You don't have WiFi at your house? Or any local businesses? If you have a smartphone you can probably use it as a hotspot and use its data plan.

Really? How do I use my iPhone as a hot spot?

If you do use your phone as a hot spot just watch out for your data usage - you don't want the shock of a huge bill.

My phone is Android - but here's Apple's support page.

Here is a link that might be useful: apple

I would look into that more (hotspot). I just got an iPad. Still in trial phase, have a week left to return it. I got the same model you did. I thought when I go home to the country I'd turn the Verizon service on (no wifi there either). At first I was looking at wifi only models. I asked the guy at Best Buy about tethering the iPad to iPhone since the country is the only place I can't get wifi. He could have been blowing smoke but he told me using my iPhone as a hotspot for a couple weeks at a time multiple times per year could harm the iPhone battery. Makes sense to me. iPad uses a lot more juice & needs a lot more charging than iPhone. And he said Vzw charges for hotspot. So that's why I got the iPad that has ability to hook up to Vzw cell service.

So far I really like it. Battery life is the pits though. Hoping it imroves with a couple charge cycles as it has for others (all over Apple forums). It had about 80% charge out if the box. I got 4 days of doodling with it off and on for a few hours here & there. Per forum suggestions I did calibrate the battery right away. Apple recommends it once a month for their products. Draining to near zero then charging to full 100%. I've used it maybe 5 hours since my first full charge and it's dropped to 26%. Not sure why I got such good longevity from the out-of-the-box charge. But I'm hoping for improvement. Honestly I would have bought an iPad 2 at discounted price. But viewing text side by side it was a no brainer for me. Ip2 text had blurry edges. Would have been a huge eye strain for me.

I'm confused because I didn't know there is a verizon version? (I have an older IPad.) And why don't you have wireless?

I know you'll enjoy the IPad - have fun!!!

Sorry, I'm not much help with info. I do agree though about not tethering the two as it might be harmful to the Iphone. My Iphone seems to have better battery than my Ipad.

I purchased my i-pad with Verizon, but I've never used it. When we had our cabin, it was in the middle of nowhere so I bought a separate hotspot device to use with my laptop. Now, I use it with the i-pad. It works just about anywhere, even in the car. I think I paid $150 for it, with a $100 rebate, and the monthly service for it comes in $30-40-50 increments. I got the $50, though they always discount in to $40.

It's worth it to me since we're retired and go a lot. We're also at my 92-year old dad's a couple of times a week, who can't figure out how "all that stuff" got in there.:) Though, yesterday, he asked me if "that thing" could look up prices for lawn tractors.

Sorry for the ramble.
Dee

I am not clear on what a hotspot is. I have Verizon wireless Internet and my iPhone is Verizon. Wonder if I could use my Internet for my iPad? Anyone know?

golddust, you can use your wireless internet with your ipad, or wireless at McDonalds or anywhere wireless is offered, such as hotel rooms.

My hotspot is also through Verizon, but my home wireless is Time Warner. Any wireless works with the ipad. OR you can purchase it specifically for the ipad, as you use it. If you're going away for a couple of weeks, you can just sign up for it (your ipad will show you how), then cancel it when you don't want it. That way, you ipad works wherever Verizon is.
HTH.
Dee

golddust, on your iPhone go to Settings, General, Network. You have to call Verizon to set it up (and will be given that prompt). Here is how Apple explains it. Although googling it might get you clearer explanations. As I understand it, once you have hotspot set up on your iPhone you can get online with your iPad via the iPhone hotspot you set up.

Your iPad should work through your wireless router...I hope someone didn't oversell you.

ML

I dont have a router. Maybe I should upgrade my Internet service? Im out of contract so its possible. I have unlimited data on my iPhone but not on my computer. Will check out my settings on my phone and check out the possible harm to my phone battery.

Golddust call your server (verizon) you can certainly use your Ipad with your internet service.

You don't need to upgrade your internet service, you just need to buy your own wireless router. I'm not sure how much they are now, as we've had ours for years.

I think that your cell phone service provider can charge you extra for using your phone as a hotspot. (which is really annoying because I never use anywhere near my 4GB data per month so why I have to pay more to use my data on another device). I downloaded an app onto my Android phone called FoxFi that turned my phone into a hotspot and bypasses the Verizon setup. I have only tried it with my laptop, but it works great. My laptop just recognizes it as another wireless network. It can also be password protected. My DH just got an iPad from work. It is WiFi only, and he will use it with his phone as a hotspot.

Ditto yaya and terri. Sounds like you just need a router. That's why I couldn't understand why you couldn't get wireless. You can buy these at Target and places.

OK. I'll check into a router. Thank you! I feel ripped off as it is with my monthly internet access bills. I'd rather buy something than pay Verizon any more $$. They charge me $60. per month for my internet. Ouch!

gold, earlier who wrote that you have Verizon wireless internet. How do you have wireless internet without a wireless router?

