[This post was sent to both the Technomads and Wear-Hard lists] This summer, I'm going to be mobile, trekking around visiting places and people. Obviously, one of the more important issues I need to deal with is connectivity. So...I'd like to ask for some input from you folks. I'll just mention the possibilities I have on the table right now, with a few comments. Note that cost is a MAJOR factor here, almost definitely the #1. I'll be transferring html files and small images, reading mail, and sending/recieving code as regularly as possible, so flat rate pricing is desirable. Connectivity availability is likely #2. Cellular/Circuit switched (AMPS)... Since I already have a flip-phone style cellular, getting the kit to set this up would likely entail the least amount of setup cost ($175 for the motorola kit, if I'm not mistaken). However, the usage cost is very prohibitive. Cellular/CDPD... This seems to be what most of the mit media lab folks were using at last check. The modem cost seems very high, the coverage is okay, and most of the pricing plans are not cheap. GoAmerica offers a flat rate pricing plan at $49.95/mo, but as far as I can tell, that's only an option when using their Minstrel modem and a PalmPilot. The Minstrel costs $399, and I'm not sure if I want to go with the PalmPilot as my machine. However, this is one option. Truthfully, I don't really know much as far as specifics on pricing plans and modems for "real" systems. Cellular/GSM... I'm staying in the US and Canada. Therefore this isn't particularly feasible yet, as far as I know. Ricochet... The basic model rental price is right, and they offer flat-rate internet service @ 29.95/mo. Great, except that the coverage is limited as of now. Considering that I will likely be spending a lot of my time in the Pac NW, where most of their coverage is based, this is not necessarily a terribly limiting factor. There are also airports scattered about with service, apparently. Comments? DirecPC... This is apparently feasible, as I seem to recall someone setting this up on their vehicle in the past. However, the pricing plans seem fairly harsh, and it is likely not worth the effort given the other options available. Amateur (packet) radio... I played with packet a bit a few years back, at 1200 baud. Since then I've had scarcely any encounter with it. Most of the web pages I've gone to are circa 1996, which is hardly up to date. What is the status quo with packet? I had gotten a look at some internet gateway listings, and it seems the coverage is extensive enough to render this a definite option. Setup cost for a 9600 baud system (which would be fine) seems to be close to the cost of a CDPD modem, for instance, but the fact that there are no usage fees is what makes this look so much better. So, at the moment, high-speed (9600+ baud) packet is something I'd really like to look into more. It would definitely do the job. The research I've done turns up the PI2 packet interface card. Does anyone know if this is a PCI or ISA card? Anyone have any experience with it? All mentions of it that I've seen are glowing. What are modem prices at? 9600? 19200? 57600? When I last was "in the know", 57600 was very experimental, but from some of the mentions I've seen imply that it's more widespread at this point. Being out of the loop is no fun. There's also the radio issue, as I understand that an FSK port is needed to transmit data at these speeds. Therefore my current radios are less than helpful. But, I'll refrain from really asking anything here for the time being. Quick and dirty, there it is. In the past I have from time to time run across some other services, but those above stick out. If you know of any other viable options for cross-country mobile communications with my requirements, do tell. I'd imagine that this area is of some interest to other folks as well, especially those of us working on our own without grant money. There is, of course, the matter of putting together a system, but that's somewhat chicken/egg. It makes sense (well, to me at least) to find out what sort of communications are optimal before setting up a system that's not able to interface with the given hardware. If you've read all the way down here, it's greatly appreciated. Input, input, input, the more the better. Vandibere Hanson/Jeremy Lemieux () http://www-edlab.cs.umass.edu/~jlemieux ICQ#1861093 Resistance is puerile.
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