Forum: HoseHeads Sprint Car General Forum (go)
Moderators: dirtonly  /  dmantx  /  hosehead

Gidday everybody,

In early April we hit the States again (from Australia) for 8 weeks of sightseeing and racing using an RV. Unlike previous trips, where we have relied on libraries along the way for internet access, this time I want to do it wirelessly. (Is that a word?)

I'll either be bringing a laptop with me or buying another one in your country. If it is the latter can someone point me in the right direction to:-

a) Purchasing the laptop - no specific brand or model in mind - but specifically one which has wireless connection to a provider as soon as I walk out the door. In other words I don't want to have to then find a source to connect up to after the purchase. Remembering we only need access for 8 weeks.

b) Or if I bring my own, how can I connect to a provider for just 2 months and not presumably enter into a 12 month contract.

Thanks - your collective advice would be appreciated ....

Peter

www.globalspeedwaytours.com.au 

Peter,

Wireless in the good ole US of A is very available in lots of places now days.  There are internet hotspots located everywhere.  Lots of them are even free!  My best suggestion is get your laptop set up with a Wireless card and you are set.

Plan your trip with the hotels/motels you may be staying at that may offer wireless internet.  Lots of them are free or may charge a small daily/weekly/monthly fee.

At Panera Bread resturants, they have free wireless internet available and you don't even have to go inside if you don't want to, just park in their parking lot   My companies Sales reps pirate these places all the time for quick internet/email access.

Wireless broadband cards are becoming popular here.  I use a Sprint broadband card when traveling as my insurance policy against no wireless available.  The speed is not the best but its still 5 times better than traditional dialup.  The only thing is you have to commit to a contract for services for these broadband cards.

Depending on where you are going for racing, there is good possibility that you do have some wireless options.  Do your homework before traveling and I'm sure you will find a away to be connected. 

Sometimes I wished I could "Disconnect" for awhile!  Between my laptops and my Blackberry, its impossible! LOL 

theres Boingo.com a free software download that sniffs for wireless connections. Put Your wireless card in the slot, and it sniffs a signal.

Since most cell companies that provide wireless net want a contract, that probably wouldn't work for you.

All Flying "J" (300 locations) and TA truckstops (over 150 locations) now have WiFi internet. You pay month to month. It's great service and only runs $19.95 to $24.95 a month.

As far as laptops go, it is hard to beat the prices of the "big box" retailers here in the states such as Best Buy, Circuit City, CompUSA and such. Most new laptops have the wireless network built in and are ready to go.

Member of this message board since 1997

If you're looking for a free, wireless access site within a specific area, try this link:

http://pcworld.jiwire.com/#

I have a Gateway laptop. Not sure it is the top of the line, but it's always worked great and been very easy to use for me. As far as Wireless near hotels..........anytime I travel for racing I stay in CHOICE hotels. You can search that and it will bring up a general choice hotel website for ya. Most if not all have free wireless and I've never stayed in any choice hotels that were nasty or bad.......not to say that their isn't any out there. I've learned it is best to stay AWAY from Super 8's. Don't know why but these days most are messed up in 1 way or another. 1 good thing about choice hotels is you can build up points for free nights and other stuff. Some of the choice hotels I know of are........

Comfort Inn Comfort Inn & Suites sorry thats all I can think of right now. Sometimes they can be pricy, but I've always found it better to pay 75-80$ and be more than satisfied than to try to find those 35-50$ rooms and end up unsatisfied. If you end up havin any trouble post some of the racing you're shootin to see and I'm sure just about everyone on here could be of more service. Hope some of this helps.

How much would could a wouldchuck chuck if a 
wouldchuck could chuck would

All good so far guys .... thanks.

1. Not looking for advice on what type of laptop. No problems with that. Just want one I can walk out of the store with already loaded with software to go wireless. Seems that any laptop sold these days is so equipped.
2. Not staying in a Hotel / Motel for 8 weeks. Will always be on the road. Camp ground or a Walmart. (Hey maybe Walmart offer their "free campers a "Wi-Fi hot spot?)

Looks like www.boingo.com maybe the go. I've searched their website for as much as I could find and it looks as though that someone in my position can purchase 1 month for $21.95 and get the second month free. With no residual contract it sounds too good to be true.

Are you able to verify that for me cmpvideo2go? I can't ring the 1800 # from Australia.

Thanks ...

www.globalspeedwaytours.com.au 

I think most laptops are already wireless ready. I asked a couple guys I worked with when I lived in Maine about wireless,and laptops,and they showed me how their laptop worked,picking up a signal etc.With that knowledge when I came to Indy last May,the first stop was at the computer stores,cause I got rained out (I know you know firsthand about getting rained out) that first night. In the end I bought a Toshiba at Best Buy. That first night I got a motel room with free wireless to figure the thing out. From then on,in true Kevin Eckert style,I got my wireless connection from motel parking lots around the area,where ever I stopped I would check for a signal.Sometimes even in a parking lot in a shopping mall would work,as one of the shops would have free wireless. It worked for me till I got an apartment!

