On the Road: Windows XP and Wireless Hot Spots
Published: February 11, 2002
By Barb Bowman, Windows XP Expert Zone Community Columnist
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Not that long ago, getting connected while on the road was a challenging adventure for brave business types. Road warriors needed to carry external pocket modems, line cords, a bag full of RJ-11 splitters and a variety of phone plug adapters. Today, connectivity abounds at hotels, which offer modem data ports, Ethernet, and even 802.11b wireless networking. Traveling with a Windows XP Professional-equipped laptop is a real pleasure compared to my old road warrior days, which I described in You Can Take It with You. Windows XP is a true traveler's delight and with just a little preparation and planning, connectivity on trips has never been easier.
The number of powerful laptop computers being used as desktop replacements is growing exponentially, and in the U.S., lightweight, portable equipment travels with us nearly every place we go. Just about everyone is going mobile, from teachers and students, homemakers and teenagers, to the retired couple looking to visit grandchildren on a multi-state trip.
Performing a hardware check before leaving home
If you're an infrequent traveler, be sure to pack all critical external and add-in peripheral components. My basic list also includes a couple of on-the-road entertainment options:
| • | A fully charged battery (and even a spare) and your power cord and adapter are first on the list. |
| • | For dial-up, a 10-foot telephone cord and phone line coupler/splitter can add greatly to overall usability and comfort in some older hotels (and they take nearly no space in a laptop case). |
| • | Pack a length of CAT-5 standard Ethernet cable if your laptop has built in Ethernet. If not, pack your PC Card Ethernet Adapter and don't forget the dongle connector. |
| • | If you own an 802.11b wireless PC Card, be sure to take it along as well. |
| • | Lightweight headphones or earbuds serve a dual purpose: You'll have privacy and won't disturb your seatmate on a long flight and you may find an extra bonus that they'll be usable with the airline's in-flight entertainment system. This could save you a few dollars. |
| • | Bring a few of your favorite audio CDs. |
| • | If you're fortunate enough to have a DVD equipped laptop, a new DVD movie or two can make an overnight stay or long flight enjoyable. (Be sure you have a fully charged battery and maybe a spare for the movie.) |
Finding Dial-up Access Numbers before you leave
If you're a dial-up Internet user with a national ISP, find local access numbers for all destinations before you leave. If there is no number available at your destination, you may find that your ISP offers a surcharged 800 number, but that may not be the best solution. (I'll have more on cost factors in my next column.) The major dial-up providers all maintain Web sites for checking access numbers. The sites are listed below.
There's nothing worse for a broadband user getting ready for a road trip than realizing that no alternative access is provided as a feature with your normal high-speed connection. If you're in this category, you may want to peruse the list of ISPs available at The List. and select a short term solution.
Set up your dial-up connections before you leave
I set up Windows XP configurations for each location I'll be visiting while on the road. I do this before leaving home, and it is a real timesaver. Windows XP allows you to store and identify multiple alternative numbers. Because I'm normally on a fast broadband connection and have no secondary dial-up access, I started with no pre-existing dial-up connection. After selecting and signing up with a dial-up ISP, it was quick and easy to set up my original and alternate dial-up numbers:
1. | Click Start , click Control Panel, click Network and Internet Connections, and then click Network Connections. |
2. | Under Network Tasks on the left, click Create a new connection to launch the New Connection wizard. |
3. | Using the wizard, select Connect to the Internet, Set up my connection manually and Connect using a dial-up modem. |
Enter a name for this connection and enter the phone number. (Note that you can also select from a built in list of ISP's or use a special CD provided by an ISP. The steps will vary if you use these other methods).
Figure 1
Next enter the Username and Password as shown in Figure 1. Don't make this the default connection if you have a broadband connection and do turn on Internet Connection Firewall (ICF) if you aren't using a third party firewall product. If you're looking for information on why you need ICF, my previous column, Don't Let the Defense Rest, has all the details. On the next screen, optionally click to Add a shortcut to your desktop (for fast access), and then click Finish.
To add alternate dial-up locations from the Network connections window, right-click the connection, and then click Properties.
Click Alternates next to the number to start entering information and be sure to clear “if number fails, try next number”. Click Add, and then enter the number for the first stop on your trip as shown in Figure 2 below.
Figure 2
Add a Comment showing the location as shown in Figure 3 below, then click OK (and repeat this process for other stops on your trip).
Figure 3
To connect using your dial-up ISP from anywhere on your trip, double-click the icon on your desktop, select the city you're in from an easy drop-down list as shown in Figure 4 below, and click Dial!
Figure 4
Note: If you already have a dial-up ISP and use back-up numbers in the same city, you can still take advantage of this method. In the Network Connections window, right-click the existing dial-up connection, and then click Create copy. Working with a copy lets you specify different settings and phone numbers. It's the best of both worlds.
Coming in my next column
It's no secret that air travel within the United States these days is tougher than ever before. Delays at airports, cancelled flights, and two hour plus check-in times are not anyone's idea of a fun way to spend time, but it's increasingly easy to find connectivity at airports and put that time to productive use. I'll have information on hotel and airport connectivity choices and costs, e-mail options on the road, and more in my next column. Stay tuned!
Barb Bowman enjoys sharing her own experiences and insights into today's leading edge technologies. She is a product development manager for AT&T Broadband Internet Services, but her views here are strictly personal.
