Mobile Broadband ISP's & service

[andrew2008]

I am moving in the next week and don't want to setup cable broadband or an ADSL service as it will probably be a temporary move. So i've been looking into getting a mobile broadband service but no very little about them.

Telstra are quite expensive, though i only looked due to their better coverage. Optus seem to have good plans with generous data pricing. Not sure about the quality of 3 or Vodafone. Have an iphone on 3 and service can be very bad so will probably avoid them. No 3G at my address in Carindale and no service at all in some parts of the house. Can anyone give me advice on plans, quality and speed of some of the different providers out there?

Cheers

[Moon]

I had to do a temporary move recently and I did a similar thing. Now we have cable at home, but I kept the mobile broadband for when I travel.
The coverage from Telstra is excellent and works from the dark sites I usually visit. It's very handy when trying to keep track of the weather.
James

[Tandum]

I'd suggest getting people with mobiles on different networks to do a quick survey of the new house to see which telco does and doesn't have coverage. That would at least narrow down your choices. The wireless runs through the phone towers so speed is effected by the amount of phone traffic. I'm at Carindale and Telstra coverage is poor but capacity is better, Optus and Vodafone are stronger, as they are on the same tower which is closer to me. I'm with Vodafone and sometimes during peak hour I can't make a call, the tower is full.

[snowyskiesau]

I went with Telstra Elite USB (http://www.telstra.com.au/bigpond-internet/mobile-broadband/prepaid/get-started/index.htm) prepaid mobile broadband for use while i was in Tasmania recently. $129 which included 3GB of data.

Coverage was excellent, even in remote areas.

Expensive for quite a small data quota. Most of the other suppliers had cheaper options but not the coverage I was after.

[adman]

Go with Telstra.

I have had a few of these, and Telstra is by far the best. I had no end of problems with Optus - we lived in a good signal area too. Their available bandwidth would often get overloaded and kick you off the network.

Telstra has better coverage and reliability.

[xstream]

Bigpond (which is Telstra) prepaid or plan is the cheapest for the best coverage.

http://go.bigpond.com/wireless/?ref=Net-Head-Int-Plans-Wireless

[tlgerdes]

I think the T's have it.

Telstra while costing more is the better service...... and they know it, that's why the cost more.

[dannat]

I hate to admit it you're right - I have an opts micro sim forvthe iPad (typing on it) & the coverage is junk, I live N & NW 50 km of Melb & it is no good when the month runs out I will get a telstra one.....I have never liked Telstra (except for when I sold out of T1 at $9.00 a share paid for my first housevdeposit I knew it was over valued & got out a couple of days off it's peak):thumbsup:;)

[Barrykgerdes]

I have heard poor reports from some of the mobile telcos not having decent coverage.

I got myself a bigpond Elite network gateway that works on Telstra next G. It only has a 3GB capacity but that is more than adequate for the use I give it. It costs $49 (+the modem $200) but I got a $20 discount for already having Bigpond ADSL. I dropped my Unwired and saved $20 so the net monthly cost for the additional convenience is $10

The performance is excellent I haven't found a place where it did not give me coverage

I got it mainly to use on new moon weekends at Wiruna wher it supplies wireles internet to all and sundry who I give the key to. Its performance at Wiruna is up to 600KB (about the same as I get on ADSL) depending on traffic.

It has also been great at home twice when I lost ADSL due to exchange work for 24 hrs. I just plug my normal netgear wireless into it instead of the ADSL2 modem and distribute internet over my normal wireless LAN system.

Barry

[StarStuff]

Telstra's NextG has much better coverage and speed... my virgin/optus iPhone comes with 2gb of data per month... which is pretty much useless...

out of sheer frustration i bought one of these...

http://www.telstra.com.au/shop/Consumer/NGTSOProductDetailsView?catalogId=1 0101&storeId=10001&productId=96702&langId=-1&categoryId=16126&parent_category_rn=16126&top_category=

i paid $150 for the modem plus 5gb/90days, and have since topped it up 10gb/365days for $150...

coverage and speed are excellent, and not too pricey... keeping in mind that generally you get what you pay for...

i only use it when im away from home and have been really happy with it... i would have it augmented into the back of my neck if the option was available... :screwy:

if your move is temporary this would still be a good long term option as a backup and mobile hot-spot...

[andrew2008]

Damn. Really looks like I will have to have another look at telstras offerings.

Why do they insist on only offering 24month contracts still though? With the data I am after and sub 12 month term it's either optus at a total cost of $360 for the year or 2 years with telstra for around $1500 and less data:-( Or prepaid which is worse. $150 for modem then $150 for 10gb allowance. Less data than optus offers for a $30/month plan.

[Kevnool]

I am with Telstra at the moment and for 150 bucks i have a 3 gig card for my lappie, 200gb at home as well with no rental and 2 lines

I am not a Telstra fan but i cant knock that deal back.

Besides theres only Telstra in the outback or to the point only Telstra has towers in the outback.

Cheers Kev.