Some towns are having wieless put in. I was reading where Brownsburg is one of them. I'll have to head over there and check it out sometime.

PS does Laima know your gonna watch a few races while your here??? Hehehehehe

Hey  Pete ! Do you have your itenerary set yet ? Knowing you guys,I figure you already have an idea of where you are bound for.

Are you concentrating on wings or non-wings ?

 We would love to hook up with you and Laima somewhere along the way.Bud's Bride

Remember, Knoxville is in IOWA, NOT Tennesse

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Duane Davis

Laser Engraving 
641-751-7777
101 N Center
Marshalltown, Iowa 

Better have Bud fill up the Chevy and head east. Until he becomes "Posse" later on in the trip,I'm trying to get Peter to give up one night of Eldora for Gas City,then Anderson the next day. Dont know if Laima knows all this yet though!

Be forewarned though,the indoor midget beanbag champ is also sposed to make an appearance that weekend as well.

Thanks for the reminder Duane, although after 12 trips I think I remember which Knoxville to go to. Although part of the schedule will probably see us run through Tennessee at some stage.

(My 2006 National Speedway Directory tells me there isn't a track in Knoxville Tenn anyway. I wonder whether someone should build one there? It would get plenty of Aussies as spectators ......)

Keet ... ASQ is correct when he says we won't be going too far west of Indianapolis. Mainly concentrating on the East Coast although as you well know, 'Have RV will Travel' could go anywhere. We have another couple on the road with us this time (in separate RV's) who just want to see America as we have seen it in the past. Let's hope they like the carparks of sprintcar tracks, particularly in PA!!

A schedule has been prepared and I'll send you a copy. Apart from Gas City, Eldora and Anderson on the weekend of April 13th, 14th & 15th there may not be too much more before hitting PA when the Outlaws are in that part of the woods mid May. The RV's will get used to some constant travelling between Posse tracks for about 8 days.

Laima has seen the schedule (mud map?) and it has been approved, particularly seeing as how Intercourse gets another run whilst in Lancaster County. Don't think she quite realises that Williams Grove, Grandview, Lernerville, Selinsgrove and Lincoln are all so close.

Off to Parramatta now to watch the midgets (Sprints are on holidays) with Jerry Coons Jnr and Davey Ray running against the best of the Aussies. Midgets in Australia are on a real high with the standard of equipment at a fantastic level. Great to watch ..

www.globalspeedwaytours.com.au 

Someone a few years ago went to an Australian travel agent and made trip plans to come to Knoxville and wound up in Knoxville TN and then had to rent a car ect to finish the trip.

Moral of the story, make sure the travel agent is a race fan.

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Duane Davis

Laser Engraving 
641-751-7777
101 N Center
Marshalltown, Iowa 

Peter,

Won't really need to acquire a notebook over there if you take an Aussie compliant 'puter (Mac or IBM) with you as long as it has a wireless card and suitable power adaptor. Wandered all round on two trips over there last year with no dramas - even have parking bays/rest stops with wireless access. Once on wireless broadband never to go back to dial up again! Advice above is correct about getting close to motels with free wireless, but I guess an RV is a bigger target to hide!

See you in my travels? May for PA Outlaws swing ending up catching up with Ambrose @ Charlotte Busch race then back again for Nats in Aug...

JE

In English Jon, what in the heck is a parking bay?

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Duane Davis

Laser Engraving 
641-751-7777
101 N Center
Marshalltown, Iowa 

I use one of these Kyocera KPC650 Ev-DO PC Card

From Deming Speedway upper Washington State to Tulare Cali and tracks in between with no problem with my lap top

Brian 

"TURN AROUND; MATE !"

Yes Sir, used it a lot a Year ago was free. I booted up the Lap-Top and drove all around Silacon Valley,, San Jose and Santa Clara Ca and around Long Beach Ca. Theres wireless groups in the valley, thats all they do as a Hobby. I had a Direct PC by direct TV dish just for wireless, and got rid of it because of these groups posting 'Free wireless and people parking out on the street piggybacking Our wireless. The Boingo sniffs for the signal and They have a list telling if any snifted wiresless is free or not.One starbucks in San Jose held the signal for a mile and a half instead of the usual 300 feet.A cool program.Enjoy Your visit

Bruce Velo

http://cmpvideo2go.com

Now majority of laptops are built with internal wireless cards in them. I stay at hotels all the time, click on view networks and it gives you the listof locations that your wireless sees. Last week I had 2 unsecured and 1 secured signals from 3 different places. Unfortunately you can't get on th secured network.