What Phone Adapters for Italy and Switzerland?
Feb 27th 2003, 7:47 am
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
What Phone Adapters for Italy and Switzerland?
I'll need to connect my PC to the net during my trip to Italy and
Switzerland in late March, and have been scouting out phone adapters
on the web.
I'm thoroughly confused! Some places say that Italy uses RJ11
connectors (standard in the U.S.), while others say most places have
some kind of large modular plug that will need to be converted to
RJ11.
In Switzerland there's apparently an "old" plug and a "new one."
Can anybody who's been to either of these countries recently tell me
what adapters I'll likely need? I'd also appreciate any suggestions
for where to get them at a fair price.
Thanks.
Jerry
Please remove "unspam" from the beginning of this email
address if responding to me by email. Thanks. -- JW
Switzerland in late March, and have been scouting out phone adapters
on the web.
I'm thoroughly confused! Some places say that Italy uses RJ11
connectors (standard in the U.S.), while others say most places have
some kind of large modular plug that will need to be converted to
RJ11.
In Switzerland there's apparently an "old" plug and a "new one."
Can anybody who's been to either of these countries recently tell me
what adapters I'll likely need? I'd also appreciate any suggestions
for where to get them at a fair price.
Thanks.
Jerry
Please remove "unspam" from the beginning of this email
address if responding to me by email. Thanks. -- JW
Feb 27th 2003, 8:06 am
#2
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Posts: n/a
Re: What Phone Adapters for Italy and Switzerland?
Hi! Excuse me for my english...
In Italy there are 2 types of plug, the RJ11 and an old and large connector
with 3 pins (that are long about 1,5 cm). In Italy you can buy adaptors that
converts the "old" plug to the newr RJ11 female.
This is the old one on the wall: http://www.telco.it/images1/BL-10500.jpg
This is the adaptor: http://www.telco.it/images1/BL-10250.jpg
Greetings from Italy!
"Jerry Werner" ha scritto nel messaggio
news:[email protected]...
> I'll need to connect my PC to the net during my trip to Italy and
> Switzerland in late March, and have been scouting out phone adapters
> on the web.
> I'm thoroughly confused! Some places say that Italy uses RJ11
> connectors (standard in the U.S.), while others say most places have
> some kind of large modular plug that will need to be converted to
> RJ11.
> In Switzerland there's apparently an "old" plug and a "new one."
> Can anybody who's been to either of these countries recently tell me
> what adapters I'll likely need? I'd also appreciate any suggestions
> for where to get them at a fair price.
> Thanks.
> Jerry
> Please remove "unspam" from the beginning of this email
> address if responding to me by email. Thanks. -- JW
In Italy there are 2 types of plug, the RJ11 and an old and large connector
with 3 pins (that are long about 1,5 cm). In Italy you can buy adaptors that
converts the "old" plug to the newr RJ11 female.
This is the old one on the wall: http://www.telco.it/images1/BL-10500.jpg
This is the adaptor: http://www.telco.it/images1/BL-10250.jpg
Greetings from Italy!
"Jerry Werner" ha scritto nel messaggio
news:[email protected]...
> I'll need to connect my PC to the net during my trip to Italy and
> Switzerland in late March, and have been scouting out phone adapters
> on the web.
> I'm thoroughly confused! Some places say that Italy uses RJ11
> connectors (standard in the U.S.), while others say most places have
> some kind of large modular plug that will need to be converted to
> RJ11.
> In Switzerland there's apparently an "old" plug and a "new one."
> Can anybody who's been to either of these countries recently tell me
> what adapters I'll likely need? I'd also appreciate any suggestions
> for where to get them at a fair price.
> Thanks.
> Jerry
> Please remove "unspam" from the beginning of this email
> address if responding to me by email. Thanks. -- JW
Feb 27th 2003, 8:55 am
#3
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: What Phone Adapters for Italy and Switzerland?
On Thu, 27 Feb 2003 20:47:06 GMT, Jerry Werner
wrote:
>I'll need to connect my PC to the net during my trip to Italy and
>Switzerland in late March, and have been scouting out phone adapters
>on the web.
