do many cafes/camp grounds have wireless or do I need a roaming service?

Denise · Senior Member

do many cafes/camp grounds have wireless or do I need a roaming service?

dave06 · Guru

I am not familiar with internet access from differing spots but someone who is will come along, I take the dragons laptop with us and just do a "scan" it's surprising where a signal can be picked up at no cost

Denise · Senior Member

Do you only scan or do you also have a service?

reza · Senior Member

as Davo said yes scan but i gave that up ages ago some parks have got wireless in the park but it still costs you a few are free i dont bother anymore i just take my telstra with me yes it dear but if you want the net that works just about every where i happy to pay for a service that works

Denise · Senior Member

Thanks Reza...That's about what I suspected. How many GIGs do you find you use ?

Xtrail51 · Senior Member

Hi Denise, Telstra wireless is the best coverage you will get! I had next G wireless, 1GB, and I keep in touch with the kids on skype while I am travelling, so I sometimes almost run out, but last week I was looking on My Big Pond, and found that I could get 3GB for the same price that I was paying for 1GB. $49.95 month, I am happy with that. I get coverage most places, wherever the next G mobile works..

Happy travels. Barb..

justcruisin01 · Guru

As said , you can scan & often pick up a signal.
We have had some c/van parks that offer some free service & it has a limmit ,plenty for emails etc which we have used while others try to sell you their service ,have never paid for theirs just use our own.

Plenty of Macca,s cafes have free.If you want widespread coverage then you have to go telstra , same as phone.

You will be very surprised as to where you will get 3G coverage,we have had it in western QLD on the edge of the simpson desert, WA hammersley gorge,as an example.

-- Edited by justcruisin01 on Saturday 30th of January 2010 07:27:50 PM

Denise · Senior Member

Thanks guys, thats a good improvement in value. My iphone is with Vodaphone will that be ok?

justcruisin01 · Guru

Telstra is the only one with the coverage .
If you do buy a phone on this system,[next G ] ask for one that is designated for rural use.
We run a Samgsung& been very good, have stood beside a LG in those areas that did not work .If you have phone service on nextG then you have wireless internett as well. Use a modem that will accept an external ant , fit a good quility ant & it will connect to both phone & your modem.

This is working very well for us out in the back blocks.just remember there are still many places where there is no service ,nomatter what you may have.

Denise · Senior Member

I have 3G Vodafone ...can't change yet, only had it 6 months. Of course they said it had good coverage and the plan price was cheaper than Bigpond so, that being my biggest constraint , I got it. Surely it will at least work in most country areas. ..if not in really remote areas...don't think my van's up to that anyway!

Cruising Granny · Guru

I don't like your chances with Vodaphone. Most travellers complain about the lack of service outside, and not very far outside of the metro area.
Unfortunately Telstra-Bigpond is the best coverage. You just get a plan which suits your needs at the time.
I don't have pre-paid because I do a lot of work on the net, and need constant email access for my writing - not just communication.
There are a variety of plans to suit your needs. Please do your own homework and be prepared, so some salesperson doesn't try to sell you something you don't need.
All the best with communication and travel. It's a big world out here.

motorhomer · Member

I have my phone through Telstra - ZTE T6 with blue tick for rural usage. That keeps me in touch when I cannot get an Optus connection for my wireless broadband. If you are thinking of travelling Tasmania re-think at least your phone. Very (very) little Optus there.

PeterD · Guru

Xtrail51 wrote:
Hi Denise, Telstra wireless is the best coverage you will get! I had next G wireless, 1GB, and I keep in touch with the kids on skype while I am travelling, so I sometimes almost run out, but last week I was looking on My Big Pond, and found that I could get 3GB for the same price that I was paying for 1GB. $49.95 month, I am happy with that. I get coverage most places, wherever the next G mobile works..
Happy travels. Barb..

To all of you that are still paying $50 (I use round figures) or $60 for 1 GB (per month) of BigPond wireless broadband, go into into "Manage My Account" and then "Change My Plan" and change your plan as soon as possible. They changed their rates on 18/02/10. If you are on any download plan you can go onto the new ones.

400 MB _ $30 / 1 GB _ $40 / 3GB _ $50 / 6 GB _ $80 & 10 GB _ $120. Best of all there are no excess charges, they just drop you to dial up speeds when you exceed your limit.

