Net access on the go

[skou2]

Hi all;

I am wondering how people connect to the net with their NZ when away from home, for Email, websurfing, etc. The idea is to travel *without* a laptop, but with the NZ only. Browsing the Wireless and NZ fora, I found a few ideas:

1) use a Bluetooth-capable cell phone - expensive, and I don't have one :-(

2) use a Wireless LAN card - well, most Hotels do not offer a wireless network to their patrons, so that's out :-(

3) use a CF modem - is this even possible with the new CF driver?

4) use a Bluetooth modem

This last option is an interesting one, but there seem to be precious few such devices out there. I found two options:

A) the digicom 56k Bluetooth modem ($150):
http://www.pocketbtmodem.com/index.htm

B) the EXP 56k Bluetooh modem ($135 + free shipping + USB Bluetooth adapter):
http://www.expnet.com/product.nsf/price+for+calculation/BT-MD56

I was hoping there might be a combo unit out there with simultaneous Bluetooth modem and Ethernet connectors, like Xircom makes for PCMCIA (or at least used to). I wasn't able to find any such thing.

Does anybody have any idea, experiences, help to offer?

Thanks in advance!

[skou2]

I forgot to mention that I found a Taiwanese company (Global PCS Inc.) that supposedly makes a universal Bluetooth 56k modem, Cable modem, ethernet port (etc!), but I haven't been able to find this for sale anywhere. Does anybody know any different? Their URL is:

http://www.a-net.com.tw/demo8/mti/e-p1.htm

[skou2]

I might also have mentioned that I am in the US, where Bluetooth seems to be much less in use than in Europe or Asia. I *did* find a bunch of Bluetooth modem solutions at, e.g., blueunplugged.com in the UK, but the modems are quite high priced ($200+), and I'm not sure if there are any FCC issues with unit power, frequency range, etc...

[megazone]

Originally posted by skou2
1) use a Bluetooth-capable cell phone - expensive, and I don't have one :-(

2) use a Wireless LAN card - well, most Hotels do not offer a wireless network to their patrons, so that's out :-(
1. Do you mean the phone is expensive, the plan payments, or what? I just dumped my Verizon phone and switched to AT&T Wireless specifically to have BlueTooth for my NZ90. The phone was just $149 (this is a T68i) - and I have a $50 rebate coming. I signed up for the $30/month voice plan and the $30/month data plan (8MB or 10MB, I forget offhand) to start - I'll adjust based on usage.

2. More and more hotels are offering Wi-Fi, and there are Starbucks, cafes, etc, that have things like T-Mobile HotSpots in them.

[skou2]

Originally posted by megazone

1. Do you mean the phone is expensive, the plan payments, or what? I just dumped my Verizon phone and switched to AT&T Wireless specifically to have BlueTooth for my NZ90. The phone was just $149 (this is a T68i) - and I have a $50 rebate coming. I signed up for the $30/month voice plan and the $30/month data plan (8MB or 10MB, I forget offhand) to start - I'll adjust based on usage.

2. More and more hotels are offering Wi-Fi, and there are Starbucks, cafes, etc, that have things like T-Mobile HotSpots in them.

Thanks, megazone;

I have one of these buy-minutes Nokia phones (I don't use mine often enough to warrant a full blown plan like the one you bought from AT&T). Also I don't tend to stay in ***** hotels for business executives (at least not as often as I'd wish), so until all Super 8's are equipped with Wi-Fi, I need a solution that will work with a good ol' phone...

[jk600]

Originally posted by skou2

...

1) use a Bluetooth-capable cell phone - expensive, and I don't have one :-(

2) use a Wireless LAN card - well, most Hotels do not offer a wireless network to their patrons, so that's out :-(

3) use a CF modem - is this even possible with the new CF driver?

4) use a Bluetooth modem


#1. I prefer this method. It gives me the most flexibility in accessing web services from almost anywhere within my home city. I use a Tmobile plan with voice and data. So far I've been fortunate in my trips because my destinations had Tmobile coverage. My phone plan has no domestic long distance charges so it's much cheaper than using the hotel phones.

#2. Because there are only a few hotspots where I am, I found this option to be too limiting. So I use the WLAN card in my NZ mostly in my home LAN. I rarely take the WLAN card on trips anymore.

#3 is possible. There is a modem driver available here for the NZ's cf slot. I use it with an Ambicom 56kb CF modem (about $69) in my NZ. It works very well. I use it when I have a landline connection available and I'm within a toll-free calling zone. The cf modem driver also works when the cf memory card driver is installed.

#4. There was a post on this several weeks ago. The poster was very enthusiastic about his.

Good luck in finding your solution!

[Halesy]

Option 1 (bluetooth phone) - I've not bought the Bluetooth card for my NX70 yet but I have tried this using infrared.  As jk points out this is the most convenient as you don't hotspots.  I think the infrared is slowing me down though and I'm considering the bluetooth alternative.  I've subscribed to GPRS but it can be quite costly.  It works OK but GPRS is costly and is less BW than WiFi

Option 2 (Wireless LAN) - I've now got this working and if Hong Kong (and evrywhere else) were covered with hot spots then I'd prefer this option, mainly for speed reasons.  Sometimes it's also possible to 'sniff' other networks which keeps the price down ;) .  Coverage is the problem though.

