internet on the road

[Guest tx2sturgis]

As some of you know, Bob, aka Atlanta DragonSlayer, was on the road for about 25 days, trying to post some of his adventures here. He mentioned to me that one of the problems, even with an air card ( wireless modem) that his internet access has been spotty to non-existent.

 

One thing that those of you who travel with a laptop might not know about, is the IdleAire card.

 

As a truck driver, we often have the same problem with mobile internet access. You can buy one of these cards, (its like a credit card), and put as much money on it as you want...I put $30 on mine. Then whenever you are passing by a truck stop with IdleAire, you can sit in or around the truckstop, and check your email, using the built-in WIFI on your laptop. Sure, there are many of these services all over, but the cool thing about IdleAire is that for one hour of WIFI, it only costs $1.50! When you log on, it deducts the amount from the balance on your card, so you arent paying for anything you dont use.

 

In that hour, you can surely check email and catch up on postings here on the board, and if you actually need more time, then you can log on for a 24 hour block of time for $4.95.

 

Im not sayin this is better than a true air card, just really good as a backup.

 

You can find IdleAire stations at most Petro and TA truckstops, and many others around the country. Just look for the big steel overhead gantry near the back of the truckstop, and go into the IdleAire office, and sign up for a card. Its easy, and if you need help, like recovering a password, or configuring your software, they have a 1-800 number you can call and they put a live tech support person on right away.

 

I've used this service many times, and $30 lets me check in 20 times for an hour each. This might help someone traveling who only needs to check email a few times a week or month. Its not as convinient as a true air card, but then, its not $60 a month, either!

 

I dont have any investment in the company, just passing this along as a possible alternative to those who might not know about it.

 

http://www.idleaire.com/images/site_4_001_en.jpg

 

 

[Blackjack]

That's great info, Brian, and should prove useful to those touring on or near the highways. Thanks for sharing that...

 

Terry

[Bob Myers]

So, whats the yellow hose all about?

[Moped]

Hose is to pipe in air or heat so the truckers can shut off engines to save fuel and pollution. Never understood why they left them running in mild weather when temp was comfortable.

[Guest tx2sturgis]

I probably should have shared what IdleAire is all about.

 

The yellow hose provides heating and cooling, plus internet, phone, and cable TV to truck drivers in areas where the pollution or noise laws prevent them from idling the truck all night. This is a truck-specific service.

 

The WIFI that I posted about is available to anyone with the card, a WIFI capable laptop, and in range of the WIFI antenna that is present at all IdleAire locations.

 

http://www.idleaire.com/imagesLive/Users/2/Service%20Module/IA-Unit-wHose-Clipping-Path.jpg

Edited August 25, 2008 by tx2sturgis

[Bob Myers]

I drove for 12 years, having my own trucks and driving for other O/O, I had never seen or heard of such a thing until now! Wish this had been available back in the 70's and 80's

[flb_78]

IdleAire is good for the shops too because when they shut the trucks down, they keep using battery juice for the interior lights and radio and kill the batteries. Then they get to come out and overcharge for a jumpstart or new batteries!!!

[Mariner Fan]

Sounds like the perfect solution for long trips. Heck I like truck stop food anyway.

[Bummer]

So could you pitch a tent and run one of those things in the door? I'm thinking that beats the KOA big time.

[Mariner Fan]

So could you pitch a tent and run one of those things in the door? I'm thinking that beats the KOA big time.

 

Haha, yea, that would be rich. Should work nice though! Course you never know if some trucker would drive right over your tent!

[Guest tx2sturgis]

Well, glad I could shed some lite on what the heck those things are.

 

At about $30 for an overnite stay hooked up to the tube, its not a great bargain for anyone except the truck drivers and fleets, which avoid a fine, and also, dont burn $50 worth of fuel idling for 10 hours.

 

The only thing the driver has to carry in his truck to use the system, is a window adapter, which are made for each make and model of truck. Hmmm...tent adapter, anyone?

 

As far as batteries running down, just lites and a radio wont kill 4 heavy duty truck batteries overnite, but most drivers these days have what are called 'hotel loads'...which are things like TV's, thermoelectric coolers, a microwave, and maybe a toaster or small pizza oven, a laptop, video games, and some even have a small DVD/home theater in the sleeper, or C-PAP machines....some of which operate on inverters. And yes, all that stuff running can sure as heck kill the batteries, especially over a weekend of sitting waiting to load or unload.

 

And yall thought we all just yacked on the CB all nite long!!

 

Ten four!