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General
Travel Tips
Computer
Accessories
If
you've ever looked at all of the different adapters necessary
just to get across Europe, you'll understand just how crucial,
and confusing, traveling with the correct adapters can be.
At the bottom of this page, we've included links to several
suppliers where you can research and buy just about anything
you'll need.
On just about every trip you take, you'll need the following:
a long telephone cord, a modular telephone adapter, and
a plug that provides two - and three-prong adapters. Add
to these three items a 3-to-1 power plug (for plugging in
a printer and/or external modem along with your computer),
and you'll be covered in most circumstances.
Electrical Converters
Here's where it gets tricky. First, you need to consider
international differences in voltage; then you need to deal
with the different sizes and shapes of the plugs. Almost
every country has one or more adapters that may be unique
to it, or that it shares with a few close neighbors. If
you're traveling far and wide, you'll need a veritable motherlode
of adapters, plugs, phone jacks, attachments, and the like.
You'll need an adapter for the ubiquitous 220-volt current.
It turns out that the USA and Canada, which use 110-volt
current, are the odd countries out in this realm; most of
the rest of the world runs 220 volts.
Non-Standard Phone Jacks
The familiar, US Standard phone jack is RJ11. It's becoming
ever more of an international standard, and if it's available,
you're set if you simply have a phone cord and jack in your
computer. If not, good luck finding an adapter at the local
hardware store. There are about 25-30 countries that still
haven't converted to the RJ11, and then there are the hotels
that have phones that are wired directly into the wall with
no jack connection. In these cases, you'll want an acoustic
coupler to allow handset to handset connections, and a patch
cord kit.
Dial Tones
Dial tones can vary from country to country, and your modem
may not recognize the tone at your new destination. You
can get around this by adding a command to your modem setup
string telling it to ignore the dial tone.
Surge Protection
You have a surge protection electrical strip on your desktop
computer; you should have the same for your portable. In
countries where electrical delivery is less reliable, this
is all the more important. You'll need one for whichever
voltage you'll be using; surge protectors for 110 and 220
volt currents are not interchangeable.
Modem Protectors
Modems are designed to connect to analog telephone lines,
like the ones in your home. Some telephones installed in
businesses and hotels are digital. Because the jacks are
identical, you may not be able to tell the difference. Many
digital lines carry too much current for modems; so if you
plug in your modem to one, you may ruin the circuits. With
a modem protector, you can avoid this risk.
If you frequently need to work from a location with digital
phone lines, you can buy a digital phone adapter for about
$125.
Carrying Case
No matter how careful you are carrying your computer around,
it's going to take a few hits while you scurry around airports,
hop in and out of airport shuttle buses, pile stuff into
overhead bins, fall asleep slumped over your work on the
plane. A sturdy, padded carrying case can save you a lot
of aggravation and even more money.
Extra Battery
You'll be doing most of your work in the hotel, right? Think
you won't need it? Guess again. A second battery is an obligatory
traveling companion; get one now.
In the Air
Most major airlines now provide access to GTE Airfones,
to which you can connect while in the air. This is great
in an emergency, or if you need to quickly check your e-mail;
but don't plan on using it as a primary means to get your
work done. In addition to the fact the connections are slow,
calls on domestic flights cost about $15, for only a few
minutes online.
Cellular Connections
A cellular data connection can save you much hassle, if
you're willing to pay the price. Hooking up to a cellular
connection may also require additional hardware. Never assume
that your modem will be compatible with your cellular phone;
many are not. The best bet is to buy a cellular-ready modem;
and get a cellular phone with a built-in data connection.
Check out these websites for a variety of travel gear:
www.etravelergear.com
www.walkabouttravelgear.com |
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**Companies
or websites listed above are for reference only.
We do not endorse them or make any promises about their
services.**
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