Comprehensive information can be found at http://kropla.com.
As for sources, I usually buy these at a local travel store so you may
want to try a place near home. I've also dealt with
http://www.walkabouttravelgear.com/
I travel with a thing called an "acoustic coupler" which connects the
modem by sending and receiving audio tones through the telephone
handset. This has the advantage that it works everywhere. Also there
are supposedly "tax impulses" on the lines in some countries that can
interfere with modem operation. These are less of a problem with the
acoustic coupler. Disadvantages of the acoustic coupler are that it's
heavy, bulky, and somewhat expensive (about US$90).
___________________________________________
Unit #02582: Endangered Old-Growth Redwood
Toothpick Artisans, LLC [TINEOGRTALLC]
--
Frivolity is a stern taskmaster.
wrote:
>I'll need to connect my PC to the net during my trip to Italy and
>Switzerland in late March, and have been scouting out phone adapters
>on the web.
Comprehensive information can be found at http://kropla.com.
As for sources, I usually buy these at a local travel store so you may
want to try a place near home. I've also dealt with
http://www.walkabouttravelgear.com/
I travel with a thing called an "acoustic coupler" which connects the
modem by sending and receiving audio tones through the telephone
handset. This has the advantage that it works everywhere. Also there
are supposedly "tax impulses" on the lines in some countries that can
interfere with modem operation. These are less of a problem with the
acoustic coupler. Disadvantages of the acoustic coupler are that it's
heavy, bulky, and somewhat expensive (about US$90).
___________________________________________
Unit #02582: Endangered Old-Growth Redwood
Toothpick Artisans, LLC [TINEOGRTALLC]
--
Frivolity is a stern taskmaster.
Feb 27th 2003, 9:37 am
#4
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: What Phone Adapters for Italy and Switzerland?
Jerry Werner wrote:
> Can anybody who's been to either of these countries recently tell me
> what adapters I'll likely need? I'd also appreciate any suggestions
> for where to get them at a fair price.
As a US-based traveler, the best place to buy adapters is always in the
country you're visiting.
1) They're hideously expensive in the US (figure on paying about 5-10 times
as much)
2) They're incredibly common everywhere else, because all new telecom
equipment (faxes, modems, cordless phone, etc.) is manufactured with
US-style connectors, so everyone needs them.
3) You may well find that the place you're visiting already has RJ-style
connectors, so you may not need anything at all.
miguel
--
Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu
> Can anybody who's been to either of these countries recently tell me
> what adapters I'll likely need? I'd also appreciate any suggestions
> for where to get them at a fair price.
As a US-based traveler, the best place to buy adapters is always in the
country you're visiting.
1) They're hideously expensive in the US (figure on paying about 5-10 times
as much)
2) They're incredibly common everywhere else, because all new telecom
equipment (faxes, modems, cordless phone, etc.) is manufactured with
US-style connectors, so everyone needs them.
3) You may well find that the place you're visiting already has RJ-style
connectors, so you may not need anything at all.
miguel
--
Hit The Road! Photos and tales from around the world: http://travel.u.nu
Feb 27th 2003, 11:43 pm
#5
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: What Phone Adapters for Italy and Switzerland?
Jerry Werner wrote:
>
> I'll need to connect my PC to the net during my trip to Italy and
> Switzerland in late March, and have been scouting out phone adapters
> on the web.
>
> I'm thoroughly confused! Some places say that Italy uses RJ11
> connectors (standard in the U.S.), while others say most places have
> some kind of large modular plug that will need to be converted to
> RJ11.
Every phone connection I've seen in Italy is RJ11. I brought my American
laptop when I moved to Italy and all I needed was an electrical cord
adaptor (available for small change in any Italian hardware store). On
the off-chance that you should find a connector that is not RJ11, you
should be able to easily find an adapter once you get here, because RJ11
is the standard.
Barbara
>
> I'll need to connect my PC to the net during my trip to Italy and
> Switzerland in late March, and have been scouting out phone adapters
> on the web.
