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.