Internet and Cable on the GO for Travelers

NedRN · Aug 14, 2014

I've never once paid in close to 20 years of traveling. Despite my internet overuse, I'm OK with going to a coffee shop, library, supermarket or any other hotspot to burst upload and download or just hang out if necessary. Most of the time, I'm renting or sharing a house that already has a connection, or one of their neighbors have an open network. I've been known in the past to check out available networks as I shop for housing!

Strategies change, and it depends on what you are willing to pay or endure.

I started traveling in 1995 with 3 hours a month of AOL dialup (same plan I used at home) for $4.95 a month. I'm not sure how long exactly I kept that plan, but no longer than 2002 or 2003. Around that time, I discovered my cell phone could be tethered with a cable to my laptop for minutes of use (free at nights and weekends so guess when I used it)! so that was great for emergency access, and indeed I could do all my email, finances, and light browsing (sites were not as complex back then). Very slow of course. Around 1998 I discovered that all Kinkos had installed complementary ethernet ports with data access (before that they provided a telephone jack so you could call your dialup provider), so I found Kinkos wherever I went and especially between assignments for emergency emailing of documents to agencies. Then people started buying wireless routers (virtually none set up with passwords) and I even found myself driving around neighborhoods with my laptop open (war driving it is called and was a hobby for many) to find open access. Then chains like Panera started offering free wireless along with hotels and smaller coffee shops. Finally libraries, and getting decent speed internet on the road became easy. Hospitals also had ethernet ports with internet access available long before they started offering guest wifi networks (although I often used them surreptitiously as it was kind of suspicious behavior).

It is always a fun hobby not to pay. Not the choice for all.

Now I find my still unlimited Verizon iPhone can do much of what I need without a laptop at all. I would love to tether it to my laptop, but that requires either an expensive add on plan (expensive to me is $30 for 3gigs), some messy workarounds (to either tether or upload docs to the iPhone so I can email them), or to "root" the iPhone so I can activate easy tethering for free (but it is against Verizon's terms of service).

The standalone cell phone based hotspots are rather pricey as you discovered. It would actually be cheaper to install DSL or cable just like any other utility when you change assignments. That can be as little as $15 a month for introductory plans and you are gone long before the price goes up. But best is that wifi is already available and either submerged in the housing cost, or from some neighbor. My last assignment my apartment overlooked a coffee shop!

scrubnurselife · Aug 14, 2014

My apartment complex has a business center with wifi, but you have to be close to the office to access it. Honestly, I lasted about 3 weeks before I called the cable company. They are the contractor with the apartment complex, and I'm paying about 80/mo for cable and wifi, split between my roommate and myself. No installation or set up fees were required. So it all really depends on where you are and what's available.

trackhead, APRN · Aug 15, 2014

I live full time in an RV, many RV parks have really bad wifi. I'm in a city park now with zero wifi, but I'm using an open network a mile away with a 24dbi parabolic antenna and Alpha USB wifi adapter. If you're in an urban environment, there's almost always an open network around that you can use the high power 24dbi antenna, or the 7dbi omni directional antenna from Alpha.

Not sure if this is allowed, but here's a link. Plug this into your laptop and it will boost any signal by a huge margin. Plug and play, easy cheesy.

http://www.amazon.com/Alfa-AWUS036NH-Wireless-Long-Range-Screw-On/dp/B003YIFHJY/ref=pd_sxp_grid_pt_0_0

If you wan't to geek out, use this one. WAY better, requires minor set up time. Huge boost in signal strength. If you're in a high rise apartment, options are unlimited.

http://www.amazon.com/AIR802-Parabolic-Grid-Antenna-ANGR2424/dp/B003E3HJXQ

icuRNmaggie, BSN, RN · Aug 15, 2014

I live full time in an RV, many RV parks have really bad wifi. I'm in a city park now with zero wifi, but I'm using an open network a mile away with a 24dbi parabolic antenna and Alpha USB wifi adapter. If you're in an urban environment, there's almost always an open network around that you can use the high power 24dbi antenna, or the 7dbi omni directional antenna from Alpha.
Not sure if this is allowed, but here's a link. Plug this into your laptop and it will boost any signal by a huge margin. Plug and play, easy cheesy.
Amazon.com: Alfa AWUS036NH 2000mW 2W 802.11g/n High Gain USB Wireless G / N Long-Range WiFi Network Adapter with 5dBi Screw-On Swivel Rubber Antenna and 7dBi Panel Antenna and Suction cup / Clip Window Mount: Computers & Accessories
If you wan't to geek out, use this one. WAY better, requires minor set up time. Huge boost in signal strength. If you're in a high rise apartment, options are unlimited.
Amazon.com: AIR802 2.4 GHz 24 dBi Parabolic Grid WiFi Antenna, ANGR2424: Computers & Accessories

Are you able to stream netflix or amazon prime with these devices? I have a Roku which I love love love but I have only used it with my wired not wireless high speed internet.

trackhead, APRN · Aug 15, 2014

Yes, they are just antennas which amplify EXISTING signals.

wanderlust99 · Aug 15, 2014

It's a pain but I usually will bite the bullet and get internet/cable from one of the providers. I have been on a few assignments and have gone without, only using my iPhone for internet use, but that was a mistake. I did it to save money. But to me a couple hundred dollars isn't worth it for not having high speed internet!

I have discovered that for me I have to at least have high speed internet. It just makes my life better:) I download a lot of stuff online though and it needs to be quick.

Just make sure to ask that there is no contract, there is not a penalty for canceling after 3 months and there is no installation fee. I haven't had any issues tbh.

I did luck out on my current assignment and I have cable and internet for free. It's really nice:)

Two4theroad · Aug 17, 2014

I logged on to ask this exact same question! I'm a Pinterest/Netflix addict, so I know I'll end up paying...thanks for the great advice and many options! I'm looking into those antenna things :)

ChristopherB, BSN, RN · Aug 20, 2014

I haven't had an issue getting Comcast or whoever else was the local cable and internet provider to come and set up cable tv and internet at apartments for travel assignments. Often, you can also get new customer promotions when you sign up that include a discount rate.

nola06 · Aug 20, 2014

I used Verizon mifi with 5G data. I watched plenty of TV shows and surfed the internet and 5G was enough for me. It cost $50/ month and no hassle. I traveled with it for 2 years . I took a new assignment every 13 weeks, so it was much easier than having wifi installed each time

NedRN · Aug 20, 2014

5G? I think it is 4G. Which is plenty fast enough for Netflix with a good signal. 3G should be fast enough too, but I find that just streaming audio on Verizon often fails until the phone says LTE again.

nola06 · Aug 20, 2014

Sorry, I mean 5GB data