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Internet Online LapTop Warrior Discussion List
I - L-A-P-T-O-P W-A-R-R-I-O-R D-I-G-E-S-T

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October 19, 1998 Issue # 031
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.....IN THIS DIGEST.....


// -- MODERATOR COMMENT -- //

The search for the perfect connection


// -- CONTINUING -- //

Re: Search for an ISP with worldwide connections (I-Laptop #30)
~ Nick Harkins
~ Ron Wilkinson
~ David Van Nuys, Ph.D.
~ Brandi Jasmine

Advice for troublesome connections
~ Kathleen Buckley


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// -- MODERATOR COMMENT -- //

The search for the perfect connection

In this digest we have extensive discussion about roaming Internet
access, and which company offers the best deal. This is an
extremely important question, as one can't get online unless one
has
a number to call.

Until recently, IBM seemed to have the best deal with its ibm.net.
I
was sorry to see it change. I have often used iPass and enjoyed
considerable success. Unfortunately, one can only get access to it
if your regular ISP is a member of iPass' network. I had been more
expensive than IBM's service, but now it seems like it would be
more
competitive.

It is ironic that just when warriors were finally getting a
selection of roaming access providers to choose from, the price
goes
up. Isn't competition supposed to drive prices down?


// -- C-O-N-T-I-N-U-I-N-G -- //

From: "Nick Harkins" <nickh@sprynet.com>
Subject: Re: An ISP with worldwide connections (I-Laptop #30)

As a Sprynet subscriber who enjoyed worldwide connectivity, I too
have discovered that "they are coming for us!" Since AOL bought
CompuServe (Sprynet) and then sold off pieces to WorldCom and now
MindSpring, Sprynet intends to charge a roaming fee, too.

I'm looking, too, for a solution for my occasional, but important
usage, primarily in France.

Nicolaus R. Harkins
POBox 642636
San Francisco, CA 94164-2636
415 674-9065, FAX: (415) 474-2434, nickh@sprynet.com


++++ next post ++++

From: Ron Wilkinson <RonWilkinson@compuserve.com>
Subject: An ISP with worldwide connections

>> I have checked scores of ISPs web sites and can not find one
that
offers international access in many countries. << (I-Laptop #30)

In my view, the best option is to use CompuServe for your Internet
Access Provider. Local, or near local, numbers are everywhere. I
have used it for many years and as someone who travels a great deal
and needs to access e-mail at least twice a day, it serves me well.

It is likely to be a little more expensive than what you are used
to
- but there are the benefits of well-established local nodes, no
need to make any prior arrangements, access to its forums which are
designed for adults and non-flaming participation, databases and
file libraries, and free personal and business web pages.

Ron Wilkinson, Paraparaumu, New Zealand
E-mail: RonWilkinson@compuserve.com


++++ next post ++++

From: "David Van Nuys, Ph. D." <vannuysd@SONOMA.EDU>
Subject: ISP with worldwide access

This is in response to the question posed by Tito Rosemberg in
I-Laptop #30:

For my out-of-area connections I use a PPP connection provided by
CompuServe which costs $10 a month for 10 hours a month. This is
sufficient for my particular needs. I believe the hourly rate when
you exceed 10 hours would be nominal. I've been able to use the
service from San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Chicago, Boston, NYC,
Dallas, Santa Rosa, etc. with no difficulty. I've also used it
from
London and Amsterdam.

Their PPP service is not widely advertised or known. Even some of
their phone support people don't seem to know about it. I don't
use
their proprietary software, which is what they've all been trained
to expect. I prefer to use PPP and then work with Eudora, Netscape,
Newswatcher, and so on. It works for me.
Perhaps this info will be useful to others, as well.

David
___________________________________________________________________
David Van Nuys, Ph. D.             (707) 585-7363 voice/fax
FocusGrps.Com                 david@focusgrps.com
Qualitative Market Research         http://www.focusgrps.com


++++ next post ++++

From: Brandi Jasmine <benu@idirect.com>
Subject: Re: Worldwide ISP connections (I-Laptop #030)

>I have checked scores of ISPs web sites and can not find one that
>offers international access in many countries.
>
>Does anyone know an ISP that offers a service like IBM used to
have
>(one monthly fee for 100 hours of access anywhere in the world)?

Not exactly - however, look for an ISP that offers "iPass"
(http://www.ipass.com/)

In my day-job I work for a Canadian ISP, and it offers iPass to its
customers. You can dial in from more than 150 locations, it covers
many countries. It has a per-minute connect charge, but it's
usually less than half the long-distance equivalent.

>Was IBM the only company in the USA offering this one-price
>international service? If so, I can understand why they are so
>bluntly curtailing existing clients agreed rights. It's called "if
>I am the only one in town I can charge whatever I feel."

No, it's more likely called "passing the costs on to the customer."

Brandi Jasmine Freelance Writer & Illustrator, Webmaster
CV: http://web.idirect.com/~bjasmine/
Art Gallery: http://web.idirect.com/~bjasmine/gallery/


++++ next post - new topic ++++

From: Kathleen Buckley <Winenews@aol.com>
Subject: Advice for troublesome connections

Re: Moderator's call for advice for people who get completely stuck
(I-Laptop #29)

The first thing I do when connecting in some foreign port is to
call
the number and listen to be sure I am getting through. Saves a lot
of frustration, helps me set the pauses, confirms whether the phone
uses tone or pulse dialing. It tells me whether the number is
correct and the connection is possible.

When trying to make the connection, if it fails twice that, I take
a
break. If it just won't cooperate after I've tried things I know --
and screwed up things I don't know -- I stop and open a bottle of
wine. That doesn't make the connection work any better, but at
least
using a corkscrew confirms I haven't lost all my manual dexterity.

I also always keep a hard-copy list of essential non-800 helpline
numbers in the US, including internet provider, computer, software,
etc. Most Euro/UK-based helplines are not 24-hour, 7day
operations.

And a question for others: I am curious what kinds of problems
(connection, cell phones etc.) do warriors visiting the US
encounter? Also, what's the best Euro-based US/Europe roaming
Internet provider?

Kathleen Buckley
winenews@aol.com

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Subject: Funny phones in Switzerland and France

Last two times I was in Europe, I came across phones that puzzled
me. One was in Switzerland, the other in France. The phones were
of a modern variety. They were wired in to the wall with Swiss and
French modular phone line plugs, as one would expect. But on the
other end of the phone line that ran from the wall, there was a
US-style RJ11 plug.

Oh, boy, I thought, this should be easy to go online. Since these
were residential lines I wasn't worried about digital service, so I
took the line out of the phone and plugged it directly into my
modem.

Nothing. It didn't work.

So I got out my line tester and checked out what I was dealing
with. In both cases, I found the polarity reversed on the lines.
I was surprised. Has anyone found similar circumstances and can
anyone offer an explanation? It was my understanding that the
general rule that a phone was a phone the world over still applied
(with the exception of digital PBX systems, of course).

My immediate solution was to pull out my alligator clips and put
the polarity back as it should be.

Bob Lawson

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