Satellite linked laptop ...

[party_pete]

After much deliberation, I bought a PAYG Orange Wireless Card for £49.99
Orange Sierra Wireless Card

Very impressed how economical it was and they way it used 3G when available and then even when it dropped to 2G it was more than acceptable.

Can't comment on overseas use.

[Jan]

Years ago wildday.com operated their Actinic store for 2 months from the K2 base camp. These are some old links to the expedition. Not really relevant to your question but interesting I think.

===========================
20 May 2001 (A0106) ~ Running your business remotely is one thing, but
doing it for two months at an altitude of around 8,000 metres up two of the
world's highest mountains could be described as extreme. Yet Michael
Jackson, co-owner of WildDay.com, Europe's largest online retailer of
discounted outdoor clothing, will be doing just that from 25 June till 31
August. Actinic is one of the four sponsors of this expedition where, along
with two experienced climbers from expedition organiser, World Summits,
Michael will attempt to conquer Broad Peak (twelfth highest mountain in the
world at 8,047 metres) and K2 (second highest mountain at 8,611 metres).
While there, he will go for the Guinness Book of Records' achievement for
sending 'The Highest Email in the World'. To add to the challenge, both
climbs will be WITHOUT OXYGEN.

Michael will be taking his laptop and using Iridium satellite technology to
keep in touch from base camp with customers, suppliers and staff as well as
updating the web site via Actinic Business. Actinic has powered
WildDay.com's ecommerce site since its launch in March 2000 and is an
integral part of the company's successful strategy.


"The WildDay K2 Expedition is a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate how
technology is allowing individuals to have more freedom in their lives;
combining work and excitement in a lifestyle that would have been
impossible until recently. The pioneering spirit of big mountain climbing
is the same energy that motivates many of today's technology companies and
I am using this expedition to demonstrate that ," explains Michael Jackson
of WildDay.com.

"This is a serious and risky undertaking where Michael is combining his
passion for business and adventure by running his e-business from the
wildest place on earth. This has never been done before and will test
modern satellite technology as well as human stamina to extremes, but if
anyone can do it I believe Michael can," says Lisa Walden, Actinic's
marketing manager.

About the Mountains - Did you know that more people have been in space than
have climbed Broad Peak and K2?


Broad Peak - 8,047m

This is the first mountain that will be attempted. It lies within the
Karokarum Range (often referred to as the Trans-Himalayan Range. They are
separated from the Himalayas by the Indus River). Broad Peak is the 12th
highest mountain in the world and to date only eight British people have
ever climbed it. Michael Jackson will be the first Scot! Michael's partner
will be Mark Lewis. Mark is the owner of World Summits, the company leading
the expedition.

K2 - 8,611m

The second highest mountain in the world. Although Everest is higher it is
considerably easier to climb. K2 is referred to as the "Savage Mountain" as
one in three of those who have climbed it have died. This is the hardest
mountain in the world to climb and is revered amongst climbers. It also has
no local name, hence the name K2 (number 2 of the Karokarum range), because
it is so remote and wild there that nobody lives close enough to even see
it. There have only been five British ascents (no Scots!)


K2 will be attempted by Fabrizio Zangrilla, Neil Hornett and Michael
Jackson. Statistically there is strong chance that one of them will not
come back. Mark Lewis will be coordinating this attempt from base camp.


As both mountains are over 8,000 metres they are within the "Death Zone"
because at this altitude the human body begins to die. At altitude the
simplest of movements and tasks become extremely difficult. Altitude and
the resultant lack of oxygen is one of the major causes of fatalities on
these mountains. To combat this many climbers climb with bottled oxygen but
both these attempts will be without oxygen.
==========================================

Plus another one here :

http://www.guardian.co.uk/print/0,38...110837,00.html

Regards,

[Jan]

We occassionally use our Orange phone to connect to the internet - one benefit of using Orange over some of the others is that you can connect for the entire day for £1. It's very slow though.

Regards,

[pinbrook]

After much deliberation, I bought a PAYG Orange Wireless Card for £49.99
Orange Sierra Wireless Card

Very impressed how economical it was and they way it used 3G when available and then even when it dropped to 2G it was more than acceptable.

Can't comment on overseas use.

What was the reception like in North Devon Pete?

[party_pete]

The coverage was dial-up mainly but did extend to 3G occasionally.

The postcode was EX39 5DL where I was mainly based, just outside of Bideford but all along the coast it was fine, Westward Ho! etc

[Mark H]

You could also buy the 3G card outright for about £250 and then get a 3G pay as you go sim for it which would save the monthly charge.

Duncan - have you tried this? Is it just an ordinary voice/text calls SIM card? I thought you needed a special data account, and depending on who you talk to at Vodafone this is or is not possible on a PAYG basis. The reason I ask is that I already have a card but cancelled the data account some time ago and would like to go PAYG with it.

[Duncan Rounding]

I did get a card and a 3G sim (I think they all might be 3G compatible now). I was told the SIMs are all the same. However I later found that Vodafone support were absolutely useless in assisting getting it work. They agreed that it should definitely work but were unable (or I wonder unwilling as it was not contract) to get it working.

In the end I sent the card back for a refund and now connect via my 3G mobile phone - it might not be quite as cheap but suits me for just checking emails etc when out and about. (And it saved me what was then about £300 for the card.

An option to consider is the new Vodfone USB 3G unit - no drivers required. http://www.vodafonebusinessshop.co.uk/USBModem.html
Sim free here (I think):
http://www.scancom.co.uk/product.php/2114/1109

[gabrielcrowe]

before i say this, i ahve to say, i hate vista in all its forms and i dont suggest anyone uses it for anything but its pretty interface, but...

vista has terminal services in the uber edition.

using the remote desktop feature, its actually faster than vnc in most cases. and will let you use the machine as a user. not as a simple viewer.

this negates the need for someone to 'get off the computer' so you can use it. the terminal services operations are transparent to the currently logged on user.


well, it was in the beta anyhow.

its more bandwidth friendly, and not only that, but the client computer can run any os. RDP is available as a binary for a fair few platforms.

[SMoore]

3G USB Modem

thats the same as I mentioned also called HSDPA

I followed the link to the company mentioned below and purchased the USB Modem. I received the modem on Thursday and since - hey - it is absolutely great - I do have very good speed both download and upload.

One thing I really must mention is the support being provided. Free support is not always as free as one might think but in this case it was and therefore one has to give also compliments for it.
I called their free number to get some information about international usage. It seems to be a small company without a call center as I did get to talk immediately to the technical advisor - well done - It rarely happened to me to find a company which values its customers ...

Anyway - as I travel a lot abroad the technical support told me that fairly soon there is going to be a new tariff available which enables all their customers to use the 3G connection when travelling for a daily flat fee as 24hour session.

Really am looking forward to it -

I went for this offer:USB Modem £23/month http://www.vodafone-data-card.com/us...m/pricing.html