I don't use the other two options.

So, for me WiFi is better for speed, but Bluetooth is better for coverage.

FYI to people in HK, PCCW are meant to be rolling out Bluetooth hotspots, if only they could have told me before I bought my WiFi card...  Not sure how it'll work but I may be trying it when it arrives.

[skou2]

Originally posted by jk600

#4. There was a post on this several weeks ago. The poster was very enthusiastic about his.

Good luck in finding your solution!

Thanks, jk600! I think the post you refer to was about the digicom bluetooth modem ($150). I just received the EXP bluetooth modem ($135, free shipping) and it works beautifully, it's nice and compact, has a nice travel pouch and comes with several extra connectors, including a free Bluetooth dongle (I'm still trying to get Bluetooth HotSyncing to work properly with my desktop using this). I'm very happy with it!

[jk600]

Originally posted by Halesy

...
I've subscribed to GPRS but it can be quite costly.  It works OK but GPRS is costly and is less BW than WiFi

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Hi Halesy,

Just curious - what's the cost of GPRS in Hong Kong?

The GPRS plan that I have with Tmobile in the USA is 10mb monthly for US$20 (plus $30 for the voice plan). I access the internet with my NZ and T68ie for about 2 hours daily and use Blazer with the graphics either set to b&w or off. I haven't reached the 10mb monthly limit yet.

I think the combination of small Clie screen, no graphics, and thin-client browser keeps the GPRS data stream low. I wouldn't want to use a laptop with GPRS.

[Halesy]

5Mb is HK$228, about $30, with Orange - sounds like you have a good deal. PCCW might be cheaper but don't have the numbers to hand. This is also why I'm keen on WiFi (it's HK$6 for 10mins).

If I used more than 6h in a month then GPRS is cheaper, but at the moment I'm just playing with the service - not any serious business use.

[megazone]

Originally posted by jk600
I access the internet with my NZ and T68ie for about 2 hours daily and use BlazerOn that tack - how would you compare Blazer and NetFront? I haven't tried Blazer yet, but I've heard good things about it for a long time.

(And if any mod reads this - can someone check my account to see why I'm not allowed to do certain things like PM, start a new thread, etc? I also never get emails - if I try to resent activation or password, etc, I never get it. Thanks.)

[jk600]

Originally posted by megazone

...
how would you compare Blazer and NetFront?


I prefer Blazer. It's smaller (about 350k) and faster, and has better control and monitoring options, like the amount of data being downloaded in the current page. But it's only hires.

Netfront is big (about 2mb) and relatively slow. Graphics are either on or off - no selection for b&w or gray shades. It uses hires+ but I find the screen hard to read even on the highest magnification setting. OTOH, it renders graphics very nicely.

I have installed and reinstalled Netfront on my NZ several times to check out different features. But I always end up deleting it after a day or so.

[Bo_]

I have been traveling across the US for a week+ now, my solution for internet access with me NZ90 have been a Digicom Bluetooth modem, it works GREAT, I spend the extra money for the 800# plan with Earthlink, so I just plug the phone line in the room in to the bluetooth modem and connect with my Clie. It is wonderfully easy. I can highly recomend it for traveling.

BTW. the same company I got the bluetooth modem from is now finally shipping a keyboard for OS 5. I expect mine to arrive at the hotel in New York on Friday morning.

Bo

www.bophoto.com/clie

[skou2]

Originally posted by Bo_
I have been traveling across the US for a week+ now, my solution for internet access with me NZ90 have been a Digicom Bluetooth modem, it works GREAT, I spend the extra money for the 800# plan with Earthlink, so I just plug the phone line in the room in to the bluetooth modem and connect with my Clie. It is wonderfully easy. I can highly recomend it for traveling.

BTW. the same company I got the bluetooth modem from is now finally shipping a keyboard for OS 5. I expect mine to arrive at the hotel in New York on Friday morning.

Bo

www.bophoto.com/clie

Thanks, Bo;

I assume the Bluetooth modem you refer to is the one from ENR Tech http://www.enrtech.com/bluetooth.php , and the keyboard is the IR keyboard by the same company http://www.enrtech.com/wirelessirkeyboard.php ... (or not?). I bought a Bluetooth modem from EXP http://www.expnet.com/product.nsf/p/BT-MD56 for $135 (with free shipping, plus a free BT dongle to boot!), which I'm also very happy with and am about to use on the road. Question for you, though: the IR keyboard above (ENR Tech) does not list compatibility with NZ90. Please let us know if it works for you when you get it. Or what other keyboard was it that you ordered?

Thanks!

[Bo_]

That IS the keyboard, I recieved e-mail from Ed there a few days ago that the driver now were working with OS 5. He know I have the NZ90 as I have played with it in his office many times.

Bo