The problem of blogging when away from home has been solved, at least in part by my new toy, mobile broadband.
I did a quick post before leaving Wanaka at 6.30 this morning and turned the laptop on again when we got to Otahuti in Southland. There, I was able to check emails, a few news sites and my must-read blogs beside the sheep yards while my farmer helped load a truck.
Reception was maintained from Otahuti until we got past Riverton and I was able to reconnect on the road back to Winton. However, by then the laptop battery was getting low.
I left it in the woolshed for a 10 minute charge as we drove round a farm at Dipton, and the battery is back to 40%, but if I’m going to blog on the road I’ll have to find an adaptor that runs off the cigarette lighter, or invest in a second battery.
Homepaddock 
How expensive is mobile broadband.
I have a fear it will cost the earth.
But it may well be cheaper as I have just had to take my laptop to be repaired.
It maybe a software problem.
It maybe I have buggered the hole at the side where you put the blue cable in.
I guess I’ll find out tomorrow.
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I am probably the last person you should ask for advice on anything technological – but mobile is working for me so far.
There were various plans through Telecom (we chose that because although mobile reception at home isn’t great Telecom usually is better than the others).
We went for $199 for hardware then $50 for a gigabite (spelling?) a month with $10 for every extra gigabite – other plans had more expensive hardware, cheaper monthly costs for fewer bites.
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Great stuff HP – we made it safely to Christchurch, so I am tapping in to the in-laws’s wireless network! The thought of three blogfree days was too awful to contemplate!!
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How the hell can anyone blog in Southland? If you go to Scott Base at least the humidity is lower.
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I2 – delighted you’ve made it safely and won’t have to go cold turkey on blogging.
AF: Don’t knock Southland – all those cows and sheep can’t be wrong; and while I’m not very keen on either swedes or oysters the cold does enhance their flavour.
It was a beautiful sunny day there today. We’re now back in Wanaka where the stars are out so will probably be frosty tomorrow.
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FM – you need to consider what speed you get from broadband and how much you travel.
Wireless broadband at home gives us 100kbps and the mobile connection gives 115.2kbps. But if you can get fibre optic broadband it will be much faster than that.
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