A 56k external USB modem will allow you to connect your computer to the internet via a phone line. Many people think of dial-up internet connections as obsolete this days but it is always useful to have a backup option for when your broadband internet connection goes down and they are vital pieces of equipment for countries that are not yet fully connected for broadband.

It used to be that you had to sign up for a monthly account in order to use the internet through an external USB fax modem but now it is more common for companies to offer ‘pay as you go’ schemes which will charge you by the minute or by the hour at the same or a slightly higher rate as making a local phone call. This makes it great for travelers connecting through their hotel phone line and occasional use where you really don’t want to be paying a monthly subscription.

When choosing an external USB modem for travelling, you’ll want to choose a model that does not require a separate power source and is small and light for easy transportation. Some modern modems are now only the same size as a USB memory stick, making them easy to throw in your bag or pocket without worrying about bulky cables or heavy power supplies.

Make sure you choose a model that is compatible with your operating system and preferably ‘plug and play’ for easy set up. The last thing you want to be doing while you’re on the road is struggling with setting up unfamiliar hardware when you don’t even have the internet to refer to for help.

A USB mini external modem is not expensive and it takes up so little space in your luggage or backpack, it’s really worth taking one along on every trip if your internet connection is important to you as you never know how reliable the broadband access at your destination will be.

You can buy an external USB modem for as little as $20 dollars and use it at home or away as required. I found this useful bit of kit to be indispensible after moving house and waiting over a month for my broadband internet connection to be installed – you may think you have no use for dial-up but having a spare external USB modem may come in handy when you least suspect it.

Starbucks in Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

If you’re yet to set out on your travels and you’ve been freelancing for a while or even if you’re just an avid blog reader who likes the idea of making a bit of extra money online, chances are you already have a fast, reliable internet connection with generous or unlimited bandwidth. Cheap fast broadband internet access is something many of us have come to take for granted so once you’re on the road you’ll want to quickly find the cheapest, easiest way to stay connected so that you can keep working and making money.

So in this article I’m going to go through some of the main methods of staying connected while you’re travelling, how to find a good place to work from and keep your productivity up and touch on some security precautions you should keep in mind.

Temporary connectivity – types of Internet access for backpackers and travellers

1. Wifi in your guesthouse or hostel – This is probably the cheapest and most convient option for travellers. A lot of hostels now offer free wifi access as part of your room rate so you can get straight to work without even leaving your room. Sometimes there may be a fee for this service which can range from a cheap daily rate to an expensive hourly rate, so check this before you check in. You can search on hostelworld.com for accommodation that provides wifi and if there is an applicable fee. One downside of this type of access is that if you’re staying in a dorm room you’re unlikely to be able to concentrate on your work with people coming and going all the time. If you’re staying in a private room this is much better but again, check the description and reviews on hostelworld as sometimes wifi will only be available in common areas in which case you’ll want to make sure you can find a comfy quiet corner to get some work done.
2. Wifi cafes – If you’re not lucky enough to have free wifi in your accommodation you can usually find a handful of cafes and restaurants that will offer you this as long as you buy a drink. The availbilty of free wifi can vary from place to place (for example Bangkok has hardly any free wifi and you’ll be expected to pay for an internet pass on top of your cappucino) so do your research before you go if you’re planning to stay in a particular place for a while. The Lonely Planet Country Guides are usually pretty good at listing cafes with wifi access. Again you’ll want to try and find a quiet corner where you can get some work done without too many distractions. Be aware of outstaying your welcome too – you’re likely to get a few glares if you just order a coffee at 9am and stay there the rest of the day. Be considerate and try to work in quiet hours (ie not lunchtime – you’re taking up a seat that could be used for a paying customer) and rotate between a few cafes from day to day if you have this option.
3. 3G or CDMA Internet access – connect with a mobile phone SIM. If wifi is expensive or unavailable where you are, or you simply want more flexibility in where you can work, you may be able to get connected with a 3G or CDMA modem and a mobile phone sim. Availability and coverage do vary widely so do your research before you go and test out your connection in different places, as signal strength varies a lot within a small area. If you can’t pick up a 3G connection then you may be able to access the internet via 2G although this is likely to be too slow to do any serious work. I use 3g internet access with Telkomsel here in Bali and I’ve found it to be fast and fairly reliable, although a bit on the pricey side. You’ll need a special modem to use with your sim card (you can sometimes use your mobile phone as a modem although this tends to be slower). I’ve been using a Sierra Wireless modem which I’ve not had problems with, however it does tend to overheat if the signal strength is low so keep an eye on this. Some mobile phone companies will give you a free modem if you sign up for a contract but you probably won’t want to do this unless you’re planning to stay in one place for a significant length of time (see below).

