Manuals, who needs them!

[erniecarpet@...]

Gardner, if you print out a copy of the contact list in the Database section
on the forum, someone will be just a phone call away.

Ernie Ekberg
83 PT40
Livingston, Montana



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Gardner Yeaw]

I am still on the hunt for a Bluebird, but I have two in my sites
that are attractive.

It seems that the most important tool to have in a Bluebird is
internet access. Every few days there is an urgent call for help on
the forum and always there is a quick response from the members, and
usually the problem is diagnosed and the bird is back on the road.

So when I finally make the plunge, I will add what ever internet
access gives me the best coverage. Celular service seems the best 'on
the road' service, as long as you are near a major highway. Does
anyone have any other suggestions?

Thanks,
Gardner
Wanabe

[Pete Masterson]

I have business interests that require a reliable Internet
connection. The three main choices are:

1. WiFi -- catch as catch can with free or charged-for services in
many RV parks, certain coffee shops, and a variety of other points.
My personal experience was that it wasn't reliably available during
my homeward trip after picking up my coach in May.

2. Satellite Internet -- requires several hundred $ of equipment and
is fairly expensive. Unless you opt for the thousands $ of equipment
with automation, there's a moderate amount of fiddle-faddle to set up
and find the satellite. It is available nearly everywhere so long as
you can get a view of the southern sky. (Most use the hundreds of
dollar version that uses a dish on a tripod that is manually pointed
to acquire the satellite link. For thousands $ you can buy automated
systems that find the satellite for you. The coach must be stopped to
use the Internet. Speed is moderate at 700 kbs. Cost is around $60
per month. See Hughes.net for info.)

3. Broadband wireless via the cell phone system. Verizon (and others)
have broadband systems (also about 700 kbs) that use a card in your
laptop slot. So long as you get a signal, you're 'on'. If you're out
of the broadband territory, then the speeds are much slower (like
dial-up). The rate is about $60 per month (discounts may apply if you
also have cell phone service). Like any cell service, it can be
spotty in out of the way places. You can access the internet in
motion. When I last checked, there were two cards, a $50 model that
would probably be better for travelers who spend a lot of time in
airports and a $150/$200 model that had an external antenna that
would probably be more appropriate for use in a Bluebird or other
motorhome.

3A. Cell phone dial up. Depending on your plan, you can use a modem
through a cell phone for dial up service. Some use their "friends
list" to include their dial up access number to avoid/minimize per
minute charges. Speed is slow and not likely acceptable to anyone who
is a heavy Internet user. There is a list at Yahoo groups for cell-
phone Internet users. Apparently there are some means to use cell
phones for Internet access that aren't exactly approved by the cell
phone service providers (but slip through a loophole in the rules).
Subscribe to the list and check their archives for details.

In my case, I plan to use choice #3 at first. If I have difficulties
and/or find it unsatisfactory, then I'll upgrade to choice #2 with
the satellite (but I'd rather not have the hassle of setting up the
tripod and pointing the satellite.


Pete Masterson
aeonix1@...
'95 Bluebird Wanderlodge WBDA 4203
El Sobrante, CA




On Jul 25, 2006, at 3:28 PM, Gardner Yeaw wrote:

> I am still on the hunt for a Bluebird, but I have two in my sites
> that are attractive.
>
> It seems that the most important tool to have in a Bluebird is
> internet access. Every few days there is an urgent call for help on
> the forum and always there is a quick response from the members, and
> usually the problem is diagnosed and the bird is back on the road.
>
> So when I finally make the plunge, I will add what ever internet
> access gives me the best coverage. Celular service seems the best 'on
> the road' service, as long as you are near a major highway. Does
> anyone have any other suggestions?
>
> Thanks,
> Gardner
> Wanabe



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Gardner Yeaw]

Ernie,
Thanks. I was really kidding about the manuals, I would really love
to have a set for the Bird I buy. It would be great to read over and
learn the systems in advance of a problem. That would also give me a
chance to prevent problems by knowing what to look for.

Pete,
Thanks for the internet access data. I guess I should also bring a
credit card along with the broadband access, what do you think?


Gardner

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, erniecarpet@... wrote:
>
> Gardner, if you print out a copy of the contact list in the Database
section
> on the forum, someone will be just a phone call away.
>
> Ernie Ekberg
> 83 PT40
> Livingston, Montana
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>