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WIRELESS EMAIL

 

 

Email is a must facility in this 21st century and most of us cannot live a day without it. However, for those of us living in remote locations having no landline phones\internet facility, wireless email is a good solution.

Using a wireless modem with either a conventional laptop or with a Palm or Pocket PC has added benefits and can contribute in providing access to Web sites. Your choice of wireless communication( VHF radio modem/ cellular modem/ satellite modem) will depend in part on what services are available in your area and on your messaging needs. You may even be able to do a limited amount of Web surfing, although it may prove slow enough to be painful.

 

A satellite communication system will keep you in touch with your e-mail provider from virtually anywhere on earth, but you can obtain quite usable service for much less cost in equipment and service charges if you are in an area served by cellular phone and paging services.

VHF email is a community based communication solution that work on short distance radio's that are limited to line of sight. The actual radio range depends on the height and quality of the antenna, and is normally 30-70 Km from a standard base set. High mountains might limit this range, while an antenna positioned on top of a mountain or high antenna tower greatly enhances coverage. The main advantage of VHF Radio's over HF SSB is that the equipment is much cheaper, and that the signals do not depend on the atmosphere. VHF provides a 24/7/365 link with very good signals, while HF communication is expensive, and the signal quality changes with the time of the day. It is much easier connecting on a VHF Network than on long distance HF Radio. On a practical level it means that up to 8 users can connect on VHF at the exact same time, any time of the day, while only a single expensive and complicated HF connection is possible certain times of the day. Bottom line: if you are lucky enough to be within VHF Range of a commercial VHF based email provider, use VHF. If you are a Bedouin in the Sahara, or a Lodge along the Skeleton Coast, you have to use HF. More info can be found at http://www.bushmail.co.za/vhf_info.htm

Cellular modem attached with some cell phones can be another solution. However the data rate (usually 9,600 baud) is slow, and since you will be paying for each minute of use, the cost can be high.

 

 Dedicated e-mail systems that operate with conventional Windows laptops, the new pocket PCs and some palmtops such as the Palm V, utilizing otherwise unused cellular telephone channels, can be much more attractive. These systems generally operate at 19.2K baud, providing excellent e-mail capability and limited but useful Web access.

 A wireless modem can be plugged into most Windows laptop computers. Since most laptop screens are useless in full sunlight, the Air Card will also work with the new Pocket PCs such as the Compaq iPaq and many of the Palm and Handspring palm units whose screens can be seen clearly when outdoors.

Paging email 

The RIM Blackberry and Palm VIIx devices offer another e-mail alternative. These devices work on paging frequencies and may carry over even longer distances than the AirCard since the FM radio transmitter antennas they use can be 2,000 feet above the ground. These units operate at a somewhat slower data rate than the AirCard and may provide lesser Web access. They cost between $200 and $500, with a monthly subscription fees running about $40.

 

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