Three types of wireless connections
that you might have access to using your mobile device.
- Router-based (usually on the premises of a building)
- Tower/Cell Phone-based
- Mobile broadband-based
What are these? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each?
1. Router-based connection.
Your pda, phone, or other wireless device connects to a wireless network at your office, in your home, hotel/motel, conference center (e.g. Lake Springfield Baptist Camp), library, or at a store (e.g. Barnes & Noble, mall, airport, restaurant (e.g. Panera Bread), or internet cafe. Some metropolitan areas are building wireless networks as a service to their citizens and as a way to shrink the "digital divide."
Advantages:
- Speed: Fast (Most web pages are accessible, including abcgrr.org
- Expense: Free (Many times, not all)
- Use all types of portable devices.
- Make sure your device is set to permit wireless reception. Receiving wireless signals draws down your device's battery more rapidly than what the other functions of your device do. Therefore, most devices have either a hardware button or software option to enable/disable wireless connections.
Disadvantages:
- You must be close to one of the on-site routers.
- Beware, not all of these are free.
2. Tower/Cell Phone-based connection.
These are often optional services (read: cost extra, from $50 up/month) that you are given an opportunity to sign up for.
Advantages:
- You can roam more freely. You need not be in/near a building with a wireless router.
Disadvantages:
- Speed: Much slower than broadband that you may be used to using wirelessly in offices, etc. MOBI was set up to overcome this obstacle. Your best use of this type of wireless connection to connect with the GRR web site will be abcgrr.mobi. Choose the Mobi Connection.
- Expense: Service charge of $35 or more per month.
3. Mobile Broadband
These connections require a special service contract. With this contract and/or for an additional fee you receive a special pc card that functions as a special antenna tuned to receive these signals. Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint are three of the major carriers.
Advantages:
- More than dial-up speed (but less than a router-based wireless connection)
The abcgrr.org site will be just fine with this type of wireless connection.
- Fast internet connection while roaming. (Faster than the Tower/Cell-Phone based connection.)
- If you have a laptop, it may already have the hardware built in to receive this. Just sign up and pay for the service contract. If you have a laptop that does not have this in it, you will need to purchase a pc card to use with your computer. Check the hardware requirements for your laptop to be sure that the card is compatible with your laptop.
Disadvantages:
- Expense: Costly as an extra service. You may also have to purchase a special pc card.
- Limited Coverage: Each company offering this service has different coverage. All companies are currently limited to major cities (read: populations of 100,00 +). Be sure to check the coverage area in the literature or on the companies' web sites before you sign up.
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