Bell internet "stick" thingamajigger

[Fergee]

Has anyone heard of or used the new stick thing for wireless internet (high speed) that Bell is offering?? I have dial-up, even at home, and have very few options for highspeed. The Bell stick costs a one-time price of 300 bucks, and is apparently good for 3 years (which makes it less than 10 bucks a month, which is cheaper than dial-up). Too good to be true??

[706jim]

I recently went through this with Rogers. I was just about to tell them to ship it to me until I found out the ridiculous cancellation fees if I didn't sign up for three years. In your case, you are paying the $300 up front, so at least Bell isn't trying to hide it like Rogers did.

But here's the thing: (Sounds like Suze Orman no?) What is the data limit per month for this offer? Rogers was 500Mb per month, which sounds fine until you realize just how much data you can send surfing the net or sending pictures etc. Once you go over the limit, the cost per megabyte gets REALLY expensive.

Rogers also wanted $6.95/mo "system access fee" even though I have no less than THREE Rogers accounts.

So you'll have to decide if this system is for you. Eventually, I decided that I would just learn to live WITHOUT internet at my camp.

[Tony Wo]

Hi Fergee,

At the Spring Cottage Life Show, they had a company called, Telus, there and they also offered a pluggy in thinggy for a given price. It sounded good, BUT, afterwords, they mentioned the "so-many-MB-per-month" cost. So my DW decided not to get involved.

My suggestion would be to do a search on Telus, a Candian company, and see what their rates are. If you learn anything good, share it with us Fergee.

~Tony~

[RJH]

We use bell unplugged outdoor

[NaturalMystik]

Intrigued! What is this interent stick thingamijigger all about? Is it a sattelite connection that plugs into your laptop or something like that?

I have no utilities at the camp and if I could get a solar rig going for my laptop and some satellite internet, I'd stay there all summer. $300 for the year sounds pretty good to me.

[Shuswap Bushman]

It's basically a cellular phone connection. Sat services are about three times as much.

[Fergee]

Here's what it says, "Access the internet anytime, anywhere with a 3G Turbo Stick. From the park to the beach, to your favourite coffee shop, with a 3G Turbo stick from Bell you can access the internet on your laptop wherever you use your Bell mobile phone. Simply plug the Turbo Stick into your laptop's usb port and you'll enjoy 3G wireless internet for your laptop, anytime, anywhere."

Fine print: $0 priing is applicable on 1, 2, or 3 year term. $299.95 no term

Is 3G good?? Does this mean that at remote cottages with poor cell service, there would be poor internet as well?? i guess it looks like there will be some kind of monthly fee as well, I think...maybe I'll have to call.

RJH, what is Bell outdoor?? Do you like it? How much??

[Shuswap Bushman]

3G is great - IF - you have coverage. http://www.wirelesswave.ca/bell_coverag ... egionID=61

[NaturalMystik]

Ahh no cell service for me, too bad. I was thinking that satellite service was much more.

[apseylaker]

3G is great - IF - you have coverage. http://www.wirelesswave.ca/bell_coverag ... egionID=61

funny...i can't get coverage on manitoulin island, yet its there....it is sporadic

[shwack]

Bush is right its just a cellphone type connection
very good for business guys that drive around all day

don't forget there is a monthly charge which will run about 70 bux a month
the 300 is just for the stick
rip off

for some email ect it would be cheaper to get a blackberry and use that for email and some surfing
bill monthly will be cheaper in the long run

check this out
MOTO net is it me or is the installation charge a bit high
?????
$5295 are they nuts
http://www.internetanywhere.us/

[Kasshcow]

Here's what it says, "Access the internet anytime, anywhere with a 3G Turbo Stick. From the park to the beach, to your favourite coffee shop, with a 3G Turbo stick from Bell you can access the internet on your laptop wherever you use your Bell mobile phone. Simply plug the Turbo Stick into your laptop's usb port and you'll enjoy 3G wireless internet for your laptop, anytime, anywhere."

Fine print: $0 priing is applicable on 1, 2, or 3 year term. $299.95 no term

Is 3G good?? Does this mean that at remote cottages with poor cell service, there would be poor internet as well?? i guess it looks like there will be some kind of monthly fee as well, I think...maybe I'll have to call.

RJH, what is Bell outdoor?? Do you like it? How much??

3G is the standard for all the cell companys now (third Generation). Currently 2 technologies, CDMA and GSM. Bell/Telus = CDMA Rogers= GSM. Coverage depends on location of cell towers owned by each company. Bell and Telus can use each others towers, can't use Rogers towers. The internet stick works the same as cell phone but sends data instead of voice. Coverage is a little worse with internet sticks as it is with Cell phones. 4G is on the way and Telus is leading the way with the next generation of Cell service which will make all cell carriers compatible with each other, Google HSPA and LTE if you want to swamped with tech talk.
One other point, if you have TELUS service and you are close to a Bell tower you will get service but you may also get charged extra roaming fees. Check out your plan and fees and if possible go to a local dealer to test coverage. There is a cost for the Hardware, the Stick, and there is a monthly fee along with system access fees.

[RJH]

.

RJH, what is Bell outdoor?? Do you like it? How much??

Its the cats meow for us. You need to be in range of a Bell Tower..ours is MilfordBay.

Some just on the edge - are attaching them to a sat dish -facing towards the dish..the dish faces the tower.

You go to the bell web site =- punch in your phone # to see if you have coverage.

The cost - man - I get so many bell bills - I can't tell you off hand. Each sevice we have is just bare bones...but - hmmm ....no can't remember. Its a cost of doing business.

We tried bell unplugged indoor but did not work unless it was raining...so it worked most of the time.

Bell installs the outdoor -thats the law....but when they leave - I put it up on the roof..they are not allowed to climb on the roof

Its good.... its fast...I love it - the service that is.

[bajra]

funny...i can't get coverage on manitoulin island, yet its there....it is sporadic

Tell me about it. If I want to make a call, I have to drive about ten minutes to find a spot with coverage. Next day or even few hours later I need a new spot. At the cottage I get three bars, but the moment I make the call after the first ring it disconnects. I can text message with no problems though. Go figure.

[Mark1579]

Don't buy just on the say-so of the salesperson.

Go to the ISP's website or call them and ask if the service is available in your area. All you need to do is enter your landline phone number. If you don't have one, call and give them the precise address. They'll tell you if you get service or not. Don't rely on their maps either.