Buy For U.s And Use On Trip To Europe?

[edoleioa]

Am looking for a thingee that will let me go on internet anywhere anytime.
If I DO take the plunge and get a Zaurus and it is shipped to me here in US, will I be able to use it on phone system in Europe (is this a stoopid question? I don't see much here on ins and outs of wireless abilities) then bring it home and work again?
IS IT A BAD IDEA for someone who does NOT want another new life project to commit to a Zaurus?
AND is there anyone still in the Baltimore/Washington area to help if I DO...? (saw posts from a year ago...)
[internet is for info not for gaming or chatting...]

[MB Zaurus]

I recently returned from a few weeks in Europe. I took my SL-6000 with me. I don't have a modem for it (and it's not built in), but I did find wireless access in a number of places in Italy, Switzerland, France, and Russia. There's some free wireless, but not as much as in the US. Try universities... I had no trouble with wireless via $wiss Telecom too.

You'll need to bring an adapter for the charger, and you should be very comfortable with the device before you travel, unless you want to turn your vacation into an extended session of debugging and configuring your new computer.

I'd strongly suggest getting a couple of large (512MB~1GB) compact flash cards, and "pre-loading" them with all the IPK files from whatever distribution you choose, as well as new ROM images. This will let you rebuild your machine or reinstall apps even if you don't have a connection.

Keep in mind that if you're using dial-up network acces, you'll need an account with a provider that's got a presence in Europe, and that "Europe" isn't just one country...

Mark

[eji]

I'm a US citizen who bought a 6000 from Amazon.com and then brought it back to Europe with me. I really don't even think of traveling around Europe without my Z.

You'll likely want this software:

Kismet (backend and GUI) - on "all international" setting finds tons of hotspots
Ubahnnav - an essential public transport planner for major cities
KO/Pi - for a robust email client (IMAP etc.) and PIM
FXconv - currency converter
Zplayer (and Mplayer backend) - for listening to audio and watching videos on the road
Zbedic (and related dictionaries) - for translation
DMblogger - for keeping tabs on RSS feeds, with an option to download full posts and save them for later
Camera assistant - for congfiguring your camera settings for that perfect photo

and this hardware:

Wi-Fi card - if you don't have a 6000. A dial-up modem adapter seems a bit retrograde and impractical
USB adapter - to link your digital camera to your Z and transfer pictures for more storage (and boring slideshows)
SD/CF cards - with tons of space, just like MB Zaurus said. Buy.com is presently selling a Kingston 1GB SD for something like $40.
simple plug adapter - sold in any Radio Shack for about 99cents

I don't know if I'd ever take backup copies of the ROM and ipks; but to repeat MB, I would make sure that everything is running smoothly beforehand. And I would not ever start tinkering with my Z on the road. If it ain't broke, don't fix it (until you get home, of course.)

For finding hotspots, you'll want to visit the following sites beforehand. I wish JiWire had a compatible online/offline hotspot finder for the Zaurus - its AvantGo channel doesn't work.

http://www.wifimaps.com/
http://www.jiwire.com/
http://www.a2b.cc/
http://www.wi-fihotspotlist.com/

I think you'll be surprised how many wireless networks are free but unadvertised. I pulled out my Z in a coffee shop in Heidelberg and scanned with Kismet and found one. The barista later told me they had an open WLAN but didn't make a point of telling everyone. The tech-heads and the regulars would figure out soon enough.

As for the Z becoming a life project, I could easily see how that could happen. But I've managed to get by by sticking with the stock Sharp ROM and adding just enough apps to make my Z indispensible without spending days on customization.

[speculatrix]

remember that the US cellular network is somewhat backware compare to EU and not compatible, so a mobile phone would have to offer the different frequencies.

