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Equipment Review for At-Home Transcription

TravelingRae by TravelingRae

Transcription is the Perfect Work-From-Home Job

I wish I had discovered the transcription field years ago! I live and travel full-time in an RV and love to type, so this perfect work-from-home job is a great fit for me.

As I have gained new transcription clients and have expanded from general transcription to legal, I've slowly added to my home office's equipment so as to make me a more professional and faster transcriptionist.

I run my transcription business on a Macbook Pro and have a lot of peripherals, some of which I'll review below. Note that I don't like wireless devices since they need batteries and aren't always reliable so I believe USB cables to be a necessary evil!

Please visit my website for more information about my transcription services, including experience and rates.

Table of Contents

  1. Uninterrupted Power Supply With Surge Protection
  2. Internet Through a USB Aircard or Modem
  3. Internet Tip for Canadians
  4. Connecting Lots of Peripherals Thanks to a USB Powered Hub
  5. Label Your USB Cables!
  6. Backup With an External Hard Drive
  7. Typing More Efficiently Thanks to an Ergonomic Keyboard
  8. Eliminate Trackpad Frustration By Getting a Mouse
  9. A Noise-Canceling Headset Also Improves Transcription Speeds
  10. Get Foot Pedal for Maximum Transcription Efficiency
  11. Express Scribe: Free Transcription Software
  12. Poll About Transcription Equipment
  13. Are You A Work-From-Home Transcriptionist?
  14. About the Author

Uninterrupted Power Supply With Surge Protection

UPSYour transcription business' first line of defense against power grid fluctuations is an uninterrupted power supply with surge protection. The UPS will give you time to shut down your equipment in the event of a power failure and the surge protection will save the equipment from power spikes.

I have an APC UPS with several outlets, allowing me to protect all my equipment while only using one outlet in my rig.

Get an Uninterrupted Power Supply

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Internet Through a USB Aircard or Modem

usb modemInternet access is critical for my transcription business. I need to be able to communicate on at least a daily basis with clients as well as have the ability to download large audio files. A USB aircard or modem provides internet through the cellular network and offers faster speeds at lower cost than does satellite.

I have a Telus Sierra Wireless USB Modem with a 5GB plan that costs me $72 per month after fees and taxes. Rates in the U.S. for a comparable package are much lower. Check out your local Craigslist or Kijijji to save on your device. I got mine free (a more than $200 value) for taking over a contract for six months! I picked Telus because they have the best coverage across the country.

Internet Tip for Canadians

With Starbucks and McDonalds restaurants offering free wi-fi, it can be cheaper to use them for internet! For example, a 5GB package with Telus is $72 per month including taxes and fees, plus $52 per extra GB, while 30 grande regular coffees at Starbucks are $60 a month if you bring your own mug.

Get a USB Aircard or Modem

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Connecting Lots of Peripherals Thanks to a USB Powered Hub

usb powered hubI don't like wireless devices so I have to deal with a lot of USB plugs. My MacBook only has three outlets so I use one for a USB powered hub. Having a powered one means that I can plug any USB device into it, including a power hungry printer and my iPod Touch. My hub has seven ports, making for a total of ten. They are all used!

Label Your USB Cables!

I use a label maker to identify each cable so that I don't accidentally unplug something that hasn't been properly ejected.

Get a USB Powered Hub

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Backup With an External Hard Drive

western digital external hard driveComputer backups are always essential, but never more so than when you run a business. External hard drives in huge capacities get cheaper every year. I have two, one for my backup and one for storing media like audio and video files.

I use the app SuperDuper! in combination with OS X's Time Machine to effortlessly backup my system.

Get an External Hard Drive

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Typing More Efficiently Thanks to an Ergonomic Keyboard

microsoft comfort curve keyboardI type a lot so a good keyboard is a must. While I love Apple computers, I find that their peripherals are subpar! After spending hours testing keyboards a few years ago, I found a keyboard that moved effortlessly under my fingers, allowed me type without pain for as long as I wanted, was inexpensive, and was even reasonably spill and crumb proof. I never shopped for another keyboard again, buying a new model every year (I said I type a lot!) marveling that it remains one of the least expensive keyboards on the market and that its price keeps dropping!

The keyboard that this Mac gal is fiercely loyal to is a... Microsoft Comfort Curve Keyboard.

Get a Microsoft Comfort Curve Keyboard

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Eliminate Trackpad Frustration By Getting a Mouse

I can't stand the Macbook Pro trackpad so I reverted back to using a mouse. I really like the compact Microsoft mouse for a number of reasons:

1) It's just the right size for my small palm;

2) It's a POM (plain ol' mouse): two buttons and a scroll wheel. I hate mice with extra bits to them;

3) It's inexpensive.

Get a Microsoft Compact Optical Mouse

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A Noise-Canceling Headset Also Improves Transcription Speeds

philips noise canceling headphonesAll transcriptionists need a good noise-canceling headset to block out ambient noise, amplify the audio, and help focus.

I bought a Philips noise-canceling headset on Amazon and am very impressed with the product, especially considering the low price point. The behind-the-head headphones are comfortable and sound is very clear, especially when you activate the noise-canceling function.

Get a Philips Noise-Canceling Headset

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Get Foot Pedal for Maximum Transcription Efficiency

Infinity Foot PedalIt has been proven that using a foot pedal will significantly improve your transcription speeds since it keeps your hands on the keyboard. I like the Infinity Foot Pedal I bought on Amazon because its hefty weight means it stays in place and the pedals are well defined and work smoothly.

I use my foot pedal with two feet. I keep the toes of my right food on the edge of the middle part for playing and stopping and the big toe of my left foot over the left button for rewinding. Some people move their foot from pedal to pedal, but driving a car with a standard transmission means I am used to using both feet and hands at the same time. :)

Get an Infinity Transcription Foot Pedal

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Express Scribe: Free Transcription Software

I can't imagine paying for expensive transcription software when the free Express Scribe from NCH exists. You can type directly into the software or use it with your favourite word processor and it is also compatible with most foot pedals.

I use other NCH software, HourGuard, Express Invoice, and Express Accounts, to handle my time and bookkeeping. All have free versions that serve me well.

Poll About Transcription Equipment

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Are You A Work-From-Home Transcriptionist?

  • RenaissanceWoman2010 Dec 26, 2011 @ 5:09 pm | delete
    I appreciated this review of equipment and work options for those who love the flexibility of working from anywhere. I did not know about this equipment and had not thought about the possibilities associated with transcription services. Thanks for another enlightening review. Always very helpful information that can be readily applied. A great combination!
  • cgreen7090 Sep 23, 2011 @ 1:42 pm | delete
    Yep, been doing it for about 7 years now...love the flexibility of it. Not sure how i'd like doing it on an RV, but hey, I bet it works for you!
  • TravelingRae Sep 23, 2011 @ 1:50 pm | delete
    It's great doing it in the RV--I have a full-equipped home office with internet and the view out the window changes regularly! :)
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About the Author

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This UpMarket page written by

TravelingRae

I am Rae Crothers, a full-time Canadian RVer and author of the RV lifestyle blog Travels With Miranda.

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