internet

GypsyWanderers · Veteran Member

internet

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

Telstra NextG is the ONLY choice.
You can get a wireless modem (with external antenna capability for weak reception areas) or use a mobile and browsing pack.

Cheers,
Peter

Firefly · Guru

We have just purchased the browser pack so we will know in about a week how good that is. Using our mobile as the modem, no contract, just 3gig a month for about $30-$40 from memory and when we get home, we can just cancel it. smile

jimricho · Guru

Firefly wrote:

We have just purchased the browser pack so we will know in about a week how good that is. Using our mobile as the modem, no contract, just 3gig a month for about $30-$40 from memory and when we get home, we can just cancel it.

That's the one I use too.....Word of warning... When you set it up make sure you ask for a "reference" number. Not only is this handy if there's any "glitches" but it establishes that they have set it up properly for you. Likewise when you cancel on your return. Call 132200 from your mobile to set up....

more details at http://www.telstra.com.au/mobile/browsing_packs.html

-- Edited by jimricho on Thursday 3rd of June 2010 05:00:33 PM

Firefly · Guru

Thanks for the info Jim. wink

Sheba · Guru

Firefly wrote:

We have just purchased the browser pack so we will know in about a week how good that is. Using our mobile as the modem, no contract, just 3gig a month for about $30-$40 from memory and when we get home, we can just cancel it.

I'll be really interested in knowing what you think of it Firefly. That's the set-up I've been thinking about, but wasn't quite sure of.
Cheers,
Sheba.

Sheba · Guru

jimricho wrote:

Firefly wrote:

We have just purchased the browser pack so we will know in about a week how good that is. Using our mobile as the modem, no contract, just 3gig a month for about $30-$40 from memory and when we get home, we can just cancel it.

That's the one I use too.....Word of warning... When you set it up make sure you ask for a "reference" number. Not only is this handy if there's any "glitches" but it establishes that they have set it up properly for you. Likewise when you cancel on your return. Call 132200 from your mobile to set up....

more details at http://www.telstra.com.au/mobile/browsing_packs.html

-- Edited by jimricho on Thursday 3rd of June 2010 05:00:33 PM

Is the set-up very complicated ? I'll be using my 'Phone as the modem too.

Cheers,
Sheba.

jimricho · Guru

Sheba wrote:

Is the set-up very complicated ? I'll be using my 'Phone as the modem too.

Cheers,
Sheba.

You do need to have the approriate software set up on your computer, also a USB cable to connect to your mobile. I can't recall whether this was a separate purchase or whether it came with the mobile when I purchased it.

Research all options as what is appropriate for one may not be so for others.

Jim

Firefly · Guru

It seemed to be the best option for us Sheba, as we are not travelling extensively like a lot of Nomads, we are only on an eight week trip this time. We wanted something we could use without a contract or prepaid so I will let you know how it went when we get back. We are setting it up this weekend so will also fill you in on that as well. smile

I just bought a new phone as well and the assistant said everything was in the box we needed so lets hope so Jim. wink

jimricho · Guru

Once set up it's quite easy to use however it's similar to a "dial-up" connection in that you have to "manually" connect to the internet first. (browser options can be set to do this automatically but I like to have control).

Another thing I found is that you need to use the same USB socket on your computer as the one you set it up on. Not quite sure of the technical reason for this but I think it has something to do with the fact that it is setting up a "simulated" modem similar to a "dial-up" modem. I have a GPS (Magellan Explorist) that this also applies to if using the moving map facility as it too simulates a serial connection.

(for the techie pedants, I'm using the terms "serial" and "modem" in the sense of the old RS232 type serial connection)

Another thing I've found is that unless your ISP is Bigpond you may not be able to send (receive ok) emails from your normal email program. You can however send from your browser using your webmail page. Gmail and Hotmail should not be a problem.

-- Edited by jimricho on Friday 4th of June 2010 09:09:12 AM

Firefly · Guru

Thanks for that Jim. I would be really cursing if it wouldn't work and the USB was the problem.

I have passed this onto Mr Techie and he will adhere to your suggestions.

We are with Big Pond/Telstra because as you know, they are the only ones with the coverage. smile

Sheba · Guru

The Cable and Disc came with my 'phone. Do I still need to buy a Browser Pack? I have a Pre-paid Telstra Next G 'phone. Do I have to get a plan for the Laptop?
Is Big-pond another option, or is it automatically Telstra/Big-pond?
Thanks in advance Guys,
Sheba.

