Toronto Photography Meetup Group

Hello!

I'm planning picnics to some ON provincial parks and there is a problem. I definitely need the internet connection during the picnics but can not afford the second (wireless) internet connection especially rather I use it occasionally. I have Rogers wireless phone but I'm new here and dont know if I can use it as a GPRS modem to connect to Internet. And how much they normally charge for GPRS connection? I need your advice. Please help!

Thanks.

If you have a Blackberry and an Macbook, there's a way of using the BB as a wireless via bluetooth.

Oh, no! I don't have that kind of stuff. I have some old phones which I believe can act like a modem through usb cable. And I don't have Macbook. I have Sony Vaio with usb ports.

you'd need to have a dial-up connection through some provider

GPRS is expensive and slow. I used 20 dollars of EDGE data in half a day once and I wasn't even TRYING to use data.
Unfortunately you're not going to find anyone competent enough to answer that question at Rogers.
If you're going to do something simple like check email and disconnect then its fine, but if you're doing to do browsing then I'd be careful.

Old Motorola's have GREAT cell phone connectivity with computers (using Motorola Phone Tools). Connects to the internet using its data connection very easily.

Thanks guys! stos, your are right. I can't never get clear information from Rogers nor Bell. That's why I ask you here. I have Bell's home internet and I can not afford an alternative outdoor connection. Unfortunately here in Canada we don't have the prepaid option like in Europe. It seems that I have no option than connecting to the Internet by GPRS. My next job is to find out if the places are covered by GSM/GPRS. Thanks!

Well, there's a couple of options.

1 - Cancel your regular internet at home and sign up for Mobile internet.
http://www.rogers.com/web/Rogers.portal ... E_INTERNET

2 - Cancel your regular cell phone and get one of those cheap Iphone ($99) with a 6gig 3G Data plan ($30). You can use the Iphone as a modem and use its 3G connection (MUCH faster than GPRS) on your laptop.

3 - I think "unlimited browsing" on a non-smart phone is only $15. I have no idea what that means for when you connect your phone to a computer, but you can try that. You'll find GPRS signal everywhere in Toronto.

There's more options but they get worse and worse.

Thanks, stos! I'll study the options.