Internet on board via T-mobile

[Liam]

9 times out of 10 they're not secured because the owner doesn't know how to do this and doesn't know about the consequences.

 

But, not only can they connect to your wireless internet connection and see what you're doing on the internet, they can also browse onto your PC and go routing through your personal documents etc.

 

I don't understand, Duck, you say there's a valid reason for leaving yours open? What is it?

 

I have a wireless network at home, and I wouldn't dream of dropping the encryption even for a second.

[DHutch]

Surely it would be more - students are more likely to go for new technology...

I just ment because students tend to eather be there (term time) or not (uni vacs). So being able to see when they where going to be away would not be such an issue.

- But yes, generally, student houses are packed with expesive and pinchable goods.

 

 

 

Daniel

[fuzzyduck]

 

I don't understand, Duck, you say there's a valid reason for leaving yours open? What is it?

 

http://www.communitywireless.org/

 

the idea being you get a mesh of community wireless networks, and eventually you get a 2nd wireless "internet", but one that isn't subject to ICANN control, or general messing about with by anyone. oh, and echelon doesn't work on it either.

Edited November 6, 2006 by fuzzyduck

[JonA]

We finally got the internet on board 'Tarifa'. We added 'Web 'n' Walk Professional' to our T-mobile contract for a mere £10 a month for unlimited access. Bargain! It works a treat, as you can see - I'm writing this sitting in our living room moored up near Bath with a nice cosy log fire burning in the Squirrel (that's a strange turn of phrase!).

Just thought I'd share that. I think it's quite exciting. We had pretty much written-off the idea of internet on the boat due to ridiculous expense. Until we found out about the T-mobile deal. Seemed too good to be true. But it works!

And no, I don't work for T-mobile!

 

Hi Tom&Sophie,

 

OK, I've got my T-mobile phone talking to the internet on webnwalk and I've got my phone bluetoothing to my pc, and the internet explorer on my pc seems to be working ok. but all the graphic pictures are soft of blurry, like they're compressed or restricted in some way. I know on slow connections they sometimes appear that way, then become clearer like coming into focus, but mine just stay blurry, and it's on all sites - even the Google logo at the top of their homepage looke weird and blotchey with a grey rectangle around it Did you have a similar problem - thanks for any help - pc network things not really my strongpoint.

 

Cheers,

Jon

[tomandsophie]

Jon,

Glad your connection's working ok. I know exactly what you mean about the pictures, we get just the same thing but only on certain sites. For example the little pictures on this page are perfectly clear, but some pictures on other sites come up blurry when they shouldn't. Can't help you with a cure I'm afraid - I would suggest asking T-Mobile about it.

All the best

[fuzzyduck]

before asking T-Mobile this question beware some flavours of Web N Walk disallow use as a "modem" for a computer.

[Neil@CanalVoyagers]

Jon,

Glad your connection's working ok. I know exactly what you mean about the pictures, we get just the same thing but only on certain sites. For example the little pictures on this page are perfectly clear, but some pictures on other sites come up blurry when they shouldn't. Can't help you with a cure I'm afraid - I would suggest asking T-Mobile about it.

All the best

 

The blurry pictures are compressed/reduced in size to make the pages load quicker. I think that if you hold down the SHIFT key and click on the picture they are downloaded in their original condition. Hovering over the picture with the mouse brings up the instructions for this on my PC.

[Gillie]

Do your upload/download rates differ much?..I have been told that although the mobile phone internet option is quite fast for downloading..uploading is much slower??

[Breals]

Tomandsophie / Jon -

 

Pictures are heavily compressed so that web pages load quicker - to view the pictures more clearly, hover cursor over picture and hold SHIFT and R. This will only work when the whole web page has loaded, which is rather frustrating as there's always adverts and things that take a while to appear after the main content has arrived.

 

The other way is CTRL and F5 - reloads the whole page, including pictures, and unlike the other technique you can do this while the page is loading.

Edited November 21, 2006 by Breals

[Neil@CanalVoyagers]

Thanks Breals, thought it was something like that.

[JonA]

Do your upload/download rates differ much?..I have been told that although the mobile phone internet option is quite fast for downloading..uploading is much slower??

 

Just tried some tests with ftp uploading/dloading and I'm getting about 470kb/s both ways at the moment on 3g according to my free ftp software - which might not be that accurate, but doesn't seem to be much difference between up or down.

