Registered: Jul 2001
Location:
Posts: 10

Thinmodem Plus

I've really wanted to get a modem for a while now and I've pretty much settled on the Thinmodem Plus. I would love to have a wireless modem but I can't afford any contracts (are there any really cheap ones with limited access?). I have some questions about how the Thinmodem Plus connects. Do I just have it dial the phone number for my internet provider and that is it? Also, I'm assuming you could just walk up to any phone line and connect to the internet from there. I'm hoping on also getting the Stowaway keyboard to speed up writing e-mails and using AIM. Any help would be appreciated.

Registered: Feb 2001
Location:
Posts: 268

Re: Thinmodem Plus

quote:

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Originally posted by rmorlino
I have some questions about how the Thinmodem Plus connects. Do I just have it dial the phone number for my internet provider and that is it?

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Registered: Jul 2001
Location:
Posts: 10

Thanks for your help... greatly appreciated.

Registered: May 2001
Location:
Posts: 70

I have been very happy with my thinmodem plus. If you travel a lot you might think about signing up with mindspring, they have nation wide 800 numbers so you can get email anywhere.

Registered: Sep 2000
Location:
Posts: 33

Please be aware that selection of ISP is VERY IMPORTANT. Plenty of VisorCentral forum members can give you advice on this. Best said is that you should avoid free ISP's. Also, you should avoid AOL if you want to web browse.

This is a basic requirement due to the fact that many free ISP's will not support the Palm OS.

-Card Access

Registered: Apr 2001
Location: New Lebanon, OH
Posts: 58

A tag onto jke's post - yes, most big national ISPs have toll-free numbers so you can get email anywhere. But, almost all of them (in fact, I don't know any that don't) will CHARGE YOU EXTRA for using the 800 number. In fact, some make you read and sign a separate thing online making sure you know that this will happen before they give the 800 number to you. They're best used only in a pinch. Once you pick an ISP, go to their customer support page and see if they have a utility to get a local dial-up number from the place you'll be staying.

For example: I'm on Earthlink. I knew I was going to Boston on a business trip, so I went to Earthlink's support page and put in my customer's phone number. Earthlink returned a local phone number that I used with my laptop to connect. (Didn't yet have my Visor.)

Happy travels!

Registered: May 2001
Location:
Posts: 70

Ah and theres the rub with the person who travels alot, do you map out your cross country trip and get your isp access number for every city your going to be at. If you go to smaller cities or areas don't coun't on them all be listed. Spend the extra money for an 800 number to save yourself the headache or do you see if the hotel has a computer that use with internet connection? I think we are at least a year away from the "perfect" answer.

Registered: Apr 2001
Location: 'braska
Posts: 211

quote:

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Originally posted by davecombs Once you pick an ISP, go to their customer support page and see if they have a utility to get a local dial-up number from the place you'll be staying.

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You may also want to check out MemoWare for DOC files with lists of access numbers. I happen to use AT&T Worldnet when I travel and found a DOC listing these numbers.

You may also want to be aware that many hotels charge for placing local calls. When I was in Chicago last week, my hotel charged me $1.15 per local call.

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www.jphillips66.org

Registered: Feb 2001
Location:
Posts: 11

Just one more thing about the Thinmodem plus...
Don't forget that in order to connect, you also have to have the special dongle cord that goes with it. The modem uses a different port than the a regular telephone.

Registered: Aug 2000
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Posts: 217

Maybe I'm pointing out the obvious and maybe I'm even wrong, but I suspect you cannot plug it into just any phone line. I'm pretty sure modems require an analog line. I know that many offices, and I suspect many hotels too, have digital phone lines. Can anyone confirm this?

__________________
Mike
I'd rather be upside down in my kayak than rightside up at my desk.

Registered: Apr 2001
Location: 'braska
Posts: 211

quote:

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Originally posted by Jupe
Maybe I'm pointing out the obvious and maybe I'm even wrong, but I suspect you cannot plug it into just any phone line. I'm pretty sure modems require an analog line. I know that many offices, and I suspect many hotels too, have digital phone lines. Can anyone confirm this?

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www.jphillips66.org

Registered: May 2001
Location:
Posts: 70

So while the ThinModem is great and will get the job done over 90 percent of the time, all ways have a back up plan and keep in mind that in the world of telecommunications-what works today may not tomorrow.