Internet without wireless.

You have a few options:

1) Use the wireless network (WiFi) of wherever you are visiting (e.g. caravan parks etc).
They tend to be overpriced and poor performing

2) Use wireless internet (e.g. 3G). While it covers 95% of the population, this only equates to something like 10% of the landmass so if you don't spend time near cities you cannot use it.

3) Satellite internet (e.g. vansat). Lots of up front cost for equipment and the plans are expensive compared to residential internet but it will work anywhere you have line of sight to the sats. Satellite latency is also poor (pins of 1.5-3 seconds) so don't expect to play games across the link but for browsing and email (and voip/skype with an annoying delay) are fine.

Hi Priscilla G,

I currently have, and am using at this very moment, a satellite internet.

We can't get broadband in any form where I live except satellite.

Satellite has specific areas of coverage and if you cannot get broadband any other way the govt. will subsidise the installation. You may already know this.

I cannot see why it would not work when traveling provided you were in a reception area which are wides spread but as I said, apparently in specific areas, if that makes sense.

It is not as fast as broadband you get in town and it is not without its problems, excessive traffic problems in peak hours etc. need to reload pages due to missed connection and timeout problems. The last one may be user adjustable but I have not looked into it.

Modem currently requires 240 volts to work but modem could be modified to run on something between 8.5 volts DC and 24 volts DC according to the label on the modem power pack. Modem runs on a transformer which comes with it.

Hope this is of some help.
Cheers, Bruce.

Priscilla, the first thing I would look at would be improving the current setup regardless of your traveling intentions.

Do you know what kind of antenna you have, how high it is and where the nearest tower is? Eg is the antenna a broomstick type, or like a mini tv antenna etc.

It is possible ( if you haven't been thoguht this thoroughly already) that you can dramatically improve your wireless performance.

Even if you want to have a satellite connection for remote areas, for other times, it would be worth getting a prepaid mobile broadband modem. Telstra Next G has much better coverage than Optus or Vodafone, and their prices are now more competitive: e.g. $79 (Turbo) or $129 (Elite) for modem (with some free data) + 10Gb of data (12 months' expiry) for $150. You could add an external antenna + patch lead for better reception in marginal areas (plenty of info about this on this and other forums). This should give you a faster and cheaper connection than using satellite all the time.

Mobile broadband won't help in the Simpson Desert, but I assume you are not taking the caravan there anyway!

Cheers,
Des

Before giving up on wireless at home you should consider a range of Next G Antennas ( I assume you are with Telstra, you need to be for reception) . Omnidirectional Next G Antennas will get you reception all of the time. For mobile internet get a phone that also acts as a modem using the Next G service.

Thank you all.Have now got someone coming to investigate our poor reception next week.

Hi Priscilla

Are you aware of Government subsidies for satellite internet to your home when there are no other alternatives? We are lucky that although out of town, our regular phone line supports ADSL broadband internet connection which can run concurrently with the fixed line phone.

For travelling we use Telstra Next G broadband as we don't need internet all the time and it offers by far the best coverage of any apart from satellite. It uses a wireless modem (some people use their mobile phone as the modem), and can be on a plan, or by pre paying set amounts. We use a plan (because it is our daughter's plan and she uses our fixed line internet at our home while we are away). We have an external antenna for the modem which i can put on the caravan roof for a better signal, and we can get internet in any area where Next G mobile phones have reception, which is most towns and up to 20 kms or so around if terrain is flat, as well as along some of the major highways.

Motherhen

When travelling use Bigpong Mobile, you will fing there's service where ever there is Next G phone service, and that will be most country towns and Rural area's,
We don't know what service your using when you state very poor wireless internet signal, if it's with any other provider than Telstra then you will not get Mobile Broadband outside the large cities and towns...ie Adelaide, Rockhampton etc, as for Sat' internet surely one can do without it for a few days when your in places like SD or CSR.

.

Priscilla, as others have mentioned, it may be worthwhile looking external aerials. I have had success in getting reception where otherwise there is nothing by using either a 9dB stick aerial or better still, a Yagi (18dB). The Yagi has allowed me to use Skype where without it I register nothing on the phone or the modem.

Both as high as possible is best and the Yagi is directional, so you need to have some idea of where the tower is or use the mobile to find the direction of the strongest signal. I was playing around with both in the photo.

Cheers
Frans