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Forums › New Zealand Broadband › Options for laptop internet use whilst travelling/ working away


4 posts

Wannabe Geek


Topic # 26080 11-Sep-2008 13:06
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Good afternoon,

I own a Toshiba M600 laptop and use the internet through broadband when I am at home via broadband modem.  Every now and then I am away on trips away from home for work or personal and I would like to check my email etc without hooking up to a dial-up phoneline.  I am wanting some advice on whether I could use my personal cell phone (Okta Touch) as a modem device or would I be better to choose something like the mobile data devices eg T-stick or vodem?  What differences are there between these options in terms of speed and costs?  I have not used any of these devices before and I don't wish to use the Okta for internet use.

Apologies if I have asked this in the incorrect area of the forums.  Any guidance would be most appreciated.  Thanks.

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BDFL - Memuneh
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Reply # 163764 11-Sep-2008 13:12
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You can use the Okta Touch as a modem via Bluetooth or USB (the easiest way). You can also use the T-Stick for it. It will be a matter of personal preference - and probably the T-Stick will be a bit faster too.




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Wannabe Geek


  Reply # 163767 11-Sep-2008 13:30
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Hi Mauricio,

Thanks for your reply.  I tried to find some info about using the Okta on the Telecom site but without much success.  A phone call to them ended up in the Philipines and that was quite a difficult conversation which yielded no answers.  I trooped down to the local Orb shop and the sales person was very vague.  I feared that they would just try to sell me one of the devices like the T-stick and try to steer me away from the use of the Okta.  She did say that using the Okta would be very expensive at $8.00 per Mb.  Sounded frightening.

Having no prior knowledge of any of this I found the job of research very difficult ie I didnt know what questions to even ask.

So you are saying using the Okta is an option.  I would probably use a usb type connection.  How would I go about researching a plan?  Does it have to be through Telecom or can I go to any ISP like I do with my home use when I use broadband?

Thanks in advance.

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Reply # 163769 11-Sep-2008 13:41
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I can't believe they can't help. Here we go...

To use your Okta as a modem, you will be using Telecom as your ISP and you will need a data plan, otherwise you will be charged at $9/MB on a casual rate.

Once you have a data plan then it can be used for both data on the device itself (checking e-mail, synchronising to an Exchange server, browsing on the Internet Explorer mobile and much more) or use it as a modem.

If you are on a prepay you won't have access to a data plan - and you shouldn't be on Prepay with the Okta Touch if all rules were followed.

The data plan you will sign up for will depend on how much data you need.

To use the device as a modem it's very simple. Start | Programs | Internet Sharing. Select USB for PC connection, select the Telecom network as a connection, and tap Connect. Plug the PDA to your laptop and you have Internet.




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  Reply # 163772 11-Sep-2008 13:46
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Edit: Looks like freitasm beat me to it!



You can use the Okta Touch as a tethered modem via USB by opening the "internet Sharing" application from the program list. 

The Orb representative was incorrect when he said it would cost $8 per MB, though. All you really need to do is to add a Data plan to your Touch, the plans can be viewed here, and to see a price comparison of different plans when using the same amount of data, go here.

While a T-Stick would be faster (EVDO Rev. A vs. EVDO Rev. 0 on the Touch), it all comes down to whether you'd like another device that you carry around with you or not.

Data plans on Telecom devices must be through Telecom, too. If you sign up for the 200MB+ or the 1GB+ plans, you are also eligible fro a free xtra email address taht you can use 'on the go'.

Hope this helped.




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Wannabe Geek


  Reply # 163773 11-Sep-2008 13:55
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Thank you Muaricio and Munchkin,

Your replies have given me guidance and info that will be very helpful.  It is most appreciated. 

Thanks again.

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  Reply # 163781 11-Sep-2008 14:26
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Hmm if it's only for emails and even some minor document editing I am sure the okta touch is more than capable of doing so? Just make sure you are on a data plan. All that I have now is my jasjam if I don't need to do major note taking or doing actual 'work' I can push my emails through my mobile, view the attachments and reply accordingly no hassles. I have palringo as my instant messaging client for chatting ... unless I really need to I won't even bring my laptop out.

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Ultimate Geek


  Reply # 163804 11-Sep-2008 16:24
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This is all assuming you're travelling within NZ, right?  It's a whole different story when travelling overseas.

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  Reply # 163880 11-Sep-2008 22:51
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The internet sharing is very easy to use on the touch as long as activesync is installed.
I found it fast enough for web browsing, getting the T stick only means more money though a faster speed which would probably only be needed for heavy usage eg VPN or something. Pretty cool you can just whip out your phone, plug it in and you're away.

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