After checking your links I assume the service presented to you are data over the cellular network for mobile phones. Not WiFi. The cards are of either PCS or GSM type, which in it self needs to be checked out, because these are not the same. The functionality is basically the same, but they are not compatible. To get a rough grip on what the situation is read this page. http://www.arcx.com/sites/Technical%20Comparison.h tm It is fairly short and rather accurate.
What it all is about is using the cellular (mobile phone) network as a carrier for data. This is a standard feature in later mobile systems, but there are enhancements. Because of the burst characteristics of data communication operators and manufacturers realised data traffic needed a totally different architecture in the air interface not to overload the systems. Today all systems are having enhancements to boost data traffic. The drawback of Package Data on mobile systems is that operators down prioritize this in favour for traditional voice callas where they make more money.
In GSM data transmission is called GPRS with the enhancement EDGE. Limitations in EDGE are among other things distance to nearest antenna, allocated resources and release level. These are things you can not control easily, so I propose a "buy and try". As I recall the maximum throughput is some theoretical 300+ Kb. Count this one out as more than theoretical, but I have heard of people achieving very high, and even higher throughput on GSM/GPRS/EDGE.
I am not that familiar with PCS but when I worked with the package data node for GSM called GPRS I worked with PCS people for the Japan market. As I recall it is basically the amount of timeslots that differ, the rest same-same as GPRS/EDGE so from my perspective this is actually another TDMA technology under another brand name. But ask the operator what throughput they think they can provide. The important thing is that you make sure they are talking about package data (don't know if they call it GPRS in PCS).
UMTS or WCDMA is the best system for data transmission. I do not think The States are very hot on that. It is mainly us in Europe and Far East. I think US has said that 3G (third generation of mobile telephony) is going to be implemented via GSM and GPRS/EDGE. The problem with UMTS is as always, you share resources with others and there area no guarantee of bandwidth. None of the cards in the links were UMTS cards so I think we can rule out this one.
As an unorthodox proposal I think you could check out an antenna solution. There are several suppliers for antennas so you can build a point-to-point solution. The only thing you need is "line of sight" and a friend at the other end having a xDSL or "broad band" connection.
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So, lets take it from the beginning.
h tm
After checking your links I assume the service presented to you are data over the cellular network for mobile phones. Not WiFi.
The cards are of either PCS or GSM type, which in it self needs to be checked out, because these are not the same. The functionality is basically the same, but they are not compatible. To get a rough grip on what the situation is read this page.
http://www.arcx.com/sites/Technical%20Comparison.
It is fairly short and rather accurate.
What it all is about is using the cellular (mobile phone) network as a carrier for data. This is a standard feature in later mobile systems, but there are enhancements.
Because of the burst characteristics of data communication operators and manufacturers realised data traffic needed a totally different architecture in the air interface not to overload the systems.
Today all systems are having enhancements to boost data traffic.
The drawback of Package Data on mobile systems is that operators down prioritize this in favour for traditional voice callas where they make more money.
In GSM data transmission is called GPRS with the enhancement EDGE.
Limitations in EDGE are among other things distance to nearest antenna, allocated resources and release level.
These are things you can not control easily, so I propose a "buy and try".
As I recall the maximum throughput is some theoretical 300+ Kb.
Count this one out as more than theoretical, but I have heard of people achieving very high, and even higher throughput on GSM/GPRS/EDGE.
I am not that familiar with PCS but when I worked with the package data node for GSM called GPRS I worked with PCS people for the Japan market. As I recall it is basically the amount of timeslots that differ, the rest same-same as GPRS/EDGE so from my perspective this is actually another TDMA technology under another brand name.
But ask the operator what throughput they think they can provide.
The important thing is that you make sure they are talking about package data (don't know if they call it GPRS in PCS).
UMTS or WCDMA is the best system for data transmission. I do not think The States are very hot on that. It is mainly us in Europe and Far East. I think US has said that 3G (third generation of mobile telephony) is going to be implemented via GSM and GPRS/EDGE.
The problem with UMTS is as always, you share resources with others and there area no guarantee of bandwidth.
None of the cards in the links were UMTS cards so I think we can rule out this one.
As an unorthodox proposal I think you could check out an antenna solution.
There are several suppliers for antennas so you can build a point-to-point solution. The only thing you need is "line of sight" and a friend at the other end having a xDSL or "broad band" connection.