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Old 05-23-2003, 09:54 AM   #1
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Communicating

I have noticed several people access this site while traveling. The last one I noticed was J.R. Holland "Currently from Va."
How do you do that??
I'm new at this. I haven't traveled anywhere since I got on-line. Here I'm tied to my telephone line. I know there are "Cell Phones", my daughters have them. How could I send, and receive e-mail, while on the road and also access my many favorites sites I visit several times each day?? I think I'm just about 25 years behind the times.



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Old 05-23-2003, 10:39 AM   #2
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Not on the move yet

I was about to post the same question! I am not actually towing yet. I am moving to Utah from Virginia some time this summer (movers just took all my worldly possessions yesterday!). I plan to be on the road for a few weeks, then get settled in Utah. After I am settled I plan to leave the parrots with my mom for a few weeks and do some more traveling. After that, who knows? I don't know whether I'll stay in Utah or keep moving. My ultimate goal is to find a place I like that is green, but not too rainy, convenient to a city, but not crowded.

Satellites are expensive and heavy. Cell phones are unreliable (I think I went about 100 miles through South Dakota with no signal at all from Cingular, cuts out in the oddest places even around DC). One friend suggested going to Starbucks often since they are all supposed to be set up for wireless laptop connections, but those tend to be scarce in parks! I have read that many RV parks have e-mail phone jacks set up, but not much use in other places.

Anyone know about those new Sprint cards they are advertising (they plug into your laptop for wireless e-mails, according to the commercial). I hate to go with Sprint because they have no access off of main highways. Surely there must be a solution!



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Old 05-23-2003, 11:04 AM   #3
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E-mail

Pac-Mail is what someone had suggested. It works with any telephone to get you e-mail. But no access to the web.

The Library seems to be the best way to get both.



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Old 05-23-2003, 11:21 AM   #4
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For email I use an Ericsson MC 218 hand held in combination with an Ericsson cell phone.
<img src=http://www.fiberglassrv.com/board/uploads/3ece582cdfa43ericssonmc218.jpg/>

For www-access I look for an 'Internet Café' in the neighbourhood.



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Old 05-23-2003, 11:48 AM   #5
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Lex, Your Ericsson looks similar to our pocketmail.

Here's a thread from May 1st, too. Bill M. and I had similar discussion (albeit brief!)



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Old 05-23-2003, 12:56 PM   #6
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Most public libraries will allow you to use a computer.

Some visitors centers will also. They can also give you a lot of free information.

Most resort areas will have an internet cafe.

The amazing thing is you can actually go a couple of weeks without checking your e-mail



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Old 05-23-2003, 01:03 PM   #7
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True, but...

I can skip e-mail for a long time. But, I am trying to figure out how to stay on the road for as long as possible with short funds. Any writing work I can pick up would require use of internet, e-mail, etc. Also, since I will be traveling alone without much of an itinerary, I want to make sure I can let my friends and family know where I am and where I plan to be next in case of an emergency without getting bogged down in marathon phone calls. E-mail would let me send a note to 20 people at once (including several friends who will be vacationing vicariously through my notes). Internet access would allow me to do research for the next stops and for articles.



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Old 05-23-2003, 03:19 PM   #8
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I sincerely don't check in from the road ... but the cheapest way would be to pick up an old laptop, subscribe to a $10 dial-up service, and plug in at almost any commerical campground, dialing up an 800 number ... almost every commercial campground has now has a internet phone plug connection, usually near a laundry room.

But, as I say, when we're gone, we're gone.

Of course, I'm retired and Pam's soon off for the summer ... which is a different story than you work-a-day worldly types.

For me, the internet ends at the end of my driveway.



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Old 05-23-2003, 04:30 PM   #9
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JR;

If you are trying to keep friends posted on your adventures, snail mail the information to a friend with a scanner. They can scan, then e-mail the info to your mailing list.:) :)



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Old 05-23-2003, 07:03 PM   #10
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Nick

Surely you're not suggesting we use postcards? :conf



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Old 05-23-2003, 07:33 PM   #11
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Verizon

If you use Verizon for your cell phone service, they have an Office Pack available for your phone. It allows you to hook up your computer to your cell and get total internet access... the only problem is that is so SLOW... only 14.4... I use Roadrunner dial up when on the road and I complain about that at 45.5... Can't beat Roadrunner HighSpeed at home!!!

My folks use Starband. Their house in New Mexico is "off the grid" and the service they have is for both internet and entertainment (TV/Music). If you're not a full timer the cost might be a bit prohibitive. It's about $600.00-$800.00 for intitial set up depending on what you want, then about $100.00 a month... comparable to cable/internet service... and portable.



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Old 05-23-2003, 11:20 PM   #12
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Quote:
Orginally posted by Charles Watts

the cheapest way would be to pick up an old laptop, subscribe to a $10 dial-up service, and plug in at almost any commerical campground, dialing up an 800 number .
Charles, I haven't been able to find an Internet service that offers an 800 number without high costs. If you know of one, especially one that costs $10 a month, please let me know. I'm in the market for a new Internet service for the road.

Nancy



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Old 05-27-2003, 10:18 AM   #13
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Travel Internet

I use Bigzoo for an internet connection at home. It is cheap (www.bigzoo.net) and I have never had a problem with it. My mom and brother use it as well with no problems.

They don't have an 800 dial up number, but if you know where you'll be they have local dialing numbers. You could also log in from each stop and punch in the first 6 digits of the number at your next campground to get a list of local access numbers.

I just used them from Dallas for a week with no problem for Internet. However, their long-distance service I had to dial about 10 numbers to get the one that worked for the rest of the week.



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Old 05-27-2003, 11:00 AM   #14
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Backup Internet Service

For years I've had a dial-up Juno account. Until they decided to go big league, which requires them upgrading their software all the time, I was quite pleased. They didn't charge (you had to put up with advertisements), and they had a bank of local access numbers that could be reached from anywhere I've ever gone.

Even now, you can still get a free Juno account that limits you to I think it is 10 hours per month web usage and free web based email that can be accessed without restriction if you are using another primary service.

Juno also has a paid service that doesn't limit your hours. It is 9.95 per month for standard service. (As a paying customer, you actually get customer assistance rather than being put on hold at a 900 number if you need help.)

I've had better luck using Juno on the road than any of the many other services I've tried. Their supply of local access numbers keeps growing.

My only peeve, which isn't limited to Juno, is software companies that think I want to upgrade my PC just because they can afford to pay someone to come up with more complex software. The PC is not obsolete. It meets my needs. To all software developers: Your progress does not equate my willingness to assume additional expense.

http://www.juno.com



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Old 05-27-2003, 11:19 AM   #15
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I used to use Juno, I liked their Old sofware better. :)
I dropped them when they went up in price. Went back for a short spell when they went back down, but didn't like the program as well.
But I can see where they would be a good choice on the road.



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