only if you have an external modem
Posted By: Florida MT on 2007-01-22
In Reply to: Wireless router with your home phone line? - KC
Most modems are internal and you have to plug the phone line directly into it. If you have an external modem, it is possible but troublesome.
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All you have to do is get an external
x
Using one for 6 years, do use an external
keyboard. I don't have an external mouse, though am going to get a wireless one.
You definitely want to use an external keyboard. I think the
bigger the monitor the better, but I have a 14" one and have been using it for 6 years. Absolutely get as much RAM as you can, no less than 512. You don't need a supersize hard drive unless you want to store music/pictures, but you should have a backup of them because computers have been known to crash and you wouldn't want to lose them. Most everything now is USB and I would say get a minimum of 2 ports. You can buy a hub for under $30.00 (saw a 4 port hub today on sale for $10.00) to add USB ports. I would get one that had wireless capability. I would also get one that has at least a DVD player if not a recorder. Usually if they have DVD they have a CD recorder so you can burn songs/pictures. I suggest the DVD in case you need some down time from caretaking and you want to watch a movie.
I have a Dell and an HP. My Dell has been a piece of junk from day one. I've had my HP for 3-1/2 years without any problems other than a software glitch, which wasn't an equipment problem.
When buying a computer consider repair issues. With my Dell I had to send the computer to them so I was without a computer for approximately 2 weeks, plus shipping charges of about $30.00. You can buy an in-home repair policy though. With my HP I bought it from a local electronics store and I could get in-store service.
I also would not get a Celeron processor - get either a Pentium or a Centrino (which is supposed to be really good). The Celeron is not as good of quality and is usually found in the lower end computers.
I got a catalog from Dell today and I just glimpsed at it, but they had a laptop on the cover for $649 (I think).
I also have external antenna & amp sm
I ended up paying about $425 for the modem/air card, external antenna, and amplifier. Plus there is a rebate on the card, I think $50. The amp was the most expensive thing, about $280. I have to use them to get my signal, but even with being on the edge of service, I would not trade it for dial-up ever.
not the modem..sm
it depends on what phone number you are dialing into, how many people are also on that phone number, and the capacity of the server to handle that amount of dial up phone calls. location, location, location. been there did that. and I was not knocking earthlink. it just depends on where you are and server capacity for that area. if you want to spend 45 minutes waiting for 20 files to download, I guess that is okay. just my experience.
modem on
I also turn my modem off. Just be sure to turn it back on. I unplug my computer from the surge protector.
Modem
What type of modem do people use? I am on my third Linksys. Most of the time it works great (but not right now). Is there a better one to use? I have a cable internet connection (not wireless). Thanks!
I've been using one FT for 6 years. I do use an external
keyboard 99.99% of the time though.
Good ideas, maybe I will look into getting an external - sm
backup hard drive as well that would certainly take care of losing any data, and seeing it every day would remind me to backup my important files! I bet there will be a run of people today backing up their work! I do keep written notes on my work, though not the line counts. I only lost about 15 files, about 2000 lines (it's a small account), just hope they have it all handy, they tend to lose/misplace files. Hate to have to retype them so I can bill them (of course I happened to delete all the sound files off the server I use yesterday for last weeks work, so I would have to have them resend all the sound files as well), but I will do what I have to do in order to do so!
Problem with external keyboard that is new
what to do about an external computer keyboard that the keys stick sometimes, but not all the time?
Most likely the modem will be provided by (sm)
the phone company (at least it was for me by Verizon).
Not only that, but for those with cable modem
connections, or high-speed cable, did you know that even when our computers are shut off, hackers can hack into our cable and access our computers? We don't even know it. That is per Comcast cable themselves, confirmed by my bank, etc. So just because the computer is turned off, unless you unplug the internet cable from the back, anyone with a laptop and computer knowledge can pull in front of your house and jump onto your ISP. Happens all the time where I live. Scary stuff.
