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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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