Some broadband cards show your internet connection speed on the software that comes with the device.  My broadband card software allows me to see stats, which display my current connection speed.  It’s not always the same from moment to moment.   An alternative method for independently checking your speed, is to visit Speedtest.net.

A map of the U.S. will be displayed on your screen.  It shows several locations of Internet servers. Pick  the one nearest you and wait while the site runs its test.   You will notice a graphic resembling a car’s control panel, with an odometer that revs up and down as your top speed is tested. The first test finds out how fast data is being downloaded to your computer, and the second test tells how fast you can upload information.

When I tested my broadband card it showed I was downloading information at 721 kilabytes per second.  I did the test again later that day and learned my laptop was connecting at 921 kbps. This is a much better rate than what I had when I used dial-up to get online, which connected at 28 kpbs most of the time.

Uploading speeds were closer to 228 kbps.  You may only be concerned about this if you plan to upload pictures, videos, or large files, but it’s good information to know.

So, if you’re like me and you always want to know how fast things will go, this is one method that works pretty well and it’s easy to do and doesn’t cost a dime.

There are a lot of reasons.  A few businesses rent broadband cards. By renting rather than purchasing, customers stave off commitments with cellular or wireless providers.

Why else would someone rent rather than buy?

Going on trips for business or taking is a basic cause for renting a broadband card. For instance, if I had cable or dsl at my house, but I required broadband internet while traveling in a distant area,  I’d think about renting a broadband card.

Also, whenever you are searching for a highspeed option for your household and you are living in a region where dsl and cable internet are not useable, a broadband card could constitute the best alternative.  But the next question is which aircard is better.   A broadband rental card might be the best way to find out.  The most beneficial broadband card is the one that has the finest coverage wherever you live or wherever you are going to be using it most often.  I’ve advised asking around to ascertain if anybody else in your town has experience with one of the providers (Alltel, Sprint, Verizon, etc.) that provide 3G service in your part of the country.  A different option would be to take a gamble and use the company that you get your  digital phone from.

But now, thanks to aircard lease companies, you are able to try out different 3G broadband cards by renting them. You will be able to rent broadband cards from the cellular telephone suppliers that you might prefer to use and try them out from your house or from your favorite café.  And then, after you puzzle out which one works best and affords you optimum broadband service, you will be able to go to a dealer for that company and get a broadband card.  Normally, you’ll be able to get the card free of charge with a two year data plan.

If you choose a rental broadband card, there are  a lot of providers that rent broadband cards on the internet.  Most cost anywhere between 6 to 15 bucks per day.  Also, keep in mind that it might cost to have the card you leased delivered and returned by mail.

My point is, the best internet card built is the card that picks up reception best in the places that it will be used in. You can buy the most expensive broadband card in the store, with a ten inch antenna on it, and it would not matter at all if you are trying to connect to a tower that is out of range or one that doesn’t have 3G capability.

The best way to choose a broadband card is just to ask people in your area and find out which cell phone provider gives the best service in your part of the country or in the part of the world you’ll be using that card in.  Can you think of someone who already has 3G service?  Ask them if they get a great connection or if they can hardly even get one bar.

When you figure out which wireless service is best, go to that provider, whether it be AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, etc.  Speak with the customer representative to see which options they offer.  Question that person about their EVDO broadband cards or 3G wireless modems. If you yourself get great wireless reception from one of these companies, you could most likely use them and might be able to wrap your data plan into your regular cell phone bill.

You might even get to use your wireless phone as a broadband card by tethering it to your laptop or desktop. Ask the customer care representative about this alternative.  You should press them a little about this option, because they may want to sell you a broadband card rather than upgrade your data plan.  If you are using your phone as a broadband card, you won’t want to pay for a separate broadband plan.  Usually tethering your phone is less expensive, but each method has its benefits.

Anyway, let’s return to the question at hand. Which broadband card is best?  The truth is, the best broadband card isn’t as vital as having the most reliable network in your area.

Then the Cradlepoint or mobile cellular router came along.  People who have high-speed internet, either through cable or DSL, have been doing this for years.   A lot of my friends have this option available to them, and they use a wifi router to surf the net from anywhere in their homes.  This was not possible for people with an broadband card until cellular routers (also known by the trademarked name, Cradlepoint) came along.

A cellular router or mobile router is basically a router designed just for broadband cards.  Instead of connecting the broadband card to your laptop or desktop, you connect the card to the Cradlepoint, and it creates a wifi signal that can connect any computer in the area to the internet through the broadband card.

I live way out in the country so I didn’t think I could get a quick internet connection, or have a wifi connection in my house.  Broadband cards made it possible for people in the rural parts of the country to get a speedy internet connection, and now Cradlepoints are making wifi a possible for people in rural areas. The same holds true for folks that travel all the time, live on the road out of a camper or RV, or anyone who just wants a back up in case other web connections falter.

