Internet Aboard/Abroad

[Guest]

Wishing to access the internet from France/Spain, Portugal using laptop/mobile/datacard etc, what is the most effective setup please? What about GPRS? Can I avoid routing calls via the UK without a local SIM - or should I just stroll along to the nearest cyber-caf?
KeithB

 

[rrees]

Hi Keith

I am off to France this summer. Moving my boat from Greece there
GPRS would be a good option as you only pay per MB transfer
From Orange using a UK phone this is £10 per MB fine for Emails
If you look at a SIM card (local) if you want GPRS you will require a contract phone in that country.
Will let you know how much next week as a friend of mine is moving out to France at the moment. and going for this otion.
Another which I am doing is Internet Via satallite but this is quite expensive but I will be getting 512KB connection though for unlimited transfers.
Another is the new BGAN Inmarsat terminals at 144KB link and £7 per MB
If you want any more info please ask

 

[IanPoole2]

I would think the most expensive part of the mobil / laptop setup is the mobile calls.
Even if your internet service provider (ISP) gave you you local numbers to call, if you are using a UK mobile with UK SIM your calls may still be routed via the UK.
Try talking to your mobile phone service provider, they should provide you with the tariff's.
To get local access numbers you would need to signup with a global ISP, such as AOL, UUNET, AT&T. My company uses iPass for global connectivity at cheap(ish) rates. This gives a dailer program with thousands of access numbers, all over the world. For a non-business account though try talking to AOL.

 

[hylas]

As far as Spain is concerned, I've been sailing the Balearics, Andalousia and I'm now in Canaries Islands. When I arrived in Spanish territories, I bought a "Telefonica-Movistar" (but is seems that Amena is more efficient) Sim card with a Spanish telephone number.. You don't need a Internet access supplier, you go direct from Telephonica.. they have three type of contracts + GPRS option
Of course the only limitation is the slow speed of GSM transmition but otherwise it works perfectly...

 

[david_bagshaw]

To add to what others have said,

Even when using a local dial up service ,via a mobile phone if using a british tel co monthly account + international discounts, the roaming charges for a local call are almost as expensive as a call back to the uk.

I am told by vodafone gprs coverage is patchy at best yet.

not many pre paid sims allow data calls.





David
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.euroboating.net>http://www.euroboating.net</A>

 

[Guest]

SMTP .... etc.

Being a roving chap ! I have various 'free-service' accounts around various countries. They are easy to find and easy to set-up from 'home-base'.
Now the biggest problem then comes to sending e-mail via these accounts when your e-mail software is set for your home ISP / SMTP ....... well along comes AutoSMTP ..... you change your SMTP settings on your e-mail addresses to <localhost> and make sure that all SMTP addresses are listed in your select the correct SMTP to send your mail. Connect to the local ISP that you've set up and that's it.

Receiving mail is no problem and any connection will get that.

How do you find free ISP's etc. ? Search engines have listings .... the only thing is having to create an e-mail address, but you don't have to use it !!!!

Nigel ...
Bilge Keelers get up further ! I only came - cos they said there was FREE Guinness !

 

[MedMan]

There is a four-page article on my website called 'Communication in European Waters' that discusses the use of mobile phones, laptops and email on board. Have a look at the link below:

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.geocities.com/yachtretreat/>http://www.geocities.com/yachtretreat/</A>

 

[colvic]

For three years have been using a Telefonica Movistar sim card in an ex Cellnet Nokia 6110 connected to the computer with a serial cable and Nokia Data Suite software. This has been great and we send/receive e-mails, faxes and can afford to surf the net using Telepolis as our ISP. They offer local calls all over Spain so when moving more than about 200Km's just change the dial-up number. The installation programme has a complete list. A user name and password , being English, is usually available with no problems.

There is a dedicated number for mobiles to the internet but its always busy, but the local call charge of about 10p a min alows enough time to download the weather forcast with chart in less than a minute...just set it as my home page.

Over here in the UK I can collect any mail going to my Telepolis account simply by going to their home page and logging in on CORRERO (mail). Have a look at the site:telepolis.es

If you want any further info, a copy of the installation programme...goes on a floppy, or even a Spanish sim card, drop me a PM.

Cheers


Phil

 

[franksingleton]

Try my site www.franksingleton.clara.net/connecting.html

Frank

 

[Guest]

Receive no prob .... send is different

Being a profound user of GSM Data links ..... I send reports direct from ships some-times and travel all over etc. When on holiday in UK I use GSM on the boat etc.

Receiving mails is no problem via any ISP that you can get to ..... POP3 protocol doesn't care about receiving.

Sending mails is another matter as SMTP's do not like relaying - effectively you are making them pay your connection back to the original ISP you had for your e-mail address.

So back to my SMTP post earlier !

Via internet you can find myriads of free ISP account providers ..... set one up in each pont of travel you expect to stop .... install AutoSMTP on your PC, change the outgoing SMTP on each of your e-mail accounts ..... I currently run over 20 !!!! .... to <localhost>, make sure that AutoSMTP has all SMTP addresses listed in its configuration and then go for it .... Whichever ISP you use when you log in the autoSMTP will detect the correct SMTP and set it for you. You send e-mail to <localhost> which is AutoSMTP and it then routes via the right SMTP for you ............. phew sounds terrible, but works a treat ..... It has certainly improved my travel and on-line access !!!!!!

Nigel ...
Bilge Keelers get up further ! I only came - cos they said there was FREE Guinness !

 

[Buck]

After extensive research

AOL can provide local access numbers which makes the system affordable but mobile phone access on 2G platforms is still tediously slow, personally I use internet cafe's when available, just remember to log out of web based email clients properly or remove your password if using a SMTP browser at the Cafe.

Buck

Relax, life is just a game.

 

[lauradee]

never mind the internet, read the rtf

you just took me back 2 yrs, gib, ceauta, etc, frost outside and i went straight back to spain
thank you
stu