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Prepare, Prepare,
Prepare
The Travel Technologist · April
17, 2002
It's a problem as
old as technology itself: Your gadget won't work without a plug, and nothing
coming out of the device will fit the available socket.
Whether it's the difference between 110 Volts and 220, RJ-11 versus RJ-45,
or even Firewire versus USB, you know that this is one of the most vexing,
frustrating, and irritating problems that tech users face on the road.
Here's how to avoid it:
-
Prepare yourself.
You never know if your plug is going to work on your next trip, so be
ready. Deanna Swaney, a writer based in Wasilla, Alaska, consults TeleAdapt's
website before each trip. "If you're carrying a laptop computer with you
and need to access the Internet during your travels, you'll probably need
an adaptor plug for your telephone linkup, as each country has its own
configuration. You may also need a plug adaptor even if your system automatically
switches between 110 and 220 mains," she says.
- It's impossible to overprepare. Hop Holmberg carries a set of alligator clips, which, in an emergency, get spliced to a piece of the telephone cord that plugs into his laptop. "This first became necessary for a place that had old hardwired phones," he says. "A quick bit of work with a screwdriver opened the box and two quick clips got me a dial tone." The clips come in particularly handy in Europe, where many hotel phones are still hardwired. "Once the clip was added to my kit, nothing has stopped me!" Holmberg says.
- It's impossible to overprepare. Hop Holmberg carries a set of alligator clips, which, in an emergency, get spliced to a piece of the telephone cord that plugs into his laptop. "This first became necessary for a place that had old hardwired phones," he says. "A quick bit of work with a screwdriver opened the box and two quick clips got me a dial tone." The clips come in particularly handy in Europe, where many hotel phones are still hardwired. "Once the clip was added to my kit, nothing has stopped me!" Holmberg says.
- It's never too late. If you aren't prepared, then there's always a chance you'll find an adapter once you're there. But don't bet on it. Alvin Mullins found himself without a working phone jack and power outlet on a recent visit to France. "I quickly got my hiking shoes on and went in search of an adapter," he remembers. "I covered the whole town, stopping many people to ask for an electronics store. Finally I gave up and walked back to the hotel." Two doors from his hotel he saw a TV repair shop, and sure enough, it carried the part he needed for the equivalent of 50 cents.
How do you prevent connectivity problems on the road? Easy: Prepare, prepare, and prepare. Think before you hit the road. Where are you going? Is there a chance they'll have other phone jacks, a different voltage, or computers that may have a difficult time connecting with yours. Leave nothing to chance.
Christopher Elliott is a travel commentator based in Key Largo, Fla. All e-mailed questions may be edited, condensed or republished at the site's discretion. The Travel Technologist appears weekly on this site. This story was also published on SmarterLiving.com.
