I feel that you are missing one element, and overly concerned about another.
The missing element is speed. Especially when away from major centers, cellular data speed is usually a lot slower than most WiFi connections, which usually link to high speed wire connections.
The excessive concern is over security. What state secrets are you exchanging over your link? It takes a capable hacker to deliberately eavesdrop on an unsecured WiFi exchange, and such things as router mis-connections are really rare. I might not give a credit card number over someone elses hot spot, but for the rest of it, why worry?
I feel that you are missing one element, and overly concerned about another.
The missing element is speed. Especially when away from major centers, cellular data speed is usually a lot slower than most WiFi connections, which usually link to high speed wire connections.
The excessive concern is over security. What state secrets are you exchanging over your link? It takes a capable hacker to deliberately eavesdrop on an unsecured WiFi exchange, and such things as router mis-connections are really rare. I might not give a credit card number over someone elses hot spot, but for the rest of it, why worry?
100% agree. I use wifi exclusively, even my printer is run on wireless. I get my free signals on the road from Safeway, Cdn Tire, truck stops and fuel card locks, motels/hotels....it's everywhere!
Always carry my comp, and have a t-mobile air card, that's been my method for the past almost 5 yrs. Works great almost everywhere I've been, except Parker AZ, and a few other out of the way places. But then I move on a little and it again works great. I've found that campground wi fi's are either very slow or not secure. My air card works better.
I use a Verizon Broadband air card. It works well in most locations slow in others. Suprised with good reception when on Interstste 70 going through the hills in West Virginia at 70mph.
All of us have laptops but we wanted one that stays in the RV for convenience so I purchased an older used model. We use an AirLink external antenna that can be pointed in any direction. I believe it is 10 or 12 dbi. This works very well if we are even near wifi. I can connect to something blocks away. We've always had connectivity when we wanted it. It is mostly used as a navagation system.
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