cable confusion

8i8

sorry if i'm being a bit dim, but.... my aim is to connect to the internet with my laptop computer. i was just about to buy a mobile phone to do that with, but then someone said it's better to connect with a data cable, through the computer's USB.
is that INSTEAD of the mobile phone??? like an independent unit? or do i use that to connect TO the mobile phone instead of bluetooth?? i can't make any sense of what the airtel guy was telling me... he also said internet access is now only available to post-paid customers???
thanx a lot,
d

shashank.aggarwal

Airtel sells a data card..not sure what's it called in technical terms..
That card will be plugged to your laptop for internet access...

If you do not want that card then you have to connect using your Mobile phone either through Data cable or Bluetooth...

if you are trying to purchase the connection in Delhi then it is very much possible that GPRS connection is limited to Postpaid connections only..

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Nick-H

I think you need a technical forum.

But, to begin at a suitable beginning; do you want a permanent connection for your home, or a portable connection for travelling?

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Anders

You could buy a usb modem like a huawei e220 and connect with GPRS/EDGE. No idea if they are sold in India but they could certainly be used there.

Nick-H

In absolute terms, here's someone to say: it's 'better' to connect with an ethernet cable

But we have little clue what this guy is trying to connect to!

brownboy66

I guess there's probably about 4 maybe 5 different ways to connect a modern laptop to the internet (tech guys - you know who you are - correct please if I'm wrong - and could I stop you otherwise)?

1)wifi.
Some laptops have a built in chipset/ device that allows you to connect to wireless hotspots. Not to be confused with bluetooth or a mobile phone or mobile data connection. If your laptop does not have wifi you can buy a separate device to do so (which would connect to the laptop either via a USB port - or as a PCMCIA card - more on that later). Note - to connect to the internet via wifi of course, you need to be within range of a wireless hotspot.

2)Bluetooth.
Short range wireless (shorter than wifi - confined to a few meters). This wont connect you directly to the internet - but can connect you to a data capable bluetooth mobile phone which does - so its a non-wired connection to a mobile that then connects to the internet (point to note here - not all mobiles will connect to the internet - and even if they do it may not be able to act as a "modem" for your laptop - i.e it provides a mini browser but that's it). If you don't have bluetooth built into your laptop - again you can buy a separate device (usually a gadget that plugs into a USB port - don't think anyone makes bluetooth PCMCIA cards).

3)Mobile phones/ PDA/ PCMCIA cards/ USB modems.
If you have a data capable mobile than you can connect it to your laptop to act as a dial up modem. The mobile would connect to the laptop via a USB connection - or it could be a bluetooth connection (providing the mobile or PDA are bluetooth capable). Either way the mobile/ PDA acts as the connection device.

Alternatively you can also buy a mobile data card (in tech terms a PCMCIA modem). It about the size of a credit card, some of them have a small antenna on the side, and will slide into a PCMCIA slot on the side of your laptop (if you have one). Its a mobile without the buttons, faceplate, display, ringtones, etc - design mostly for connecting to the internet and transferring data.

Then there is a USB modem. Same as the PCMICA card really - except it wont look like a credit card and will plug into a standard USB port instead.

4) Next there would be ethernet I guess. No mobility at all - but allows you to connect to a broadband link.

5) Lastly - plain old telephone dial up. If you have to use one of these then chances are the modem you have will plug into a serial port on the laptop (or you might have a built in modem that you plug a phone line into).

that's it I think?

8i8

hi,
thanx for all the replies.
so let me give a bit more details. i have a laptop. it's less than a year old so it's got wifi, and bluetooth, AND pcmcia, as far as i know. i want to be able to connect in a few different places, so any kind of land-line isn't suitable. also, i'd like to be able to connect in different states, like himachal pradesh and kashmir which might (i'm still not sure) require different suppliers... i was looking to buy a nokia 3110 classic...
thanx again,
d

brownboy66

ok - so the 3110 supports data transfers, has bluetooth and a USB cable - so it should be able to act as modem for your laptop. Hopefully it comes with a set of instructions and a disk (with drivers) so that your laptop can recognise it as a modem and use it. I've always found bluetooth easier to setup then the USB connection (windows XP has a good step by step process on how to set up your PC and the bluetooth modem).

My own preference with a laptop is for a PCMCIA card. Low maintenance, powered by a laptop, always comes with software (dial up programme, driver), and doesn't stop incoming calls when you use it. Similarly - a USB modem would do the same (portable, powered by the laptop, etc).

good luck.

8i8

hey brownboy66, again thanx for you detailed reply. i was just wandering though... how does the pcmcia card's speed compare to a bluetooth phone connection? is it one and the same???
and would it be as easy to go between the different internet suppliers on such a card?? i mean it seems to me when you arrive in a new state in india you need to buy a local sim card in any case, don't you? how does that work with the pcmcia card?? (for instance i plan to go to kashmir)...
many thanx,
d

brownboy66

technically the pcmica card would be faster as it plugs directly into the laptop bus (i.e - straight into the motherboard)- whereas the cell phone is getting the data via mobile and then transferring it to the laptop via wireless. I forget what the actual transfer rates are for bluetooth versus PCMCIA - but to be honest it isn't going to make much difference between the two as the service you get here in india is 2.5G at the most - so that will be the slowest part of the link (not the actual connection to the laptop).

As mentioned before - the PCMCIA card is the most convenient in terms of setup and forget, but it means two mobile devices (the card and your mobile phone). Having one mobile device saves on cost and lugging extra gear around. Your call.

re the internet service providers - no, you don't have to get a new sim card everytime you go to another state - just make sure you choose a provider/ plan that lets you roam across the country (check out a couple of the threads in Indiamike as Airtel seem to come out on top for service and have a pretty good coverage - and BSNL I think have a purpose make prepay roaming plan for tourists - and their coverage is good too).

Once you sign up for the mobile data service - the phone company becomes your ISP. So if you get an airtel phone or data card - for example - then airtel would be your ISP. So where ever you get airtel - you'll theoretically have an ISP connection.

good luck, and sawadee krap!

Prashant.M

Nice informative posts BB .

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brownboy66

just dropping the occasional piece of useful information (hopefully) to mask the terrible one liners I try to drop in various post (which is why I'm REALLY here...)

Nick-H

I've never understood the mobile connection options: I'm glad there are people here who do

Prashant.M

Hey, now don't go making me feel guilty .

8i8

sawadee krap BB, and thanx yet again.
i understood from an indian friend that roaming was the expensive option. since i plan to stay in different places for a few months at a time, buying a local sim card would work out a lot cheaper. is that just an urban myth?????
(the prepaid roaming plan by bsnl appears very expensive, too)...
d