Category: gprs

GPRS Munging

Posted from: Macintosh Ti PowerBook, running MacOS X 10.2.3 with Bluetooth (simpler, more integrated than Windows XP) using Optus GPRS (also more and better integrated than Windows XP). Just double-checking that this works. Seems to drop out a little quickly…

In all this talk of 1980s music, I keep forgetting that Crowded House’s Don’t Dream Its Over was released in 1987, therefore making it a 1980s classic. Neil “dontated” the song to the NZ Tourism Board in their advertising campaign for New Zealand. “In 5 days you’ll feel 100%”. Too right!

GPRS

Posting this entry via Bluetooth, GPRS. Wireless, Baby. Yeah!

GPRS connection setup time is really quick; there is no overhead of normal modems (handshaking) – but its still a little slower than ISDN setup time. It feels about as fast as a 56K modem connection, so its still not super-fast, but much more acceptable than the 9.6Kb you normally get with the data-over-voice cellular style connection. With my Bluetooth adaptor, the connection between the laptop and the phone is wireless. It creates a virtual COM port you address like a normal modem, and works without the directionality of IrDA. The plan I am on from Optus is 1c per KB (that’s a Kilobyte). There are other plans, and I’ll feel out my usage. The idea is to use it minimally and just to stay in contact.

Once you have connected, you have essentially a TCP/IP pipe – just like an Ethernet/Cable Modem/PPP style connection. VPN, email etc all work just like a normal dialup connection. Albeit a little more expensive.