Can I use my computer in strange lands?

The answer is yes if your equipment is compatible with the line voltage (110 volts or 220 volts), line frequency (50 Hertz or 60 Hertz), telephone line type (analog or digital), dial tone type, dialing method (tone or pulse), and connector type (of which there are many).

What about the cycle (Hz) difference?

Most laptop computers and portable peripheral devices use an external power supply that plugs into an AC electrical outlet and supplies DC power to the device. Desktop computers generally have built-in power supplies. It is rare nowadays to find a computer that cannot run on both 50 and 60 Hz. Check the computer's power specifications and confirm they say 50/60 Hz and your worries are over.

What about the voltage difference?

First, you need to determine if your computer or peripheral device is dual voltage (if it is manufactured to accept both 110V 60 Hz and 220V 50 Hz electricity). If you are unsure, check your manual, the back of the device, or the power supply transformer that plugs into the wall to see if it says something like 100-240V, 50 / 60 Hz. If it does, it is dual voltage.

If your device is dual voltage (most are nowadays) then you should be able to use it internationally with just an adapter plug to fit the wall outlet. Some dual-voltage devices can detect the local line voltage and automatically switch accordingly, but others may have a switch to change from 110V to 220V. If it has a switch, remember to have it on the correct setting for the local voltage.

If your device is not dual voltage, you will need a transformer to change the local line voltage to the correct voltage for the device. To determine which transformer you need, add up the wattage of all the devices you will have plugged in at one time, and buy the next bigger one. 

Connecting Your Modem

If you plan to use your modem, you may also need a telephone adapter. There is no worldwide standard for telephone jacks, but the North American RJ-11 pattern is the most common, used in over 100 countries. In other places, plugging into a phone line is impossible without the proper telephone adapter. Wireless internet is spreading rapidly and is common at large hotels.

Foreign Dial Tones and Manual Dialing

You can also run into problems with dial tones overseas. Your computer may not recognize the dial tone of the country you are in as a "dial tone." Depending on the modem software you are using, you might need to put a check in the Ignore Dialtone checkbox in your modem software setup window. In addition to voltage, there are a few other issues:

• The physical connection between the modem and the telephone line. This may require an adapter.
• A digital vs. analog telephone system. 
• Line noise that could interfere with the modem's signals.

Most phones use modular jacks. If your computer/modem uses an RJ-11 jack (the one in North America) and the country you will be visiting also uses an RJ-11 jack then you do not need a telephone adapter. Don't forget to take a telephone cord like our Telespool though.

However, there are 38 other kinds of phone jacks in use throughout the world, and if you are traveling somewhere that doesn't use the RJ-11 plug you will need a telephone line adapter. A complete list of countries and the required telephone line adapters can be found in our Worldwide Phone/ Modem Index. Our telephone line adapters are duplex (unless otherwise noted); these allow the telephone and the modem to be plugged in at the same time. This is important because it can sometimes be necessary to dial manually and then activate the modem once a connection has been made. Remember that some foreign-owned hotels will have the telephone systems of their home countries, not of their host countries. This may be an unwelcome surprise when traveling to Iceland and expecting an RJ-11 only to find that the British-owned hotel is fitted with British phone jacks.

2. What about digital telephone systems?

Modems communicate using analog or sound signals while many new telephone systems use digital signal processing. Digital systems are unable to process analog signals, making it impossible for modems to communicate. Many large hotels, offices and universities have installed digital phone systems. How do you know if it is a digital line? Clues include: telephones with digital displays, extra buttons for laundry and video stations, and voice mail functions. There could be a special connector for a data port, but you must find out if this is digital or analog. Plugging into a digital system can potentially fry your modem, because the voltage level is higher than what many modems can handle.

3. What about line noise?

Line noise is another problem, especially in less industrialized countries. In most cases, you are at the mercy of the telephone exchange but there are a few tricks that might help reduce the interference. First, try connecting at lower modem speeds. Try reducing to lower speeds a step at a time until you get reliable results. Or, you can try working very late at night when there are fewer people using the network. There is also a type of deliberately created line noise called tax impulsing. This is a high-frequency/high pulse signal that is sometimes filtered out by the hotel PABX. If you are traveling to Germany, Austria, Belgium, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, or Spain, these noises may not be filtered out and you may need to take a line filter in order to use your modem. Some modems will get by without a line filter, some may not.

4. How do I find Internet access numbers and providers worldwide?

Visit an excellent source at TheList.Com

Summary

• If devices are dual voltage - You need the appropriate grounded adapter plug,  but you do not need a transformer.
• If devices are 110V only - You need both a transformer and a grounded adapter.
• Select the appropriate telephone adapter - for your fax/modem from our worldwide telephone index.
• Line Noise? Try connecting at a lower speed.
• Tax impulsing? A line filter may be necessary.
• Other products you may need:
- Surge protector to protect equipment against voltage spikes.

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Don't forget.  You still need a telephone line to hook up to the telephone line...

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