Net Access On The International Trip? 142
lbjay asks: "A month or so ago there was a great Ask Slashdot regarding Internet access while on an American road trip. I'm interested in the inverse -- taking a notebook PC and digital camera on a six-month "World Tour". Destinations include various points in Europe, NZ, Australia, Chile and Central America. In my research so far I've narrowed it down to either hauling around a bunch of phone apapters and a line tester, or purchasing a GSM cellphone, modem and connector kit. I'm really leaning toward the later because it just seems easier and more flexible. The max connectivity speed of 9600kps sucks, but all I'm really looking to do is monitor and update a couple of personal Web sites. I'm sure there's more than a few Slashdotters out there with experience doing something similar. I'd love some advice on how well this setup will work. Details: the notebook will probably be either a Thinkpad 240 or the latest Z505 Vaio running RH6.2. I'm looking at Omnipoint for the global cellular service (Ericsson handset). Modem will be either Xircom or 3Com."
Wait a Minute (Score:1)
How to do it (Score:1)
Dear slashdot,
I am not on the net when I blink. How do I give my eyelids an IP address?
Thanks.
Screw it... (Score:1)
How about a Nokia 8890? (Score:1)
The only prob is that I'm not sure whether the US operators will be able to grab these phones at least sometime soon, so might not be usable if the trip is planned to start next week or so.
Offline, (Score:1)
Internet Cafes are everywhere! (except USA) (Score:1)
If you really need/want to carry around your hardware, I would suggest you put a network card in your laptop. Then you could just unhook the connection for the PC in the internet cafe and drop it onto your laptop. The internet cafe may not agree with this, but most of the time the attendant will have no idea what's going on and you should be alright if you return everything to its original state.
The other option would be too make sure your websites are entirely configurable from your browser. That's what I do - I build web-based admin software for my sites which allows me to add/update/remove content at will from anywhere without having to carry anything around. This has saved my @ss more than once, as I have been on the road and been told of problems with the site - just found the closest hole in the wall netcafe and fixed it.
drop by if you're in jakarta
Re:Omnipoint (Score:1)
Re:consider Internet Cafes (Score:1)
But at least it let me know quickly when Linux 2.2 was released.
For a week or two maybe (Score:1)
If you're taking a long trip, there are plenty of advantages to being connected. At least for geeks. Like keeping family and friends updated by sending them photos. And trading stocks if you're into that -- who would want to miss a great buying opportunity because they're cut off from the market? Not to mention checking Slashdot.
call by Call Providers (Score:1)
So assuming you have an modem with all the necessary plugs it should be possible to use them instead of an expensive global coverage plan
Philistine (Score:1)
Phones (mostly) (Score:1)
Re:consider Internet Cafes (Score:1)
None of them minded me plugging in my laptop and using it instead of their cheap clone systems.
If you are dead set on using dial-up, IBM global services, UUNET (resold through a 3rd party), iPass, and AOL (believe it or not!) are all solid choices with access numbers all over the globe.
GSM would be nice, but I'd bet that it won't be as convenient or work as well as either of the first two methods.
Re:GSM Data, Global ISPs and CyberCafes (Score:1)
560Z and a L7089 (Score:2)
Whatever, have a good trip and enjoy opening up those eyes.
Here are some links (Score:3)
Re:consider Internet Cafes (Score:1)
In London, UK and Amsterdam they were all over as well (www.easyeverything.co.uk [easyeverything.co.uk] !!! there is a hot commodity there). This is definitely the way to go. Nearly all of the coffeeshops in Amsterdam have some sort of access, you just have to find the ones with a fully enable browser (w/ java or whateva floats your boat if you dig java ssh) and/or telnet.
But if you have the dough, good luck with gsm...
Re:public Internet terminals (Score:2)
Re:consider Internet Cafes (Score:2)
They do cover Nepal, Thailand and India, though phone line quality may be enough of a problem that an Internet cafe is a better option. Details at http://www.ipass.com/accesspoints/ and http://www.gric.com/zone/isplocator/. The downside is that you pay by the hour typically on top of phone charges, but it's cheaper than an international call.
