Buyer's guide: Wireless broadband cards

By Dina Gerdeman

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Need to bring the Internet with you wherever you go?  Consider buying a wireless broadband card for your laptop. These cards get you online while you're on a train commuting to work, sitting in an airport waiting for a flight – or even lounging on a beach soaking in some sun.

But before you purchase a card and sign a two-year service deal, think about these important factors when deciding which Broadband card and service provider to choose:
  
Internet access: Most Broadband companies charge customers roughly $60 per month for unlimited Internet access. If you're getting online several hours a day for both business and personal use, you will likely need to sign up for a plan that provides unlimited access. But if you use the card only a couple hours a day – when you're not at home or in the office on a desktop – you might want to consider cheaper $40-per-month plans that limit your online access to 40 or 50 megabytes a month. When shopping various providers, give them a list of ZIP codes where you will be using the card most to determine signal strength in those areas.
  
Cost and features: The card itself can start at $20 and can run into the hundreds, although many of the companies that provide Internet service often have promotions that allow you to receive a card for little or no cost if you sign a contract with them.

Some cards come with memory and others don't – and more expensive models also allow you to add memory. Most cards have antennas, some that you pull out manually and others that are embedded within the card. And the high-end cards often come with other bells and whistles, such as built-in GPS.

In addition to service charges that run $40 to $60 per month, many companies also charge an activation fee of roughly $35, although at times companies offer promotions in which they waive the fees, so it is always worth asking for the fee to be waived.

Unfortunately, companies don't typically give customers a break on their bills if they use the same company for their cell phone and broadband card service. 
  
Speed: Verizon and Sprint are considered leaders in terms of fastest Internet speed. Verizon and Sprint, for example, use the telecom standard EV-DO Rev A, which is considered faster than most other types of transmissions. Also consider a card's maximum burst speed, which helps determine how fast it will take you to download items. Seek cards with maximum burst speeds of 500 to 800 kbps.
  
Compatibility and use: Make sure the Internet card you purchase is compatible with your laptop. Some newer laptops can take PC cards, while others require USB cards. You also need to make sure the card is compatible with your Windows or Macintosh operating systems, although some cards work with both systems. USB cards can be used universally on desktops and any laptops, so if you intend to use it on different computers, you will likely want a USB card.

While a USB card can be used in place of your home-based DSL service, many people prefer to maintain service within their homes, particularly if two or more people are accessing the Internet. If one person takes the USB card on a business trip, for example, another person at home won’t be able to get onto the desktop without the card.

However, if you intend to use the card only on a laptop, you might consider finding a compatible PC card that can slip into a slot in the laptop itself. Some customers prefer using PC cards rather than USB cards because PC cards are hidden, whereas USB cards are a few inches long – about the size of a closed cell phone – and stick out of the laptop, which can make them more vulnerable to damage.