Laptop internet connection

I have a Telstra NextG Home Network Gateway, external antenna, 3Gig/month plan. Works well for me. NextG is the only network that give a reasonable coverage, but obviously not the whole landmass of Aus.

read thread 86126

Get a Maxon BP-3 and it will work anywhere there is phone reception.

They are cheap on Ebay Only thing is they mostly work on 240 volt.


Otherwise you can get a data pack on your phone and use that as a modem

I hired a Bgan modem last year for 4 weeks.

From memory about $1000 to hire and about the same for usage costs.

Works anywhere in Australia.

HI Bonmac,
Just this moment have installed a Bigpond Ultimate Wireless Broadband USB Modem on a Toshiba notebook and yours is the first forum letter I have read what a coincident, working fine so far but haven't been anywhere yet.

Cheers

Graham

Get some kind of Android Phone, Eg a HTC desire on a $49 plan or above on Telstra and on the phone go to

"Menu" > "settings > " Wireless and Networks" > "Portable WiFi Hotspot"

Set it up and then your phone is a wireless router with your own private hot spot that the PC can connect to Telstra's next G wireless phone network.

Very simple to use and the phone can be up high for reception.

Hi. we have a Nokia 6720 Next G ( previously a 6120), and have a $10.00 @ month for 1 gig data pack from Telstra., they just add it to our bill.
we have travelled quite a bit with it and found that it is plenty for normal mail and a bit of internet mainly park info etc , and I just plug it into the laptop and we have instant Net service.
I also use Skype a lot to keep in contact with the family, even using the camera it lasts well,
You can just log on and check you usage at any time, and you can check you usage on your phone also they send a 80% usage notice to your mobile.
Works well, and you can get it turned of when you are home , no charges.
Cheers Des.

Speaking not as a traveller so much as a person who lives on a rural property, I would say Telstra Next G is certainly your best bet, the only other option to look into would be satellite broadvand but possibly more expensive and more fiddly (as a rural person I'm on satellite because our next G reception is pretty marginal, but I would take next G over satellite if I could).

Hi Bonmac

We too travel with Next G internet (on a Telstra plan), having a small Maxon USB modem which needs no outside power source . We have an antenna which i can put on the caravan roof to boost reception. Next G is usually available up to 20 kms around a town unless terrain is hilly. It is also available along and near to most major highways, particularly those near the east coast.

As we were on the move, we were never much more than three weeks without any signal - enough to conduct banking and business and keep in touch with family. I let family at home know when we were heading into a national park or outback where there was no reception, and told them we would get in touch with them as soon as we reached a town - giving them an indication of days or weeks.

Motherhen

We have had a Telstra Turbo Stick for two years connected to our rooftop NextG antenna on the caravan, via a patch lead with an FME connector directly into the next g antenna from the turbo stick. We have had coverage all over Australia and we are currently between Leonora & Laverton, WA with 4 bars service. The Turbo Stick has a USB slot straight into the side of the laptop and because it works so well bush, I am getting rid of the modem in my house and operating this one full time. There is also a plan for $150 for 365 days with great download speeds that I am currently contemplating. Works well for us at all times. As long as we have 2 bars, we have service.

Ian G

Hi Bonmac,

The Bigpond Ultimate Mobile Broadband USB is great - compact, has a good signal strength in that it works everywhere my telstra phone does and does not need any antennae. (I am not sure whether an antennae can be connected to it, however if that were possible but it would increase the signal range). It is also very fast when the signal strength is strong.
It is costing me $29.95 for 3 GB per month with rewards, as we have mobile and fixed line also with Telstra on a single bill, and it is my only internet connection because we travel for much of the year.

I recently upgraded from the Maxon BP3 USB which had to be connected to a high gain antennae to get the same reception and I am much happier with the Ultimate.

Don't go with any other company than Telstra/Bigpond as they have by far the best coverage away from the cities. Just dont automatically expect to be able to use it everywhere!
I am surprised by how many places I have a signal and have travelled extensively using mobile wireless now for the last three years in Australia.

Hope this helps you.

Regards Heather

Hi

Sounds like a simple statement but make sure it has wireless capabilities as well - you will be surprised how many free wifi hotspots are available (cities only of coursse)

I use the local libaray almost daily and of course Maccas has free wifi

enjoy

K.A

The iPhone 4 with the latest upgrade IOS 4.3 has a nice ability to use it's Hotspot capability for anything wireless, so your laptop, iPod Touch or iPad. Using encryption of course and password. I also have a Bigpond Elite USB dongle with an external antenna which I use through a router on occasions.

Even using the external antenna, the iPhone gets more reliable signal than the wireless modem. More bars and more stable and seems faster. The modem gets slowed when it goes past the limit, and the phone account would cost more. That is just a feature of the accounts!