>
> I'm thoroughly confused! Some places say that Italy uses RJ11
> connectors (standard in the U.S.), while others say most places have
> some kind of large modular plug that will need to be converted to
> RJ11.
Every phone connection I've seen in Italy is RJ11. I brought my American
laptop when I moved to Italy and all I needed was an electrical cord
adaptor (available for small change in any Italian hardware store). On
the off-chance that you should find a connector that is not RJ11, you
should be able to easily find an adapter once you get here, because RJ11
is the standard.
Barbara
Feb 27th 2003, 11:47 pm
#6
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: What Phone Adapters for Italy and Switzerland?
Charles Hawtrey wrote:
>
> On Thu, 27 Feb 2003 20:47:06 GMT, Jerry Werner
> wrote:
>
> >I'll need to connect my PC to the net during my trip to Italy and
> >Switzerland in late March, and have been scouting out phone adapters
> >on the web.
[snip]
> I travel with a thing called an "acoustic coupler" which connects the
> modem by sending and receiving audio tones through the telephone
> handset. This has the advantage that it works everywhere. Also there
> are supposedly "tax impulses" on the lines in some countries that can
> interfere with modem operation. These are less of a problem with the
> acoustic coupler. Disadvantages of the acoustic coupler are that it's
> heavy, bulky, and somewhat expensive (about US$90).
There's absolutely no need of this in Italy. I, my husband, my two
daughters and my husband's two sons all travel back and forth from North
America with our laptops and there has never been a modem problem in
either direction.
Barbara
>
> On Thu, 27 Feb 2003 20:47:06 GMT, Jerry Werner
> wrote:
>
> >I'll need to connect my PC to the net during my trip to Italy and
> >Switzerland in late March, and have been scouting out phone adapters
> >on the web.
[snip]
> I travel with a thing called an "acoustic coupler" which connects the
> modem by sending and receiving audio tones through the telephone
> handset. This has the advantage that it works everywhere. Also there
> are supposedly "tax impulses" on the lines in some countries that can
> interfere with modem operation. These are less of a problem with the
> acoustic coupler. Disadvantages of the acoustic coupler are that it's
> heavy, bulky, and somewhat expensive (about US$90).
There's absolutely no need of this in Italy. I, my husband, my two
daughters and my husband's two sons all travel back and forth from North
America with our laptops and there has never been a modem problem in
either direction.
Barbara
Feb 28th 2003, 2:15 am
#7
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: What Phone Adapters for Italy and Switzerland?
On Fri, 28 Feb 2003 13:47:41 +0100, Barbara Vaughan
wrote:
>There's absolutely no need of this in Italy. I, my husband, my two
>daughters and my husband's two sons all travel back and forth from North
>America with our laptops and there has never been a modem problem in
>either direction.
I'm glad you've had such positive experiences, but that doesn't
guarantee that others will not have problems. On my last visit to
Italy I was never able to make a successful modem connection. But
then the place where I was staying was sort of a dump (it was booked
by the institution I was visiting, not by me).
___________________________________________
Unit #02582: Endangered Old-Growth Redwood
Toothpick Artisans, LLC [TINEOGRTALLC]
--
Frivolity is a stern taskmaster.
wrote:
>There's absolutely no need of this in Italy. I, my husband, my two
>daughters and my husband's two sons all travel back and forth from North
>America with our laptops and there has never been a modem problem in
>either direction.
I'm glad you've had such positive experiences, but that doesn't
guarantee that others will not have problems. On my last visit to
Italy I was never able to make a successful modem connection. But
then the place where I was staying was sort of a dump (it was booked
by the institution I was visiting, not by me).
___________________________________________
Unit #02582: Endangered Old-Growth Redwood
Toothpick Artisans, LLC [TINEOGRTALLC]
--
Frivolity is a stern taskmaster.
Feb 28th 2003, 3:49 am
#8
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: What Phone Adapters for Italy and Switzerland?
