update to a previous post – 3g, whitespace, tivo
A commenter reminded me that I needed to write an update to this post.
Cell phone tethering:
The solution that I found for 3G internet in the sticks was the Verizon Mobile Broadband devices. Verizon sells 3G modems that come in USB and PCMCIA versions that connect your computer to their 3G cellphone data network, however; this is not the best solution. With Verizon you get a very solid network, but that comes with a high price ($60 a month) and a restrictive data cap (5 gigabytes). To add insult to injury, they charge you high overage fees (.25 cents per megabyte last time I checked).
Millenicom used to provide unlimited 3G data access for $60 a month, but at the time of this posting it appears that they have changed their plans to match the competitors. For shame!
Cricket Wireless is an up-and-coming wireless company that provides unlimited 3G data access for $40 a month, but if you use over 5 gigabytes a month your connection speed is reduced for 30 days, and they don’t say what that speed is reduced to. Cricket Wireless has very spotty coverage at the time of this post.
The best solution is to move to somewhere with cable. It’s 2010.
Whitespace internet:
Not much has really changed since my last post….
Tivo:
DVR systems such as Tivo are still one of the best solutions for many people. My plan? Buy a Mac Mini, install Plex, connect it to my TV, and use it for hulu, and all of my digital media. It would be a flexible and powerful solution for a digital entertainment TV system, and I can still add DVR features with some extra hardware.