I'm planning a long road trip and need my laptop to have access to the
Internet 24/7.  Is there a product, like a PCMCIA card, that would
allow me to get Internet access through some kind of satellite
service?   Is there some other solution available?  I would need
Internet access even when driving.  Thank you for your time.

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Request for Question Clarification by maniac-ga on 24 Feb 2005 19:31 PST

Hello Johngl,

For reference on a few alternatives see:
  http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=46229

the one most likely to work while driving is using a modem on a
digital phone. You would be restricted to areas with that phone
coverage. The others MAY work if you really need higher performance
but keeping the antenna aligned with the satellite is going to be a
problem.

If you want to pursue one of these in more detail, please indicate
which one and I can update the answer / provide more alternatives for
that approach.

  --Maniac

Well you could go for something like wifi but you more than likely
will not have constent access. You could try satelitte access. I am
including a link so you can see if that is something that you can
possible do.

http://www.highspeedsat.com/rvsinstalls.htm

Wi-fi is spotty and not available except at "hotspots", e.g. hotels,
truckstops, resturants, campgrounds, rest areas etc.  There is a
service through Earthlink (and others probably) called Wireless
Enhanced Access (also called CDMA) where you buy an "Air Card" for
$299 and get access to a wider area than wi-fi:
https://store.earthlink.net/cgi-bin/wsisa.dll/store/elinks.html?product=nationwideaccess&action=coverage
But, again it is not 100% coverage.  There are companies that provide
mobile satellite services but usually involve a mounted dish. 
http://www.starband.com/special/mobile.asp

I am by far not an expert in this fast growing field, but do have the
need also for REASONABLE wireless mobile internet.  So far I have not
found an affordable solution.  Hope this info is a help to you.

You should go check out www.raysat.com