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Messages - Mrious_be

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1
Tech / AT&T or T-Mobile Data Usage in US
« on: April 13, 2012, 11:00:30 AM »
QUOTE(Xairbusdriver @ Apr 11 2012, 03:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
I think the link needs a little editing. The second line (above) probably has the specifics that will show the items mentioned in the text but it is not part of the actual link. At least I'm not getting much besides a general map of the lower 48... dntknw.gif

I think <this link> works, however. Yep! Looks like a fun trip! Don't forget to take time to enjoy the scenery! And try meeting some 'locals!' yes.gif


Yes, the link broke it seems but thanks for repairing it  thumbup.gif
Counting down and starting to get somewhat nervous now...

smile.gif

2
Tech / AT&T or T-Mobile Data Usage in US
« on: April 11, 2012, 07:44:50 AM »
Lol Guys tongue.gif

So here's the trip we're doing, it's a link to my Google Maps.
The original thought was to do most of this, but now we're thinking of driving to SF, stay there and move out in different directions and visit places.

The link has some highlighted points of interest... so now you know smile.gif

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF&...bd6349da9e663ac


Marcel smile.gif

3
Tech / AT&T or T-Mobile Data Usage in US
« on: March 26, 2012, 08:02:19 AM »
QUOTE(Xairbusdriver @ Mar 23 2012, 07:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
QUOTE
I suppose I am in the minority of people using older iPhones and not even owning any iPad model! eek2.gif laughhard.gif

But at least you're using an iPhone... I'm here flashing my Android device around wink.gif


Thanks Kimmer... and thanks for the 'don't turn left before you see a town' advice tongue.gif

Can't wait to go out there smile.gif

4
Tech / The iPad of 1935
« on: March 23, 2012, 08:35:38 AM »
QUOTE
The book reader of the Future.

Imagine that on your local train home biggrin.gif

But isn't it nice to see how things changed over time.

smile.gif

5
Tech / AT&T or T-Mobile Data Usage in US
« on: March 23, 2012, 03:30:51 AM »
QUOTE(Xairbusdriver @ Mar 20 2012, 02:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
My apologies to Smiley for not remembering her nationality! blush-anim-cl.gif But I think being mistaken for Canadian is much better than being confused with most other North American countries!! And I know (virtually, anyway) some nice people who are Canadian!! tease.gif

Hehehe... I didn't even thought anything about it. Her English is much better and she did went to college and worked in US for some years wink.gif

QUOTE(Tacit)
500MB is more than enough. I have a 2 GB data plan with T-Mobile and rarely use more than 500 MB a month, and that's with GPS and turn-by-turn navigation and Web browsing and Netflix and all sorts of other stuff.

Wow, thanks Tacit. That's good to know smile.gif

I told you I was going to write down what I did to test the Turn-By-Turn navigation from Google Maps so here it is.
It's a quote from an email I've send to Smiley since she said that two people at her work said you can't use Google Maps without having a data connection constantly on.
But since I feel very smart now, did lots of research on it, I can actually say 'Yes you can' smile.gif

QUOTE(eMail communication with Smiley)
Back to Google Maps.
Yes, most people think you need to have a constant data connection to use Google Maps as it's all being streamed.
But this is not true, you can do without the constant connection as I tested on Monday.

So how to do this:
  1. Go to a (free) wi-fi zone, or make sure you have a data connection to start with (best also to empty Google Maps Cache on your phone first);
  2. Using a connection to the net, plot the destination you need on your phone;
  3. Once the destination is on Google Maps, select 'Navigation'. Google Maps will now plot navigational directions AND download that route to your phone's cache memory! <- This is what people don't realize!
  4. Once the navigation is on your screen, you're ready to go.
  5. You can now even terminate your data connection before heading off if you want to make sure that you are not using any data on the route.

This works!
The only drawback is that you can't navigate too far away from the plotted route as, at some point, the cached maps might not be available on your phone and data connection is needed for those.
For slight detours, it works staying offline.
I actually had this happening when I tested it, Google Maps plotted my way home using Park Way through Hyde Park, while the bus I was on obviously takes the main road.
Once the bus did it's turn, a few seconds later Google Maps re-plotted the route using the road we were on WITHOUT going online (as I switched off my data connection to start with).

One way around this is to cache the area you might going for a detour to your cell phone as well.
Like I showed you yesterday, you can actually cache areas of 10 square miles to your cell phone (without using them in your directions) for offline use.
Pretty neat feature I would say but it needs to be activated through Google Maps Labs.


