Wireless Mobile Broadband

I wish it wasn't true but you are right. Coverage on the others is pretty hopeless.

Seems telstra is the only choice, Thanks for the replies.
The prepaid options don't seem very good value. which broadband plans are others using ?

I use my Nokia 6120 as a modem and just get data packs when on the road, works well actually quite amazing how much time you get for normal internet access without downloading. Just need a lead from the phone to the laptop, install the Nokia software and away you go.
Never had any problem with signal as it works wherever the phone works, also the phone can still receive and make voice calls while being used for date with seemingly no degradation in speed!
We've had coverage in very remote areas on our last trip too.

Hi, Just forgot to mention that we only use the phone , no external antenna.
never needed one for the 6120, they are a bit dearer but work superbly.
Cheers Des.

You can get a 150mb data pack for your Next G mobile for $10 per month, then use your mobile as a modem for your laptop as mentioned earlier.

Have to agree, I have a Nokia 6120 and a $10 @ month for 150meg Bigpond data pack, just did a trip to QLD and northern NSW and never had a problem with coverage,
Just plug the phone in ( or bluetooth) open Nokia PC Suite and you are on in 10 seconds.
I check the mail on my ISP home page ( Webmail) and delete any huge files before downloading on O/E.
we used it to book ahead with Skype phone etc and a bit of networking and only used about 100 meg in 3 weeks.
Works a charm,
Cheers Des.

I'm not going anywhere at the moment, still setting up the van.
Just trying to get the heads up so I don't end up buying the wrong thing, (which I would have, if not for the info here)
We do have two phones, both with optus. Not sure if I can connect them to the laptop. I was looking to get one of those USB dongles on pre paid but the price / 30 day limit is a bit harsh, guess you can do what you like when you have the best product.
Not to sure how much data i'd need, if the weather is grim and the kids get on there I'll need heaps.

Robert
Doesn't that $45/month only apply for the first 12 months of a 24 month plan?
Doesn't the deal also require you to have a bundled Telstra Homeline as well as that is what it looks like to me reading the bigpond site.

Peter,
I suspect you are right but I hope not. I questioned the Telstra salesman on both your points. I asked him if it was one of those plans where they give you a cheap rate for the first 12 months and then increase the price and he told me, no the $45.00 applies for the 24 months. I also told him I would be away travelling in 12 months time and would be cancelling my home phone and would it affect the price of the plan. Once again he said no.

I will ring Telstra tomorrow and find out what the story is. I will be very annoyed if I have been lied to.

Thanks for the warning.
Bob

Hi Robert,
I have just read your post and I was wondering if the sales man was right or wrong as we also just went through this and now I am wondering ,as I said I would not cancel but intend to suspend the home phone until we get back from our trip and he said yeah no worries,that's fine you are still going to get your discount our deal is $29 per month for 1gig ,so how did your call go ?

Cheers.

John,

I have rung Telstra and what Peter has said is correct. I am now waiting for a supervisor to call me back before I decide what to do. I have got a 10 day cooling off period (hopefully) so I may end up cancelling it and go back to my old provider. It is a pity because it seems to work well and is just what I want. I just don't want to pay $89 / month for it when I was told $45. I won't be doing another big trip for about 18 months and I am sure there will other options available then. Unfortunately Telstra are the only company that can provide the coverage at the moment and they know it.

If anyone has read my initial comment and gone off to try and get the same deal then please accept my apologies.

Regards,
Bob

Never believe what you are told in a Telstra shop.

Some of them wouldnt even know the time.

Some of the things I have heard them tell people would make your hair curl.

I have an Iphone and asked in a Telstra Life shop for a car cradle with external aerial connection for it.

The Manager there told me NO THERE ARE NONE FOR AN IPHONE.

Strange i thought and went home and googled and found two at least that do exactly what I want.

Not cheap $129 but are an excellent bit of kit.


Email addresses Most isp's will allow you to retain an Email addy with them for a yearly fee.

My iinet addy stays the same for $25 a year you may have to have a bigpond one but you dont have to use it.

TELSTRA DEALS.

Hmm I was out of contract and they rang saying come back we will give you a new phone What would you like

I said an Iphone would be good.

Yep will do that.

will ring you back tomorrow and fix it up.

No ring so I rang and as usual got another foreigner.

He said Oh no you cant have one on your plan

I said I was told I could so I want it

15 mins on hold yes thats OK will fix it up and send it.

They mucked the address up so it was returned to them

After ringing an being shunted around half of India got told they had none for 8 weeks and couldnt send that one back so you will be on the $79 plan till we have one and there is a $549 up front charge.

Hold on Im on a $49 plan and the phone was to be free

No you're not and no it isnt

So off to complaints dept and found out the guy who sent it changed my plan and didnt tell me.

Big fight but symathetic .

Ended up I said well the shop in the town where I am has Iphones so how about you ring them and they give me one and you replace it later.

So that was done and I got my phone.

A bit more to it than that but thats about the amount of trust you can put in what they say.

Then they stuff you around and hope you will go away.

Well I dont and after over 5 hours on the phone got satisfaction.

Cheers Dont let them wear you down.