From: David Ross (ross_at_math.hawaii.edu)
Date: Wed Dec 04 2002 - 00:37:45 EST
> I know (or think I know) that I'm supposed to turn off the option that
> looks something like "Check for dial tone". But is there anything else
> that needs to be done with the modem setting? And other than a plug
> adapter for the power supply, and a telephone connector adapter, is
> there anything I'll need to take with me?
That setting *should* be enough (though all my modems are 'global modems', so I've never had to try it).
The ring is different too, of course, but you won't be answering the phone with your modem I think...
The phone wire standards in Italy are now identical to ours, so no special adapter necessary.
W/r to plug adapter, note there is a slight difference between the Italian 2-prong plug and the 'German' plug, which has become the standard in much of Europe (including Italy) for electronic goods. You might have occasion to use both at times (I certainly did this year), so bring a set including both.
> The next question is to figure out which ISP to sign up with before
> going. The one I use now has no European points of presence....
I was in Pisa for a long while last Spring, and used www.maglobe.net, which worked very very well for me. They have local dialup across much of Italy, and I always got fast connections. Of course, you still have the local phone bill, which while not as bad as in US or UK hotels is not negligible. Many Italian ISPs are free, and support themselves by a cut from the local connection charges. I considered just signing up for one of these, but maglobe was pretty cheap, hugely convenient, and I didn't need a local address (even though I had one).
- David R.
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