Verizon USB modem
I have been using a Verizon Wireless with 5GB limit as a backup internet connection the past couple months and for traveling. I have successfully worked with it without using very many MB (that's MB, not GB) at all. On evenings when I work and don't surf, my usage comes up to less than 100 MB for about 3-4 hours of work. 5 GB translates to 5120 MB. The evening that I decided to watch a Netflix video in a hotel room, I used over 500 MB, so I really wouldn't recommend trying to watch videos very often if you want to stay under your 5 GB limit. However, Medquist's DocQScribe program doesn't use much at all.
Also, when I have to use it from home because of my cable internet being down (frustrating, but it seems to happen a lot!), the whole thing works slower because I only get 1 bar of service here. From home, I can't even watch Netflix at all on Verizon because the connection speed isn't fast enough. From the hotel with full bars of service on Verizon, Netflix worked as well as it does from home when my cable connection is working properly.
Good luck! But seriously, if you're only working and doing emails on your Verizon, it should be within your usage limits without any problems!
Does anyone have wireless using a USB modem? sm
Have you ever been rejected for a job because of it? I just was. Also does anyone know if there is a difference between a card and a USB modem as far as speed? I just got rejected for a work at home hospital employee job because the supervisor was convinced my wireless would not be fast enough for their system. They use Dolby. I have the USB 727 modem from Verizon, use VPN on it and have never had a problem. Must say I'm pretty bummed. I really needed that job and the benefits.
I use my DSL modem for my router. sm
I would think it would depend on whether you have cable or DSL. I have TDS Metrocom for my phone and Internet. When I went home to work I called to find out what I needed to look for in a router. He told me my DSL is a router and all I needed was an ethernet cord. I went to Radio Shack and bought a 25 foot ethernet cord to run from the router to my new work computer. I ran the cord from the back of my DSL modem to the ethernet port on the work computer and haven't had a problem yet.
Just connect your external keyboard and you won't know the difference.
You may want to attach an external monitor (I don't) or use a box of some kind to elevate the computer. They have boxes at the office supply store in the computer area that have trays for storage or a place to put your keyboard and that is about the right height. I would also suggest an external mouse. If you need a new keyboard/mouse I'd go wireless. If you want to be somewhat mobile, like sitting in the backyard in the shade unhooking and hooking everything up gets to be a pain and if you just want to diddle and not work you can use the laptop keyboard and not have to take the other keyboard and mouse.
If you are used to a large monitor that is probably your biggest adjustment, the rest is fairly easy and may take some trial and error to get everything worked out.
Maybe try restarting your computer? I have an external zip drive
most of my disks...had about 10, now only 2 work. They just don't seem to last long for some reason. Going to start using CDs as I have a recordable drive now. Feel like throughing my zip in the trash sometimes but I need it for my lap to in order to be able to easily transfer data from it to my desktop. Took me a half hour last night to retrieve a file I needed since it was acting up, got it eventually though...thought I'd have to resort to emailing it to myselft at one point in order to get it on my desktop. Pain in the butt.
Has anyone used an external Sound Blaster device?
I'm not sure what the name of it is, but you connect to it via USB. It costs $50.00 and says the sound quality is significantly better than standard sound cards, you can transfer cassettes and LPs to MP3 files, .... My main concern is I want an increase in sound quality of my wav files.
Just wondering if the sound quality is really that much better. I have notebook computers and the PC cards are $100.00. I was thinking this might be a substitute for the PC card.
P.S. I use an external LCD monitor, keyboard and mouse
nm
I googled for external sound and came up with Soundblaser......
I went to their site, it was not expensive, I can't remember exactly, but the box is small, very easy to install, and the sound is absolutely wonderful!
Yes. Have you looked on the back of your DSL modem to
see if it has both ethernet and USB ports? If not, you can rent or buy one that does. You should be able to hook both computers up and surf the 'Net on both at the same time without having to plug and unplug the modem. I've actually got three going on my DSL now with a networked minihub hooking up my two office computers and a longer cable out to the family computer in the living room.