With this I also want to apologize... I realized a few days ago that this is sooooo NOT apple related!
Even worse, it's a direct competitor wink.gif

smile.gif

6
Tech / AT&T or T-Mobile Data Usage in US
« on: March 20, 2012, 08:49:54 AM »
QUOTE(Xairbusdriver @ Mar 19 2012, 06:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
The Hawaian Islands are not covered by roads the way the eastern US is and not even the way Ireland or the Shetlands are. There is usually one major highway that encircles an island. Keep going in any one direction and you will reach either the end of the road (near the top of the mountain that's been in front of you the whole time) or the other side of the island!! Who needs a map?! laugh.gif


Hehehe, not to worry about the Hawaiian roads actually. Already figured that, either way I'm going, we'll get there wink.gif
Actually, going the wrong way just makes you travel longer which in Hawaii, isn't really a bad thing anyway biggrin.gif
But for LA, we're not always staying on the 101, we'll drive as close to the ocean as possible which I noticed is not always the 101 (or Route 1 I believe) so GPS would be welcome as a guide.
We'll also visit that Danish town (the name escaped me) and hopefully stay there for a night (since Smiley = Danish, and her sis is joining).

QUOTE(Xairbusdriver @ Mar 19 2012, 06:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
If you need a phone, get the cheapest one possible and fergit about the GPS!! It's a vacation not an expedition!!! If you get lost, just ask someone, almost all Americans speak English in one form or another and many can actuall read! You'll have no problem communicating with most of us. And, if I remember correctly, you'll have fellow traveller who can, if needed, translate Flemish into Canadian which has many similar words as English!! wink.gif

It's not just for us, it's also to give my family/relatives (which at that point will be two families), the opportunity to give us a ring when anything is wrong, or when THEY get lost tongue.gif

Thanks everyone.
I did a really interesting test with my A-GPS yesterday but haven't got the time to explain now (I'm sure some of you are interested to know how navigation on a smartphone holds up).
Will post later smile.gif

Thanks
M

7
Tech / AT&T or T-Mobile Data Usage in US
« on: March 19, 2012, 10:24:31 AM »
Woohooo, we're getting somewhere! biggrin.gif

According to this Forum (don't worry, I'm not a member there, just found it with Googling) tongue.gif
Although never really going into the data usage for A-GPS, it does give some helpful information actually.
1) Google Maps ONLY downloads the maps/route you need to get to your destination when requesting so, OR when you do a detour and it will need additional information;
2) Data Usage for those maps do not seem to be that big of a chunk;
3) They suggest to deactivate 2G/3G data streaming once the map is loaded in order not to get more data usage (just in case), although that takes a longer time to connect to GPS satellites then);
4) Best thing they mentioned is to calculate your route using Wi-Fi, once the route is calculated deactivate Wi-Fi and go.

So I'm starting to feel comfortable with the AT&T 500 MB data plan.

Now the question is... does US really have a lot of free Wi-Fi hotspots?
Airports, McDonalds, Hotels, Train Stations... any thoughts?

Thanks again smile.gif
M

8
Tech / AT&T or T-Mobile Data Usage in US
« on: March 19, 2012, 10:07:59 AM »
Hi again,

So I still went to dig a little deeper and at least I have a good view on the rates for both T-Mobile and AT&T.
Just in case when anyone was interested, here's the choice between both (click on the links to take you to the PAYG section).

AT&T:
$25 a Month + Data Package $25 for 500 MB = $50.00 and I assume you need to top-up once this 500 MB is finished.
- Benefit: If I can do with 500MB it would be cheaper then T-Mobile;
- Downside: If not, it will be more expensive.

T-Mobile:
$2 a day for unlimited 2G speed (= $60.00 for month).
- Benefit: It's unlimited.
- Downside: It's more expensive then AT&T.

Obviously, both of the above will be 2G, so the speed for me won't be too good but according to T-Mobile it should be good for Directions (which is NOT the same as Navigation but might still be good enough for me, as long I have coverage).

Now... If anyone has any experience using data for Navigation or Directions, I would love to hear if 500Mb is enough for let's say a 14 day trip, 6 hours/day driving.
It will be my next Quest.

And if Al is reading... 1 Month and a half and we'll be in Oahu!

Thanks smile.gif

9
Tech / AT&T or T-Mobile Data Usage in US
« on: March 16, 2012, 03:44:10 AM »
I might have found some info smile.gif

The website USASims shows some options and what can be included... pretty much what I need smile.gif
Just giving it a glance makes me feel the cost of getting a SIM for Satnav is getting just as expensive as actually renting a GPS unit so I think I'll go that way.


