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Traveller Tools
and Staying Connected As You Travel |
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More and more travellers like to stay connected as they roam this vast continent
called Australia. Even the AusEmade Team needs to stay connected, whether it is
backing up their images, connecting to the internet, answering email, connecting
to the satellites with our GPS, or using our mobiles in those remote areas.
Following is what we have used, still used and considered using. Over time we
will comment on various tools we have purchased that we find useful or have
failed miserably. |
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Telecommunication and ISPs
There are a number of service
providers that tourist can use when travelling. For those travelling to and
between capital cities, staying connected should not be a problem, with many
major and minor services operating between the major cities. As you travel
further away from the main cities into the more remote locations, staying
connected becomes a more hit and miss affair. Of course the main
telecommunication provider with the greatest reach across Australia, is Telstra,
but the claim of 98% of the population coverage with the CDMA means exactly
that. So if you are camping in the middle of nowhere, don't expect to be able to
access your email. However CDMA is being phased out (by early 2008) and from
current feedback the new NextG service is very fast.
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Telstra
Telstra Select the network type NextG
or 3G and GSM, enter your postcode or street address to view your
Mobile coverage maps.
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Laptops
Although the office currently uses
Dell desktops workstations, for our team that are on the road, it is a bit hard
to lug these around in the 4 wheel drive. Originally we were looking at the
Panasonic Toughbook, but at the time, they were a touch expensive. Instead we
decided to go for weight and settled on the Sony Vaio (VGN-S58GP/B). The laptop
also included wireless and blue tooth connectivity. The laptop also provided
integration with our Sony cameras.
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Computers / Electronic Equipment Links
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Sony
Check out the site for details on all
their laptops.
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ITRONIX
Produces fully-rugged GoBookฎ range
of notebooks, with claims to the to being the smallest and lightest footprint
available.
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Panasonic
Produces the
Toughbookฎ range of notebooks. Check out their case studies.
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Cameras
Our very first digital camera was the
Sony Cyber-shot DSCF505. This great camera met our needs at the time of being
able to take landscape and standard photos, as well as macros with it huge
barrel shape lens. During its life with us, it performed admirably, needing only
one service when the shutter button started to play up. This was no doubt due to
the extensive use we made of the camera in a variety of environments, from
frosty cold mornings, through to dusty outback roads. At the time, our staff
were happy with just having a LCD screen from which to compose the shot,
although they did complain there were drawbacks when they tried to compose shots
in full sunlight. Other drawbacks raised also included the short battery life
and no eyepiece.
So after some years that provided some great shots, we
finally bit the bullet and retired the camera, replacing it with the Sony
Cybershot DSC-F828.
What a difference. 8 mega-pixel, electronic view finder, a larger LCD screen
with protective cover, great battery life.
It was decided that the team also needed a more portable camera, one that
could slip in your pocket, try doing that with DSC-F828. After some
consideration and team consensus, we settled on the Sony DSC-W100. Although the
team is still learning all its features, they are producing some great images,
when they least expect it. Just have a look at their recent dingo pictures:
1,
2,
3.
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Flexible Keyboard
We purchased the flexible/foldable keyboard from Harvey Norman (KB-IC618W-USB
$44.95 8-Dec-2005). It proved to be a waste of money, barely lasting 4 months.
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 Notebook Stand
Available from
Atdec, the
Visidec
Traveller 14T (Slimdec).
When we saw, this stand, it looked great. It was compact, light, and easily
slipped into any small space within our 4WD. It also provided the base of the
laptop with airspace for ventilation.
The stand comes in two sizes for those with the larger 17" widescreen laptops.
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Computer Accessories Links
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Atdec
Products include, flat screen and
laptop monitor mounts.
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