Taking own PC to Italy? Forums

Rapide561

Hi

If I take my PC to Italy, can I get on the net? How would I do it?

Please answer in very non tech answers as my I.Ti skills are worse than my dogs?

Any info about costing would be grand

Rapide561

Phil905

Hi, quite a few sites now have their own internet point that campers can use for a fairly nominal fee. Some are also installing wifi so I suppose you pay for a password or something like that and you can use it with your own PC/Laptop to log in to their network. Someone who has tried it will know how they work it.

olley · Campsite DB Admin

Hi Rapid561 I bought an O2 data card, all the mobile phone operators do their own versions, plug it in to your pc (I am assuming you have a laptop) load their software and away you go.

They all connect in one of three ways, in order of increasing speed GPS, GPRS and 3G. GPRS is simular to Dial up, 3G is somewhere inbetween that and broadband

GPRS is almost universal now with 3G up and coming, in Britain O2's coverage is abysmal. I was told Orange have up to 70% coverage now in 3G and believe me speed makes a difference.

If you have a desktop pc these can be connected via a suitable mobile phone I believe, but I have no experience of this. Alternatively you can buy a PCMA slot to USB converter. (a PCMA slot is built in to the side of all laptops and is where the data card goes) this would enable you to use a standard Data card on your PC.

I would suggest you visit one of the phone shops and ask them.

Olley

sailor

If you have a suitable mobile phone, its quite easy. All you have to do is connect the phone via a cable to a USB port on the computer (or via bluetooth or IR, depending on the individual capabilities). To be specific you need to know the detail of the phone involved.

I use a Nokia 6020, which connects using the Nokia PC software suite (which can be downloaded, but you have to buy the cable, from a phone store is easiest)

This will work pretty much anywhere in the world, if you have roaming enabled by your phone supplier. However it is expensive overseas. If you plan to use it much, cheapest way is to buy a local SIM card and use that. (If you phone allows it, not all do).

Depending on what you need to do, you can look at limited internet / web just from the phone, using GPRS. I was in China last year and used this to keep an eye on UK Football results from there - and it worked better than in England!

So there are a number of options. Good luck!

whistlinggypsy · NW Rally Co-ordinator

Why not open a Skype account and then it's frree from any internet cafe to phone, email ect. anyone anywhere who is on skype and a small charge (pennies) to phone if you have a skype out contract. We used it all over Europe, Japan and the USA with no problems.

Rapide561

I feared the word expensive might crop up!

Rapide561

spykal · Moderator

Hi Rapide561

There is a long and interesting thread at:

Alexp

Hi Rapide561

You can use the internet as well as make phone calls by using this 1 small device caller Nera by Bgan Inmarsat. This device is from JMB Additions and I have been using it in my van for the past 2 months now. You can get internet access ANYWHERE ON THE PLANET!! you could have 2 computers surfing the internet whilst speaking to someone on the phone all at the same time, all running from this small handheld unit.
If you were to link up to the internet via your mobile Vodaphone charge £10.28 per mega bite, this Nera unit from JMB charges me £3.91 per mega bite!! (1 mega bite is around 35 - 40 web pages) and you also get 6 months free!! Look at this site on JMB Additions's web site there is a video which I tell everyone is great and tells you everything you need to know, its easy to understand and interesting!

olley · Campsite DB Admin

Hi alexp just had a look