Remember if you’re using a shared internet connection there’s always a chance that your data may be compromised. Run a firewall on your computer and make sure your anti-virus software is up to date. If you’re doing anything particularly sensitive like online banking, you may want to wait until you have a more secure connection rather than using the free wifi in the cafe down the road. There are various tools available to keep your data safe while you’re on the road. Do a google search for ‘internet cafe safety’ to get started.

Long-term connectivity – types of Internet access for expats and location independent professionals

1. Your own ADSL or cable broadband connection – If you’re staying in one place for long enough you may be able to get a short or medium term contract with a local broadband internet provider. There’s usually a setup charge involved with this and it may not be available where you are so check if this is important to you before you commit to long-term accommodation. However if you can get it this is probably the most convenient and cost-effective way of staying connected.
2. Prepaid Wifi hotspots – These have become very common in recent years and if you can’t pick up any free wifi where you’re staying, it may be the next best option if you’re within the coverage area. The premise is that you sign up for an account and then whenever you’re in range of one of the ‘hotspots’ you can sign in and use the wifi connection. Easiest way to see if you’re in range of one of these is just to have a look through the available wifi networks on your laptop – if any of these are prepaid hotspots it will come up with details of how to sign up whenever you try to use your web browser.
3. 3G or CDMA internet access with a mobile phone sim – As above, but if you’re staying in one country for a while (say 6 months or longer) you’ll probably be able to sign up for a contract which will give you cheaper internet access rates than ‘pay as you go’ sims and you may be able to get a free modem bundled too. Make sure to check your signal strength and connection speed before you sign up for anything!
4. Dial-up access. When all else fails there’s always good old dial-up but remember you’ll need a phoneline for this! Many companies these days offer a ‘free’ service so you only pay for the price of the phone call but remember this can add up quickly!

Photo by Novecentino

I am currently on the verge of buying the laptop I’ll be taking with me on my travels. I currently work from a shuttle desktop pc which, compact as it is, is obviously not suitable for taking backpacking. I also have an old battered ibook which I dropped and broke the hinges on – it’s not in a fit state to take out of the house, let alone on a round the world trip. So this brings me to the task of choosing a laptop with travel-friendly attributes.

These include:

Light - possibly the most important factor in your decision-making. You really don’t want to be carting around a lead weight. Once you’ve had a backpack on your back for a couple of hours you’ll be glad of every possible ounce of weight you can save. It’s now possible to get fully-functional laptops that weigh under 1kg. Remember to add in the weight of power adapters and accessories. The lightest laptop around is purported to be the Toshiba Portégé R500, weighing in at 779g and there are several more around the 1kg mark, including the new breed of ultra portable notebooks – the Asus Eee pc the Acer Aspire One and the MSI Wind.

Cheap – expensive equipment will up your travel insurance and you’ll be constantly worrying about it being stolen or broken. Spend as little as you can to get the technology you require. Luckily laptops are constantly coming down in price and it’s easy to get a decent spec machine for under £300 ($600 or probably less in the US). Go second-hand if you can and you’ll be less paranoid about scratching it or dropping it.

Tough – changes are you’ll be throwing your laptop around in your bag a lot, operating it in extreme temperatures or humid conditions, getting sand and insects in it, using it as a pillow, bashing it off the table when you can’t get wireless to work etc etc… Some of the new thin and light laptops look sexy but I doubt their durability. You’re much better off getting something ugly and tough. Panasonic’s ToughBook range are designed to be thrown around/stamped on/blown up but there’ll be a model from most of the major company’s lines that will be suitable for general travel and not mind being bashed around a bit. Check reviews and message boards for the models you’re interested in to see how they fare after a few months of abuse.

Long battery-life - you’ll probably be separated from a power source at many points during your travels. There’s nothing more frustrating than carrying round the dead weight of a powerless laptop that you can’t use. Look at battery life when you’re comparing different models and weigh this up against the cost and weight factors mentioned above. Probably a good idea to bring along a spare battery too.

As I’m leaning towards one of the new linux-based ultra-portables, I thought it would be useful to draw up a comparison chart of the higher spec versions of the 3 main contenders:

	Eee PC 901	Acer Aspire One	MSI Wind
Screen resolution	1024 x 600	1024 x 600	1024 x 600
Weight	1140g	995g	1100g
Size	226 × 22.9 × 175.3 mm	249 x 29 x 170 mm	260 x 19 x 180 mm
Storage	20 GB	120 GB	80 GB
Battery life	4.2 – 7.8 hours	3 hours	3 hours
Price (dependent on RAM and other specs)	£300	£250	£330

To me, it’s looking like the Acer Aspire One is the best value for specs against price but take some time to do the research and decide what laptop is the best for your budget and requirements. Happy hunting!