-- Edited by Sheba on Friday 4th of June 2010 03:24:56 PM

jimricho · Guru

You will need to purchase a browser pack or it will cost you an arm and a leg to use it if you don't. Go to that link in my earlier post for details. You won't need to change your current ISP (Internet Service Provider) if you're not already with Bigpond (I'm with Exetel, not Bigpond) however note my comment above about sending emails if not with Bigpond. You can still send emails from your web browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox etc) using your ISP's "webmail" facility. Also Gmail and Hotmail will still work ok.

If using this set up to connect to the internet note that the coverage is not affected by which ISP you're using but by Telstra's next G coverage.

If you're on the road full time or most of the time you will be better off with Bigpond and I would suggest you check all options as this set up may not be the best one in those circumstances.

-- Edited by jimricho on Friday 4th of June 2010 07:03:10 PM

Sheba · Guru

jimricho wrote:

You will need to purchase a browser pack or it will cost you an arm and a leg to use it if you don't. Go to that link in my earlier post for details. You won't need to change your current ISP (Internet Service Provider) if you're not already with Bigpond (I'm with Exetel, not Bigpond) however note my comment above about sending emails if not with Bigpond. You can still send emails from your web browser (Internet Explorer, Firefox etc) using your ISP's "webmail" facility. Also Gmail and Hotmail will still work ok.

Thanks for that,
Cheers,
Sheba.

jimricho · Guru

Hi Sheba,

I was editing my post when you replied so check it in case there's anything relevant that I've added.

Jim

Sheba · Guru

I'm with Westnet at the moment. Don't know if I should change ISP's or not when I start to travel.

Cheers,
Sheba.

jimricho · Guru

Sheba wrote:

I'm with Westnet at the moment. Don't know if I should change ISP's or not when I start to travel.

Cheers,
Sheba.

I think this depends on how much time you'll be away from home as when you're using the 3G/Next G connection you won't be using any of your (paid for) data allowance with your existing ISP (Westnet). I don't think it's worth the trouble of changing if only on the road for a few months or less but this is why I suggest checking other options if spending the majority of your time on the road. This applies to Gypsywanders too (who started this thread) and anyone else in this catagory too. I'm not familiar with all the other options so I can't help beyond this.

Jim

-- Edited by jimricho on Saturday 5th of June 2010 07:44:52 AM

Allara · Senior Member

Hi Jim
Can you have internet with a satellite phone? Presumably it should give coverage everywhere, what cost?
Allara

jimricho · Guru

Allara wrote:

Hi Jim
Can you have internet with a satellite phone? Presumably it should give coverage everywhere, what cost?
Allara

Sorry, right out of my league there. If so I imagine it would be frighteningly expensive. I think internet is available to remote stations using satellite and there's some sort of subsidy available for them. The connection may use a dish rather than a phone, don't really know.

Jim

Paul-NSW · Veteran Member

Should be able to use any port for USB phone or modem. Should not make any difference. Thankfully USB equipment has no connection to RS232 interface.

ZTE phones and in particular the Telstra Discovery T2 and T165i are the phones with the best sensitivity and both have external aerial plugs.

jimricho · Guru

Paul-NSW wrote:

Should be able to use any port for USB phone or modem. Should not make any difference. Thankfully USB equipment has no connection to RS232 interface.

My reference to RS232 may not have been clear. I was trying to explain the software emulates a COM port with a modem that behaves (in a software sense) like the old style COM port/serial cable/dial-up modem. Why it only works on the USB port it is set up on I have no idea as, like you, I would have thought it wouldn't matter, but that is what I have found to be the case. If I connect to a different port I have to reconfigure the software again to set it up. I found this out by trial and error, both on my laptop and my desktop computers.

As I mentioned above I have a GPS that behaves this way too when emulating an NMEA serial connection. In the case of the GPS it was tricky as I had to drill down through the device manager to see which (virtual) COM port it was connected to, in order to configue the moving map software.

In brief, both devices are physically connected to the computer using a USB port but they seem to behave like they are connected through an RS232 style COM port.

PS: I should mention that this is the case with my Samsung phone but may not apply to others.

-- Edited by jimricho on Friday 11th of June 2010 06:45:00 PM