If the extra space isn't an issue, I would suggest bringing your own wireless router with you. For those who don't have a router of any kind, it would allow you both to have internet access and save you the trouble of being tethered to a box.
Pros (compared to ethernet card): Use your existing wireless card with it. Lets you and the person you're visiting both use the internet. Don't need to order anything from Humanware. Wireless link means you're not stuck at the computer desk or wherever their cable modem is. Cons: More things to carry. The wifi router, its power cord, and an Ethernet cable. Finding an outlet to plug it in. Could have complications if the place does use a router and your box is set to the same ip address as the existing router. (This can be avoided though by changing your router to an address someone else is unlikely to have picked.) - Chris On Mon, Jun 22, 2009 at 12:22 AM, Peggy Kern<[email protected]> wrote: > Thanks, Grant. I've had a wireless card for years, but none of these people > have wireless. They are with Comcast though, so perhaps I could learn to do > the ethernet thing, although it might involve a lot of plugging and > unplugging, since they would still want to use their computers. I take it I > wouldn't need to buy an ethernet card for something like this then? > > Peggy > http://kernsac.livejournal.com/ > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Grant Hardy" <[email protected]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Sunday, June 21, 2009 9:22 PM > Subject: re: [Braillenote] I want to learn more about LAN connections > > >> Hi Peggy, >> >> Let me give you a few options apart from using dialup. >> >> 1. Humanware maintains an up to date list of compatible wireless cards >> for the BrailleNote. These can be bought directly from Humanware or on >> eBay. I picked up an Ambicom card on eBay last december for around $45. >> Just about everyone seems to have access to Wifi nowadays; if you visited >> somebody whose house was equipped with a wireless router, you could simply >> slip the wireless card into the BrailleNote and connect to their network >> just as if you were connected via Ethernet wires. They might have to give >> you a key to logon to their network, but apart from that, there should be no >> complications at all. >> >> 2. Humanware also maintains a list of compatible Ethernet (wired) cards >> for the BrailleNote. Again, these can be picked up on eBay or from >> Humanware directly. If you're visiting someone who does not have wifi >> access in their house, but does have a wired router (typically they would >> have a wired router if they need to access the internet from more than one >> computer simultaneously), you would slip the Ethernet card into your >> BrailleNote, plug one end of an Ethernet cable into the card, then plug the >> other end into a spare plug on the person's router. Note that Ethernet >> cables are available at most electronics stores, and are pretty cost >> effective. >> >> 3. If you're visiting somebody who does not have wifi in their home, but >> who would let you use the internet when they're not using it themselves, you >> could buy an Ethernet card, then have them unplug one end of their Ethernet >> chord from the back of their computer and pass it to you; you could then >> plug that end into your BrailleNote. (Note: this is only realistic if the >> person you're visiting uses cable. If they use DSL/ADSL, it would be a bit >> more complicated since you would have to logon to a website and "register" >> your BrailleNote's Ethernet card with their ISP, which is probably not worth >> the bother.) >> >> 4. If you're visiting someone who's fairly tech savvy, they can configure >> their computer to share an internet connection over wifi. Using a wireless >> card, you could then access that shared connection as long as you were >> fairly close to their computer and their computer was on. Note, though, >> that I've found this slightly frustrating at times to get working on the >> BrailleNote, but it's doable. >> >> 5. There are applications for cell phones that enable the cell phone >> connection to be shared over wifi, which, again, you could access on the >> BrailleNote if you bought a wireless card. For example, for Symbian, look >> up Joikuspot and Walking Hotspot. Once again, this is one of the trickier >> methods, in my experience, to get working on the BrailleNote - I never did >> get the BrailleNote to work with a connection which was being shared over >> Joikuspot - so be sure you play with the demo of such a program prior to >> purchasing it. >> >> 6. If you're visiting someone who has either Active Sync or Windows >> Mobile Device Center installed on their computer, you can set up a guest >> partnership between your BrailleNote and their computer, and access the >> internet through their computer's internet connection. >> >> 7. Does your cell phone have an infrared port? If so, I've heard it can >> be easier to use your cell phone as a modem with the BrailleNote through >> infrared rather than through bluetooth. >> >> These are just some thoughts. I hope this is all clear! Let me know if >> you want more information on anything I've said. >> >> All the best and good luck, >> >> Grant >> >>> ----- Original Message ----- >>> From: "Peggy Kern" <[email protected] >>> To: "Braillenote" <[email protected] >>> Date sent: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 19:07:24 -0700 >>> Subject: [Braillenote] I want to learn more about LAN connections >> >> >>> Hi, all. I'm thinking of changing providers, and am trying to >> >> figure out >>> >>> what will be the best for us. >> >>> Right now I have Earthlink as my provider, and like them because >> >> they have >>> >>> dial-up, which I can use when away from home and at a place where >> >> I can't >>> >>> get a wireless connection. But do to some dissatisfaction with >> >> Earthlink's >>> >>> technical support, I'm considering looking for a different >> >> provider for my >>> >>> DSL. I'm considering going with AT&T, which I've heard works >> >> well with the >>> >>> BrailleNote. But I'm trying to figure out what to do when away >> >> from home. >>> >>> I could keep Earthlink as a dial-up, and just use a dial-up >> >> number when away >>> >>> from home. But then I'm paying for dial-up while home and not >> >> needing it. >>> >>> I do have a data plan on my cell phone, so I could get rid of >> >> Earthlink and >>> >>> just use the data plan, but the bluetooth with my BrailleNote and >> >> my 6620 >>> >>> doesn't always seem stable, especially when I want to go on the >> >> web. >>> >>> Usually my vacations are in Portland, where most people I visit >> >> have >>> >>> Comcast. If I got some kind of LAN plug, could I plug the plug >> >> into the >>> >>> family's computer and the other end into the BrailleNote, and >> >> connect that >>> >>> way? I usually just use dial-up, because there are no wireless >> >> connections >>> >>> picked up by the BrailleNote in the areas where I'm staying. So >> >> with my >>> >>> limited knowledge, dial-up seems to be my only option when away >> >> from home >>> >>> and unable to get a wireless connection. But if I can get a LAN >> >> thing going >>> >>> and get rid of Earthlink dial-up altogether, that might be >> >> another option. >>> >>> But I know nothing about LAN or how it works, or what I'd need to >> >> do or >>> >>> where I'd need to plug in to use a LAN connection. Does anyone >> >> have any >>> >>> thoughts or suggestions I might not have considered yet? >> >>> Peggy >>> http://kernsac.livejournal.com/ >> >> >>> __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of >> >> virus signature database 4175 (20090621) __________ >> >>> The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. >> >>> http://www.eset.com >> >> >> >> >>> ___ >>> Replies to this message will go directly to the sender. >>> If your reply would be useful to the list, please send a >>> copy to the list as well. >> >>> To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to >>> [email protected] >>> To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit >>> http://list.humanware.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote >> >> >> ___ >> Replies to this message will go directly to the sender. >> If your reply would be useful to the list, please send a >> copy to the list as well. >> >> To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to >> [email protected] >> To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit >> http://list.humanware.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote >> >> >> __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus >> signature database 4175 (20090621) __________ >> >> The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. >> >> http://www.eset.com >> >> >> > > > __________ Information from ESET NOD32 Antivirus, version of virus signature > database 4175 (20090621) __________ > > The message was checked by ESET NOD32 Antivirus. > > http://www.eset.com > > > > > ___ > Replies to this message will go directly to the sender. > If your reply would be useful to the list, please send a > copy to the list as well. > > To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to > [email protected] > To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit > http://list.humanware.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote > > ___ Replies to this message will go directly to the sender. If your reply would be useful to the list, please send a copy to the list as well. To leave the BrailleNote list, send a blank message to [email protected] To view the list archives or change your preferences, visit http://list.humanware.com/mailman/listinfo/braillenote