In article , [email protected] (Charles
Hawtrey) wrote:
> On Fri, 28 Feb 2003 13:47:41 +0100, Barbara Vaughan
> wrote:
>
> >There's absolutely no need of this in Italy. I, my husband, my two
> >daughters and my husband's two sons all travel back and forth from
> North
> >America with our laptops and there has never been a modem problem in
> >either direction.
>
> I'm glad you've had such positive experiences, but that doesn't
> guarantee that others will not have problems. On my last visit to
> Italy I was never able to make a successful modem connection. But
> then the place where I was staying was sort of a dump (it was booked
> by the institution I was visiting, not by me).
The main problem I've had with modem connections in Italy is with the dial
tone, which in hotels is often the same as the British engaged tone. This
is presumably an issue with switchboards rather than the Italian phone
system per se.
(I've been told of a Hayes command to stop the modem worrying about the
tone, but I've never got it to work. Some fairly baroque workarounds
involving dialling on the phone and switching the connection to the laptop
at the last moment are occasionally successful.)
Incidentally, on the topic of adapter kits, you can't *always* trust them.
I have a set branded, I think, Road Warrior. The connector it advised to
use for Ireland was not recognised by a single Irish person!
Hawtrey) wrote:
> On Fri, 28 Feb 2003 13:47:41 +0100, Barbara Vaughan
> wrote:
>
> >There's absolutely no need of this in Italy. I, my husband, my two
> >daughters and my husband's two sons all travel back and forth from
> North
> >America with our laptops and there has never been a modem problem in
> >either direction.
>
> I'm glad you've had such positive experiences, but that doesn't
> guarantee that others will not have problems. On my last visit to
> Italy I was never able to make a successful modem connection. But
> then the place where I was staying was sort of a dump (it was booked
> by the institution I was visiting, not by me).
The main problem I've had with modem connections in Italy is with the dial
tone, which in hotels is often the same as the British engaged tone. This
is presumably an issue with switchboards rather than the Italian phone
system per se.
(I've been told of a Hayes command to stop the modem worrying about the
tone, but I've never got it to work. Some fairly baroque workarounds
involving dialling on the phone and switching the connection to the laptop
at the last moment are occasionally successful.)
Incidentally, on the topic of adapter kits, you can't *always* trust them.
I have a set branded, I think, Road Warrior. The connector it advised to
use for Ireland was not recognised by a single Irish person!
Feb 28th 2003, 4:12 am
#9
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: What Phone Adapters for Italy and Switzerland?
Charles Hawtrey wrote:
>
> On Fri, 28 Feb 2003 13:47:41 +0100, Barbara Vaughan
> wrote:
>
> >There's absolutely no need of this in Italy. I, my husband, my two
> >daughters and my husband's two sons all travel back and forth from North
> >America with our laptops and there has never been a modem problem in
> >either direction.
>
> I'm glad you've had such positive experiences, but that doesn't
> guarantee that others will not have problems. On my last visit to
> Italy I was never able to make a successful modem connection. But
> then the place where I was staying was sort of a dump (it was booked
> by the institution I was visiting, not by me).
In spite of your bulky $90 acoustic coupler?
Actually, I've never tried using a modem in a hotel, so maybe the
problem, as suggested elsewhere, is with the hotel switchboard.
Barbara
Barbara
>
> On Fri, 28 Feb 2003 13:47:41 +0100, Barbara Vaughan
> wrote:
>
> >There's absolutely no need of this in Italy. I, my husband, my two
> >daughters and my husband's two sons all travel back and forth from North
> >America with our laptops and there has never been a modem problem in
> >either direction.
>
> I'm glad you've had such positive experiences, but that doesn't
> guarantee that others will not have problems. On my last visit to
> Italy I was never able to make a successful modem connection. But
> then the place where I was staying was sort of a dump (it was booked
> by the institution I was visiting, not by me).
In spite of your bulky $90 acoustic coupler?
Actually, I've never tried using a modem in a hotel, so maybe the
problem, as suggested elsewhere, is with the hotel switchboard.
Barbara
Barbara