Like other wifi routers, the mobile equivalent has built-in features to protect your computer and all your data from hackers and nosy neighbors.  A firewall or double firewall provides protection. Virtual private network technology (VPN for short) is also included in many Cradlepoints to make your connection even more secure.

There is also at least one benefit to making use of a broadband card and a 3G router instead of using the regular old router.  They’re extremely portable.  These devices can go anyplace, if there’s a cellular signal and electricity.  Some use batteries, but most use a wall jack or car jack.  By using a car jack, more than one passenger can get on the information super highway while riding in a car on the actual highway.

Broadband cards changed the way people got on the internet.  In turn, 3G routers are changing wifi from stationary to mobile and making wifi networks possible in out-of-the-way places.

Folks who live in the country have few choices when it comes to internet access.  Much of the countryside is beyond the reach of cable or dsl.  This leaves millions of people depending on dial-up connections, and in rural areas, even the dial-up can be miserably slow, due to poor phone lines.  This makes uploading pictures or downloading movies a luxury to be enjoyed only during trips to a city.  But, it’s not just pictures and videos.  Unfortunately, more and more of the web requires broadband speeds and people in rural areas are being left behind.  So, what alternatives to dial-up exist beyond the suburbs?

There are three viable options for high-speed rural internet.

•    One option in some rural places is long distance wifi.  This isn’t the sort of wireless connection you pick up in a coffee shop.  This a powerful signal being broadcast from a tall tower.  An antenna is placed on your roof and connected through a router to your computer.  For this option you will pay an installation cost, sometimes as much as three or four hundred dollars.  A monthly fee will also need to be paid.  This is different from company to company.

•    Satellite internet access is another alternative.  A high speed satellite system works nearly anywhere that views the southern sky.  This method for gaining access to the net in rural areas is relatively stable.  The only disruptions are usually due to heavy cloud cover and rain.  Also, an ice covered satellite receiver can cause poor reception during nasty weather.  Satellite broadband is often the most expensive alternative to have installed, often costing as much as $700.  This cost is followed by the typical monthly plan that will run between $60 and $120 depending on how fast the internet connection needs to be.

•    The third option is a mobile broadband card.  These are also known as aircards or connect cards.  A broadband card can be bought at any wireless provider, such as AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, etc.  The card connects to a USB port or card slot on your laptop or desktop.  This device uses a 3G signal from a cell phone tower to connect your computer to the internet.  It’s like a wireless phone for your computer.

A broadband card will work anywhere that has a signal from the wireless provider’s towers.  A nice advantage that this has over the other two options is mobility.  You can plug a broadband card into a laptop and get on the web from nearly anywhere.    It usually costs about $25 for installation.  The broadband card itself is usually free if you sign a contract for a monthly data plan.  This plan will set you back somewhere between $40 and $60 per month.

As far as I’m concerned, the best option for rural internet users is the 3G broadband card, but you’ll need to weigh the options and decide for yourself.  If you live in a rural area, check with a local wireless provider to find out if 3G broadband is available in your part of the country.

What?  Isn’t that too good to be true?

Well, there is a catch.

Broadband cards are free.  But, to get one without paying for it, you’ll have to sign up for a data plan from one of the major wireless providers.  There’s also a small setup fee, often $25.    The data plan costs about $60 per month, and you usually have to sign a two year contract.  Also, some companies charge more if you download or upload more than a certain amount of data per month.

Another option is to buy a netbook or laptop computer with a built-in broadband card.  The card comes with the computer, but to activate it you’ll need to sign a contract with one of the service providers.  Many of the providers like Verizon, AT&T, etc. will provide a discount on the laptop if you sign the data plan contract.

So, all in all, a broadband card is free but it will cost you approximately $900 a year or $60 per month to use it to get high speed internet through a 3G  broadband provider.
For more information about what a broadband card is, check out this article.

If you live in a rural area, where DSL and cable are not an option for high speed internet, and dial-up is just too slow, a broadband card makes it possible to connect to the internet at a decent speed, as long as you can get a cell signal.  Also, mobile broadband cards are useful for people who travel to places with unreliable internet access.  You can even use one while riding in a car.

What is a 3G Broadband Card?

For the most part, all broadband cards receive 3G now.  Not all cell signals are equal in quality.  Some towers broadcast and receive 3G signals and some still use older technology.  Most broadband cards will work with 3G or older signals.  3G stands for third generation.  It is basically the latest generation of wireless phone signal.  It is considered a high speed signal.  However, there is now 4G technology, but at the time of this writing, it is only available in a few large cities like Baltimore and Kansas City.

How does a Broadband Card work with My Computer?

There are many different card designs but most either fit into a card slot or can be plugged into a USB port on your laptop or desktop.  They work with both Macs and PCs.  Currently, most come with software pre-installed on the card, but some include a CD that allows you to install the software on your computer.  Additionally, laptops and netbooks can be purchased with a built-in broadband card.

In short, a broadband card is a piece of hardware that allows you to have high-speed internet from anywhere with a cell tower signal.