Broadband for internet
Submitted: Monday, Feb 02, 2009 at 09:19
ThreadID:
65627
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1880
Replies:
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11
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Nashy3
I am wanting to use my PC and need wireless internet connection. Can anyone suggests the best brand or plan and what sort of coverage do you "really get". Going NW QLD & NT
Reply By: Axel [ the real one ] - Monday, Feb 02, 2009 at 09:30
Monday, Feb 02, 2009 at 09:30
Only one worth having is Im sorry to say is Telstra , all the others just dont have the coverage ,,
AnswerID:
347203
Follow Up By: Axel [ the real one ] - Tuesday, Feb 03, 2009 at 08:13
Tuesday, Feb 03, 2009 at 08:13
Give you an example of Telstra verses the othe players ,
Muttaburra sits smack in the middle of QLD , if you have Optus -Vodaphone - Virgin or "3" you have no hope of making a call or accessing the net via mobile ,, Telstra = 30klm radius with a blue tick phone and upto another 10klm with an external arial. Land is pretty flat !!
FollowupID:
615515
Follow Up By: Nashy3 - Tuesday, Feb 03, 2009 at 09:32
Tuesday, Feb 03, 2009 at 09:32
thanks thats what i need to know have heard that Telstra provides more coverage
FollowupID:
615527
Reply By: Notso - Monday, Feb 02, 2009 at 10:15
Monday, Feb 02, 2009 at 10:15
Two ways to get it,
Either use your Next G telstra mobile attached via Cable or Bluetooth.
You can buy Data Packs for a monthly download. Up to about $59.00 for a gigabyte.
No Plan other than you current Next G plan.
Buy a usb modem and use it. If you want to go on a plan they are for 12 or 24 months, first twelve months can be half price providing you meet their requirements and the modem will be free.
I use my Next G mobile while travelling and you can turn the data pack on and off as you like.
AnswerID:
347210
Follow Up By: Nashy3 - Monday, Feb 02, 2009 at 10:23
Monday, Feb 02, 2009 at 10:23
what is the reception like though around the smaller metropolitan areas?
FollowupID:
615348
Follow Up By: Notso - Monday, Feb 02, 2009 at 10:46
Monday, Feb 02, 2009 at 10:46
Telstra Next G is available in any town above 500 people approximately, as well as a lot of smaller towns and along many roads.
You'll find much better coverage if you have an external antenna.
Anywhere you get phone reception you'll get next g broadband.
Telstra coverage maps
Site Link
FollowupID:
615353
Follow Up By: Sigmund - Monday, Feb 02, 2009 at 11:01
Monday, Feb 02, 2009 at 11:01
When you access the Telstra coverage page just make sure you have pop-ups turned on in your browser.
FollowupID:
615354
Follow Up By: x - Monday, Feb 02, 2009 at 12:33
Monday, Feb 02, 2009 at 12:33
I suspect the coverage maps are very optimistic.
Despite solid
orange in the Broulee area of NSW my iPhone was as dead as a maggot, as were others with Telstra Next G phones.
Other carriers seemed OK. My wife uses ActewAGL (I think they use Vodaphone) and she had good signal at all times.
Bob
FollowupID:
615365
Follow Up By: Notso - Monday, Feb 02, 2009 at 13:03
Monday, Feb 02, 2009 at 13:03
If you plan to travel Aus, the only network to use is Telstra Next G.
It will always have it's dead spots but as I said above if you put an external antenna on your vehicle it improves a lot.
There is no other network, aside from Sat Phone that goes anywhere near Telstra.
FollowupID:
615368
Reply By: Member - Boo Boo (NSW) - Monday, Feb 02, 2009 at 10:54
Monday, Feb 02, 2009 at 10:54
Nashy3
I'm down in St Helens at the moment using a bigpond wireless modem.
Like Axle I got the telstra deal because it's the only one that has extensive coverage.
Wherever you get nextG coverage you get wireless internet with telstra bigpond.
We have been to
places like Ayers Rock Resort, Cunnumulla Qld,
Lightning Ridge, Condoblin,
Agnes Water,
Gladstone, and Albury.
The only minor problem is that I got the cheaper option for the modem. I should have got the card thingo that fits in the PC.
Just means a little less to put in the suitcase.
Regards BooBoo
AnswerID:
347218
Reply By: Best Off Road - Monday, Feb 02, 2009 at 16:36
Monday, Feb 02, 2009 at 16:36
Well Nashy,
I asked a similar question a few weeks back, see thread 65194.
Quite coincidentally today I got a phone call today from an Optus Rep as my current plan is due to expire in a couple of months and he offered a new phone, now, on the same plan. I asked him to go away and work out for me a casual internet plan connected to the phone.
He came back to me with connection to "yes G", their version of next G. $20/month for 1 gig broadband. Can be connected or disconnected at will.
He also claimed they have a 2% better coverage than Telstra. I went with it, but won't get it for a few days so have no idea how good/bad it is.
Cheers,
Jim.
AnswerID:
347261
Follow Up By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Monday, Feb 02, 2009 at 19:48
Monday, Feb 02, 2009 at 19:48
What he claimed and what is real may be quite different.
I had a thread on here in November and the opinion on Optus was it was only any good in large centres.
AS an example my friends have it on
Bribie island.
They live on the side of the canal that cant see the tower that is only about 1 1/2k away and quite often get poor speeds.
They have 3 large houses right beside them in line with the tower
Other friends who live on other side of canal and can actually see the tower get good speeds.
Both have identical modems and very similar laptops
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615448
Follow Up By: Best Off Road - Monday, Feb 02, 2009 at 20:49
Monday, Feb 02, 2009 at 20:49
Thanks Graham,
I'll see how it goes. I only need it primarily for a business trip to
Sydney.
In due course I'll try it in the bush. If it's useless I'll explore other avenues.
Cheers,
Jim.
FollowupID:
615458
Follow Up By: mildew - Tuesday, Feb 24, 2009 at 02:11
Tuesday, Feb 24, 2009 at 02:11
He also claimed they have a 2% better coverage than Telstra. I went with it, but won't get it for a few days so have no idea how good/bad it is.
Sorry Jim he lied to you if he said this. There is no way Optus can compete with Telstra on its coverage on the Next G network.
FollowupID:
619018
Reply By: Member - Anthony H (TAS) - Monday, Feb 02, 2009 at 23:01
Monday, Feb 02, 2009 at 23:01
I have used the Telstra Prepaid Wireless Broadband $149 and no monthly charges and I have been very impressed over the last 3 months.
AnswerID:
347330