We are new to the travelling bug and need advice on staying connected to the internet whilst travelling
Have been advised to purchase a - WIFI SIM CARD MODEM (we already have the sim card ) any advice appreciated
Thanks
Russ
Tony Bev said
06:27 PM Feb 16, 2021
Hi Russ and Sandy
Welcome to the forum
As we are all different, we will have different needs for how much Internet we want
We have a mobile phone on the Telstra network, we also have pre paid USB dongle (also with Telstra), for a laptop
We can see from Australia Camps Wide book, which campsites have phone coverage, and plan our stops accordingly
This seems to be adequate for our needs, as our children like us to keep in touch
RussandSandy said
06:54 PM Feb 16, 2021
Hi Tony
Thanks for the welcome - we will probably go the same way
Thanks
Russ
Dougwe said
07:09 PM Feb 16, 2021
Welcome to the gang RussandSandy, enjoy here and out in the playground.
I have used a Telstra Netgear portable WiFi device fir years and find it great. It can also have a external antenna attached that comes in very handy at times. I have mine on a plan. Works best for me.
The Belmont Bear said
07:11 PM Feb 16, 2021
Hi Russ we have a Telstra prepaid 4GX wifi modem that I have used for the last 3 years without problems on all our trips around Tas, SA, Vic and NSW. I just bought a newer version last week from the Telstra web site for $97 with free shipping including Sim card and 20 gig of data (normaly $139), I could only get it on line as Telstra shops don't stock them. I usually recharge it on online which I think costs me around $150 for 40gig of data which is good for 6 months. You can run up to 6 devices off the unit - the only reason that I replaced the old one was because it wasn,t holding its charge and for that price it was easier just to buy a new one.
Cheers
BB
bgt said
07:12 PM Feb 16, 2021
I'm with Dougwe. Have no issues with Netgear from Telstra.
RussandSandy said
07:27 PM Feb 16, 2021
Thanks Doug
RussandSandy said
07:30 PM Feb 16, 2021
Thanks one Feather
Cheers
Russ and Sandy
The Travelling Dillberries said
07:36 PM Feb 16, 2021
Welcome RussandSandy, I have had the Telstra 4G wifi prepaid for 5 years and only last week had to replace it. Worked fine everywhere we went including all over Tassie. Purchased the same but updated and transferred my Sim card to it, Coles have them for $49
I have Optus wireless broadband at home which means I can take the modem anywhere in Australia and access the internet anywhere there is an Optus mobile 4G signal. Where no Optus I use my mobile phone with Telstra.
Snippy said
10:36 PM Feb 16, 2021
It really depends on where you intend to travel.
We have been on the road 5 years and tried the Netgear router. Unfortunately it still needs a reasonable signal to be of much use.
We use ours mostly for downloading data. Ended up with CelFi signal booster, advertised on this forum. Expensive, but it does work. Stuart Highway is hopeless most of it's length, as is most of WA. At least if the CelFi can sniff out a signal you might get a bit of bandwidth to do some browsing.
Cupie said
12:09 AM Feb 17, 2021
We have a Boost mobile sim in our iPhone & hot spot that to my laptop PC or our iPad for the benefit of a larger screen (WiFi connection).
Boost uses the full Telstra mobile network and my 'plan' is $150 for 80gig that lasts 12months. Though this plan may only be available to existing customers.
More than enough for us and the speed is adequate.
-- Edited by Cupie on Wednesday 17th of February 2021 09:53:19 AM
Mike Harding said
08:23 AM Feb 17, 2021
I use my phone as a hotspot with a Belong SIM ($10 per month) - Belong is wholly Telstra owned and uses their wholesale network. I have found it to be quite adequate in all the locations one may expect mobile signal.
I use about 1GB of data per month, that's for regular net surfing and e-mail - I virtually never watch video, YouTube et al.
Edit:
Outside mobile coverage areas I use e-mail over HF Amateur Radio but that's a *whole* different story :)
-- Edited by Mike Harding on Wednesday 17th of February 2021 08:24:53 AM
RussandSandy said
12:36 PM Feb 17, 2021
Thanks Guys
RussandSandy said
12:38 PM Feb 17, 2021
Thanks Cupie
RussandSandy said
12:39 PM Feb 17, 2021
Thanks Sniffy
Radar said
02:55 PM Feb 17, 2021
We hedge our bets, wife has blue brand and I have the white one, sometimes they both work, othertimes only one network works
My white wifi moderm linked to my phone account has been excellant.
The wife hotspots and shares her account when the occasional needs arise.
The modem may not be perfect but you do get use to lack of communication after awhile.
The advantage of using a wifi modem is it has a potable aerial jack to extend its range and the other is I found is my phone while hotspoting seems to use a lot more battery.
Ps white is Optus network.
black is Telstra network.
Vanningon said
03:12 PM Feb 20, 2021
Just be aware that there is a very big difference in the areas covered (especially in the outback) by the full Telstra network and the wholesale network. Look at the coverage maps each re seller or provider has and the difference is very clear.
