[PeakOiler]

Well, it seems the ISPs have us by the neck.

Recently I had been informed by Sprint that the wireless modem I was using to connect to the web was no longer going to be supported with their new network. I was paying about $52/month for their service. So after going by a Sprint store to see what they were offering in place of that modem, I learned that no other modem was available but instead a Pocket WiFi would be used.
The problem with that device after getting online a few times was that it eats data. Big time. This morning it was using data at a rate of 10 Mbps and I had used in just 30 minutes, 10% of my monthly plan's data allowance! Good grief!
So I got really pissed off and I have cancelled my Sprint account. (This post is made while I'm at work.)

The only other ISPs available in my area that I know of is the HughesNet (satellite dish needed) and Verizon Wireless (antenna needed). AT&T's U-Verse is not available and there is no cable out here in the country, so Time-Warner or Roadrunner are out as well.

Whatever happened to "unlimited internet access" like AOL use to offer? All these plans now seem to run close to $100/month!

I'm sorry, but that's just too much for internet access, imo.

What ISP you you use? How much do you pay per month?

I'm about to be off the net for awhile folks. The Oil Price Challenge I'll update when I can. I guess I'll be using the local library for internet access for awhile, if not forever.

This sucks.

These communication companies really have a racket going, don't they?

[davep]

You could just get a router (ask them if they have non-wireless ones) and buy a wireless access point yourself e.g. http://www.amazon.com/TP-LINK-TL-WA801ND-Wireless-300Mbps-Repeater/dp/B004UBU8IE/ref=sr_1_1/181-5266122-6462543

You could even ask them if they allow 3rd-party routers, and get one of them (with wifi included rather than using a separate access point if you want, e.g. http://www.amazon.com/TP-LINK-TD-W8961ND-Wireless-Splitter-detachable/dp/B0086UK72C/ref=sr_1_2/181-5266122-6462543).

[dinopello]

I have Verizon - FIOS at home (Fiber Optic) and 3G for my cell phone. It's a bundle all together like $230/mo which includes the internet, land line, TV and cell. They keep upgrading my speed at home when I complain about price increases (they can't lower the price but they can up the speed) so I'm up to 150/150 Mbs.

That doesn't help you because if you don't have cable, you probably don't have fiber. One of the advantages of city life.

but, I agree wholeheartedly that it's a outrageous expense. But the internet is pretty cool. I'd rather give up my car than my high speed internet.

[davep]

The Pocket Wifi thing only supports wireless (cell) communications http://shop.sprint.com/mysprint/shop/phone_details.jsp?prodId=dvc8540015prd&deviceSKUId=85900425&flow=AAL&planSKUId=&tabId=dt_mbc&ptn=&defaultContractTerm=#!/

If you don't have a cable/ADSL connection then I guess you're stuck with finding another provider who allows higher monthly usage over 3G/4G. Did your previous wifi modem use the phone line? If so, you shouldn't be stuck with using the cell phone network.

[davep]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('dinopello', 'I') have Verizon - FIOS at home (Fiber Optic) and 3G for my cell phone. It's a bundle all together like $230/mo which includes the internet, land line, TV and cell. They keep upgrading my speed at home when I complain about price increases (they can't lower the price but they can up the speed) so I'm up to 150/150 Mbs.

That doesn't help you because if you don't have cable, you probably don't have fiber. One of the advantages of city life.

but, I agree wholeheartedly that it's a outrageous expense. But the internet is pretty cool. I'd rather give up my car than my high speed internet.

[dinopello]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('davep', 'T')hat's outrageously expensive.

[davep]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('dinopello', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('davep', 'T')hat's outrageously expensive.

[PeakOiler]

davep: I don't think Sprint would allow a third-party device to connect to the internet.

dinopello: Yikes! $230/mo? ouch!

I don't own a smartphone nor do I care about getting hundreds of TV channels since I rarely watch TV anymore. So these bundled offers have no appeal for me.

btw, my Sprint service lasts until Oct. 10th, but I will run out of data way before then at the rate this Pocket WiFi eats up data. A big part of the problem is that most websites are very data intensive. I don't watch YouTube videos or news site videos either, simply because of the data intensiveness.

