jppe

I now have access to my laptop and Bike Forums anywhere I can get a good wireless cellular signal. My Blackberry can now act as a "receiver" and receives and transmits wireless data to my laptop. I can now connect to the internet and also into work from the sands on the beach, tops of mountains, rural roads........essentially anywhere I can get a strong phone signal. Now you folks can't get rid of me!!!

I haven't tried it under water though........

The Weak Link

It seems that it wouldn't be too hard to mount the Blackberry to the end of some aerobars, so you could post while you were riding. If you got a helmet cam, we could share your experience. It would be as close to your style of riding as I will ever get.

StanSeven

Ha! I've dropped my blackberry twice while riding. I looked at messages and then it slipped putting it back in my jersey pockets. It hit the road, the cover came off and the battery was lose, but worked after I put it all together again.

doctor j

I love all the benefits of technology, but with respect to cycling, my goal is to be in areas where there is NO signal whatsoever save for the audio from birds, babbling brooks, or a gentle breeze through the trees.

BluesDawg

And you consider this a positive thing?

Louis

Man, BD, you must be reading my mind.

maddmaxx 

Jppe, I can get you a deal on business cards to carry on the bike!

stonecrd

I just got a new laptop for work. It is a Sony Vaio weighs 2.5lbs and has, you guessed it a Carbon Fiber case. It come with an integrated Sprint broadband chip which I have a subscription for. So I have totally mobile broadband access. It is great when I am at a client site where they generally will not let you connect to their network or high end hotels that like to charge $10/night for a connection.

cranky old dude

Someone say something about Blackberry Pie ?

solveg

I just got a phone that can tether to my laptop. I got it so I could work from the cabin up north and also from rural Kansas, where I, surprisingly, extend the summer season. I figured I could vagabond all I wanted and my clients wouldn't even know. I can even check my mail from the road.

It's really cool for checking mail, but it doesn't work in KS, even though I'm only 1/2 hour from Wichita. It works up north, but only at dial-up speed since I'm not near an urban "EVDO" signal. And the phone disconnects the signal after a couple minutes if you don't refresh the page.

However, what's really cool is all the tethered time is free, so it's unlimited minutes, and if you're sitting at a park in the city, it's high speed!

So, it's cool, but I only use it in a pinch.

DnvrFox

I just light a fire and use smoke signals!

BSLeVan

I'm curious, and have been thinking along similar lines. My work affords me the opportunity to keep pretty flexible hours, but I must still check in (phone & e-mails) on a pretty regular basis. Hence, I've been tethered to my laptop a great deal. Such a hookup would allow me to ride a greater distance in a wider variety of places. How easy is it to actully use this compared to a laptop keyboard? My reluctance comes primarily from the thought that using it would be a realy pain, given the small keyboard and screen size. I really would be interested in knowing how you've found it in actual use.

solveg

Want a larger keyboard??? Try this* amazing thing, tiny enough to bikepack, and pricey enough to avoid!

https://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/input/8193/?cpg=54H

jppe

My blackberry is pretty good for checking emails-excellent coverage and overall use. I enjoy having the ability to remotely keep up with messages. So many customers seem to be moving to emails versus phone calls.

Like all bberries it's okay for sending short messages/emails but not long ones. Mine is not very good at interfacing with the internet so that is where tethering really helps me.

Plus, work wise I need internet access to send files that are on my hard drive so the tethering is a big help to me. I'm presently in a rented villa that doesn't have wireless and tethering is working great for me-and it's not the strongest signal or "highest cellular network". It's not as fast as a cable connection but not too bad.

I just couldn't imagine going back to dial up again.........a 1mb file just wouldn't transmit.

Altamont

I take pride in the fact that I will go for a ride or a kayak paddle and leave my phone behind. the happiest day in my life will be the day I turn my work phone in and retire. you have to get un-hooked once in a while. that's why they have voice mail.

Trsnrtr

Wow, you over 50 guys still work?