There *are* "modems" which will work over a cellular phone connection.
They're expensive, and they're not what the laptop's manufacturer means by
"wireless ready".

  A couple of years back, I interviewed at a company that made a mobile
email device that connected to their service over cellular phone service.
One of their major technical challenges was that cellular services try to
compress the audio signal, based on the assumption that the content is voice
traffic.  It made email upload/download a real challenge, and could do the
same to web access.
  This left me wondering whether a cellular modem connection can work with
typical ISP dial-up modems on the other end of the phone connection, or
whether something special is needed at the ISP's end as well.

> So, networking is not the need... Internet access is.  Thus my questions:
> What are the speed limitations?  What are the costs?

  Wireless internet access is available only where someone, usually the
property owner or tenant, has installed a wireless network with internet
access.  Starbucks has done this at many of their locations, for instance,
and chages a monthlyu fee.  A few anarchists have set this up around their
neighborhoods and made it freely accessible.  A whole lot of other people
have set this up "by accident" -- they plugged it in and it worked, so
they've never bothered to take steps to prevent neighbors and passers-by
from using it.

  A *very small* number of municipalities have put in systems with
widespread coverage.  (In some states, the broadband providers are pushing
the state to outlaw this government competition.)

  It is extremely unlikely that your son's room is in a coverage area UNLESS
the hospital itself offers such a service.  They'd be the ones who can
advise you about prices.

  As to speed limitations, all popular wireless standards seem to fall back
in steps to a minimum of 1 megabit if you're within range.  (Since this is
shared like a hub, you probably won't see sustained throughput at anything
like that speed.)  If you have a clear, strong signal, higher speeds may be
available.  802.11b tops out at 11 megabits; a & g at 54 megabits.  (Some g
equipment supports two conversations at once, and so is advertised as "108
megabits".)  So actual speed is going to depend on what's installed, and how
clear the signal is where the laptop is located.

David Gillett


On 29 Jan 2005 at 16:35, Sybilgal wrote:

> Hello David,
>
> Thank you for your reply.  I might not have made myself clear when
> explaining the need.  My son needs to be able to access the internet.  His
> cell phone is allowed in the hospital--they know he has it and uses it
> regularly--as do the Drs that come in and out of his room.
>
> So, networking is not the need... Internet access is.  Thus my questions:
> What are the speed limitations?  What are the costs?
>
> Thank you for your help.
>
> Kathleen O'Malley
>
> Sent: Saturday, January 29, 2005 12:15 PM
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [PCBUILD] Wireless Access
>
>   Common wireless network connections are known to suffer interference from
> (some) cordless phones and microwave ovens.  There's a good possibility that
> they will also experience and/or cause interference with cardiac monitors
> and other sensitive medical equipment....
>   Wireless networking has a lot in common with toy walkie-talkies.
>
>
> > Hello all...
> >
> > I have very little knowledge of how the wireless internet works.  So
> pardon
> > in advance, any possible stupid questions.
> >
> > My son is in the hospital in San Diego and has just received a new
> wireless
> > ready laptop.  I need to get him 'hooked up'.  The hospital room he is in
> > doesn't have a working phone line, and we sure wouldn't want to be limited
> > to an internal modem speed even if it did.
> >
> > Is it possible to get a wireless internet connection? What are the speed
> > limitations?  What are the costs?
> >
> > Thank you for any input/advice.
> >
> > Kathleen La Valley
>
>          PCBUILD maintains hundreds of useful files for download
>                      visit our download web page at:
>                   http://freepctech.com/downloads.shtml

         PCBUILD maintains hundreds of useful files for download
                     visit our download web page at:
                  http://freepctech.com/downloads.shtml