Cheap bags and phone options (Score:5)
This helps with customs agents and with baggage theft at the airport - if your checked baggage looks like it belongs to a student, it's unlikely to get stolen from. (The only time I had things stolen from a bag was in a hotel in China.)
Online backups of your laptop data are a great idea - consider NetStore and similar if you use Windows, or an ftp site plus pgp if you don't. Makes a big difference to how quickly you can get going again.
A GSM phone is probably a good overall solution to check email; I use a double band (900 and 1800, works in most countries except US and Japan) Ericsson SH888 - sent email from my Palm III in a Hamburg cafe this weekend for extra geek points
I also sometimes carry an acoustic coupler - these go up to 28,800 bps now and are good when you have a hotel phone wired into the wall, quite common outside the US. Also, take some telephone socket doublers (US models) as sometimes you can use these to get a connection from the phone end of the wire. Check www.teleadapt.com for lots of road warrior kit, but buy it somewhere else as they are very expensive.
If you have to plug into wired phone sockets, you'll need a panoply of different phone adapters - though some hotels just use US plugs, the cheaper/older ones probably won't. Teleadapt shows you what you'll need.
ISP roaming is a big hassle - if you use GSM this is not an issue as you just call home (go GSM if you can afford it, or go wired if you need more online time). GRIC and iPass do roaming services that are probably well worth the hassle avoidance - you use a single Windows dialler that knows how to talk to all ISPs on the scheme. If you want a single ISP, try IBM Global Network (now bought by AT&T, www.ibm.net), who are good quality and have good coverage - I use them for work travel, but I'm not sure about non-Windows support.
Omnipoint (Score:5)
Omnipoint is using misleading advertising at best by implying that any phone you buy from them will be useful anywhere. Unless you specify, and pay extra (a lot extra) you'll get a phone that only works in the US.
It will probably be better yet to rent your GSM handset in the countries you visit.
The worst part is that most Omnipoint salesdroids don't know these facts.
Global Dialup and GSM (Score:1)
You're probably better off just getting a kit with a bunch of adaptors in them. Targus makes a little kit that has both power and phone adaptors for most European-type countries (note your laptop power supply will need to support the voltage -- most of them do). Some hotels even have RJ11 jacks, which makes life a lot easier.
As far as a global provider, some have suggested IBM's former ISP (now owned by AT&T). UUNet also offers this service. If you happen to live in USWorst country, they offer a Global Roaming feature for an extra $5/month as part of their ISP package. If you happen to use them as an ISP anyway, this is by far the cheapest way to get global Internet access. Their POP list doesn't include everything you can actually log in via, but if you go here you can search and find a number for wherever you happen to be.
-- PhoneBoy
Re:Global Dialup and GSM (Score:1)
Re:My Configuration (Score:3)
They DO have numbers many places and you can download a text file with the numbers from their site.
Their dialer software only runs on Windows but they include instructions on how to dial in from a Linux box (they use a non-obvious username / password combo that you wouldn't guess by looking at your username).
They also have dialer software for PalmOS and WinCE so Linux might not be far behind!
--hunter
Smart Media to Floppy (Score:1)
http://www.igo.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDi
It is a smart media to floppy disk adaptor for offloading of images from digital cameras. I have also seen Compact Flash cards taht come with USB cables that plug straight into the CF card.
Use these in conjunctions with Internet cafes, and you'd be pretty well set.
accoustic coupler != 2400 bps max. (Score:1)
GRIC to the rescue. (Score:1)
Go to http://www.gric.com
These guys team up with ISPs(very possibly yours) to allow ISPs to offer their services even while their customers are travelling in other companies.
I know that Mindspring/Earthlink supports it. Others surely do. Basically it allows other ISPs to check your radius(I think) servers to authenticate you.
Call your ISP and find out if they support gric.
And when I did tech support for an unnamed major ISP, we were told about this, but I never got a call about it. So anyone you call will be very rusty on this. Call twice, or three times to make sure, if they say they don't support it.
Re:GRIC to the rescue. (Score:1)
hotel business centers (Score:1)
Having traveled through Europe a bit I can tell you that the easiest way to get access is to stay at a major hotel and use their business centers or use an internet cafe.
