Another remote access question!

[Fairyglass]

Hi All,
Apologies if this has been answered already, I have looked!

I'm regularly away in the summer, and currently lug a laptop and dongle around to allow me to update our sites, having transferred them from the main pc via snapshots. Apart from the security issue of having our entire business in a field at an event, it's hassle transferring lots of info across computers.

I've read a lot about remote access software on this forum- can one of these programs be run via a smartphone to allow remote access to my main pc, to download orders and update the site while I'm away? I would not want to do any editing- just the basics. I'd love to hear of anyone's experiences with doing this, assuming it's possible.

I know Gabe does a remote editing system, and I'll be looking into this also.

Many thanks for your help!
Ben

[TraceyHand]

Depends what phone you have but I use the LogMeIn application for iPhone which gives me access (depending on phone GPRS/3g/wifi) when I need it.
I use the free logmein service and it works fine (used it twice this morning, in fact) although the phone application I had to pay for.
Can highly recommend the app to any other iPhone users who might be contemplating it, btw.

[Fairyglass]

Sounds good Tracey- I've not bought the phone yet as I wanted to see if this was possible before settling on a handset.

When you say "depending on phone gprs/3g/wifi" are you able to access the pc if, for example, you are in an area of low handset coverage? My job takes me to fields in rural areas, where sometimes reception can be a problem. I assumed that because you're controlling a remote pc which has broadband, that the connection from phone to pc would not need a particularly high strength signal- it's the connection from PC to server that mattered. Is this correct?

Thanks,
Ben

[pinbrook]

i may be wrong but i assume it is dependant upon the connection on your phone. your phone/connection is the driver not the pc/broadband

I regularly have to use a dongle where i can only get GPRS, there is no way i could use logmein on this connection as it is far to slow

[Darren B]

As Jo said, if you end up with a GPRS signal your connection will run ike an old dog. When i end up with a GPRS signal i dont even bother.

That said i have never tried with logmein or similar, but use these over a broadband connections, which is really what they have been designed for.

Funny though i have been playing with logmein today and find it pretty good, normally i use tightvnc through a vpn as its through office connections but i need something when mobile.

[Fairyglass]

Thanks Jo, Darren,
Good information! I've found that in some areas my 3 Dongle reverts to GPRS, but I've still been able to update the site most of the time. I suspect it's a case of try and see- if nothing else it's a good excuse to buy an iphone!

[pinbrook]

if your 3 dongle reverts to gprs then a handset will also revert to gprs. A device can only pick up the connection that is there.

[Fairyglass]

yes, thanks- what I meant was that even if I only get a GPRS signal, it's enough for my needs most of the time.