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The hardware I chose
Laptop computer I chose a Compaq Presario 1230 laptop computer. It has a Cyrix MediaGx 233 mhz MMX processor, 3.2 GB hard drive, 32 mb ram, 24 speed CD rom drive, 3 1/2" floppy drive, 56K data/14.4K fax modem, 12.1" 16 bit 800x600 display, Synaptics touchpad, (2) PCMCIA slots, Windows 98, and weighs 7 lbs. Cellular phone I got a Nokia 6160 cell phone with AT&T service. This is especially nice for truckers who travel all over the country as there are no roamer or long distance charges. AT&T gives you the choice of three Nokia or three Ericsson phones you have to use. Cellular modem I puchased a Viking V.90+K56 flex PC card modem that is cellular ready. It's a PC card-PCMCIA- which looks like a credit card and fits into a pc slot on the side of the laptop. The model # from the box is RFM56KPA. I found the best prices online at mcglen and also at Viking. Power inverter I bought a Whistler 140 watt continuous, 250 watt peak power inverter at Walmart for $35 Tips and tidbits I had narrowed down my choices of a laptop to Compaq or Toshiba but chose the Compaq Presario because of the touchpad. Toshiba has the button in the middle of the keyboard, which I couldn't drive nearly as well as the touchpad. I was told when I purchased my laptop it was cellular capable. I found out that means yes, you can buy something to put in it and make it ready. Ready means ready, capable means capable. To connect your laptop and your cell phone you need: a cellular modem, a cable, and an adapter. The adapter connects to the cell phone and the cable. The cable then connects to the pc card. The PC card cell modem I bought from Viking included a Startac cable with an optional swap form to exchange it for another cable. I exchanged it for the Nokia 2160 cable and it works fine with my Nokia 6160. Viking has these exchange forms to print out on their website and also a $20 rebate coupon for the modem. If you buy the cable from Nokia it costs $71. |
You need a DAR-3 adapter to connect your cable to the phone. These are available at numerous places on the internet for around $25. If you buy from Nokia it will be more expensive.
I bought the cell modem to search for loads online at Getloaded. So far, I have never connected faster than 9600 baud. Since I'm only connected for 2 minutes or less at a time I'm not concerned with the speed. I have found if you cannot connect sometimes it helps to change the configuration of the modem to manual dial first, then wait until you hear the handshake, manually disconnect, then change it back to dial automatically. I have no idea why, but it works! I've learned that 50 feet can make a difference in the signal. I've also discovered it helps a lot to have the laptop and the cell phone at full power. Supposedly, you can only transmit data with the analog signal, which is slower and uses more power. The laptop came with a NiMH battery and I bought an additional LiIon battery before I bought the power inverter. The LiIon definitely lasts longer, and holds juice better, but with the power inverter I don't need more than one battery. I'm very careful to not have the laptop or the cell phone plugged in or charging when I start my truck. I bought a surge protector which I use with the power inverter and also whenever I have the laptop plugged in to AC. The Nokia and Ericsson phones are dual mode - digital and analog, but they will use digital even if they can get only a little tiny signal. They only use analog as a last resort. I chose Nokia because a number of people said they received a better signal than Ericsson. It's a real nice, little phone. I have encountered very few "dead spots". I bought an after market cigarette lighter charger for the cell phone from Ebay for $18. I leave it plugged in all the time and if the phone runs out of power when I'm driving and talking I have only to reach down and plug it in. I never get disconnected if I do it within 20 seconds! The cell phone beeps once, and approximately 20 seconds later will power itself down. The cell phone battery is NiMH and has a surprising life. I have noticed cold weather is not kind to laptop nor cell phone batteries. They lose power much faster when the temp is 45 degrees or below. I found google groups to be the most informative place to research these products. I have since upgraded to a HP/Compaq N6110 laptop with an aircard from AT&T - formerly Cingular but I will leave my old information out here in case it helps anyone. More technology tips |