Barring that you might want to just go for the adapters and modem (The adapters is not that big of a deal, just a small bag very light). I used a PSION gold card [psiondacom.com] which has country switching and a GSM option. worked well in Germany, France and England.
Re:eyelids IP address (Score:1)
In my experience, even if you buy the machine with the honest intent of only using it for a firewall, you still end up wanting to play a games on it sometimes. Playing Quake on an eyelash-sized computer would suck.
---
Re:Wait a Minute (Score:1)
Of course he does, what do you think he is, a dummy ?
Uh.. oh wait. You probably do think that way, let's try another line.
It was his idea to bring Internet to the rest of the world. This way he could use this in his campaign.. imagine: he expanded America to cover the rest of the globe via the Internet. Mighty dude, he.
Re:Wait a Minute (Score:2)
Aw, dammit ! It was supposed to be a secret ! First you find out that there is life outside of the US , and now this.. what is this world coming to ?
Please, don't tell anyone about this. Let's just keep it our secret, ok ?
) The infamous McDonald expedition in the 1950's
JAPAN internet access? (Score:1)
Re:I guess the question is: (Score:1)
Seriously, I do agree with you. But I don't have a choice. I want to take a long trip (six months), and I need to work part-time while I'm travelling in order to fund the trip. Six months with a laptop is better then two weeks of email-free bliss, at this point in my life.
Omnipoint, Viao, roaming... (Score:1)
Rates are reasonable (personal opinion), but you'll pay less than $1.00 minute if you give them the $2-3/month international fee for picking a country to roam in. You could end up paying more than that from some hotel land lines, so I consider their rates reasonable. My voicemail notification worked also. And you can cancel the $2-3/month after you travel if you are an infrequent traveller.
I carried the Ericson i888, and it worked just like my normal Ericson, only it could roam on GSM 900. I flew through SFO, Tokyo/Narita (no coverage, no GSM) to Singapore and had coverage everywhere but Japan.
I'm purchasing a Motorola L7089 (L2000 Asian) because it does tri-band, whereas the Ericson is only dual band. Both phones have infrared data capability, which I plan on trying out once I get the Motorola.
And the Sony Viao looks like a good choice. I just picked one up, and a SuSE Linux install went fairly well, although the Viao's (Z505RX) floppy/cdrom standard equipment make it a little tough to install on. Check out Linux Laptops [utexas.edu] for great help on setup and which laptops have been tested.
I also found good deals on the Viao's at Ubid [ubid.com] and Ebay [ebay.com].
Sony Vaios & Linux (Score:1)
https://sourceforge.net/project/?group_id=4190
several unresolved issues with the z505hs still
ongoing, they also have winmodems! I have
sound (oss)
display (1024x768)
netcard (eepro100)
usb
touchpad
working, but I don't have everything working nicely with power management etc.
Hoonis
GSM Data, Global ISPs and CyberCafes (Score:2)
You have two choices left... One is to use a Global ISP, like IBM Global Network (I've hear it works pretty well).
The other choice is to rely on cybercafes on each country. Every big city has a bunch of them, as do most mid-size cities too.
My recomendation is to do both... get an IBM account, and do some reseach on cybercafes on the cities you'll stop.
And if you plan to stop in Venezuela, send me an email
Re:Don't bother. (Score:1)
Phone rentals (Score:1)
Here's some sites but search on google, altavista, whatever.
www.intouchusa.com
www.cellone-online.com/rental.htm
This is a page at stanford but it seems out of date. It just tells you your options and it's recommendations
http://www2.slac.stanford.edu/comp/telecom/cell
Sony Mavica (was Re:consider Internet Cafes) (Score:1)
No cables, smart card adapters or funny file formats. All you need is a laptop with a box of floppies and a box of disks. They even capture short MPEG video clips with sound.
And the battery life isn't too bad either (2-4 hours).
http://www.sel.sony.com/SEL/consumer /dimaging/ [sony.com]
Re:Omnipoint (Score:2)
There's at least one non-Erricsson phone sold over here as triple-band GSM so capable of worldwide roaming - the Motorola Timeport.