Thanks guys
smile.gif

10
Tech / AT&T or T-Mobile Data Usage in US
« on: March 16, 2012, 03:29:24 AM »
Thanks everyone smile.gif

I'll try to answer everyone here... hope I don't miss anything out wink.gif

Tacit:
Thanks for the coverage info. I checked both coverage for AT&T and T-Mobile and they are actually quite similar. But both showed death spots along the Coastal Route so I was somewhat concerned there yes. Specially if I would be using A-GPS system which, like I mentioned, should be in range of cell towers to keep track of Satelite Signal (don't ask how it works but somehow the GPS signal triangulates through the cell towers, not straight to a GPS receiver in the phone... or maybe a combination of two but yes, an external GPS receiver is much more powerful then a phone).

Paddy, Daryl (and others):
I don't have a GPS unit at home, I don't have a car here (and never will in London). Otherwise I would surely take that one wink.gif
But still considering to just rent a unit with the car yes, and leave behind all the fuzz of connecting the phone and using it as a Navigator. I know it works theoretical, but there's a few things that can go wrong which till now I don't find the answer for so the investment in the App software, unlocking and US SIM might not be worth it (thinking about those dead spots mentioned above, if GPS works, will my signal hold on my phone while driving, the costs for a US SIM only look pretty steep and no information yet about Data usage which I need to connected....)
One other solution I found = Holiday Phone which would be the same price as unlocking, Decent SatNav App and SIM.
Buying a phone is not really an option, I can just as well rent the GPS unit then wink.gif
When I take my phone, I can only use AT&T and T-Mobile since Verizon and Virgin are using non-GSM systems which are not compatible with Europe's systems.

I surely will unlock my phone since I want our relatives to be able to call me in the US just in case. So that's why I was thinking to go all the way and use it for SatNav as well. We'll also be using the phone to play music at the reception (in between entertainment)... with an amplifier obviously tongue.gif

Thanks again smile.gif
Marcel

11
Tech / AT&T or T-Mobile Data Usage in US
« on: March 15, 2012, 09:14:16 AM »
Hi Airbusdriver, Krissel,

Thanks for the feedback, the contact details might be handy so I'll try those out.
Maybe I should just get a GPS system when renting a car actually, I might save some money getting an App for Android but it seems to be painful to see if it would actually work well (I'm not even sure how well the A-GPS would work in the first place).

Krissel,
Yes, it's for our wedding trip.
We're getting married in Oahu on May 9th but will be arriving in Honolulu on 5th.
We'll stay in Hawaii till 19th (Hopefully see some more islands) and then off to Los Angeles where we'll do a small road trip between 19th and 24th (Coastal road up to SF, back road back).

Thanks smile.gif
Marcel

12
Tech / AT&T or T-Mobile Data Usage in US
« on: March 14, 2012, 10:21:35 AM »
Hi everyone,

Not sure if anyone still remembers me here tongue.gif
But I have a question which I find is really difficult to find out the details just browsing the internet.

This all has to do with our trip to the US, and field trip we'll be doing in Hawaii and California.
I will unlock my smartphone (Samsung Galaxy Ace) so I can use it in the US to receive calls.
It looks like I will only be able to use it on the 2G network though (with AT&T or T-Mobile):
2G Network: GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G Network: HSDPA 900 / 2100 or HSDPA 850 / 1900 - Samsung Galaxy Ace S5830L

This phone is a A-GPS phone, which means I need to be within range of my providers cell towers (in this case either AT&T or T-Mobile).
For any of those, I can hardly find any information if they sell SIM Cards only that includes Data usage!
I can find some SIM card information (very expensive actually) but none of them mentions Data Usage.
I need Data Usage because of the A-GPS system from my phone (or it won't connect much to the GPS satelites).
I do think I will get Nav software where I can download the maps on my phone so not to use too much data though.

Any ideas are most welcome.
This is mainly for the State of California where we want to do the Pacific Coastline Road up to San Fransisco, and Hawaii (Oahu).

Thanksssss all smile.gif
The Stranger

13
Community / Major event coming up in March 2012
« on: July 02, 2011, 03:32:06 AM »
Thanks Everyone smile.gif

I can't wait for the big day!

biggrin.gif

14
Community / Major event coming up in March 2012
« on: July 01, 2011, 09:51:28 AM »
Hi everyone smile.gif

Updated my profile and I've got the below wedding ticker thanks to http://daisypath.com/"" target="_blank">daisypath.
It's a bit sad to realize how long it must have been since I spend time here when you end up staring at the Forum controls for 5 minutes trying to figure out where the signature was again whistling.gif
But I made it, enjoy wink.gif

smile.gif

15
Community / Major event coming up in March 2012
« on: February 16, 2011, 04:17:54 AM »
Only where there's a coast guard available tongue.gif

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