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01_784036 ffirs.qxp 6/23/06 6:04 PM Page iii Over-the-Road Wireless FOR DUMmIES‰ by E. Phil Haley 01_784036 ffirs.qxp 6/23/06 6:04 PM Page ii 01_784036 ffirs.qxp 6/23/06 6:04 PM Page i Over-the-Road Wireless FOR DUMmIES‰ 01_784036 ffirs.qxp 6/23/06 6:04 PM Page ii 01_784036 ffirs.qxp 6/23/06 6:04 PM Page iii Over-the-Road Wireless FOR DUMmIES‰ by E. Phil Haley 01_784036 ffirs.qxp 6/23/06 6:04 PM Page iv Over-the-Road Wireless For Dummies® Published by Wiley Publishing, Inc. 111 River Street Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774 www.wiley.com Copyright © 2006 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana Published by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana Published simultaneously in Canada No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning or otherwise, except as permit- ted under Sections 107 or 108 of the 1976 United States Copyright Act, without either the prior written permission of the Publisher, or authorization through payment of the appropriate per-copy fee to the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923, (978) 750-8400, fax (978) 646-8600. 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Library of Congress Control Number: 2006924030 ISBN-13: 978-0-471-78403-6 ISBN-10: 0-471-78403-6 Manufactured in the United States of America 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 1B/RX/QX/QW/IN 01_784036 ffirs.qxp 6/23/06 6:04 PM Page v About the Author E. Phil Haley is a truck driver and equipment operator living in Anchorage, Alaska, and writes articles about wireless Internet access and security. Phil first started driving trucks in September 1979, and his most recent over- the-road experience has been with Leavitt’s Freight Service of Springfield, Oregon, where he enjoyed the challenge of hauling long loads. During his over-the-road adventures, he travels with two laptops (one for work and one for fun), a handful of wireless adapters, more antennas than any one person should own, and a wireless signal amplifier (just in case). When he’s not dri- ving or surfing the Web, he can usually be found in one truck stop or another extolling the virtues of wireless Internet access to anyone in earshot or help- ing a new convert get set up for wireless Net surfing. Phil also maintains (or, more often, fails to maintain) theCyberTruckStop.com. 01_784036 ffirs.qxp 6/23/06 6:04 PM Page vi 01_784036 ffirs.qxp 6/23/06 6:04 PM Page vii Dedication This book is dedicated to the memory of Darrell R. Meyer; friend, mentor and trucker extraordinaire. 1948 - 2004 Author’s Acknowledgments A lot of people at Wiley Publishing worked as hard, or harder, than I did to produce a book that provides solid, accurate, useful, and usable information. Acquisitions Editor Melody Layne presented me with the opportunity to author this book and, for that, I’ll be forever grateful. Further, the initial guid- ance of Melody Layne, Editorial Manager Leah Cameron, and Project Editor Becky Huehls, each of them giving me important pointers, got this book started off on the right foot. I feel particularly fortunate to have had Becky Huehls assigned as the Project Editor. To say that I’m thankful for the work she so skillfully performed, and for her guiding hand, is an understatement of immense proportion. A few others at Wiley Publishing to whom I’m grateful for their contribution of hard work and application of skill include Senior Copy Editor Barry Childs- Helton, Copy Editor Heidi Unger, and Copy Editor Virginia Sanders. They all made sure that, among many other things, my misuses of the English language got put right and rendered readable. Technical Editor Steven Fletcher pointed me back toward the path of accuracy whenever I strayed. Project Coordinator Jennifer Theriot ensured the illustrations and layout went smoothly, while Ms. Brooke Graczyk took my chicken scratch drawings and turned them into useful works of art. (I don’t know how she did that.) Flying J Communications, Bill Bingaman of Highway Hotspots, Michael Ginsberg of EVDOinfo.com, Bill Adams of InternetAnywhere.us, Max Mattia of OrbitalEnterprises.net, Brian Shaffer representing RaySat, Rebecca Schnall at Sirius Radio, and Fritz Roland Bjorklund at the Drivers Daily Log, all made contributions and my thanks go out to them. Finally, I’m thankful for, and grateful to, my wife; Sue Ann Haley. There’s just no way I could’ve completed this book without her help and support. She never lost faith in my abilities, even when I was sure she was imagining their existence. I thank God for her every day. 01_784036 ffirs.qxp 6/23/06 6:04 PM Page viii Publisher’s Acknowledgments We’re proud of this book; please send us your comments through our online registration form located at www.dummies.com/register/. Some of the people who helped bring this book to market include the following: Acquisitions, Editorial, and Composition Services Media Development Project Coordinator: Jennifer Theriot Project Editor: Rebecca Huehls Layout and Graphics: Claudia Bell, Carl Byers, Acquisitions Editor: Melody Layne Andrea Dahl, Lauren Goddard, Senior Copy Editor: Barry Childs-Helton Brooke Graczyk, Stephanie D. Jumper, Barbara Moore, Barry Offringa, Technical Editor: Steven Fletcher Alicia South Editorial Manager: Leah P. Cameron Proofreaders: John Greenough, Leeann Harney Media Development Manager: Indexer: Techbooks Laura VanWinkle Special Help: Heidi Unger, Virginia Sanders Editorial Assistant: Amanda Foxworth Sr. Editorial Assistant: Cherie Case Cartoons: Rich Tennant (www.the5thwave.com) Publishing and Editorial for Technology Dummies Richard Swadley, Vice President and Executive Group Publisher Andy Cummings, Vice President and Publisher Mary Bednarek, Executive Acquisitions Director Mary C. Corder, Editorial Director Publishing for Consumer Dummies Diane Graves Steele, Vice President and Publisher Joyce Pepple, Acquisitions Director Composition Services Gerry Fahey, Vice President of Production Services Debbie Stailey, Director of Composition Services 02_784036 ftoc.qxp 6/23/06 6:04 PM Page ix Contents at a Glance Introduction .................................................................1 Part I: The Wonderful World of Wireless Fidelity.............7 Chapter 1: Taking the Wi-Fi Highway ..............................................................................9 Chapter 2: Selecting a Standard......................................................................................17 Chapter 3: Gearing Up......................................................................................................29 Chapter 4: Putting Your Gear Together .........................................................................55 Part II: Surfing the Net Unplugged ..............................77 Chapter 5: Spotting Hotspots..........................................................................................79 Chapter 6: Using Truck– and RV–Friendly Hotspots ...................................................93 Part III: Bridging the Wireless Gap............................121 Chapter 7: Cellular Data Services: Can You Connect Me Now?................................123