Re:GSM Data, Global ISPs and CyberCafes (Score:1)
Since a month or two we got international roaming on dutch prepaid phones, guess also in other countries. I have a Libertel [libertel.nl] prepaid phone with "IZI Extra". I pay fl 10,- ($5,-) a month for roaming in 80 countries. Rates are quite good but must be billed to a dutch citizen.
Re:My Configuration (Score:1)
For those of you who don't have this trojan installed, my last copy of arlog.txt reported my OS, free memory, free disk space, modem type (!) and access level (e.g. administrator, user).
BTW I reported this to Slashdot, and to IBM as incident 0901142. They had a rep of whomever it is that wrote AccessRamp send me a letter saying what a wonderful idea it was for me to trust them.
I use another dialer when I use NT now.
Re:GSM Transfer Speed (Score:1)
The reasons I chose Nokia are the interface options [www.hut.fi] and Linux interface [fatburen.org] (although I almost didn't because of Nokia not supporting Linux well).
There also is a Nokia Card Phone, a PC Card with a GSM phone, although I don't know what it supports.
GSM overseas... (Score:1)
GSM + portable (Score:1)
But you don't want to do this for serious work: it is horribly slow (9600bps), the latency is even worse and the telephone bill is going to be
Using landlines, you need an ISP with an international presence. IBM Global Network is the only one I think with a wide enough coverage and no nonsense roaming on the standard account. ( maybe a small surcharge)
Re:My Configuration (Score:1)
Another option is iPass, really simple software creates dialup networking icons for the management clubies to use (doesn't stop them calling in the odd hours of the morning - but at least I can talk 'em through it in my sleep)
local rental (was Re:Omnipoint) (Score:1)
Re:Omnipoint (Score:1)
What is the world coming to? (Score:1)
I own a Nokia Communicator PDA/GSM 9110 [nokia.com] Phone combination so this is ideal for me (no extra hardware needed).
In case anybody wants to know the details: Just dial 900-937 (No login name, no password) and you're online.
I've never seen anything like this in the western world, let alone a -supposedly- backward country like Thailand.
What about an acoustic coupler (Score:1)
try some old tech? (Score:3)
Re:eyelids IP address (Score:1)
Lamo moderators marking me as flamebait, losers.
Probably IPv8 referred to urinating vegetable juice.
George
another reason to consider Internet Cafes (Score:1)
Often the workers or owner will be glad to meet you and an offer to help with a vexing local technical problem will be appreciated.
I had a great time helping the proprietor at a cafe in Petra, Jordan rig up an internet phone package so he could lower his long-distance charges. I was treated to a meal and a lot of insight on how the net worked in the Middle East.
Re:Floppies are bulky? (Score:1)
A nice side effect is that you can give somebody a floppy with a picture of them on it as a gift. At long last a use for all those AOL disks we were carpet-bombed with!
consider Internet Cafes (Score:4)
Offloading the digital camera would be a problem, as the system is unlikely to have a PCMCIA interface. While a Sony Mavica would work everywhere using floppys, they are a bit bulky.
I suppose a RS-232 interface from the camera to the computer could be established on an ad-hoc basis, however those drain batterys rapidly.
Experiences with GSM mobile phone (Score:2)
The phone is an Ericsson 888, which has a built-in IR port, and its the only use I've ever found for the IR port on the computer (Toshiba Satellite). It took a bit of fiddling to get the computer to talk to the phone, and you occasionally had to reboot windows cos the IR port just dies, but otherwise it works well enough - 9600 is OK for downloading email.
Never any problems actually accessing the internet and downloading web pages or email via POP. Halfway through the trip they changed the configuration on the SMTP server (to prevent forwarding presumably), so I couldn't send SMTP email any more, and noone could figure out what was going on. I ended up using a HTML emailer in the meantime, which was just fine for keeping in touch with the family.
GSM works well pretty much anywhere on the planet, except of course the USA and Japan. It was pretty convenient to be able to stick the phone down by the laptop and connect up while sitting by a swimming pool at a hotel in Bangkok!