I am probably going to be changing from dialup to DSL - just exactly what do I need - new modem? nm
nm
Never heard of a PC-DART modem -sm
Where I work uses PD-DART player to play the voice files, but you don't have to be on line to work. I go to a FTP, download my work, get off-line. Do my work, and upload the finished work to the FTP site. Check and see if this is what you can do; or if you misunderstood anything, as I said I never heard of a PC-DART modem.
wireless modem from Verizon
As long as you have a relatively strong cell phone signal at home, a wireless modem should work fine, speed is a bit different from DSL or cable, so you might have problems with some of your larger downloads.
Also, I found out recently that Sprint (my cell phone carrier), now offers a wireless modem/card that uses a USB port as well, so you could use it with either a desktop or a laptop.
Hope this helps.
Your PC doesn't have to be on, but your modem and router do.
putting external keyboard with laptop question
If i am using a USB adapter for my round-plug keyboard wire, is that essentially the same as a regular USB connector, ie, don't have to turn the machine off first before plugging in? I don't want to blow my pricey ergo board by doing something wrong...
Are you planning to move the external drive to the new computer?
If so, save whatever data you want to move on the external hard drive (you should already know what the letter drive is for that one). Connect it to the new computer. Easy enough.
I use a Vista laptop with an external keyboard 100% of the time..sm
I would never buy a desktop again. I travel all over and just bring my laptop, foot pedal and external ergonomic keyboard.
Yes, DSL needs electricitym Modem plugs into outlet.
nn
ISP is DOWN!!! Dial up modem is too slow to operate
Well, this is really something. For the first time since being at home, Comcast is down.
Dial up modem is too slow to register my keystrokes and I get kicked off the hospital's system (which is 3,000 miles away).
I do believe, after experiencing this, that technology is going to be the determining factor in outsourcing. I used dial up modem for a clinic when with MQ but it was only a few hundred miles away from me and worked just fine. Could it be that the farther away you are from your account, the less optimal dial up modem operation is?
Can you imagine what would happen if all accts were linked to a foreign country and the server went down?
This event led to a 911 emergency as I was only MT on my acct scheduled to work today. I am actually shaking as I know how important it is to get the radiology work done in two hours.
Just had to share this with you guys.
Thinking of trying a wireless modem from Verizon
was told it should work as long as I have cell phone service at my house, which I do. All I have is dial-up at home and I'm so so so tired of the slow, slow, slow connection. Plus I can use on my laptop too. Hoping this will be faster. Just wanted opions if you got'em. Thx.
I have both my computers connected to my DSL modem and no router
and both computers connected to the KVM switch, but maybe my DSL modem is a modem/router or some fancy thing like that. It does have a bunch of plug-ins in the back.
Cell phone & modem reception can be very different sm
I have very iffy cell phone service with Sprint but have been using a USB modem through them for the past month with an external antenna and amplifier. I get up to 1200 kbps download speeds without the antenna being installed outside yet (it's sitting in my window until we get a lightning protector). 3gstore.com is where I bought my equipment, and they can answer any questions you have. In fact, the tech person I spoke with has actually written transcription programs, so he definitely knows what is involved.
Cable will not work if your modem has to be plugged in.
When I had cable internet, it did not work during a power outage because the cable modem had to be plugged in, so no power meant no internet. Now I have wireless broadband that does not require power and I just keep my laptop always charged up. So if we lose power, I can easily just switch over to my laptop without losing too much time.
I too use an external hard drive, backs up My Documents folder. sm
It only takes once to lose everything to know how important backups are.....I should know, happened to me!!
Mine works with printer and external hard drive
You just need to get the more expensive USB Hub with a power adapter if it doesn't work with your printer.
Okay, I guess I'm wondering about a cellular modem card for my laptop. SM
That would allow me to connect to the internet via a cellular network, right? Maybe I just need to call Cingular and ask them if I can get that on my current plan.
Did you sell the Vonage modem to recoup some of your lost dollars?
k
I use an external sound card and my ear phones plug into that on my Dell. I find this so much bette
of the computer and #2 because there is a volume switch in the sound card (Soundblaster about $50).
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