Date: Sat, 21 Oct 2000 10:05:05 -0700
Reply-To: Bill Davidson <wdavidson@THEGRID.NET>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Bill Davidson <wdavidson@THEGRID.NET>
Subject: Re: wireless Internet connection from Westy
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Short of a satellite connection you're not going to get wireless internet
from a remote camp site.
I have had some luck getting email with a cell phone hooked to my lap
top.... but it's not cheep because the connection is slow and the minutes
are expensive since you are likely out of your home area... I have spent
$200 in a month getting email!!!
You needn't spend the money for a digital cell phone since computers only
talk analogue through cell phones. If you already have your lap top call
the manufacturer and ask them what cables they offer and what cell phones
those cables hook up to... buy one of those phones that has analogue
ability... Cell phone coverage varies from company to company.... ask people
in the areas you want to travel to which has the best coverage.... in
general I have heard the AT&T has the best coverage in remote areas here in
the west.... limit the frivolous messages you get to keep your air time cost
down... perhaps set up a separate email address for the kind of business you
want to do from remote areas... mostly you will get reception form all
highways... mostly you will be able to get reception from remote high
points... mostly you will not get any reception from low points in remote
areas... and the speed of the reception in all cases over a cell phone
outside high population areas will be way too slow for the web.... email
only.
Good Luck,,
Bill
----- Original Message -----
From: "Nolan Hester" <waywest@EARTHLINK.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, October 20, 2000 5:41 PM
Subject: wireless Internet connection from Westy
> Hi all,
>
> I looked through the archives but didn't find anything on my quest.
>
> I'm looking for advice/tips on using my laptop to connect
> _wirelessly_ to the Internet from the laptop in my Westy. This isn't
> a question about powering the laptop but instead how to connect
> wirelessly to the net.
> I've looked around on the Web but haven't found much on what's the
> best route to go: cable connection to a cellular? satellite atop the
> lugguage rack?
> I do lots of traveling in non-urban areas (Pacific Northwest, Rocky
> Mts.) and would love to be able to check my email and upload files to
> the net while camped in my van. Ultimate goal: do my work as a
> writer/editor from my Westy and never have to come into town.
>
> Is there any cellular approach that will give me the speed to surf
> the Web and upload files? Will I find coverage adequate out in the
> wilds? And what equipment have you found most hassle-free?
>
> As for satellite, the only setup I've found (Qualcomm's Globalstar
> Tri-mode Satelllite Phone) costs more than $2,000 all told. So that's
> way too pricey to be practical.
>
> thanks for any help or URLs!
> waywest
>
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