Re:GSM Transfer Speed (Score:1)
No, the transfer rate is limited by the network, not the phone. On the other hand, Nokia makes much better phones in almost every other respect (and they look way better too), but in this case it might be irrelevant, because AFAIK Nokia doesn't make a 1900/900 Mhz GSM model.
Re:GSM Transfer Speed (Score:1)
Re:GSM Transfer Speed (Score:1)
True, I didn't realize it was out yet. I just checked and it seems to have been released...
Re:GSM Data, Global ISPs and CyberCafes (Score:5)
Avoid getting a cellular capable modem if you are going with the GSM option. Most GSM phones have a 'modem' built in, I put modem in quotes because what they are offering is a modem-like interface (ATDT+44171...) to the pure 9600 baud bitstream of GSM. Sometimes you can get 14400, but only in civilised countries
I swear by nokia phones right now, the 6150 is the best 2-bander on the market. You can do PPP connections through the IR port, but its best to get the serial port cable, do a quick search on the web for how to get the cable without paying for the windoze software.
There are 2 GSM phone regions, US/Japan, and everywhere else. So buy your phone at your first stop outside the US, don't even think of renting the cost will kill you. In some countries you have to buy a service plan with the phone, so shop around on the web before leaving. Best idea is to get a service plan from a cheap country, either norway or england. It might be impossible to get service in some countries without having a provable permanent address there (france, UK, germany).
The best thing about getting a GSM phone with an international roaming account is that you will have a phone with you at all times so you can give that number out to your family and a select few friends. Although the caller pays the first hop, if you are in another country besides the one of your service, you will pay the additional roaming hop, and that runs about $1/minute.
Avoid the 'no bills' pre-paid GSM cards you will see all over europe. None of them currently offer international roaming, so when you move on you'll be screwed. Most of them don't even allow the phone to be used in data mode. The nice thing about the pre-paid cards is that they have created a used phone market, and you can sell your GSM phone for 50%-75% of its original price when you are done with it.
Cybercafes are your best bet for most of the updating your website, at least for the text bits. The cost per hour is going to be a lot less than any dial in land line or GSM option. And you will have the leisure of filling out your hour by reading some
There are a lot of options for keeping connected when going walkies (walkabout for the antipodeans) so don't just restrict yourself to some cool but very expensive gizmo. And test your connection options before leaving, from a few cybercafes and libraries, you will learn that many machines will not have telnet or any other connection software except a filtered web browser.
the AC
Re:I guess the question is: (Score:5)
The one big advantage to traveling with a digital camera is that you will take tons of pictures of things you wouldn't waste film on. Especially if you can store hundreds of them to your hard disk, and email them to the friends you were thinking of when you saw the shot.
Customs agents the world over have the highest incidence of brain spasms you will ever see. Logic and common sense go out the window whenever they are presented with something out of the ordinary, and it can be a real hassle getting your equipment back. Twice in the last few years I've had my equipment seized flying into Paris, and once into Heathrow. It takes a lot of work over a period of days or weeks to convince the idiots to give back your equipment, and they will usually tack a on import duty. Less bureaucratic countries will just seize your stuff until you pay a random import duty 'ransom', which you can usually do in just a few minutes. Computers are starting to be accepted, but any accessories, especially digital cameras and mini-disc players, get snagged. You have to provide proof that the same camera is available for retail sale in the country, so avoid the latest and greatest.
Carry your expensive stuff in a battered looking small backpack, similar to a book bag. This hides the fact you have something heavy (==expensive) to attract thieves. DO NOT carry your equipment in heavy duty protective cases, especially Zero Haliburton or Pelican. Those cases attract a 100% response from the drug agents, and the dogs are often trained to sniff out drugs sealed inside those style of cases, so they sound just on visual and you will get strip searched. After a few times when it takes you 12 hours to cross a border and your friends crossed in 12 seconds, you will toss the expensive case.
My best suggestion is to travel with a cheap old laptop that you don't care if it gets stolen or smashed. Because on a 6 month trip, I'd say the odds of it returning in one piece are pretty low. Don't risk a brand new vaio. And buy the occasional disposable camera with a flash, for carrying to the beach or disco or other places where a valuable camera would be gone in an instant.
