internet access

blaze · Guru

internet access

Andrea · Senior Member

Blaze, John and I have been travelling now for nearly two years. Our van is equipped with three solar panels (120 w) and two AGM 100 ah batteries. We both use laptops and the Internet (with the obligatory Telstra USB bit) and, although we often stay in parks where power is available, when we freecamp we use the inverter during the day. At night, we just run the laptops on their own batteries (usually up to about two hours) and then plug them in to the inverter in the morning.

The better way would be to get 12 v chargers for them both; however, they are Dell machines and don't seem to work with the readily available adaptors (tried two or three of them) and we just haven't got around to ordering them from Dell, due to the expense and the nuisance of arranging somewhere to take delivery.

Hope that helps --

Andrea

blaze · Guru

Hi Andrea
We will be power the laptops off 12 volt, what I would like to do is instead of having a telstra usb dongle for each computer (which would mean 2 seperate accounts), have the one telstra usb dongle and pluging that into a hub and then network the two computers to the hub. Thanks for your info thus far
cheers
blaze

Popeye · Senior Member

I use a 100wat fold up solar panel through my Anderson plug to power my puter.

Dunmowin · Guru

Hi Andrea, good to see you back. Not sure if I told you that I have a DELL 12 v charger, it works a treat.

Blaze, I have sent your question to our 'puter gurus at work and to my IT literate son - they will give me a very quick yes or no to what you want. Mind you, I think it is logical thinking. Stay tuned

Happywanderer · The Master

There is something called a router. My daughter and son in law use it at their home for their two laptops but don't know if you can use it with a usb stick. Maybe try somewhere like Dick Smiths, they might have the answer to that one.

Covert Operation · Member

Ideal solution http://www.netcomm.com.au/netcomm-products/3g-mobile-broadband/n3g007w

Patto44 · Senior Member

Telstra have a 'gateway router' available, which is used instead of the 'dongle' and allows you to access the net on both laptops at the same time.
Available on capped plans or pre-paid (I think). Talk to your local Telstra shop or check the website.

Cheers
Patto

Dunmowin · Guru

Dunmowin wrote:

Hi Andrea, good to see you back. Not sure if I told you that I have a DELL 12 v charger, it works a treat.

Blaze, I have sent your question to our 'puter gurus at work and to my IT literate son - they will give me a very quick yes or no to what you want. Mind you, I think it is logical thinking. Stay tuned

Hi Blaze, as promised, I have an answer for you - my IT literate son has given me the following reply to your question.

"They can do away with the hub, they could wirelessly network the two laptops to share one connection.

A 100 amp hour battery supplying 2 laptops at up to 6A each would limit the battery to continuous 8-9 hours of use.

Not too bad for just internet."

So you can do it, but don't ask me how it is done. I still have to work the next bit out

Rolly · Guru

"A 100 amp hour battery supplying 2 laptops at up to 6A each would limit the battery to continuous 8-9 hours of use."

Just a caution here:
If you discharge a deep cycle battery below about 50% of its rated capacity it will be very short lived. This varies a bit with the type of battery.
To charge most batteries to maximum capacity requires a dedicated charger and not just a simple lead to the car alternator.
Most solar chargers can be regarded as 'dedicated' for this purpose.
May I suggest that the books produced by Collyn Rivers should be compulsory reading for anyone with limited knowledge in this field.

http://www.caravanandmotorhomebooks.com/

No pecuniary interest etc. etc., just found them to be very valuable.

milo · Guru

you could try something like this
http://www.vodafone.com.au/personal/mobile-broadband/pocket-wifi/index.htm

dont know what the coverage would be like...

when i eventually get my van, i will have my fridge and stove on gas., and my laptop ,
and ps3 and a portable dvd player which the ps3 will be using, ie for the screen
now if my van has solar panel and duel batteries, i gather the solar will charge the batteries during the day ,but how many hours will you get each night? also how does solar go when you get a few days or so of rain??

-- Edited by milo on Friday 22nd of October 2010 01:41:30 AM