Posted by Michael/NC on 4/3/08 9:01pm
Msg #242117

Request Info from Technology Experts

E-signing is coming if we like it or not. If for no other reason it is change for change sake. I have several questions for the Tec Experts. I understand to be self sufficient a Notary will need a Lap Top and a Internet access card. Questions: (1) Can the lap top and internet access card take the place of your home based PC with its high speed internet connection or do you still have to pay for high speed internet at your home and pay for the access card? I know a lap top can hook up to a laser printer but (2) can you download and print a PDF file with your lap top and the internet access card as efficiently as a home based PC?

Reply by Steve Carter on 4/3/08 10:10pm
Msg #242127

Nice question, but not a real good answer coming. Can a card be used instead of HS internet, most definately, but it all depends on where you live, what cellular service you have
and how fast the connection is in your area. Most areas are not up to fast speeds yet via the cellular companies especially in rural and hilly terrain.

Most companies will give you 2 weeks to try it out for free, start with your current cellular provider and see what they have to offer for data. You can use them together and download the same file at the same time and see how the speed compares. I personally have laptops without the card, have the internal wireless modem which most computers come with and use that when I am on the road, but you have to find a place that has access. The access cards do not work well in my area at all. They are also a fairly expensive thing to have but definately worth it if they work well.

Send me a Private message if you need additional info....

Reply by Dawn/PA on 4/4/08 6:29am
Msg #242143

I use a lap exclusivley for my work that has an internal wireless card that picks up my signal in the house with the family computer. My husband had gotten a wireless card for his work last summer and for used it in a remote area and sometimes it worked ok - other times it wasnt that great. We had a problem in the fall with our cable internet at the house and the wireless card allowed me to continue working. The speed was ok - not as fast as my cable but definatly better than dial up.

My access card is expensive (roughly $70 a month for unlimited use after taxes) and since neither one of us have been using it I just downgraded the plan to the cheapest one should either one of us need it-At&T is really great about allowing you to change your plans to accomodate your needs.

Reply by CopperheadVA on 4/4/08 6:51am
Msg #242146

I also have AT&T for my wireless aircard and downgraded to the $30 per month plan in December from the $60 (you're right - was almost $70 after taxes!) unlimited plan. The problem is, now they are not offering unlimited data for the same $60 per month (it's now 5000 MB). In fact, I just checked their website and they are no longer offering the cheaper plan at all! It's now the $60 plan and that's it. I have no idea how much 5000 MB is or how that equates to unlimited service. I know that on the plan I'm on right now, I try not to use it unless absolutely necessary because it doesn't go very far before I exceed my limit.

Reply by Dawn/PA on 4/4/08 7:01am
Msg #242148

I did not know that they did away with the unlimited plan. I will have to check my past bills and see what I used when our comcast was down and when I lost my wireless access internally. We havent used the card since December and with my cell phone bill always being high I was looking for ways to cut costs but keep my options open.

Reply by Michael/NC on 4/4/08 7:24am
Msg #242150

Thanks for the info. It sounds to me like I may be able to do very limited e-signings because of my location (foothills of the NC mountains with alot of signings in the mountains). I didn't realize that the internet signal depended on cell phone towers/reception. I thought maybe the signal came from satellites like GPS and some ISPs. I saw a commercial for an ISP that advertised wireless internet for people in very rural areas and I thought they used satellites. I can't remember their name,does anyone else remember the advertisment?

Reply by Steve Carter on 4/4/08 7:30am
Msg #242151

To the best of my knowledge with satellite, it is much the same as putting a dish on your property. They also make them for vehicles, but mostly Mobile homes, as they are large. I expect the time will come in the near future where we will not have cable or satellite dishes and just be using the airways, but it is not there yet. T-mobile has come out with new technology which is fixed wireless terminal. Look into it and see if that may be helpful...I will be but have not at this point. Good luck....

Reply by Sylvia_FL on 4/4/08 9:55am
Msg #242164

Michael
I used to have the card for my laptop, had it through Sprint with unlimited access for $80 a month! However it rarely worked when I needed it - poor signal. It happened in the same areas I had poor cell phone reception. I got rid of it.

Reply by jba/fl on 4/4/08 6:12pm
Msg #242245

Was it Hughes? They run about $100 per mo, last I checked, for central FL

On wireless cards: I am a bit computer saavy, but don't always keep up with what I am not using. I don't have a laptop, so there are a lot of things I don't quite understand and that being said, I don't know if I am asking the right question.

My question is: If your area has wifi spots, do you need a wireless card? Orlando is loaded w/wifi areas so if I were to get a laptop, would I be able to survive without a card?

I'm gleaning some info here - just would appreciate some clarification on this procedure and I don't ever remember to ask when I go to the stores, which isn't much these days anyway. TIA

Reply by CopperheadVA on 4/4/08 8:14am
Msg #242154

Yeah, I hear you on the reducing costs thing! That's why I lowered my plan to the $30 per month one. I just wish I had the option of going back to unlimited when and if I ever wanted to. For me, the aircard has been the only purchase I have regretted making for my notary business. So far it has cost me a lot more money than it has brought in.

Reply by NCLisa on 4/4/08 6:06pm
Msg #242244

I'd never get rid of my home broadband connection to use my aircard all the time. The connection with the aircard is faster than dial up, it is not as fast as DSL. It also is much slower for large files, especially when uploading.

I was working on a title search out at Carolina Horse Park one Saturday while I was waiting for my daughter to ride. It took a good 15 minutes for connection to get that file emailed when I'd finished. It was about as big as a standard loan package, 5mb. While I like my aircard, I'm happy that I don't have to use it as much as I once did. It's amazing how many wifi spots you can find, even in small towns in the middle of nowhere.