The disadvantages of traveling with a ton of film is that they all go through x-ray machines repeatedly. A few times and you can't see the fogging except in controlled tests, 10 times and the fogging is slightly noticible, 30 times and you will have trouble recognising half your shots. Just buy film during the trip, and get it processed locally and then mail the negatives back home. You can give away the prints to the pretty girls you meet along the way
the AC
So funny you would mention Kerouac, had a long discussion about him this weekend.
IPASS (Score:1)
Re:Wait a Minute (Score:1)
Countries outside of the US have access to the internet? When did this happen?
Does Al Gore know about this? I'm telling!
======
"Rex unto my cleeb, and thou shalt have everlasting blort." - Zorp 3:16
Re:and bring lots of gold, lighters and AOL cds (Score:1)
Does anyone what they call a hot bowl of grits in France?
cuvette chaude de granulations?
======
"Rex unto my cleeb, and thou shalt have everlasting blort." - Zorp 3:16
My Configuration (Score:3)
Running on an Omnibook 900 I have a 3Com PCMCIA modem with an X-Jack plug. To connect to all
the jacks they gave us universial phone adapter.
It's got about two dozen parts that drop into
this quick adapter. It's really small and easy
to use. As for the line test they make them as
small a ink pens.
We use a service on our Win NT laptops call
IBM Global Dialer. IT's you basic ISP but
has number for almost everywherein the world.
I haven't been on a trip yet were I haven't
had a local number. I don't know if it runs
in linux but you might be able to connect to
it with the standard dialer.
____
.sig not found
Buy Iridium! (Score:2)
Now, keeping the satellites in proper orbit may be a little tricky while on the road. You'll probably need to port all the controll software to Linux, but you'll have plenty of time to do that since you are on vacation!
But just think of the coolness factor! Want to impress that cute chick on the beach? Just bring down one of the satellites as a show of your affection. That'll be a whole lot more impressive than a drink with a little paper umbrella...
-p.
Re:Internet Cafes are everywhere! (except USA) (Score:1)
I traveled to Nepal last February, hoping that I could get away from computers and the internet for a while. Hope quickly vanished, as I was surprised to see internet cafes on every street corner!
GSM Cell phone coverage is available too, but only in, and around the parameters of the major cities. Next time I travel there, I will probably subscribe.. only a modest fee
Australia has internet cafes, but they are very expensive. GSM is even more expensive, and you may need to get a dual band cell phone since Australian frequency bands might be different to the ones in the US?!
However, if you have some money to spare, get a satellite phone. Globalstar will be offering data services [globalstar.com] soon. The handsets can operate in either satellite or GSM mode, and they have a cool aerial [globalstar.com] (and a built in modem).
worldnet (Score:1)
They have local numbers in most cities (at least all the cities that I visited).
Sometimes the bitrate wasn't the best that I've seen (21kbps), but heck, it worked just fine.
and no, I'm not affiliated, etc...
INMARSAT (Score:1)
The only cons are:
-Expensive: expect a set to be around $2000 and the service isn't cheap either.
-Bulky: The sets are roughly the same size as the notebook you'll be carrying and equally heavy (Around 5 lbs.)
Worth a check if you're so desperate. If you can live with less speed and spotty coverage (With roaming charges) go for a GSM-900 phone, or even a Nokia Communicator.
ZoeSch
GSM Mobiles around the world (Score:1)
Argentina Fried My Laptop! (Score:2)
For my travels, I took my trusty old laptop and used GRIC to connect (they have partner ISP's all over the world). I also used cybercafe's where applicable to do some tasks.
I wouldn't bother using a cellphone - the lack of world standard plus roaming access is a pain in the butt. I can use my Australian GSM phone in Asia and Europe (frequencies, protocols and roaming agreements) but I can't use in the North or South of America (even where GSM is offerred, it's often the wrong frequency or there's no roaming agreement). So much for globalisation
I found GRIC was fine, although I've not yet received the invoice for my "roaming" fees. I was presented with quite a list of various parts of the world, although only one ISP was in the club for Buenos Aires. Fortunately, they had a really good link to the rest of the world so the world wide wait wasn't *too* bad.