You'll be needing a GSM/GPRS CF modem for 900MHz and 1800MHz, or, a bluetooth enabled tri-band phone and a bluetooth adaptor for the Zaurus

The Audiovox GSM/GPRS adaptor compact flash card is tri-band so would work in US and USA.

it's a lot cheaper to buy a local SIM for your device that pay roaming charges - so make sure the phone is not SIM-locked to a specific provider

ensure your charger is universal voltage - we use 230V @ 50Hz in the UK. A usb sync/charger cable and an in-car charger are universal and useful ways of charging your Z. A spare battery would be a good idea too!

*specific advice for the UK*

you can easily buy pre-registered SIMs for a pre-paid "pay-as-you-go" no-contract phone.  You literally pay ten pounds cash and walk away with a working SIM - just buy air time. Unlike USA, incoming calls are FREE! You can pay for call time at many shops and supermarkets. If you have time, buy your SIM card off ebay.

I favour the *Virgin* mobile phone operator - call charges are easily understood, and you can have PAYG gprs as well. If you disable image loading in netfront, it's very quick!

For wireless lan, there are a number of commercial hot-spot operators. Be v careful if you borrow access through an accidentally insecure personal device - someone recently got prosecuted over using someone's open access point!

Paul

[jfv]

I am travelling in the UK with my Zaurus I got a prepaid dialup internet access from bamnet and it's working fine with my CF card modem. You need an adaptor for the phone jack as well.

Felipe

(posting from the Zaurus)

[speculatrix]

you don't need to buy dial-up internet in England, you get it for the price of the phone call. Just dial 0845 0796699 with username freeservesignup, pass signup, and go to https://signup.freeserve.net

follow the registration through and save the .INS file they offer for download; that file, viewed with a text editor, has all the information you need.

I think in fact you can now sign up with freeserve, aka wanadoo, without actually dialling up. Yup.
https://www.wanadoo.co.uk/signup/noties/nt2...k=Pay_as_you_go

[speculatrix]

I just checked the website of bamnet. They're charging you for a service you can, basically, get for free in the UK.
Let me explain.
The 0845 dial code in the UK is a special one, it's always a cheap-rate number. The telco pays the receiver of the call a proportion of the revenue, which is maybe 1.5 to 2 US cents a minute, this is enough to have the ISP provide a service. Freeserve aka Wanadoo, Tiscali and others all use this method as a "pay as you go", no-contract no-fee service.

[craigtyson]

I am travelling in the UK with my Zaurus I got a prepaid dialup internet access from bamnet and it's working fine with my CF card modem. You need an adaptor for the phone jack as well.

Felipe

(posting from the Zaurus)
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Id be carefull where you plug your modem in, in europe.  Most EU hotels have bespoke digital phone systems rather than the domestic 2 wire analog system and these can fry your modem.  Id stick to WIFI or use a GSM/GPRS phone with Infrared or bluetooth (card needed) while your in the EU.  You can get a cheep handset from quite a few 2nd hand phone shops (or buy new) and a pay as you go SIM card will let you dial into the providers WEB gateway or use the 0845 nos for a local provider.  

If you'r looking for a simple solution stick with WIFI no addapters no wires no fuss no problems.

[jfv]

Thanks for the tips on dialup. Is the 0845 deal unique to the UK or are there similar deals elsewhere in Europe? The bamnet deal I got works worldwide (almost). Last year I was in Europe too (France and UK) and didn't have much luck with wifi, not as ubiquitous as in the US. Plus the hotels don't offer free broadband.

Felipe

[speculatrix]

Is the 0845 deal unique to the UK or are there similar deals elsewhere in Europe?

I would think *some* countries have a similar service. Each EU country's telcos operate differently, thus the call revenue sharing that funds the 0845 "local call" ISPs may not be sufficient. Wanadoo & Tiscali are europe-wide operations so I'd try their .fr & .de websites if I were you. You might have to sign up for each country individually.

BTW, most hotels charge a lot of money for using their phones, this is because more and more people use mobile phones, and thus they are trying to recoup revenue; they haven't realised that this loses business. Many do their best to make sure mobile coverage is poor too!

Plus the hotels don't offer free broadband.

There are coffee shops which have it. I think you'll get by unless you have to be online any time any place. Enjoy the period of disconnection and have a holiday!