Instant Wi-Fi

by David English on August 24th, 2009

If you travel a lot, you’ve probably encountered a hotel, convention center, or remote office that supplies an Ethernet jack rather than Wi-Fi. That’s generally not a problem. Most notebook computers can handle both types of Internet connections.

Sometimes, however, I prefer to connect over Wi-Fi. I might want to use my notebook away from the desk in the hotel room. Or I might want an Internet connection for my iPod Touch or BlackBerry Curve — both are Wi-Fi enabled.

Being able to connect a Wi-Fi enabled phone can be especially handy if you’re traveling outside the country, and your phone isn’t compatible with local cellular standards. With a Wi-Fi phone, you may be able to make and receive calls over Wi-Fi using your regular phone number and be charged as though you’re making a local phone call.

So how do you convert an Ethernet jack into a Wi-Fi access point? You can use D-Link’s DWL-G730AP Wireless Pocket Router. It sells for about $50, comes with a durable carrying case, and supports three wireless modes: Router, Access Point, and Wireless Client.

Set up can be a little tricky, as the documentation isn’t as clear as it should be, though once you have it configured with your Wi-Fi-enabled devices, you can just plug it in and connect. (For tips on configuring the DWL-G730AP, check the comments section for the product on Amazon.com. Here’s a link to the review there that helped me configure it as an access point. Unfortunately, I can’t offer advice beyond that.)

The DWL-G730AP can handle multiple connected devices at the same time, so you could provide Internet access for family, friends, or co-workers. WPA security is built-in, and you can hide the SSID as an additional safeguard. You could configure the SSID and password for your own devices before the trip, and then supply that information to others while traveling.

Take It with You

by David English on October 9th, 2006

Need more hard drive capacity for your notebook computer? One option is a small USB-attached portable hard drive. Because they’re external, you can use them to shuttle files back and forth between your notebook and desktop computers. Capacities run as high as 160GB, which could hold plenty of whatever you want to have with you when you travel.

There’s some confusion about which of the small drives can be powered exclusively by a notebook’s USB port. Some notebooks can’t provide enough power to run some drives, and some drives require more power than other drives. As a general rule of thumb, the 1.8-inch drives draw less power than the 2.5-inch drives. And if your notebook doesn’t provide enough power to its USB ports, look for a portable drive that supplies a second cable that lets you tap two USB ports simultaneously.

Air Apparent

by David English on October 7th, 2006

I finally got around to replacing my eight-year-old notebook. My ancient ThinkPad 600E worked reasonably well after several hard drive transplants and memory upgrades, but I was ready to move on. When it came time to configure my new ThinkPad X60s, I knew I wanted to include a built-in wireless wide-area network (WAN) modem. It lets you connect to the Internet over a high-speed cellular network.

The X60s is configured with a Sierra Wireless modem that’s locked into Verizon Wireless’ EV-DO network. Verizon has expanded its EV-DO coverage recently, so I contacted them about their 30-day trial offer. I called on September 29, and it turned out that was the last day the 30-day trial would be offered. Now it’s just a three-day trial.

Though Verizon’s connecting software (VZAccess Manager) is flakey, the service itself is excellent. I’m getting speeds that vary from about 300 kbps to 800 kbps. That’s not exactly DSL or cable modem speeds, but it’s fast enough to make mobile browsing an enjoyable experience. There are two downsides, however. The first is the price. You’ll have to pay $80 a month, or $60 a month if you currently have your cell phone through Verizon. The second is the restrictions on the “unlimited” service. You’re prohibited from streaming or downloading movies, music, or games. You also can’t use your notebook as a server or with a webcam.

Am I going to sign up after the 30-day trial period is over? I’m not sure. There is an option to pay $15 a day, which may work out better for me, as I’ll mostly need the service when I’m traveling to and from tradeshows.

Hot Seat

by David English on October 7th, 2006

I covered this on my main site (davidenglish.com), but it’s worth a mention here, as well.

If you travel frequently by air, you may be frustrated in finding an in-seat power port for your notebook computer. Some seats have them; some seats don’t. Most don’t, so I usually leave my DC-power adapter at home, since it weighs more than my regular adapter. Even so, I’ve been curious to know which seats have power ports, especially for cross-country or international flights.

Now you can find out ahead of time by consulting SeatGuru.com. There you’ll find a breakdown by airline, flight, and individual seat for such amenities as in-seat power port, extra legroom, superior location, and proximity to the nearest exit or lavatory. You’ll need to find out the type of aircraft for the flight, which could change at the last minute. Still, this might be useful information, and there’s no charge for the service.