If you are paying for Wireless Internet Verizon should have supplied the wireless router.

Ours is through Verizon and there is not a seperate monthly charge for the router.

ML

ML, I have a little wireless 'modem' that plugs into my computer via a USB port. Is that a router? Can I simply unplug my Verizon 'modem' from my computer and plug it into my iPad?

Are you going to be using your ipad mostly at home or traveling with it? Do you have 3G or 4G service on the ipad or phone? We prefer a wireless router at home which can be used with our various computers, nook, ipad and iphones. With our iphones we have 3g service and AT&T has oodles of free hotspots, so we can get wireless coverage just about anywhere.

My sister has what you are talking about - I can't think of what it's called. You can "tether" your laptop with it also. But she travels (with her job)into alot of rural areas and homes that do not have internet service.

Gold, you won't have to plug anything into your iPad. Can you use a laptop that is a distance from your 'modem'? With no wires?

If so, your iPad should connect to your wireless.

the only problem I had was finding my wireless password.

ML

G, if you have an older computer it may not be equipped to access WiFi. One of ours won't work with WiFi because it's pretty old, but still good.

Just make sure your PC is equipped for a WiFi router, and then you're good to go!

No need for an extra monthly fee.

Whether or not her PC is wifi equipped has nothing to do with settin up a wireless router to use with the iPad.

Just another question for golddust - Do you use wifi on your iPhone? My Android, and I assume iPhones are the same, is programmed to default to using wifi for data when a wifi signal is available, to keep from using up my data plan.

The ipad does not have a USB port so you can't use your USB device with it, if that's the way you're connecting now, rather than through a wireless modem.

Here's a discussion that might help you. The mobile internet device mentioned is what I have. You can connect up to 5 devices on it. I only use it when we travel.

I think your best chance is if you can use your iphone as a hotspot.

Dee

Here is a link that might be useful: USB devices and ipads

Terriks, I was saying that so she wouldn't go out and buy a WiFi router until she knew she had a place to install it on her computer. If the PC doesn't have WiFi accessibility, then there's another gadget she can buy to put on the computer where the Router can hook up. They're two different things.

This way she can use the WiFi on her PC istead of the hassle of using a cell.

Oakley, the wireless router is not installed on the computer! It is connected to an external modem that accesses the broadband signal. Rather than connecting the computer to the modem, the router is connected to the modem and sends the internet signal wirelessly throughout the house.

Maybe this picture will help:

Just imagine that some of those peripheral devices are iPads, smartphones, etc.

Here is a link that might be useful: Wireless router set up

T, you're still not getting what I'm saying. lol.

WiFi Adapter. Many older (and not so old) computers cannot access WiFi because they simply are not equipped to receive signals from WF routers. You buy an adapter to instantly receive signals from the WiFi router.

I have 4 PC's, business and personal. Three of them are new, the other one is 11 years old. Works great, but it won't access the Internet because of not having the WiFi signal stuff already in it.

It worked great with DSL. WiFi...no Internet. Hence, a WiFi adaptor is needed. It's no big deal, just a little adapter is all.

Look it up.

Check out the diagram I posted. You can still connect an older non wifi computer with an ethernet cable. Adding a wireless router doesn't change that.

Terri, for someone who is as techno challenged as I, that diagram is really helpful. Thank you.

Goldust, can't give you any advice (see my above sentence to Terriks); however, you will LOVE your Ipad. I take mine everywhere and am able to access the internet with no problems (knock wood).

OK~ Here's my set up..In very simple terms.
The internet comes in the house via a cable
The cable goes into a modem
The modem goes to sons desktop
Attached to the modem is a Wireless Router
Which runs..
My computer
Other sons Apple laptop
playstation 3
printer
God knows what else :)

Wireless routers cost between $50-100.
No extra charge on your current internet service.

Thanks everyone. I appreciate your help. I don't have access to cable here so no DSL capabilities here. Think I will run to Verizon to talk to them about routers today.

I finally decided to upgrade to a Verizon Hotspot. This will allow me to connect up to five devices at once. Woo! My old connection was almost 5 years old, slower and $10. more per month for the same amount of downloads. It cost me $79., including the $30. tax.

My iPad was scheduled to be delivered today but FedEx left an attempted delivery tag on my gate. The dogs were inside but barked. By the time I got outside, I watched them leaving. Sigh. I'm running to pick it up at Fed Ex around 5:00 because I can't leave my gate open or Jack will get out. :+(

gold - You'll love it. My hotspot downloads faster than my cable internet. I do find it works better when I keep it plugged in. It doesn't hold its charge as long as I'd like.
Dee

Yay!! First post on my iPad 3! Now I must bring back the cases thread. Thanks for all your help. I'm used to being careful about data usage as my computer is on the same deal. My iPhone has unlimited data so I try to use that for YouTube, etc.

Being used to Apple everything, it's like riding a bike.