Has anyone tried Skype or Gizmo in Japan using the N800? I was planning to connect using the D-Link DWL-G730AP and the N800 in a hotel room wired for Internet Access. I am hoping I can make the DWL-G730AP work there, because I have not been able to reach the Internet when it is connected to my DSL wireless modem at home. There must be some setting I am missing to connect to the Internet at home even though I enter the correct WEP number. But right now, my primary concern is making this setup work in Japan. Any thoughts on any of this would be appreciated! :-)

I don't understand how your problem is related to japan? Internet is the same everywhere... and I guess that if you can't access your router at home, you won't be able to access it in your hotel room... am I right?

Anyway, there's plenty of free wireless access in Tokyo; I can give you some of them.. You can also easily buy some 500 yens codes that give you 24H access to wifi in a good number of coffeeshops and train stations

There is the frequency issue; Japan has a couple extra channels for b/g. But if you're bringing the router, you won't have it set on those, I assume...

If the WEP is the problem, I suppose you could ditch that while in Japan, but you could do it here, too.

Thanks to both of you! If I can pay for wifi at a train station, that will be perfect (though not the most desirable way). I am hoping that all I need do is plug in the DWL-G730AP in the hotel room and be good to go as well, without needing to worry about codes or special setup. I am not really worried about use at home. I will be taking a one time only, 1 week trip to Japan (Tokyo, actually Tama, I think), and want to be able to use Skype and Gizmo since our USA cell phones do not work there. :-) Again, thanks!

You'll see that you can catch a surprizing number of wifi signals, wherever you are. (5 to 10, in an usual street). 90% of them are private and closed, 10% are open.. but usually they wont work. However, by wandering around 10 minutes, you'll probably be able to catch something from a coffee shop or some fellow japanese network.

That's not so reliable, though... so you can find some commercial networks. One of them is run by NTT, i guess, and can be found in public places, some hotels and restaurants chains. Check hotspot.ne.jp. The places are the local brand of burgers "MOS BURGER". Usually quiet enough and burgers are very good.

In these places, the SSID is "033" (or is it 0033)?. To access it, you need an ID and a password. What you have to do is to go to a "familiy mart" covenience store, spot the small touch screen machine that deliver services (ot the ATM!), and find the icon about wifi services.. Then you chose HOTSPOT... one day for 500 yen... and the machine will print a little something that you have to give to the cashier... He will make you pay the 500 yen and give you the paper with your ID.

Sound difficult but, actually,it's very easy and takes about 20 scds.


Also check these ones.. cafes and hotels, mostly.
http://www.freespot.com/users/map_e.html

Thank You! I feel prepared to go now, and I know my options! :-)