Most of the places I was at in Buenos Aires had RJ-11 sockets for phones, so I could just "jack in" as required. Here in Australia they often have a wierd three-prong plug setup - you can buy an RJ-11 to wierdo adaptor at any Office Works/Comms/Tech type-store.
Make sure your laptop power supply is auto-switching (don't plug a 110V system into 240V - it's beautiful, but short lived and only works once
I picked up power socket converters when I arrived (couldn't find my old stash) but I could have picked up a few before I left at the airport shops here in Melbourne (you should be able to do the same there).
So, all up - I was quite able to tour around, access the 'net, get email and check web pages (I've set up our project management system so it's on the web - means I can see how the company's going from anywhere in the world - what's a holiday?
The only problem was that Argentina's power supply is going through a bit of a crises (like the rest of the country). While I was in Buenos Aires, I witnessed a number of power surges and fluctuations around the place. In offices, they generally have a power conditioner hooked up and specially marked sockets to plug computers into. At my in-law's house, we turned on the lights in a room one day and the lot of them blew out. An older computer fried its power supply at a friend's house. My laptop's power supply is dead, probably thanks to a surge or something.
So, while you may have comm's, plugs and all that sorted out, don't trust the power supply. Even in some parts of Sydney I've seen UPS's singing like a canary. If you can get some sort of easily packed & carried line conditioner or mini-UPS, do it. Otherwise, carry a spare power pack for your laptop
Oh - I had no problems with my equipment going in & out of customs. The laptop is in an old, well worn no-name laptop case. They didn't even ask to see if it turned on or not. I guess they're used to business travellers (even those who wear baggy raver-pants and alien or Ferrari t-shirts to travel in
Re:Smart Media to Floppy (Score:1)
On the plus side - it's very fast, and you can also write to it (giving you a monster floppy if you put in a 32 MB SM card).
Re:Omnipoint (Score:1)
and depending on how long you plan on being over there, you may want to sign up with a provider over there, and not omnipoint. but that would be up to you. thier roaming rates may not be as much. (about $2.50/min is the usual for international roaming)
Dial: AT&T Global, iPass, GRIC, AOL. GSM Mobi (Score:3)
GSM Transfer Speed (Score:1)
Just a thought.
Re:Why would you want to leave the US? (Score:1)
Dominating, yes. But let me give you some statistics from Norway. More than 50% of the population have access to the internet. >30% own their own computer. 90% of tennagers (12-19) own a cell phone. WAP phones is sold dirt cheap. (And are comming into regular use. You can pay your bills with the phone if you want). All schools have internet access for the students. Dunno how these figures stack up against US figures, but i think we're pretty wired up here...
Re:9600kbs ? That's faster than 6 T1's (Score:1)
Just Modem (Score:1)
If luggage and money is unlimited in your trip you should search for a satellite dish.
Re:Wait a Minute (Score:1)
--
If there is a God, you are an authorized representative. - Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
Re:Omnipoint (Score:1)
Re:iPass Internet Access (Score:1)
Re:Omnipoint (Score:1)
Yeah, and you can still use your US-based SIM card while travelling overseas. Since I travel to Europe often but hate my local GSM provider, I've had thoughts of buying only a SIM card just to use it in a rental GSM set next time I head to the Motherland (France).
Re:local rental (was Re:Omnipoint) (Score:1)
I guess with a Euro rental or prepaid handset they could still call a single # to get me...just that they'd be footing the international LD bill.
Eyelids IP address! (Score:1)
Of course there is a solution! Use the Embedded Eye Lid DHCP (EEL-DHCP) [baheyeldin.com] . It only supports DHCP, so you cannot run a mail/web server of it, but until we release Full Embedded Eye Lid Server (FEELS) it should do the job.
By the way, what do you do when you sleep? Brain implants is the answer!
Modem Cables (Score:1)
I did a couple of trips to Japan and North America last year, taking laptop and dig camera with me. Used ipass and it worked fine.
As a note for modem cables, found the best option was often just pulling the cable out of the phone and connecting it to the modem. Cause most phones have the same connector, which is also the same as the modem. Can't remember what its called though. This work in residences, motels and hotels in Japan, Canada, and seven states in the US. Of course, still take cables with you, also check lonely planet as they have some good information on the countries net connectivity also.
