I currently drive a 2007 Volvo S80. Pretty much work on the road. I’m wondering if there is anything you guys can suggest that I can plug into either the cigarette lighter (power thingy majig) or into a port on the engine for a mobile Wifi hotspot? Maybe just something I can plug into my laptop via USB or HDMI? I do a lot of video conferencing and that kind of stuff so I don’t want to deal with data limits or monthly bills. I pretty much either don’t have Wifi or it isn’t good enough for what I’m doing. Thanks in advance.
like a wifi dongle?
Yes. Pretty much anything where I can get a Wifi connection somehow. If it was USB or something, that would be better so I can use it while in a hotel room or whatever else but if it plugs into my engine bay, whatever, it's better than nothing I guess.
Are you looking for something like this?
Something that has a mobile data connection which allows you to connect to it via wifi and can be charged with USB?
I mean really you could use any modem/router if it uses 12v and just wire it in to the car or to a lighter plug.
You have to be very clear here, do you simply want a
which is nothing more than a local area network with "wireless network cables" (sic), or a pre-paid mobile cellular internet connection such as 3G/4G that also has wireless connectivity for your phone/laptop/etc so you can:
because WiFi is just a wireless network, which you can do without any bills other than the initial outlay for the device, but to reach any point beyond your own little wireless VolvoNet you will have to pay someone to carry the data, which implies pre-paid cellular internet at the least...
Looked into it myself, there's a pretty good thread here: https://community.ubnt.com/t5/Wireless-Networking/Car-WiFi/td-p/1376923
Might pick up a Ubiquiti bullet myself lol.
Yes, that's the kind of thing I'm looking for.
I said the data limits because I know if you go to someone like AT&T, who are said to have the best for the kind of uses I need, have data caps since they're essentially 4G to Wi-Fi which is the kind of thing I need and also have monthly bills.
Do you guys remember the AsRock giveaway that the channel was doing? I'm looking for something like that mainly. Something easy to plug and chug. I'd be fine with something that plugs into the engine compartment for my personal car because then I just automatically have the mobile hotspot stuff that's in some of the newer vehicles but I'm not sure my boss would be cool with me doing that on the "company vehicles" so I'd also like something that plugs into my computer while I'm in a company vehicle or in a hotel room for the night.
Why not just tether your data connection from your mobile phone? That's what I do. I have an external battery to keep the phone alive while I'm on the go.
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http://www.t-mobile.com/cell-phone-plans.html The unlimited option is $95/monthly. Its a steal. I've used 40Gb in a month while tethering my laptop to my phone, and its been great. I really have to recommend T-Mobile after using their services basically since their company rolled out in my area years upon years ago.
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Got some thing for both 12v and 110 volt at a truckstop for my tablet. When we lost our internet I took my wife to the local Sheetz and got the tablet to run Netflix and we watched Blacklist and held hands and talked about our first date at a drive in 20 years ago.
We could barley see the screen and people were staring at us like we were terrorists. My wife thought it was romantic:)
You would not believe what can be run on a cig lighter that they have at truckstps.
I have an unlimited data plan also. It's totally worth the extra 20-40 dollars if you use it. I can use lynda, youtube, download large files, whatever. I've seen people with those little WiFi cubes from Sprint but they aren't any different from using data from a phone.
Have you ever tried this?
http://medavia.co.uk/our-content/car-engine-cooking
I cut red potatoes and some sweet onion add some water and spices then wrap it in really thick foil. You have to get it at specialty stores usually. The hardest part is finding somewhere stable to set it on.
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LOL all the time:) The mechanics get upset when top raman noodles get on the turbo....thank you:)
The reason I don't want to use my phone's connection is because AT&T will no longer support unlimited data plans, at least not for my account.
This is why
It would be more helpful if you provided you geographical location. People can't suggest stuff if their suggestions wouldn't apply to you. What good is a phone provider for India when you live I Alabama? I remember someone mentioning t-mobile I have metro pcs (same thing). You could get one of those Mobile hotspot things but that's just another phone bill and another device.
If you want data but cant leave at&t just get a phone with dual sim slots and put a tmobil sim card in there. Att sim cards will work in a phone without getting att involved.
See that's why I was recommending T-Mobile. T-Mobile's unlimited data plan rocks, and they offer it nationally.