Mobile wireless net plans ?

[clakajak]

Hi all.

I'm being ripped off I think with Bigpond - $34.95/month for 10 hrs unlimited use.

Can anyone suggest a provider / plan for occasional use on overnights?

Cheers

[cstleon]

Have a look over here:

Wireless ISPs - Whirlpool Broadband Forums (http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum/18)

[Jazzy78910]

Yes, you are being ripped off. Anything with the word Telstra prefixed or appended means that you are getting screwed :rolleyes:

It's tough to make a recommendation on which carrier to change over to, because coverage is going to be the biggest deciding factor. ie: Three Mobile is only the cheap if you are using their service within a 3-Mobile Broadband zone (capital cities).

Ask yourself where you are going to use this service, then hit the carriers websites (Virgin, Three, Vodafone, Dodo etc) and use their coverage-checker tool to ensure that you will not be paying roaming charges at the locations you plan to visit.

A good deal can turn into a bad one if you are charged roaming costs instead of the standard rate.

[djpil]

I use Virgin mobile broadband pre-paid when I'm out and about. $15 for 500 Mb for 30 days. Seems to work OK in country Vic and NSW towns too.

[bentleg]

For coverage almost everywhere you cant beat Telstra Bigpong, but you pay accordingly.

I have an Exetel plan (http://www.exetel.com.au/residential-hspa-pricing.php), uses Optus network, $5 per month, no quota and you pay for what you use at 1.5c per MB on top. Works fine in all major centres. In some places coverage is not 3G (and speed becomes like dial up), but I'm not willing to pay Bigpong prices to get better coverage.

The problem I have with prepaid is they expire and I may not use the bought quota.

Exetel works for me.

(Virgin mentioned by previous poster also uses Optus network).

[werbil]

The cheapest option if you have a Telstra Next G phone and don't use a lot of data is to take the sim card out of the phone and put it in your modem when you want to access the internet. You can use data on your phone account on a pay as you go basis. You will lose your bigpond email address when you cancel that contract. When I did it, I had to download a turbo modem manager from www.maxon.com.au (http://www.maxon.com.au) as I couldn't get the bigpond one to work on the Telstra plan. Obviously you can't use the phone when the sim is in the modem.

I did this about a year ago. Plan fee saved $420. Data cost $0 as I don't use it much and you can use your phone call allowance to pay for the data.

[Howard Hughes]

Check your PM's!:ok:

[djpil]

The cheapest option if you have a Telstra Next G phone and don't use a lot of data is to take the sim card out of the phone and put it in your modemor use the phone as a modem.

Thanks for the info on Exetel, bentleg, I must review my own arrangements.

[AussieNick]

just remember Virgin, Voda, Dodo and a few others use the Optus infastructure to provide wireless internet, there fore you get no better reception than the optus users. To be totally honest, while you will pay more, Telstra is still the leader in coverage and speeds

[bentleg]

just remember Virgin, Voda, Dodo and a few others use the Optus infastructure to provide wireless internet, there fore you get no better reception than the optus users.

True - and there is no need to pay Optus prices to get the Optus Network, the next best after Telstra.

[sprocket check]

Depends on when and how you use it:

I have done Optus, Virgin, 3 and now Telstra. I use my mobile almost exclusively and for almost everything. Including hammering rivets. The rounded back of the iPhone is especially ideal.

I somehow always paid around $120-$300 per month. No matter the plan or phone or network. So I got the iPhone ultimate plan on Telstra and I must say technically speaking it is excellent. I always pay $150 a month. Fixed. At least I can budget it and have no surprises. Internet is always available, fast and on. Yes, I have jailbroken the iPhone so I can tether it to my laptop, though I have only done it two or three times in as many months.

[Mike Litoris]

I find that 3's new works plan is awesome, $110 per month 3000 min of calls, 500 SMS/MMS & 3GB of downloads. when out of the 3 zone it runs off the relates 3g network, so coverage is great.

[sprocket check]

I agree ML, the new 3 plans are good... as long as you don't use data outside of 3 coverage, ie city metro. While roaming on Telstra you get to pay around 50c per mb.

[freshy1234]

But you will hardly ever roam on Telstra.
If Telstra is out of range chances are that everything else is too.
Three is great if you don't roam.

[schoolboy]

Hard to change from telstra with the reception.

Was in a C208 at 10,000 overhead YEML and had 3 bars.

[ZEEBEE]

Was in a C208 at 10,000 overhead YEML and had 3 bars.

Geez schoolboy I wasn't allowed to fly a C208 until I had four bars :}

[Horatio Leafblower]

Smell of Kerosene only gives me one bar... but that's enough at my age :rolleyes: