Gnarlie (et alia),

Thanks for the wifi info, I shall follow up.

The 12-volt connector/charger for the laptop doesn't come totally cheap -
around $100.  But I wouldn't be on the road without it, it's great to have.
I hardly ever get around to watching DVDs, but they're nice to have too.
Most laptops come standard with a DVD player these days.

The cellphone connection method doesn't limit you to your cellphone
provider's ISP, though.  Using the system I have I can dial to my regular
ISP, just as if I were dialing through my modem.  It behaves exactly as if I
were connected via a phone line.  Sometimes it's actually quicker, for some
reason.  The costs and limited minutes of regular cellphone use apply, so I
do much of my connected work at night or on weekends, which is a hassle.
The cable and software combo, called a mobile office kit, retails from
Verizon for around $70.  I couldn't actually find one through Verizon that
was compatible with my phone (Samsung), but I found one on ebay for $10.

For someone who only wants occasional internet access, it's perhaps not the
best setup, but if you know you are going to spend a lot of time on line it
seems to be the most readily accessible, if not the fastest.

Joy

****************************************************************
Joy Hecht
and Matilda, 1989 Burgundy Vanagon

For musings about life and the vanadventures:
http://users.rcn.com/jhecht/gypsy

****************************************************************
:::-----Original Message-----
:::From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf
:::Of Gnarlodious
:::Sent: Wednesday, August 18, 2004 9:18 AM
:::To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
:::Subject: Re: LVC: Any direcway experiences?
:::
:::Entity Jim Felder spoke thus:
:::
:::> The idea is internet access and maybe TV when we travel. Anybody have
:::> any experience with this at home or traveling, or any warnings or
:::> alternatives I should consider?
:::You might as well forget about DirecPC/Direcway, the hardware is a bulky
:::powerhog and the satellite is hard to find. It's not mobile technology. I
:::know the Roadhaus had sat tv but that was just for ostentation.
:::
:::Your best bet is a DVD laptop. You can use free public WiFi hotspots
:::which
:::are plentiful in the city, especially with an antenna you can do it in
:::your
:::driver's seat stealthily:
:::http://quickertek.com/products.html#al1517whip
:::
:::My TiBook rests nicely in the steering wheel for comfortable surfing. Run
:::"Stumbler" software while bmoving to find AP's (Access Points). An
:::external
:::antenna like this will get you a lot more range with tight
:::directionality:
:::http://Gnarlodious.com/Vanagon/Electrical/Pages/Internet.html
:::
:::A text-based cellphone can fill in the gaps while you don't have internet
:::access although they are difficult to use and you are limited to sending
:::from your cellphone's ISP so you can't send to mailing lists.
:::
:::For visual entertainment, DVD's are great. They take up little room and
:::you
:::can rent/buy on the road. Your laptop can run from a DC-DC converter so
:::you
:::can save power by not even needing an inverter.
:::
:::If you want realtime media anywhere the best deal is Sirius or XM. If you
:::just want music an iPod can be the most efficient way, you can have
:::thousands of songs on it and broadcast on your Van sound system.
:::
:::-- Gnarlie