Server????

[Bob Cochran]

In about 14 months want to retire and go on the road with a new or used yet to be purchased 5er. Question what is the best server to us with the computer that has enough toll free numbers in a lot of cities so the phone charges to read TDR on the road is not big $$$$$'s for so many hours.

 

[Dkevdog]

Not sure what you mean

By server- I'm going to guess that you mean ISP, or Internet Service Provider. I hate to suggest AOL, becuase I hate them with the passion that drives a man insane, but they do have a significant and extensive network of numbers nationally to deal with.



Other ISP's that awould offer similar benifits include MSN and Earthlink. They both have toll free numbers for dial in but you'll pay more for it. A growing number of parks offer net access that you can get through them, and you could use a remote email account such as hotmail or yahoo and still access the mail and the TDR site regardless of their ISP carrier. Just some thoughts!! Good luck.



Kev

 

[Bob Cochran]

You are right I meant ISP. I have never heard good about AOL either but you maybe right about having the easiest access from anywhere. Know very little about the other two as far as ISP services are concerned. Don't mind paying a little more as long as the the numbers are reliable. Other than TDR probably only use it for doing banking and things like that with some email. Thanks for the help Kev. I have looked at the satalite systems buyt since I am not independently wealthy I think I will not be going that way.

 

[KMeek]

Don't laugh at this suggestion. But, K-Mart has a free ISP that is national providing you don't exceed 12 hours a month. They would have many local numbers that would be toll free if you are not too far out in the sticks.

 

[illflem]

I use Earthlink and have never had to pay a long distance charge even in the sticks since most telephone companies have expanded their local calling areas. One thing I found intersting while living in WA was my daughters MSN and AOL dial up number was the same number as my Earthlink number. Shared ISP servers?

 

[Dkevdog]

Illflem- yes- you are right, there are a number of ISP's that share dial-ups and bandwith in rural areas. It is only a matter of time before there is only 2 or 3 ISP's nationally anyway. Just like the banks. One other thought is satillite technology, but now is somewhat limited to downloads and is still a bit pricey. In time it will be bidirectional and cheap.



Kev

 

[redneckdr]

sattelite internet

i think it is already available both ways. both DISH and Direc have 2-way now. i had the 1-way for awhile at home. i saw it downloading at 600kbps one sunday am. i gave it up since the uplink was still very slow, and didn't make a lot of subjective difference overall. take a look at www.direcpc.com for pricing etc.

 

[Dkevdog]

I knew it was available bidrectional, I just didn't think it was mainstream just yet. Still pricey in my opinion though. I am fortunate to have DSL that averages 1250k. At work we use multiple XDSL lines, and they average around 4500k. Pretty cool.

I weap for those who've not yet seen the power of broadband or DSL .



Kev

 

[mbrolin]

AOL no good?Thats surprising. Its been the only server that I have used. Have had it for 4 + years. No problems what so ever.

 

[Bob Cochran]

I guess no good is to strong a statement. There seems to be better ones which is probably as most things a matter of preference.

 

[Dkevdog]

Mike- If you've had AOL for 4 years and never had a problem... ..... Well let me be the first to congratulate you!!! You must be that 1% I always hear about. I have many clients who've had many problems with AOL. But through their brainwashing and massive advertising... . THEY STILL STAY WITH AOL! Go figure? But seriously, most AOL users I know have complaints but my biggest problem with them is their invasive software and dropped connections. Yet as Bob said, each to his own.



Kev

 

[BRobertson]

AOL

AOL is anti-gun, if that is important to you

 

[Bob Cochran]

It is and I did not know that!!!!

 

[redneckdr]

aol

i didn't need any more reasons to dislike aol--i thought. you just added one, anyway. never understand what mentality prompts that. outlaw automobiles--they hurt more people than guns, AND pollute the atmosphere. you sure don't see many folks advocating that. most people crusading against guns don't have one and want to disarm the rest of us!!

 

[Doc Tinker]

If you end up with a service that requires a long distance call, you might try calling out of state to connect. My dad did that for a while and it was less than half what he would've paid for an in-state long distance call.



Doc

 

[Doc Tinker]

I just checked the site that redneckdr recommented - I got a kick out of this line:



"Cable shmable... can you see the sky? Then your Internet can rage!"



LOL



Doc

 

[Bob Cochran]

Doc ~ that is strange how that long distance works. Will keep in mind for sure. By the way thanks for the updats on Carl. Good to hear he is recovering so well.

 

[mbrolin]

AOL for my personal use meets my expectations. It may not meet everybody elses uses especially for commercial use. Thats one reason there are more and more providers available. Gives a better selection and keeps prices in check with competition.

 

[JR2]

My parrents asked me the same question (how do I get internet access on the road) and I told them AOL. They tried it but could not always get a local access #. Next I told them ATT worldnet, it had the same problem. It seems that when you get towards some big city and stop just out side of it that you are always in another area code and there are no dialups listed for that area code. If the "internet from the sky" thing works I would use it.



There other big complaint was that most campgrounds did not have decent phone lines or wanted extra $$ for a phone line, it got to the point that they got a hotmail account and started using public libarires (I can not spell) to check there mail.



Good luck with what ever you decide.



JR



BTW - I have a cable modem at home and I would go half the month with out eating if that is what it took to keep it... ...

 

[Bob Cochran]

JR2 ~ I have cable also at the moment but it seems Earthnet might be a solution. It seems to have the largest quantity of access numbers I have seen yet.