Cheers
Dick0 said
03:33 PM Feb 20, 2021
Hi Guys,
I found having both the Telstra and Optus portable wifi modems gives you good coverage on the travels. The modems are about $50 each. Recharging to the max gives me plenty of gigabytes of data usable for 12 months rather than limited monthly.
PeterD said
05:29 PM Mar 10, 2021
RussandSandy wrote:Have been advised to purchase a - WIFI SIM CARD MODEM (we already have the sim card ) any advice appreciated
Russ, when purchasing the modem, get the shop to install the SIM card and check that it works. A lot of these devices are locked to a particular network. If you get hold of a modem that is locked to a network the SIM does not operate on, it will not work.
RussandSandy said
08:05 PM Mar 10, 2021
Thanks for all the replies
Cheers
Russ
Aus-Kiwi said
03:49 PM Mar 12, 2021
Oh I thought I read WIFE when traveling !! Yes both can be the same ! Lol no connections!!
gdayjr said
10:46 AM Mar 13, 2021
Radar wrote:
We hedge our bets, wife has blue brand and I have the white one, sometimes they both work, othertimes only one network works
My white wifi moderm linked to my phone account has been excellant.
The wife hotspots and shares her account when the occasional needs arise.
The modem may not be perfect but you do get use to lack of communication after awhile.
The advantage of using a wifi modem is it has a potable aerial jack to extend its range and the other is I found is my phone while hotspoting seems to use a lot more battery.
Hi Guys
We are new to the travelling bug and need advice on staying connected to the internet whilst travelling
Have been advised to purchase a - WIFI SIM CARD MODEM (we already have the sim card ) any advice appreciated
Thanks
Russ
Welcome to the forum
As we are all different, we will have different needs for how much Internet we want
We have a mobile phone on the Telstra network, we also have pre paid USB dongle (also with Telstra), for a laptop
We can see from Australia Camps Wide book, which campsites have phone coverage, and plan our stops accordingly
This seems to be adequate for our needs, as our children like us to keep in touch
Hi Tony
Thanks for the welcome - we will probably go the same way
Thanks
Russ
I have used a Telstra Netgear portable WiFi device fir years and find it great. It can also have a external antenna attached that comes in very handy at times. I have mine on a plan. Works best for me.
Cheers
BB
Thanks Doug
Thanks one Feather
Cheers
Russ and Sandy
Welcome RussandSandy, I have had the Telstra 4G wifi prepaid for 5 years and only last week had to replace it. Worked fine everywhere we went including all over Tassie.
Purchased the same but updated and transferred my Sim card to it, Coles have them for $49
.
We have been on the road 5 years and tried the Netgear router. Unfortunately it still needs a reasonable signal to be of much use.
We use ours mostly for downloading data. Ended up with CelFi signal booster, advertised on this forum. Expensive, but it does work. Stuart Highway is hopeless most of it's length, as is most of WA. At least if the CelFi can sniff out a signal you might get a bit of bandwidth to do some browsing.
We have a Boost mobile sim in our iPhone & hot spot that to my laptop PC or our iPad for the benefit of a larger screen (WiFi connection).
Boost uses the full Telstra mobile network and my 'plan' is $150 for 80gig that lasts 12months. Though this plan may only be available to existing customers.
More than enough for us and the speed is adequate.
-- Edited by Cupie on Wednesday 17th of February 2021 09:53:19 AM
I use my phone as a hotspot with a Belong SIM ($10 per month) - Belong is wholly Telstra owned and uses their wholesale network. I have found it to be quite adequate in all the locations one may expect mobile signal.
I use about 1GB of data per month, that's for regular net surfing and e-mail - I virtually never watch video, YouTube et al.
Edit:
Outside mobile coverage areas I use e-mail over HF Amateur Radio but that's a *whole* different story :)
-- Edited by Mike Harding on Wednesday 17th of February 2021 08:24:53 AM
Thanks Guys
Thanks Cupie
Thanks Sniffy
We hedge our bets, wife has blue brand and I have the white one, sometimes they both work, othertimes only one network works
My white wifi moderm linked to my phone account has been excellant.
The wife hotspots and shares her account when the occasional needs arise.
The modem may not be perfect but you do get use to lack of communication after awhile.
The advantage of using a wifi modem is it has a potable aerial jack to extend its range and the other is I found is my phone while hotspoting seems to use a lot more battery.
Ps white is Optus network.
black is Telstra network.
Hi Guys,
I found having both the Telstra and Optus portable wifi modems gives you good coverage on the travels. The modems are about $50 each. Recharging to the max gives me plenty of gigabytes of data usable for 12 months rather than limited monthly.
Russ, when purchasing the modem, get the shop to install the SIM card and check that it works. A lot of these devices are locked to a particular network. If you get hold of a modem that is locked to a network the SIM does not operate on, it will not work.
Thanks for all the replies
Cheers
Russ
Its as clear as black and Blue?