[Neil@CanalVoyagers]

I've started to get really annoyed recently at how hit-and-miss the T-mobile service is becoming - moving my laptop across the desk whilst online can drop the signal strength by a couple of bars!

 

So, I've emailed a few antenna manufacturers asking them for advice on some decent UMTS antennas - us boaters often need something a bit more meaty than these stick-on-the-window affairs that seem to get handed out.

 

I will let you know if I get any decent advice....

[Neil@CanalVoyagers]

specialistantennas.co.uk have specified a high gain directional antenna (pole mount) which should be pointed towards 'your nearest UMTS base station' (like I know where that is!). They will also include an adapter cable to present to the datacard and a 3m low loss cable to run from the antenna into the boat. £81 incl. VAT and delivery is more than I wanted to spend though.

 

High-gain 3G antenna

[gbmud]

£81 incl. VAT and delivery is more than I wanted to spend though.

 

 

 

So how about using a Three mobile phone - if you have one - and connecting it to your computer by BlueTooth? You then put the phone where it has a good signal and Bob's your uncle, freedom to roam about your boat.

 

I am sure that there must be plans available on the internet describing how to make your own antenna out of a bean tin, some old electric fence wire and a Kitkat wrapper.

 

Chris

[Neil@CanalVoyagers]

Follow-up response from neil@specialistantennas.co.uk (confusing as we both have the same name):

 

Hi Neil,

 

It is good to see people working and making a living on the canals.

Hopefully, the recent Defra cuts and all the noise going on will not affect you too much.

What I have seen done in the past for TV aerials might be of use to you.

Essentially you can mount a pole outside the end of the cabin using a pair of plastic clamps. These are done up just tight enough to hold the pole but slack enough that if you twist the pole it can be moved rotationally as well as up and down.

The trick is to make the pole just long enough that in the down position the antenna mounted at the top, just clears the roof (or in the case of the SLP if you do not need it while cruising, it can pass below the roof line). Then when you lift the pole it remains raised and pointed in the right direction.

 

Best regards,

Neil

Nb Leisure - moored at Thames & Kennet Marina, Reading

 

Good to know that the supplier is also a nb owner!

 

So how about using a Three mobile phone - if you have one - and connecting it to your computer by BlueTooth? You then put the phone where it has a good signal and Bob's your uncle, freedom to roam about your boat.

 

I am sure that there must be plans available on the internet describing how to make your own antenna out of a bean tin, some old electric fence wire and a Kitkat wrapper.

 

Chris

 

I already own the datacard, had it for a while for business use, so it would be silly getting a whole new phone/contract when I already have the equipment. Also, where we are moored is too low... placing something on the roof would not give enough elevation.

 

If I had chosen to go down the bodge it and fix it route, I could have gaffer taped a phone to a bit of bamboo, but it would might look a smidgen unprofessional on a hotel boat

 

I am sure that there must be plans available on the internet describing how to make your own antenna out of a bean tin, some old electric fence wire and a Kitkat wrapper.

 

Try http://www.oreillynet.com/cs/weblog/view/wlg/448

[gbmud]

Try http://www.oreillynet.com/cs/weblog/view/wlg/448

 

 

That is pretty much whay I had in mind. Point taken about the hotel boat - it could make a talking point though... literaly!

 

Chris

[tyse]

hoping to try some from here when i get time .............

 

http://www.wlan.org.uk/antenna-page.html

[Neil@CanalVoyagers]

hoping to try some from here when i get time .............

 

Good luck, cos none of those will pick up a UMTS signal for 3G. They're all wifi.

 

Different frequencies I'm afraid.

[nmptwentyone]

I went into t-mobile last week and walked away with my k800i 3G phone with web and walk. all going well thus far, ideal for nb. Went in again today to add an extra phone to my contact (for the misses) and walked out with the new SGH-Z560 (catchy name). apparently this is the first 3G phone to feature HSDPA (high speed data something something). its a faster varient on 3G and boasts speeds up to 1.8Mbs! Just something to bear in mind if your thinking of getting a phone. i'll keep you posted as to what speeds i actually get.

