By Sondra Sneed

So, youd like to upgrade your fleet by offering passengers WiFi on your buses, but the cost doesnt make sense in the current business environment.

There may be a reasonable alternative to spending thousands per coach on an expensive satellite system. In fact, offering WiFi doesnt have to cost $5,000 to $10,000 per bus.

For a do-it-yourselfer, a small WiFi system, based on a cellular carriers 3G network, can be put together for around $800 (or less). The following method provides a reasonable bandwidth for passengers to check and send e-mails, check airline flight status online, or surf the internet.

Three things are needed to create a 3G cellular WiFi system:

A 3G cellular modem

A cellular router

A cellular amplifier

The 3G cellular modem, which is also called an aircard or data card, will have either USB or PCMCIA port connections. Cellular modems can be purchased from a carrier dealer (wireless store), Best Buy or other retail outlet where mobile phones can be purchased and activated.

Buying a 3G modem

First, choose a carrier. PC Magazine reports Verizon has the widest 3G coverage of the national carriers, but Sprint is the first to offer 4G (aka WiMax).

Buy an unlimited data plan with the modem.

Cellular modems average $60 each (one-time cost), and unlimited data plans average $60 a month

Next is the cellular router, which takes the 3G cellular signal and routes it to multiple users on the bus. Cellular routers work just like home or office routers that are connected to DSL or cable modems. Instead of a cable or phone line, however, cellular routers redistribute the signal coming from a cell tower.

Buying a router

Purchase a 3G cellular modem before buying the cellular router. The reason is that there are different router models for different network providers. The carrier store may have routers in stock to fit your new modem.

D-Link and Cradlepoint are well-rated 3G cellular router manufacturers. Their prices range between $200 and $300, depending on the reseller.

You can conduct an internet search for "cellular routers" to find a dealer or look on their websites for details and customer service contacts.

Finally, a cellular amplifier is the key to this lower-cost method of producing WiFi for your passengers. While being mobile, youll no doubt travel through areas that have spotty or weak cellular service.

And, just as you experience dropped cell phone calls in these areas, data will have an even harder time because a strong signal is essential to a solid data connection. Data "dead zones" cause disruption in service and a cellular amplifier bridges the gap between cell towers.

Besides dead zones, environmental conditions such as mountains and tall buildings, or rural areas that are not well covered by cell towers will also cause disruptions in service. To avoid these issues, cellular amplifiers work great.

Buying an amplifier

Consult with a cellular amplifier supplier for technical support regarding the range or area of coverage you need. This is determined by the size of the vehicle.

Technical support should also be able to tell you what type of an external antenna will work for your situation.

Look for a dual-band model amplifier, which works with all carrier networks (except Nextel iDEN). The amplifier should be powerful enough to boost a signal for a data card, as well as cell phones.

There are a number of companies that make amplifiers. Wilson Electronics has the only FCC-approved technology for controlling oscillation. Wilson also has knowledgeable, available staff; many of its competitors are small and depend on dealers to support customers.

Go to www.wilsonelectronics.com to find customer service help in locating the right model.

All of these products are relatively easy to install. Once youve installed the first system and tested it on your customers, worked out any kinks, and evaluated the monthly cost you may find it to be the right solution for your fleet.

Sondra Sneed is the editor and senior writer for a wireless trade publication. She regularly contributes wireless technology articles to various trade and consumer publications. Contact her at sondra@sondrasneed.com.