direct to laptop modem?
 

you really know your stuff! I was wondering if it's possible to get a usb broadband modem and use a female to female adapter to it in order to connect the n810 to a wireless broadband network. I'm thinking if it's poassible to avoid a tethering/ bluetooth option and just port directly into a laptom modem. thanks.

Re: direct to laptop modem?
 

The USB connector on the N810 can provide very little power for the device. You didn't say what kind of modem it is, so it's difficult to tell. However, things like 3G/HSDPA USB modems need too much current for sure.

Re: direct to laptop modem?
 

thanks for the reply. i don't know what modem or even if such a modem is exists. that's why i'm asking--to see if anyone knows if it's possible in general, if they've done it, experimented. it seems to me that tethering to a bluetooth device is silly and cost prohibitive when laptops can run around online without having to bother with tethering.

Re: direct to laptop modem?
 

For me, tethering through the phone I have in my pocket or belt is completely transparent. I wouldn't want it to be different - it's certainly easier than having to connect some dongle to the tablet. It couldn't be simpler, it's as connecting to a wi-fi hotspot, just that the access point is somewhere in a pocket.

Re: direct to laptop modem?
 

i ca n understand and appreciate that--so long as things work well for you. for me, i have a phone w/o bluetooth and a contract, so to get mobile, i need to purchase a data plan with tethering and get a pda that i don't need.

Re: direct to laptop modem?
 

I don't know if a direct connection to a modem is possible, but you might experiment with using a battery powered hub to connect your tablet to a modem.

Re: direct to laptop modem?
 

With a phone without BT it would be tricky indeed. But even with a USB modem you would need to purchase a contract and data plan, if you want to connect to a non-wi-fi network while on the go, and then there's the prohibitive power requirements of such modems (although people have experimented with using small add-ons or battery-powered mini-hubs). The alternative is to look for wi-fi hotspots, if there are any in your area. At home, if you have an internet connection, you could get a wi-fi router and you would be online with your N810.

Re: direct to laptop modem?
 

i live in nyc so i can get a fair number of hotspots. my problem, though, is when i'm at work. the NIT does not detect the network and when i went to the IT department, I was told that it would not be likely that I'd get permission to use the tablet on the wan. So I'm trying to figure out a way that I can use the NIT at work, and I don't want to spend the money on an unlimited data plan (but I will), but I sure don't want to shell out more cash for a PDA PLUS a tethering plan. Oh, if things could just be a little easier ! Suggestions please!

Re: direct to laptop modem?
 

Good news if you have sprint, they are lowering the price on the PAM plan to $15 a month, so ideally you could get a cheap centro from somewhere. Also with palm based phones you can port your phone data to BT or USB without a dataplan with USBModem. So there are a few options for you if you'd want to either buy a new phone or a used treo/centro from somewhere if your provider supports them.

Re: direct to laptop modem?
 

I'm not sure why you would have to buy a PDA as well... that's some insanely silly carrier policy or something?

Re: direct to laptop modem?
 

I believe they are referring to a smart phone, as most carriers don't offer Tethering plans on standard phones.

Re: direct to laptop modem?
 

I couldn't find any reference of Sprint lowering the PAM price to $15 a month on the Sprint site. I did find a specific message saying there was no PAM plan to go with the Simply Everything plan. I also found stuff indicating maybe it would cost $49 a month for such a plan. In short, confusing.

Re: direct to laptop modem?
 

I have the sprint unlimited data plan thing with a novatel u727 usb modem, and it ends up being around $63/month after all the fees and such. I couldn't find anything on lowering the cost either, but if I hear anything I'll post back here.
I'm going to be working to get mine working with the n810 shortly, but as mentioned previously it'll probably require a battery powered hub or some sort of external power hack.
Best of luck.