Denise · Senior Member

thanks guys, great info !

motorhomer · Member

PeterD wrote:

Xtrail51 wrote:
Hi Denise, Telstra wireless is the best coverage you will get! I had next G wireless, 1GB, and I keep in touch with the kids on skype while I am travelling, so I sometimes almost run out, but last week I was looking on My Big Pond, and found that I could get 3GB for the same price that I was paying for 1GB. $49.95 month, I am happy with that. I get coverage most places, wherever the next G mobile works..
Happy travels. Barb..
To all of you that are still paying $50 (I use round figures) or $60 for 1 GB (per month) of BigPond wireless broadband, go into into "Manage My Account" and then "Change My Plan" and change your plan as soon as possible. They changed their rates on 18/02/10. If you are on any download plan you can go onto the new ones.

400 MB _ $30 / 1 GB _ $40 / 3GB _ $50 / 6 GB _ $80 & 10 GB _ $120. Best of all there are no excess charges, they just drop you to dial up speeds when you exceed your limit.

They changed the rates in 2 weeks time?

gray nomad · Veteran Member

Something to chew on!

When I take over the Lake Bolac CP in March, I most probably will also offer wireless internet connections provided by Net-Path. Only had very good comments about this system.
www.net-path.com.au

If you already have a Bigpond or any other modem stick and your reception is OK, not a problem. Stick with it but if your reception keeps on dropping out and you have access (not free, but reasonable) to a provided CP system, maybe you want to use this service, if it's available.

I know that quite a number of country CP's use it now. Since it costs the Park Owner to instal it, it's only fair to recoop the costs.

I am sure I get detractors, but as with anything in life, user pays system applies.

Regards
Frank

dave06 · Guru

I dont take the computer with us much as I prefer the company of others rather than sitting on these things

but out of curiosity Frank, how much do you charge if I was to hook into your system!

gray nomad · Veteran Member

Hi,
The way I understand this is:
1. I put the infra structure and system into the park.
2. You pay the company "Net-Path" some amount, which entitles you to download X amount of data. If your entitlement is NOT used, you can use it for a period of 13 months anywhere where Net Path have their system installed, usually in other CP's.
You do not need any Big Pond or DODO sticks, etc, as all modern lap tops have wireless already installed.
I actually don't come into the picture, I only provide a service to my customers, ie. caravanners. (I get a retainer from Net Path)
With some sticks, reception is quite often not very good, dropping out or slow.

With Net Path. the service comes via phone wire (ADSL) and then is transmitted via antenna to the park, where you pick it up via your wireless laptop.
All reports that I had speak highly of this system.

Your customers service features:

Valid internet access at all Net-Path locations.
No time limits or data caps - customers stay on line and use at own skill level
and pace.
Customers pre pay for megabytes they use, similar to a home-like experience,but without the monthly charges.
Unused pre-paid megabytes stay valid on account.
Customer accounts will only be cancelled when more than thirteen months inactivity transpires.
Top up megabytes on-line as they use or prior to use from Net-Paths free access website.
Payment receipt automatically generated on-line.
Customers can print &/or view current and previous tax invoices, usage activity and total volume.

More info here: Web: www.net-path.com.au

Regards
Frank

Rumpole · Member

Here you will find some listings of FREE wifi hotspots, literaly everywhere.

http://www.freewifi.com.au/

http://www.wi-fihotspotlist.com/browse/au/

some discussion on the subject here by some fellow Wi Fi lovers

http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum/18

Denise · Senior Member

I'm really glad I asked this question, there's great info emerging from the ether !

The laptop is a great window for resources like googlearth, maps, destinations etc and even perhaps emergency contact in a place which may have telstra coverage but not Vodaphone (which my phone is contracted to).

Thanks to everyone contributing .Cheers :)

jimricho · Guru

One suggestion is to take advantage of free wi-fi where available for downloading software updates such as Windows Update and anti-virus data files, particularly if your download allowance is limited. This stuff can sometimes be data "download hungry".

It is a good idea to make sure your various options are set to not automatically download updates so you have control over when and where you download them. Note that this can apply to other software in addition to Windows and Anti Virus, Firefox and Adobe Reader come to mind.

If you subscribe to Stay Smart On-line (an Aust. government site, I recommend it to all) you will be notified when updates become available, excluding virus which should be updated regularly anyway.