WIFI alternatives

You could could try a MiFi service. Cost and reliability (especially on a moving train) will depend a great deal on your locale and the cellular services available in your area.

You can buy your own personal MIFI hotspot and subscribe to a data plan. I have done this with my own WiFi only iPad and it works pretty well. However, I'm not sure how good your "coverage" or signal would be on a train.

MiFi is typically a small device that connects to your iPad (or other device) via WiFi and in turn connects to a cell provider's data network via cellular. It involves buying the device and signing up for service for a monthly fee. Verizon offers it in most areas, but other cellular providers do as well. If you currently have cell phone service, that provider may be a good place to start.

Tom Mccrady2 wrote:

Sorry, I am not sure what this means. I have seen people using Verizon and other such providers. They plug in a devise into their USB port, but obviously cannot do that with an iPad.

A mifi device is a stand alone devices about the size of a pack of cigarettes which convert cell data to wifi data.

->

My Verizon MIFI hotspot is about the size of a credit card - just slightly larger - and about 3/16" thick. It easily fits into my pocket. I can get up to about 5 hours out of a full charge and the claim is that up to 5 devices can connect to it at one time. I have had 3 connected at once, but never tried 5.

I pay $30 per month for 2GB of data.

How long have you had yours, Demo. I don't think the 2gb plan is even available down here, at least not for the hot spot plan.

Maybe it would be easier to picture if you consider it this way,

The MiFi is a device that connects to the Internet via a cellular connection. It broadcast a local Wi-Fi signal that can be picked up by your iPad.

How good this will work will depend on the cellular service you choose and the signal strength in the area you are in.

You can also consider selling your iPad (or returning it to the Apple store if you are within the 14 day window) and buying an iPad with 3G/4G.

I bought this plan and my original iPad model from Verizon in October 2010. Verizon had just started to sell iPads and they were offering this "deal" where I purchased the MIFI2200 for half price along with the iPad. So the plan has been in effect since then.

I just checked - I have 3GB of data per month.

Message was edited by: Demo

try http://www.clear.com/ I use them for my iPad when I'm on the go. the service is ok AND it is the only 4G MIFI that is truly UNLIMITED they have 2 plans starting at $35.00

Clear (aka ClearWire) has rather spotty coverage outside of urban centers, so probably not the best for a train commute. And their customer service is atrocious.

The connection between the iPad and the MiFi is via WiFi. That's the point. It is your own personal WiFi access point. Doesn't physically connect to the machine and allows - usually - for more than one device to connect.

So, is their an adapter that allows the iPad to accept this type of device -- since the iPad does not have a USB port?

Your ipad connects to the Personal Hotspot device via wifi and the PH device receives/transmists that data via cellular to the provider.