[Djuwenda]

I went into t-mobile last week and walked away with my k800i 3G phone with web and walk. all going well thus far, ideal for nb. Went in again today to add an extra phone to my contact (for the misses) and walked out with the new SGH-Z560 (catchy name). apparently this is the first 3G phone to feature HSDPA (high speed data something something). its a faster varient on 3G and boasts speeds up to 1.8Mbs! Just something to bear in mind if your thinking of getting a phone. i'll keep you posted as to what speeds i actually get.

 

I have opted for the k800i as well, the 3mp camera did it for me: wanted a decent camera that would would not leave my side and would not walk around with both a camera and a phone in my pockets...

 

 

But to the point , I seem to get anything between 60 and 100 kbs. this is through the Unlimited T mobile web and walk offer.

[JonA]

Do you use outlook express for your email or a web based email. Just wondering as I'm trying to use Outlook Express and on the t-mobile site it says to use smtp.t-email.co.uk as the setting for the outgoing mail server, but I just get a timeout message saying it can't connect... any ideas?

 

Cheers,

Jon

[Ernie]

Do you use outlook express for your email or a web based email. Just wondering as I'm trying to use Outlook Express and on the t-mobile site it says to use smtp.t-email.co.uk as the setting for the outgoing mail server, but I just get a timeout message saying it can't connect... any ideas?

 

Cheers,

Jon

My phone (t-mobile) has a built in email client. The email client needs to use the t-mobile smtp server for sending email but can use any pop server for receiving email.

 

If you are using your phone as a modem for accessing the internet (I guess this is what you are doing) then it is best if you use your service provider's smtp server for sending. If you need help with this, let me know who your service provider is (e.g. ntl, 1and1, blueyonder etc.) the address will be something like smtp.ntlworld.com where ntlworld is the service provider.

[JonA]

My phone (t-mobile) has a built in email client. The email client needs to use the t-mobile smtp server for sending email but can use any pop server for receiving email.

 

If you are using your phone as a modem for accessing the internet (I guess this is what you are doing) then it is best if you use your service provider's smtp server for sending. If you need help with this, let me know who your service provider is (e.g. ntl, 1and1, blueyonder etc.) the address will be something like smtp.ntlworld.com where ntlworld is the service provider.

 

Yes, I am using the phone as a modem and running my email client on the pc. - no email client on my phone. I uas Onetel for my email addresses (xyz@onetel.com) and when I was using their broadband on my landline, the setting for outgoing email server was smtp.onetel.com which worked no prob.

 

But now I don't have the broadband anymore, the onetel smtp server won't talk to me - I believe this is an anti-spam thing because I'm no longer using their broadband so my originating IP address is not one of theirs (but I'm still using their pop3 service to download my emails which works fine on the t-mob connection).

 

Do you know what smtp server the email client on your phone is setup to use?

 

Well this morning it's working fine and I've changed nothing and sent about 5 test emails all ok! so I must have got the settings right, even though yesterday t-mob told me that there was no fault on their network and my settings must be wrong.

Edited December 19, 2006 by JonA

[Ernie]

Yes, I am using the phone as a modem and running my email client on the pc. - no email client on my phone. I uas Onetel for my email addresses (xyz@onetel.com) and when I was using their broadband on my landline, the setting for outgoing email server was smtp.onetel.com which worked no prob.

 

But now I don't have the broadband anymore, the onetel smtp server won't talk to me - I believe this is an anti-spam thing because I'm no longer using their broadband so my originating IP address is not one of theirs (but I'm still using their pop3 service to download my emails which works fine on the t-mob connection).

 

Do you know what smtp server the email client on your phone is setup to use?

 

Well this morning it's working fine and I've changed nothing and sent about 5 test emails all ok! so I must have got the settings right, even though yesterday t-mob told me that there was no fault on their network and my settings must be wrong.

Very strange, Onetel should have turned off your access to their pop server when you left them. Your xyz@onetel.com should not be working any more if you are no longer with them. If you are still able to receive email from the Onetel server, they must have screwed up when they deleted your account!!

 

It doesn't actually matter what your IP address is (T-mobile is now providing your IP address). What matters for sending email is that there is a server set up somewhere with a mailbox on it exclusively for you. This mailbox will be set up and administered by your service provider (e.g. Onetel, NTL etc.)

[Kristian]

Go to e-bay and type in GPRS, if anyone is having signal issues this is a signal booster about £15.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/3G-GPRS-Data-Card-An...1QQcmdZViewItem

Im using one with the tmobile card and it works very well........

Kristian