internet in the outback

Hi John,

Suggest you send an MM to Equinox. He had the latest and greatest while we were in the Gibson Desert this year. Could receive/send absolutely anywhere but a tad expensive tho' I believe.


Cheers
Michael

The only real option is Telstra Next G.

Wherever you can get Mobile Phone Service you can get internet access.

I personally use my Next G phone and pay for a data pack to suit my needs. After installing the Telstra software, Connect the phone either through Bluetooth or usb cable connection.

You keep your current email address, as long as you have a current plan with telstra, or another provider.

The other way is to buy a usb Next G modem and use it.

I personally prefer the phone as I reckon I get better reception in marginal areas with my Nokia and external antenna.

Hi John

If you need internet every day, do a search here for threads on satellite internet.

We went with Next G, and had reception in most towns, and up to 20 flat kilometres from towns using an external antenna put onto the caravan roof from the Telstra USB modem. The big advantage of the USB modem over other types of modem is that it needs no additional power source. As aforesaid using the mobile phone is another easy option. Without even going to using skype or any other voice options through the computer, we hardly needed to use our phones. Using email and instant messaging on the computer was adequate to keep in touch with family and business. We had a satellite phone for emergencies, so were able to phone a family member to let the rest of the family know if we were delayed out of range for longer than they would expect. Otherwise we'd let them know we were heading out of range for xxx days or weeks and they would hear from us when we returned to civilisation.

Motherhen

Up to this trip I used a laptop tethered to my mobile using a telstra data browsing pack.

Then - I bought an iPad for this current trip. Best thing I ever did..I use it for everything - spreadsheets, photos, blogs, emails, internet etc.

As far as access I use Telstra Next G - a $30 prepaid data plan gives me 3gb which is more than I can use. AS far as reception it outperforms both my mobile telstra next g phones..ie no bars on mobile - iPad works..

Also have checked with others using the USB things & I have had signal when they haven't.
Was just camped 28km outside Wyndham & other campers were using my IPad to pay bills and access on line banking..

Willy

G'day John,
We used the iPhone for a similar trip and found it really good. Tether it to your computer for internet access. Get the plan that suits you. If you have phone reception you have internet. We also were mainly bushcamping.

Cheers,
Bill

Last year I used my nokia with a data pack and it worked well in very remote places but when Telstra dropped the prices of its wireless broadband it was cheaper for me to get a USB thingy and not use the phone data packs.
This years trip I could use the USB anywhere the phone worked and it saved having to constantly charge the phone as battery use is very high on the phone when in data mode, typically around an hour at a time.

Both David and I have mobile phones on a Telstra Business Mobile Plus $35 plan. This plan automatically includes a 100mB data pack, but for David's plan we have also added a 1Gig datapack (which is $29 but we pay $19 due to a $10 monthly credit for being on an annual plan). We also get a 10% discount off our bill. So overall, David's phone with 1Gig of data for the July period when we were away uploading loads of mobile place updates via iPhone, and tethering to the net etc was $56. My bill however was $39 but I still had the 100mB data pack. I consider these rates for service to be very affordable so it looks as if you just have to get yourself onto the right plan. I am aware that with Telstra, you don't have to buy data pack plans as we have, but can add them on a month-to-month basis which is great for people travelling short term, and lets you just pay an extra $10-20/mth for when you need it.

Hope this is of some help,
Michelle

hi everyone and thank's to all of you who have replied. might go see my telstra shop and have a chat. thank's. john.