Remote Web Access

JohnCrabb · Post by **JohnCrabb** » Sat Sep 19, 2009 9:55 am

Now that we can do everything on line - flight plans, weather, emails to customs, etc. - I have occasionally thought how nice it would be to have independent remote Web access.

This applies especially on those occasions when stuck at an empty French airfield, or even in the UK at some distant fly-in when the weather is on the turn.

I know that iPhone can do it, but at a price. I wondered what advice people had about a more suitable system for extremely occasional use. I had thought about a mobile dongle for a laptop, or simply a WiFi laptop and reliance on being able to pick up on someone's unsecured wireless hub.

Is WAP on an ordinary mobile phone any good? Any experience, advice?

Thanks

John Crabb

mikehallam · Post by **mikehallam** » Sat Sep 19, 2009 4:04 pm

John,

I've a had dongle system for my home & travel p.c. use for nearly 2 years. Even used it at the airstrip when camping there.

Mine costs under £10 per month for an adequate for e-mails and browsing 1Gb/month from '3'. I recently discovered Orange do a small business offer at ~£8/month two years contract and free dongle stick. You only have to say you are in business as a one man home based firm to get that offer.
I was tempted but have a '3' contract to finish off - as it happens at home orange mobile coverage isn't too strong, its my PAYG mobile system.

It's too big to lug around my 13" lap top & all, on my motorbike, though, & the battery life restricts it a bit. Perhaps a 12volt feederoff the 'plane power could be acquired ? [I assume car charge kits areout there ?]

Other thing if away from base and plane parked up is you either risk leaving the laptop in the a/c, or again have it to lug around with you !

I'm going to have a look at some of the 10" screen small p.c.'s when the price gets sensible.

Brian Hope · Post by **Brian Hope** » Sat Sep 19, 2009 4:22 pm

Hi John, I bought a basic Acer Aspire One, which is much smaller and lighter than a normal laptop, for about £150 delivered. In many ways the solid state hard drive is more practical than the bigger, but more expensive normal type hard drive because it will take being knocked about a bit. Does everything I want it too relying on wifi availablity in hotels, and at airfields etc. A dongle and mobile connection would be ideal, but I just don't think I can justify the cost based on the limited use I would make of it.

AlanR · Post by **AlanR** » Sat Sep 19, 2009 6:23 pm

John,

I too have bought an Acer Aspire One netbook for £139.99. A great little piece of kit especially if you install Windows on it.
I use a Vodafone Pay-as-u-go dongle with it. Argos have the dongle on special offer at the moment(£10 off) for £29.99 including £15 'top up'.

You top up the dongle on line for £15.

Alan Radford.

Mike Cross · Post by **Mike Cross** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 4:26 pm

All of those are fine soi long as you are not roaming. Try using it abroad and you'll find the cost for data roaming is significant.

There are fewer and fewer unsecured wi-fi hotspots. The reason is simple, the providers have worked out that they can charge people for access, so for example if you have an Orange Livebox in France or a BT Broadband Router in the UK it will come ready secured so that Orange or BT can charge other people for access to hotspots (quelle surprise!) If thy let everyone have unsecured wi-fi they wouldn't be able to sell their services.

JohnCrabb · Post by **JohnCrabb** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 8:56 pm

Many thanks everyone. I think this thread is a great example of the positive power of this bulletin board! Very useful advice.

I have bought a Vodafone dongle and ordered an Acer Aspire One. I realise that this is not an infallible solution to the problem, but it must surely improve my chances of being able to use the Web in remote locations, even if I have to pay for Wifi access.

Brian Hope · Post by **Brian Hope** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 9:39 pm

Hi John, my experience is that the cheaper hotels, which naturally I tend to stay in! usually don't charge for wifi, whereas the dearer ones do. Some coffee shops and cafes also have free wifi services.