Mobile Broadband

F'loosie, I think the Telstra system is a bit phone brand sensitive too though. The Chinese Telstra branded ones aren't always as good. Make sure your madam has the longer distance one. They also usually work on 3G as well as the common GSM system.

It is a bit hard to understand why one phone will work in a position and another will not. I had a Kyocera CDMA which worked everywhere (as long as there was a signal,) including in my home which is 1 km from a hill which has a CDMA tower on it. I changed to 3G using a Nokia N80 phone and could not pick up a signal inside the house. I had a few other problems like I could not put the phone in my pocket because it would accidently make calls to numbers on my contacts list and generally these were overseas numbers. After some "heated" discussion with Telstra about my problems they changed me over to NextG with one of their el cheapo ZTE phones. I can now pick up a signal in the house as long as I stand on one leg with my finger in my ear. I really do not think however that I am picking up a NextG signal. I think it is a 3G signal. Perhaps someone might know if Telstra have actually switched on the NextG system yet? My wife has an old Nokia phone which works fine in the house but not 10 kms down the road. (Mind you it's never switched on but I will not go into her logic about this!)

Cheers

Richard, Telstra switched on the Next G network last October. The el cheapo phone you describe isn't as good as the other Next G ones. Heather has the multiband LG one and we have a car kit too in Moses. I think they are one of the better for reception.

I decided to go to Next G wireless and have an external antenna hanging under the rafters of the veranda and getting a full five bars. Reckon I will probably get some signal round Warraweena at least some areas in July for my email access.

See the pommies comments below about using a modem instead of a mobile card.

My son-in-law has a Vodaphone broadband mobile card and it works fine in Braidwood which is 80 kms from Canberra. According to Vodaphone coverage advice it should not work. I wonder however whether the NextG system has actually been switched on?

The modems and mobile cards are a bit expensive at about $250.

Sorry Im Rich... woops mean Richard..LOL

All thing cost alot but I now have a in car computer with the (what ever) slot in it and can connect to the internet whyle I drive ..

I look at things as a long term type of thing the longer I own it the cheaper it cost..

Richard

Tut tut. It is amazing though how many people have a security key to their wireless modem set at 1234567890!!!!!!

My wireless network is open: I have 25GB per month, or something, and don't even get close to it so I see no reason why other people should not use some of that.

Mike Harding

Good onya Mike....where do you live?

Just kidding. The data usage wouldn't concern most people, but once the network is accessed, they are just one step away from accessing your PC and that IS a worry.

I have a program that could crack a reasonably tough Windows log-in and password that has got me out of trouble a few times when I had my computer and IT consultancy. I've never used it without the "victim" being aware that it was being used - usually because they have forgotten their password - but the point is, other people with less than honourable intentions also have these programs.

That is why wireless networks should be secured. It just makes it a little harder for the bad guys to access your PC.

It's your choice Mike. Personally, I choose to secure my network.

Cheers,

Russ,

I looked at this Telstra plan and my understanding is the quoted price of $49.95 is for 6 months only and then it doubles. Am I reading the chart and offer incorrectly? I have seen 3 advertise $49 a month with 1G download but it is only equivelent to the 3G coverage not NextG coverage. If the Telstra offer is only 49.95 a month then it is more than comparable with one competitor plus it has bigger coverage.

Can you enlighten me as to whether your plan is $49.95 for the contract period or does it double after 6 months.

Cheers

Sorry, shows you how much I know what I am talking about, Zitch. Now I get it. You have a "normal" wireless modem such as one uses at home to connect to broadband. You must just unplug it from home and take it onto the road and as you say just connect to "240 volt" (whatever) to power it. You can then access NextG broadband. I presume it does not matter where you are it works just the same as if you were at home?

Cheers

Pomgonewalkabout I think that is the way to go. No hope here for broadband unless I do that - with the exception of satellite! Sat systems are to one spot and would give me access with a router to do the network distribution but the wireless modem with a 12->6v converter sounds good.

Richard you could go for the $17.47 for 6 months if you want to go that way. I had a brochure in the mail a while back that looked tempting until you looked at the small print. You can use the $79.95 to go superfast if you want to use the newtwork capability. Site Link for the plans. Their 3 gig biggest plan isn't lots when I hear what a lot of broadband users get to.

Site Link

The above link has a picture of the modem that I purchased and the plan.

I am on a 12 month, Next G plan $49.95 1GB per month.

I think 6 months is for the special offer which for some reason I didn't get, maybe it's because I was on dial up already with Bigpond?

As I mentioned and somebody elsewhere on this forum mentioned (which is where I got the idea from) The modem comes with a 240v to 6v plugpack so with a convertor from Dick Smiths or Jaycar you can run it from your cigarette socket and use it on your travels with your laptop. (slight modification required)

Alternatively you could purchase one of these
Site Link

But the plans are more expensive and so too is the purchase of the USB mobile card. a 1GB plan is $84.95 a month.

I guess at the end of the day you have to decide to buy the modem or the USB mobile card and go on a plan that suits you.
At home I only had dialup as there was no broadband until this new Next G system came along. I went for the modem because I will use it mainly at home, it has two antennaes so maybe better signal in the bush and at home.
You could also I think connect an external bulbar antennae?

With a little power lead modification I have made the modem mobile for when I am travelling.

In fact I have adapted a 12 to 18v Laptop convertor and a 12v to 6V modem convertor and put them into a diecast box. One cigarette plug input and two leads that come out of it, one supplies the laptop the other the modem.

3 x LED's tell me I have 12 volts input, 18volts output and 6 volts output.

hope this helps

Telstra are advertising half price on their plans at present so the 1Gig "G Fast 256 kmbps" plan is $24.97 for the first six months and then goes up to $49.95. You have to sign up for 36 months and the modems are about $250. The way you are working the system seems the way to go. What I cannot understand is why does the mobile system (the card which plugs into the computer) cost twice the price of the modem system when they must do exactly the same thing.

Emma, distance to city centre is no measure really. I had no mobile phone coverage less than half an hour from one of Denmark's larger cities a few years back. Not too many hills there either.

You may be better to have a network router in your home and a server in the best reception area as we have. That way the internet is shared across several computers as needed.

Graham, actually the modem has two antennas so it can sniff for another tower while going flat out for the tower it already knows. I think it may be better equipped than the standard USB modems to move onwards, though just not as portable with the extra boxes.

I will get the power box from Jaycar I guess soon and for the laptop too!