🚀 go-pugleaf

Hi,

I hope this information is helpful:

- On the issue of connections:

An easy (but not very cheap) option is to get a CompuServe account
(install the software on your laptop) and use the national access
telephone numbers for each country. CompuServe as access points in
most European countries. This solution will shorten your online time
too because instead of telnetting to the US you will receive/save the
messages on your laptop so you can read them offline and write
responses offline.

The solution I would prefer - especially in the context of the
migrant workers project - is to get access to the NGO computer
networks which can be found in almost all European countries, the
member and partner networks of the Association for Progressive
Communications (APC). Some of them have experience in mobile access
(for example, they established mobile access points for refugees from
former Yugoslavia who were moving around all over Europe and
looking for family and friends). The problem with this solution may
be that you need to contact every individual network and negotiate
free access. Almost all of them offer PPP/SLIP connections (for
offline reading and writing of email and WEB access). Contact the APC
member in the US (Institute for Global Communications:
support@igc.apc.org) and ask them if they have any ideas on how to
support your project. The largest European APC member network can be
found in London (GreenNet: support@gn.apc.org).

About telephone plugs and modems:

Bring an extra telephone cord that fits into your modem but which has
aligator / crocodile clips connected at the other ends of the wires.
If your plugs don't fit (or you are unable to find the place to fit
your plug, you can connect your modem on the telephone wire with the
two clips. About the modem, if you are going to work in countries /
country sides where the quality of the lines is somehow poor (in some
Eastern/Central/Soouth European countries) make sure you know how to
change some of the settings of the modem. Better is to use one which
has proven it works well under difficult circumstances. Some of the
highspeed or latest models modems are 'too fine tuned' for the more
rougher connections you may have to work with. From my own experience
I can only say that (I have to be careful now, others may have
completely different experiences or read this as commercial
activities :-) I have worked and travelled with many different modems
(I have always different types with me). The one that always worked
was the Dynalink modem. The USRobotic modems have problems to
overcome hotel switchboard 'hickups' and other strange sounds made by
switches (for example, when you call from an island to the main
land :-) I have also good experiences with Zyxel modems. I know there
are hundreds of models around so maybe these names don't mean
anything to you.

Even if you have another solution for your connectivity, take the
list with European APC networks with you. If you have problems using
your modem in a country, you can always call their support line and
get some advice. If you explain a bit about your project I am sure
they are willing to help you out in one way or the other.

(Here you can find information on European APC networks:
www.gn.apc.org)

Greetings and success,

Maja van der Velden
(APC Women's Programme / Gender & IT Project)

P.S. Don't forget to bring one of these converters
for electricity plugs which makes the electricity plugs of your
computer and modem fit wherever you are in Europe.

> I am also very interested in this -- if anyone has an answer --  please
> make sure that you send the "solution" to the entire list.
>
> Thanks,
> Erik Nielsen

> >How can I solve the issue of connection to service providers? I am poor=
, I
> >will be staying wherever I can and sometimes that will be a place with =
no
> >place to plug in a telephone. Even if I can plug in the machine I won't=
 have
> >accounts with service providers in every country I visit. I will want W=
eb
> >access as well. I don't have connections in universities.
> >
> >Thank you,
> >Laura Agust=EDn

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Maja van der Velden / Agenda nfa
Herslebsgate 32 B
0578 Oslo
Norway

Tel/fax: + 47.22.67.72.45
Email: agenda@online.no

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