Cheers
Re:560Z and a L7089 (or a SONY 505 series) (Score:1)
Mobile, get an Ericsson I888 (Score:1)
Not to mention that it has a metal-alloy frame, it doesn't break easily. Having had a phone with the same chassi but different freq. and dropping it more than once...
Modems, there is no need, the I888 has one built in with either serial or IR connection.
Link: as for the lenght, blame the homepage, not me
http://mobile.ericsson.se/spg.asp?template=prod
Six Dozen Rolls of Film?????? (Score:1)
global Roaming (Score:1)
I've used Ericsson i888 and ipass, both work (Score:1)
1) Local dial-up access. You really want a service that will give you connectivity in most countries. I use iPass [ipass.com], available through many ISPs, and reliable so far. I've used it at multiple locations in the US and Europe and so far hasn't failed me. It uses Compuserve or SITA/Equant POPs. Many of the numbers support ISDN. Note that you will want a service like this even if you are using a mobile phone.
2) Mobile connectivity. I have used a Nokia 8850 [nokia.com] and an Ericsson i888 for mobile data, both are OK. Neither needs a cable, both use the IRDA port. The Nokia is GSM 900/1800 (European and Asian dual band), the Ericsson is GSM 900/1900 (Europe/USA dual band) and is much uglier than the Nokia. (The Nokia has just become available in Euro/US dual band.) Both of the phones feature built in modems, so the only software necessary is a Windows modem config file that takes up about 9k (yes, nine thousand). Other phones with an IR port do not incorporate data hardware, and require a soft modem on the PC. If you have local dial-up, using a mobile phone need not be terribly expensive.
However, you might be better off using Internet Cafes or a landline modem for the most part. Most Internet Cafes will let you set up a dial-up connection. If you're using a landline modem and need to dial out, however, look for a fax machine. Most of them use an RJ11 connector on the end of the cable that plugs into the machine, so with a double ended RJ11 adapter you're in business.
Take as large as possible a memory card for your digital camera, to minimize need for uploads.
Good luck in your travels! Make sure you're ready for multiple possibilities!
Re:GSM Transfer Speed (Score:1)
Re:IBM.net aka ATTbusiness.net (Score:1)
Well, there's Iridium (Score:3)
Re: (Score:2)
IBM Internet (Score:2)
IBM (now AT&T) there is a large coverage. Both locally and internationally. If AT&T didn't screw it up, there still should be some pretty good coverage.
I would recomend bring some alligator clips, a small screw driver, some power adapters. The poiwer supply may be able ot handle the power, but what about the connector?
I guess the question is: (Score:5)
Take a rugged Nikon FM2, a 35mm lens and about 6 dozen rolls of Kodachrome 64. Leave computer at home. Enjoy the trip.
Advantages: get away from office. Customs easier to clear with a camera rather than gizmo electronics. Bill for film cheaper than new laptop. Not a fragile. Hard to fry camera on crappy phone line/power line. Don't have to diddle with power adapters. Weighs less. Can be carried on board. Picture quality much better, archival.
Disadvantages: Hardcore email withdrawl (lasts one week, but traumatic. Opium withdrawl supposedly more intense, but doesn't last as long. Your decision...) Arriving home to about 765,000 urgent email messages. Have to spend boo kou bucks on film processing. Have to scan film in. Won't end up with "so I'm at the airport and this guy whips out an uzi cuz he thinks my laptop is a bomb" stories. Can't say "my computer has been around the world".
I opt for the less is more approach however.
World Tour (Score:3)
IBM.net aka ATTbusiness.net (Score:2)
However, they introduced roaming fees a couple of years back, so if you access from a different country, you`re paying between 4.8 and 9 bucks an hour extra (depending on which plan you use)
That said, there`s little competition around...in Europe you could use the Free ISP`s (eg Freeserve in the UK), but I dunno about their prevalance in other territories.
Most internet cafes should be amenable to plugging in digital cameras if you talk nicely to them !
enjoy
urbanjunkie
Simple and easy : Internet Cafes and floppies (Score:2)