wireless internet modems

Submitted: Thursday, Sep 11, 2008 at 13:34

ThreadID: 61574 Views:3006 Replies:6 FollowUps:4

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grandma ros

I am looking for opinions on the advantages of a wireless card versus next g mobile phone as a modem while travelling with my laptop. have checked prices data pack and wireless plans are the same price there is no charges to mobile phone account and with mobile phone data pack no contract, your opinions would be appreciated. I may be missing some information but in my eyes the mobile phone as a modem seems to be better off.

Chris

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Reply By: Notso - Thursday, Sep 11, 2008 at 14:06

Thursday, Sep 11, 2008 at 14:06

I use a Data pack on my mobile when travelling and have found it ideal for what I want. Turn it on and off as you please, even in the middle of a billing period.

AnswerID: 324779

Reply By: howie - Thursday, Sep 11, 2008 at 15:12

Thursday, Sep 11, 2008 at 15:12

just had a $29 data pack on my nextg phone for the 2 months of travelling, now turned it off.
telstra's data packs have become much bigger recently.
during my trip the $29 plan went from 80mb to 300 mb.
all depends on your usage i suppose.

AnswerID: 324783

Follow Up By: Member - Peter R (QLD) - Thursday, Sep 11, 2008 at 16:13

Thursday, Sep 11, 2008 at 16:13

At the suggestion of Arthur V see this thread
Site Link

I arranged for a $10 Browser Pack through Telstra which gives 150mg for a month. For $29 this increases to 300mg

Have the F165 from Telstra on Next G and it seems to work OK.
Just download software called Joinme attach phone to laptop via USB and follow the prompts.

The beauty of the Browser Pack it is on a monthly basis and can be cancelled anytime whereas the $39.95 deal is for 24 months.

Only want access to read emails and do banking when I'm away.

I can always change over if the browser pack does not work out.

Pedro

FollowupID: 591931

Reply By: swampy66 - Thursday, Sep 11, 2008 at 18:22

Thursday, Sep 11, 2008 at 18:22

ros,

ive just cancelled my next g account - ive had it for a few years now (formerly cdma) to use while on the road travelling.

luckily - i was free of the contract so there were no cancellation fees.

it was hard to justify $50 per month - when there were months I weren't travelling and didn't use the wireless internet ( i have broadband at home)

now i plan to use my phone as a modem - which is how all this started in 2004.
back then - wireless internet access in caravan parks and other venues were unheard of.

using the phone as a modem - im not stuck in any contract (as i have the phone anyway) and i can still manage my internet usage as i did previously. im sure it will be cheaper for me in the long run - even if i blow out my limit a few times a year.

have fun.
swampy

AnswerID: 324808

Follow Up By: swampy66 - Thursday, Sep 11, 2008 at 18:24

Thursday, Sep 11, 2008 at 18:24

ros,

to clarify the above reply

the account i cancelled was a $50 200mb next g wireless broadband account. i got to keep the bigpond modem card.

swampy

FollowupID: 591944

Follow Up By: hl - Friday, Sep 12, 2008 at 08:12

Friday, Sep 12, 2008 at 08:12

If you only use it occasionally, you may want to consider a NextG prepay SIM. They now have a 12months expiry if you don't recharge. Put a $10.00 datapack (the datapack is only good for a month) on it and it will give you 20MB. That SIM card will also work in your wireless modem although to re-charge you will have to put it back in the phone.
If you're on a plan with Telstra then the $10.00 Datapack buys you 150MB, however, on prepay you only get 20MB.
Cheers

FollowupID: 592029

Reply By: Member - Norm C (QLD) - Thursday, Sep 11, 2008 at 20:10

Thursday, Sep 11, 2008 at 20:10

I use the data pack (1G) via my Samsung A412 Next G phone. Works perfectly.

If not using mobile all the time, this is the way to go in my view.

If travelling permanently or using mobile all the time, a modem is probably more convenient.

Norm C

AnswerID: 324836

Follow Up By: Racey - Friday, Sep 12, 2008 at 20:18

Friday, Sep 12, 2008 at 20:18

I agree. WE used a data pack for month it was good value. A wireless internet package will lock you into a contract you don't need with broadband at home.

Cheers

Racey

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Reply By: P7OFFROAD Accredited Driver Training - Friday, Sep 12, 2008 at 06:58

Friday, Sep 12, 2008 at 06:58

Yep, as others have said..

We recently did the 'Just 4 Kids Motortrail' and ran a trip report with daily updates (plus needing the internet to stay in touch with the business)

we purchased a 3gig data pack for the time we were away and just plugged in the LG phone...

worked brilliantly, only downside was the battery consumption of the phone was exceptionally high while it was hooked up, that and the phone's battery is just about on its last legs anyway...

I rang up yesterday to cancel the data pack, they tried to sell me a next g modem, when I asked what possible advantage there was over the way that i was doing it now, he had to admit that i have the best of both worlds.

Then asked me about changing phones, and clearing any payout figures...

AnswerID: 324892