While the Dot Com Lifestyle allows you to run your site from anywhere in the world, you can’t really do that if you don’t have the right equipment. I travel with a bunch of gadgets that allow me to stay connected to the empire no matter where I am.
I want to show you two items that have a proven to be indispensable when it comes time to hit the road. One device turns the hotel’s Internet into a wireless hotspot. It’s perfect for hotels that charge for wireless Internet by the laptop. Pay one fee, get everyone connected. The other device turns the hotel’s phone into a VoIP phone. It allows me to take my number with me when I’m traveling. If you call my home number, it will ring my hotel phone in Shanghai.
If there’s enough interest, I may follow up this article with a post showing my entire mobile setup.
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The VOIP gadget looks really interesting, John.
I’m curious to know whether any of the hotels have ever disapproved the use of your router. With that said, I suppose they have to actually see it to know you have it.
I would certainly be interested to see your full mobile setup.
I like the VOIP device, anything to saves on LD charges and keeps me in touch with my “empire” is a good thing.
Now if only I could fine my “empire”
yes, I would LOVE to see your setup… I’d like FULL disclosure… all pcs, all equipment!
I can’t remember from a few posts back. Did you bring your Mac with you?
Yes, I am using the Mac on this trip.
I did a similar thing with the router at my college dorm. Went all year with no problems, so I’m sure they won’t say anything. If they do, just go to another hotel
Wow that’s so super cool…. I am going to prepare myself with those stuffs as well….
Sweet setup. I’m wondering, too, if hotels have done anything to interfere with the wireless device.
What a coincidence I have the same equipment. when I was in Brazil in January I was able to be connected to my home phone number and take all the calls. Remember that some companies charge extra to redirect calls even though you’re using VOIP.
I’m surprised they haven’t caught on to your router yet.
As long as he isn’t torrenting or something along those lines the traffic won’t be all that noticeable.
They only notice if you download torrents due to their larger file sizes to be honest.
This one didn’t seem to come through:
If you don’t have a VoIP package at home, just use one of the following:
1. SkypeIn (might not be compatible with the box).
2. Another one of those?
3. This one works for sure, but can be pretty costly and requires quite a bit of work — set up a Linux box attached to your phone and LAN network at home, just happens to give you lots of other benefits (answering machine, etc.) at the same time.
I utilise the voip adapter when travelling to, I would be interested in your set up to see if I am missing any gadgets……can’t have that ;o)
Webcam, Jump Drive, External Mouse are some of the uber basics lol, sure you already knew that though I just felt like saying it.
I have used a wireless router for several years when traveling and found no problem at all using a wireless router at a hotel. I am on a macbook pro and I use a airport express router which is small and works well.
So I am not so curious as to what steps hotels take to stop such devices, but I am curious as to whether you are experiencing any issues with the chinese government blocking such services like vonage? If it is working, I am assuming not. I could see where the communists might frown on such communications.
I don’t see where it is harming anyone, so there shouldn’t be a problem.
Hey, looks like a pretty cool set up. The VOIP is a great gadget saving a huge amount in long distance from Vancouver to China & back. And yes, I’d love to see the entire set up.
another easy way to redirect calls from you house to your laptop is buy a skype number and setup it to receive all the calls from you landline and send to your skype online.
great tools and for sure on the to do list.
How much did those gadgets run you John?
He gets them free, usually to review for TTZMedia.
Interesting but I’d probably never use them as I don’t even have a home phone number
don’t forget about power adaptor/converter.. Because not all countries run on same voltage.
I actually saw this thing at the mall today which was a huge adapter that went from US to like 10 other countries. Crazy stuff
Can you use voip to redirect phone calls from your cell? I don’t have a landline… Do you still have to pay the daily internet usage fee if you have this router?
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John,
Good tool - I wonder, do any hotels support this?
That was my first time watching one of your videos your blog was one of the first blogs I ever came across. I suppose video posts are effective. I like the accent too! Problogger has nothing on you.
Are you going to build a call center team John?
Great video John. Thanks for the gadget tips!
Wow. I actually have the Linksys Cable/DSL Router. Looks like I’m going to have to get this phone gadget of theirs as well.
The only thing wireless I have is my router and WII. The router comes in handy for when people bring over a laptop. Unfortunately I still don’t have one. I am still stuck with a clunky desktop. It would be nice to break away and be able to sit on the couch though.
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That is a cool device that let’s you take your own phone number where ever you go. The tools of the Dot Com trade
Thanks for sharing.
~Terry
Are you serious? I suppose you asked the permission of the hotel for your router; otherwise, you’re earning way too much already to steal… Even if you’re not earning much… you get what i mean..
Don’t need permission. Hotel doesn’t care. And I’m not stealing their Internet. I pay for it. If anything, they’re the one who’s stealing by charging $17US per day!
That’s true. If the hotel’s price per night is too high at least the internet should be free. I’ve been in many hotels in USA and 85% of them the internet is free.
Yeah it is not stealing when you put a wireless internet … They never say that internet is for one device … usually it is for one room.
Some smarter hotels actually block the right ports so that devices like those don’t work. That’s where VONAGE’s soft phone product comes into play. It runs off your computer like Skype, only it’s actually your number.
I take a Linksys Router (WRT54GC) with me when I’m out and about that looks like a mini version of that VOIP adapter that John has in his hands. Thanks to the awesome range, I’ve stuck it out my Hotel window sometimes so I have WiFi when I’m near the Hotel I’m at so I don’t have to hunt down WiFi, or pay again.
Here’s a look at my Mobile Office when I was in Hong Kong for a month last year.
Hahahaha That’s great. I’ve been doing VoIP for about 5 years and I’ve been “temporarily” in Chicago for 2 years, so people in LA keep asking me to meet them and I have to explain I’ll see them at the end of the year-and if I need to I can still convince local businesses not to “make me come down there” to settle issues.
And of course softphone on the MDA is a nice backup.
But the Vonage affiliate program is still new so I STILL haven’t gotten approved yet!
I have that same VoIP adapter. I never knew it worked on other networks. So I can connect it to ANY network connected to the internet and recieve calls? Kickass! Thanks for the tip.
Art
What is the point for these gadgets when China ADSL still requires dailup from the computer. I brought my VOIP last time and it woudn’t work.
I would like to see the rest of the stuff too. VOIP can be useful but may not work due to router settings on the local network.
Hey John,
After reading your recommendation I immediately wanted to buy that wireless router. It’s so small! It’s discontinued though. Any pther suggestions?
Thanks!
great video john
I love that router, it’s so small and practical!
How many laptops did you bring out with you John in this trip?
Hey John, I’m looking forward to articles about the mobile setup including the VoIP setup too! Very interesting….
I didn’t know that feature about Vonage.. that is cool now I have to consider getting that.
“If there’s enough interest, I may follow up this article with a post showing my entire mobile setup.”
Please do. I’m really interested.
Would also like to see the whole mobile setup and know what accessories and software you use with your Mac. One problem I have is that with my PC, I use the blackberry to tether and can avoid those nightly charges, yet I can’t get the Mac to tether. Verizon will not support.
Using new Macbook Pro with blackberry 8830.
[...] just watched this video from webtrepreneur John Chow about the equipment he takes around the world in order to run his [...]
i can get connected to internet with my Nokia N73 via which i can only surf the web sites but can’t Blog on my site