Subj : Portable ISP
To   : Sean Dennis
From : Andy Roberts
Date : Tue Jul 05 2005 12:37 am


 Sean Dennis,

04-Jul-05 21:47:28, Sean Dennis wrote to Andy Roberts
 SD> On 04 Jul 05 at 18:14, Andy Roberts wrote to All:
          Subject: Portable ISP

 AR>> Will Cingular ISP require WinXX software?  (I will not tolerate
 AR>> that.)

 SD> Most of them do, unfortunately.  I get away with it because I hook
 SD> a router up to the cable modem..

Neither a router nor cable modem will work in my proposed situation.  This
MUST be 100% portable, as in able to function from the front seat of our
car, while On the Road.  Our Toyota Pruis required BlueTooth, which
required GSM.  If I were to remove the cell phone from the car kit cradel,
then the BlueTooth would still work, but I would loose the advantage of
the 10dB gain roof antenna.  That may be necessary to connect any
additional data cable between the cell phone and laptop.  But regrardless
the only phone available will be the cell phone.  I have several cell
phones so it doesn't have to be GSM, if there is some other plan that is
better.

 AR>> Overage charges?

 SD> Oh, yeah.

I have 400+ minutes on the phone in the car, and another 400+ minutes on
another non-GSM cell phone we will take with us too.  Just for voice we
never even come close to using all that time.  What I don't know is about
how many minutes are typically required by those with a data connection
via their cell phone.

 AR>> Special hardware?

 SD> Probably.

Well see now this is where it gets sticky.  Cingular recommended I talk to
Radio Shack.  Radio Shack didn't have a clue.

 AR>> BlueTooth???

 SD> Maybe, but you can bet the farm you'll need to run Windows for
 SD> that.

I suspect almost all cell phones have some sort of accessory cable for
data to a laptop.  It would obviously be neater if there was some sort of
BlueTooth hardware that could be used instead of the cable.  But again, I
just don't know what is available or commonly used.

 AR>> Options to use this with my desktop when at home and laptop when
 AR>> OTR?

 SD> Not sure about that one.

That is 99% of the point of this issue.  I need something that will work
during our long trips and vacations.  And I need something to replace my
existing StarBandit Satellite setup that typically fails every year about
this time with an expense of a couple hundred $, plus the $69/month.  I
would like to get something that solves both problems.

 AR>> Suggestions for a good economical laptop?  I've been burned by
 AR>> used laptops twice.  I can't afford a new ThinkPad.  I like
 AR>> Toshiba.  I have not done any recent research as to what works
 AR>> well with OS/2 and is reliable.

 SD> I've had very good luck with tigerdirect.com and used laptops.

I bookmarked some place that had a lot of used laptops some with a 1 year
warranty.  Looked very appealing based on price and specs.  But my wife
reminded me that we have had far more than our share of problems with just
about everything that was used before we got it.  If used was so good then
the original owner would not be selling it, and we don't need to buy some
one elses problems.  A warranty is useless if it fails the day after we
leave on a long road trip.  So used is probably not going to be a option.

I really need to find someone who is On the Road a lot and uses a cell
phone connected to their laptop.

     Thanks and Good Luck,        Andy Roberts

--- Terminate 5.00/Pro*at 
 * Origin: OS/2 & Old age are better than the alternatives. (1:109/921.1)

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