Wireless Broad Band

[leon]

Hi Guys, well if it isn't connected with a wire of sorts, I get a little puzzled on how it all works.

So here is my dilemma, well not really Alice and I will one day be doing some travelling and would also like to be connected to the internet.

So how dose one get hooked up to wireless Broard Band.

I know to some of you guys this is a minor thing, but I'm not sure how to go about it.

Do I just contact my Internet Provider and say, I need to lose these wires an fly free, or is it more involved than that.

Any suggestions would be much appreciated, thank you

Leon

[acropolite (Phil)]

Leon, you don't necessarily need to get another account. Many accomodation places and caravan parks have wireless hotspots, some of which are PAYG and some even free. Wireless broadband (nextG) costs an arm and a leg and the D/L limit is low so if you're going to be staying at caravan parks or motels then just a wireless LAn adapter in your lappy may be all you need, particularly if you're only going to check every few days. If wireless broadband is a must have I seem to remember Virgin having some offers that were attractive.

[DJDD]

if you are travelling in an area where there is 3G coverage (or GPRS) you can buy a wireless modem you plug into the USB slot of your laptop.
Install the software and you are good to go.

All telco's have them, such as Three (3), Optus, Telstra.
Note that Telstra's offering, whilst having better coverage outside major capitals than the other providers, is very expensive when you compare the download limits.

check the coverage maps for all providers before signing up.

[Alchemy (Clive)]

i have the telstra wireless .... it s expensive in comparison, but get 5 mins outside a major population area and its probably the only one that works

its all that i could get where i live.

[gbeal]

Depends where you travel Leon.
I/we did a Europe trip last year, and in Singapore I bought a PDA, which doubled as a Phone and small means of checking e mail etc.
It was "wifi" ands this meant that I could cozy up to a shake in Maccas in paris and use their wireless network to communicate with the rest of the world. Starbucks is similar. Then again, most places we went to had an internet cafe, and while it was horrendously priced in Venice, it was as cheap as chips in the likes of Rome or London, and most airports have free internet usage.
You thinking to buy a laptop or something smaller? If I had had my iPhone then I would have been very happy, very.
Gary

[jakob]

WiFi is the answer.

Last year I travelled the USA and found Free WiFi most places, Hotels Van Parks and Cafe's. Few places charge, in Denver i paid $5/day in a Van Park but in Las Vegas the Hotel would have charged $12/day!

I also I noticed that some Public libraries have WiFi.

Good Luck.

[leon]

Hmmm, thank you guys, maybe I might just do without it while traveling, I will look into it however and see where that leads me.

Leon

[dannat (Daniel)]

I concur about telstra having the best coverage by a long margin, but there prices are also the highest by a long way as well. Outside the major metrop cities they are really the only option.
The library is a good option - just about all have free internet & a lot are getting free wireless if you take your laptop with you.

As for how it works - buy the wireless modem - usb stik or little box, install software & setup an a/c.

[leon]

Thanks Daniel, for your help I will do some research.

Leon

[bluescope]

HI Leon

Vodafone do a wireless broadband plan at $39.95 per month for 5Gb downloads. That's heaps unless you want to download movies etc. They have pretty good coverage on 3G network in capital cities and GPRS ( sort of wireless dialup speed wise ) in expanding country areas. You can check out their coverage maps to see the extent of their network as applies to where you may travel. I'm with them here in Perth .... right now in fact ..... I tend to agree that Telstra seem to have the widest coverage but things are changing rapidly so do your research.

Good luck mate



p.s. If you sign up with them for 24 months you get free USB mode ( worth $300 ) that fits in your pocket.

p.p.s. Optus are doing similar plan now as well.

As a footnote .... internet access is available just about everywhere now in caravan parks, hotels, motels etc etc etc.

[mdgodf (Mark)]

Just about every macdonalds is a wireless hotspot for telstra - you pay when you connect. There are many others. The following is a link to a spreadsheet at telstra that lists all their wi-fi spots.
http://www.telstra.com.au/wirelessho.../locations.htm

That with a good smatering of internet cafes these days is all you need I think (take care at the internet cafes though I don't trust the security; no evidence of a problem just don't trust them)

[xstream (John)]

Leon, I'll be home all day tomorrow give me a ring and I'll explain what I've done to my van.

[leon]

Very interesting, thank you all, now John, I would like to talk to you about the caravan set-up, but i don't have your number mate.

leon

[xstream (John)]

Sorry Leon, I thought you did.

PM sent.