"Matt O'Toole" wrote in message
...
Gogarty wrote:

Looks like we may be spending a month on the boat in September. No
problem with that except we can't just cut the cords and sail away.
Business still has to be attended to and business is highly dependent
on computers and communications.

Is it possible or feasible to link a computer to a cell phone so that
one can access the Internet and, more important, send and receive
data that can only be managed through a dial-up connection? The
server we deal with is very unforgiving. One has to send data over a
28K dial-up line or it just won't accept it.

Any thoughts or experience? It's a 37-foot sloop so we are not talking
Marsat.

Normal digital cell phone data links are 14.4k. I use this for email and
it's
fine. It works wherever there's a digital network -- not analog. In some
areas -- mostly major metropolitan areas but others too -- you can get
broadband
access through your cell phone. Verizon's version of this service is
about $80
a month. I've tried a demo and it works very well. Check with your
provider to
see if it's being offered in your area.

If you're in a marina...

Many marinas offer WiFi, as do cafes and restaurants around them, often
for
free. Also, if your marina offers cable TV, chances are you can get
broadband
internet pretty easily. DSL might be harder, but if phone service is
offered
there's a good chance it's fast enough (28.8k).

Matt O.


ATT (now Cingular) Wireless has broadband, which claims to be 115K. I'm not
sure it's actually that fast, but it's not bad. It's also about $80/mo, plus
your regular service. It works well.