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I ran across this web site today. According to their zip code search they have service in Keaau (that is the only zip I searched).
Granted the speed is limited to 5Mbps but that is the speed my advertised at 7Mbps DSL runs at. I wish this was an option when I had Verizon Home Fusion. They also have a more expensive metered plan if you need higher speeds.
https://yourkarma.com/how-it-works
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Thanks, terracore, I may look into it. It's much cheaper than Verizon mobile internet. The downside seems to be security since it seems they want you to share your mobile hotspot. If that turns out to be relatively easy to solve then this looks a good option.
Beware, though, it doesn't work everywhere on island. (You can check here -
https://yourkarma.com/coverage)
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Looks like it's just a decently priced way to get internet through 3g/4g networks. About time!
Just call me Mike
Me ka ha`aha`a,
Mike
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That's intriguing but the "grab a cellular connection" scares me. I need to VPN to a secure network. I am not the sharpest knife in the drawer. How secure is sharing my mobile hotspot. Not so good I think. What say you?
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If I understand their service correctly, you can share your 1 connection with up to 3 of YOUR own devices. You aren't sharing them with anybody else unless you want to. I think their "grab a cellular connection" is simply referring to the fact that they use multiple carriers on their network. Its not like if you have an AT&T mifi its only going to connect to an AT&T tower. This device grabs whatever is available because it's not a telecon company, it buys excess capacity from the major telecons at wholesale and resells it.
You probably need to get into their terms and conditions regarding VPN. It has a higher bandwidth overhead than standard connections. Maybe it simply comes out in the wash as a net lower speed for you? Some carriers either discourage VPN connections or have separate bandwidth policies for them.
ETA: content
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quote:
Originally posted by Susan
That's intriguing but the "grab a cellular connection" scares me. I need to VPN to a secure network. I am not the sharpest knife in the drawer. How secure is sharing my mobile hotspot. Not so good I think. What say you?
This really depends on the configuration of your VPN. It is possible for VPN's to be configured securely for this type of thing and to be safer from MiTM. Of course nothing is safe if either end of the network is compromised, meaning you need to make sure your computer is secured before connecting and that's likely the easiest way in for an attacker.
Just call me Mike
Me ka ha`aha`a,
Mike
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I checked the map. Parts of my area are "no coverage" but there's a finger of service that might just go over my house.
Will have to find out more--especially since our main computer is a desktop and doesn't do WiFi. At least, I don't think so...
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VPN tunnels assume the transit network(s) are hostile; the problem is usually endpoint security.
"Traditional" VPN connections use non-IP protocols and are thus trivially excluded by the service provider -- this is another place where commercial connections win; consumer-grade internet can (and does) filter out things that the ISP doesn't think you should be doing.
Desktop computers can be made wireless with a USB WiFi dongle from OfficeMax or Amazon or similar, should be under $20.
it buys excess capacity from the major telecons at wholesale and resells it
As such, the MVNO carrier's traffic may be downgraded in preference to native carrier traffic. It seems that postpay accounts get the best access, followed by prepay, with MVNO last, but this is nearly impossible to prove.
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I use a VPN connection for work, often thru a MiFi 4G device from Verizon when I am not at home. My company is paranoid and this is an acceptable solution. Much better than tethering to your phone and relatively cheap. Verizon doesn't even make you keep the device active. You can go several months with the plan expired and only activate it when you are going to need it.
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It looks like this provider uses the Sprint network. So if you can't get Sprint, no go.
