USB Modem

[youradsl]

This might sound like a stupid question, but I've always used a router and never a USB ADSL modem.
Do you get USB Modems that don’t need electricity, and get its power from the Laptop, or do all of them need elec?

With Eskom proving to be more incompetent than Telkom itself, I need some kind of modem that can run without electricity, at least this way I can still use the 3-4 hours on my laptop’s battery when the PC goes down.

 

[Moederloos]

This might sound like a stupid question, but I've always used a router and never a USB ADSL modem.
Do you get USB Modems that don’t need electricity, and get its power from the Laptop, or do all of them need elec?

With Eskom proving to be more incompetent than Telkom itself, I need some kind of modem that can run without electricity, at least this way I can still use the 3-4 hours on my laptop’s battery when the PC goes down.

I have a USB modem i use from time to time (MECER). Works fine - not as useful as a router, but it does not need a separate power source.

 

[youradsl]

I have a USB modem i use from time to time (MECER). Works fine - not as useful as a router, but it does not need a separate power source.

Thx, will have to go out and buy one then - damn Eskom, maybe they should give me one (yeah sure, in a perfect world).
Any idea on price (ballpark) for a USB modem that does not need power – don’t want to spend to much as it would only be for emergencies (which seems to be quite often these days). SA back in the dark ages.

 

[Moederloos]

Thx, will have to go out and buy one then - damn Eskom, maybe they should give me one (yeah sure, in a perfect world).
Any idea on price (ballpark) for a USB modem that does not need power – don’t want to spend to much as it would only be for emergencies (which seems to be quite often these days). SA back in the dark ages.

I paid around R400 - most likely too high, but I was in a hurry, so bought at the first shop that had one!

I like having a "spare", so that I can ensure the line IS faulty, and not just the router, so money well spent anyway (and, you can avoid downtime if one of them dies).

 

[youradsl]

Thx for the quick replies, 400 is ok, since options are limited.

 

[bwana]

Better have a couple spare laptop batteries on hand - bus powered usb devices can get hungry.

 

[lindito]

it's not that bad. i had a usb modem when i was in senegal. (in fact, as i said elsewhere, you get a USB modem as the default since everyone *knows* the electricity can't be trusted).

it didn't eat up my battery too too much, not more than my usb keyboard, to tell you the truth.

since i have 4 months to wait for adsl now, i guess i should get used to 56k. keep in mind i haven't had to dial up from 56k in almost 10 years before this bull**** i'm giong through now. *sigh*