ?data? connection which is becoming more common. However, you?ll need a toll-free access number from your ISP because there won?t usually be free local calls from inside the truck stop.
Phone line inside your hotel room
Most hotels allow free local calls from inside your room, so you may access the Web from a toll-free number or from a local number. You may have to check (in the appropriate box) how you?re accessing an outside line (by dialing 8, or 9) on the ISP?s sign-in page.
Getting online through your cell phone
Another way to use your laptop and access the Web is through your cell phone. It?s simply a matter of buying a cable, installing the accompanying software, and connecting the laptop to the cell phone. Because of usage limitations (so many minutes per month), it?s best to get online through your cell phone when it?s free (with some plans, nighttime and weekends).
For example, Verizon?s Mobile Office-Quick 2 Net allows access to the internet at 14.4 kbps. This used to be standard speed for home use, but seems extremely slow now. Bottom line, use WiFi because of its availability, affordability, and speed.
into your laptop or notebook. Your laptop must have a Type II or III PCMCIA slot to install the card. If you have one of the newer laptops, you may already be wireless ready and don't need the pc card. The following are the lowest prices available on the most popular types of PC Cards.