I haven't decided if I'm going to stay online after that.

[davep]

Did your previous modem have the same connection method (i.e. cellular 3G/4G?) or via your phone line (I guess you don't have cable)? If it used the phone line and you're now being forced onto the cellular network with a far lower monthly bandwidth allowance then I'd look for another provider (or maybe ask them first if/why they stopped providing ADSL modems).

[Sixstrings]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('PeakOiler', 'I')'m sorry, but that's just too much for internet access, imo.

What ISP you you use? How much do you pay per month?

[MD]

More evidence that the internets, as we have known them, are changing.

I don't like it much, but you can blame that on the fact that I am an older techno-geek that is becoming increasingly nostalgic about the old days.

The individualistic swashbuckling early days are being replaced by 1984-like corporate control, and technology platforms that are designed to eliminate us pirates, one at a time. Ick!

[PeakOiler]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Sixstrings', '
')If you have 4g cell networks in your area, maybe you could use your phone instead of computer. (I'm not up to date on other carriers than what I have, do most phone plans still have unlimited data?)

What you could do is just get a big screen smartphone, or a tablet (and they make keyboard docks for tablets).

[davep]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('PeakOiler', '
')I have resisted getting a smartphone or tablet. But it appears that I may finally be forced to get one.

I hate little screens...

Can smartphones be connected to a PC with a cable?

[PeakOiler]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('davep', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('PeakOiler', '
')I have resisted getting a smartphone or tablet. But it appears that I may finally be forced to get one.

I hate little screens...

Can smartphones be connected to a PC with a cable?

[Sixstrings]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('davep', 'C')an smartphones be connected to a PC with a cable?

Yes, it's called "tethering". But you're still going to hit the phone's download limit pretty rapidly.

[Sixstrings]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('PeakOiler', 'T')hanks davep. I'm ignorant when it comes to smartphones. Never had one. Never sent a text message. And you're right. The data use is still probably intense. Like MD pointed out: The internet has changed. These communication companies have got the whole world addicted to the technology and now their going to bleed us as much as possible.

Again, I look back at the "old days" when I had AOL's dial up service. Unlimited internet access for $28/month. <<sigh>> It was slow compared to today's standards of course, but at one time it was the state of the art...

[SeaGypsy]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('PeakOiler', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('davep', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('PeakOiler', '
')I have resisted getting a smartphone or tablet. But it appears that I may finally be forced to get one.

I hate little screens...

Can smartphones be connected to a PC with a cable?

[PeakOiler]

Sixstrings: My issue is that Sprint forced me to buy their Pocket Wi-Fi in order to keep my internet connection. It uses a lot more data than the wireless USB modem so now I reach my data limit before the month is over. That means I would either have to change my plan (more $$$) or not have internet access but about 15 days per month to stay under the data limit.

It’s not that I can’t afford a more costly plan, I just don’t like being forced into the situation.

And out here in the country, like I mentioned above, there is no cable internet access and the number of ISPs is limited, so competition doesn’t put downward pressure on the cost.

[davep]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('PeakOiler', 'S')ixstrings: My issue is that Sprint forced me to buy their Pocket Wi-Fi in order to keep my internet connection. It uses a lot more data than the wireless USB modem so now I reach my data limit before the month is over. That means I would either have to change my plan (more $$$) or not have internet access but about 15 days per month to stay under the data limit.

It’s not that I can’t afford a more costly plan, I just don’t like being forced into the situation.

And out here in the country, like I mentioned above, there is no cable internet access and the number of ISPs is limited, so competition doesn’t put downward pressure on the cost.

[PeakOiler]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('davep', 'W')as the wireless USB modem connected to your phone line? If so, you can surely find another ISP that allows DSL/ADSL over the phone line that wouldn't have the same data constraints as using the cell network.

BTW, the Pocket Wifi itself shouldn't increase your data usage as it's normally just a conduit. Maybe your PC is quietly installing the upgrade files for Windows 10 (which can eat up several GB) or something more sinister (e.g. your PC has joined a botnet). For the latter, try running Malwarebytes https://www.malwarebytes.org/mwb-download/ (this starts the download automatically, normally) as a starter to see what baddies may be lurking on your PC (assuming it is Windows).