Going Wireless

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  1. anniediw
  2. bobandma
  3. Indexlady
  4. bobandma

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Top 1.   Mar 20, 2001 1:21 AM

» anniediw - Wireless nightmare

What perseverance and dedication, Dawn! Thanks from the bottom of my heart for this article as I have now been pondering for some time getting a laptop and working from anywhere. Without this, I'd have had no idea of the problems or where to start.
Thanks again, Annie

-- posted by anniediw



Top 2.   Apr 12, 2001 2:44 PM

» bobandma - Wireless Nightmare

We have been considering connecting our cell phone to our lap top also. Your article is very helpful. I have one question though. We have been told that the connection is so slow that many times you will time out...and that it would take far too many minutes to make it worth while. Have you found the connection to be terribly slow? Since using your computer this way, have you found any drawbacks?
Thanks,
M-A

-- posted by bobandma



Top 3.   Apr 13, 2001 4:01 PM

» Indexlady - Re: Wireless Nightmare

In response to message posted by bobandma:

About the slow connections... I think it's interesting that I keep hearing and reading about this.

No, I haven't experienced it. However, it could be how my entire setup functions.

First, I use AOL. My digital cellphone accesses it faster than my home computer. I get connected at ~115,000 baud--at home only ~56,000. I keep reading about the 9600 baud rate, but that's not what I get.

Second, I have a Nokia 5190 phone which is digital capable. Many cellphones are capable ONLY of analog, and if my understanding is correct, analog phones ARE slower.

Third, my cellphone connector cord uses the serial port on the back of the computer instead of the PCMCIA (?) card slot. I don't know if this will make it run faster or slower.

I think the bigger reasons for fast speed is simply the AOL connection speed, and digital phone speed.

One thing I also do is this: Since I have free roaming and long distance in my cellphone package, I do not dial up any local providers. Where I live, the AOL connection is fast and reliable, and I get on first try every time. So, I dial long distance into my home-local AOL phone number.

Not sure any of this helps. I think it strongly depends on the equipment you are using and what speeds your Internet Service Provider is capable of.

The only drawback I have found, so far, with my setup is that not everyplace has towers for cellphones. I've heard Cape Hatteras in North Carolina is one of those places. And there are other places scattered around where I can't get a signal, digital OR analog.

I haven't been cutoff due to slow connections, or such.

Good luck,
Dawn

-- posted by Indexlady



Top 4.   Apr 15, 2001 7:35 PM

» bobandma - Re: Re: Wireless Nightmare

In response to message posted by Indexlady:

Thanks Dawn. We currently use earthlink and have a digital cellular phone, but had heard that the phone would go to analog when connected to a modem, so your information makes me hopeful. We travel full time in our motorhome, so I am aware that there are areas without a phone signal, but it would be much easier to connect with my cellular than to search for a land connection.

Your article was great. Thanks again

-- posted by bobandma



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