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Portable Wi-Fi Hotspots

Dekortage writes "David Pogue reviews several portable wi-fi access points in the New York Times. If you have cellular Internet access, you can plug the PC card into the wi-fi box and presto, you've got Wi-Fi from wherever you are." From the article: "The card provides the Internet connection, courtesy of those companies' 3G ("third generation") high-speed cellular data networks. The box just rebroadcasts that connection as a Wi-Fi signal so that all nearby computers -- not just one privileged laptop -- can go online. With those PC cards, you can go online anywhere there's a cellular signal: in a taxi, on a bus, in a waiting room or wherever. In major cities, the speed is delightful, like a D.S.L. or slowish cable modem (400 to 700 kilobits a second)."

3 of 98 comments (clear)

  1. So what? by rts008 · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Having done some work in both NYC and Wash. D.C., this is not new- I could connect through unsecured wifi nodes throughout both cities while in a cab with my laptop, wireless PCMIA card (not specialized hardware or software) seamlessly two years ago. (pardon the grammatical structure- no, I could not connect from D.C. and NYC at same time!-get real you nitpickers!)

    What's really new here?

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    Down With Slashdot BETA!!! I've been around the corner and seen the oliphant; you can only abuse me from your perspecti
  2. EVDO at 6000', enjoy your flight.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic

    Just took a puddle-jumper flight (cruising at a max altitude of 6000'), and was up and running on my Verizon EVDO card. FYI, the newer Samsung EVDO cards smoked our insanely priced T1 line at the office. $59.99/month unlimited, can't go wrong. EVDO + wifi card + Streets&Trips06 + Netstumbler + GPS + Streetstumbler = good times.

  3. Fp Sponge by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Offtopic