In another world I was reading a thread on Pay TV and the feasibility of taking it on the road when roaming . This in turn has raise a question in my mind re broadband services .
Most of are with a broadband ISP with our desktop computers hence as with Pay TV while away on the road we are still paying for it to sit idle.
Does anyone know if there is a ISP that will allow you to convert for a short period , without penalty, your land line broadband to a wireless system while you roam about. Naturally there would be additional cahrges for air cards etc .
Or is there an ISP that has short term wireless services, without complex long term contracts costing at least your first born child , that would suit us GN's.
Could be a market for an interested lateral thinking ISP as we GN's will soon if not already out number other travelers
__________________
Pets are welcome but children must be leashed at all times
Wombat I have always been interested in mobile internet. As far as I am concerned, sat internet is the only reliable system. At home I have sat and it works fine. The biggest hurdle has always been the cost of the equipment though mine is under Govn subsidy.
With your question I once again checked how sat was shaping up, cost wise, and it seems to be reducing. Found one for $2850 and $19/mth at 500mb.
When you consider most people have a mobile phone, then using sat, means that the landline can be removed, saving roughly $300/yr in "line fee's".
The downside to sat, is the setup each time, but once setup, no matter where, you have a connection.
It seems to me that it is getting close, cost wise, to be a reasonable alternative that can be used at home and taken on the road.
Check out Netspace I'm with them and they have a wireless option also fast "Churns" and seem to have reasonable prices. I'm moving and they are on top of it with changing the service over. Also check out ADSL2 pricing lots cheaper as Telstra have nothing to do with it......
__________________
Don't take life too seriously.... No one gets out alive
KIA Sorento CRDi EX ( Ebony black) with 5 hex chrome plated tire air valve covers, Coramal Sunsheild, Elcheapo GPS, First Aid Kit, full KIA toolkit & Yellow lenses on the Foglights......
hi wombat. use google to get you onto whirlpool.com.au. then have a look at iinet.net.au lots of info about them on whirlpool. they have just started a internet wireless broadband using the 3g network ( a fair coverage around australia ) i think the best coverage of australia is with telstra, "but" they are very dear and want to lock you into a long contract
I would recommend anyone looking at getting wireless to take a look at Exetels plans, they are very good: http://exetel.com.au/residential-hspa-information.php
I use Exetel myself, and thus far have had no problems, and I've only had two occasions where I could not connect due to being out of range.
I would also further recomend that anyone getting wireless, regardless of ISP ensure (or buy your own) Huawei E169 wireless modem as this allows you to connect an external antenna, I have done this on the bus and the results are very good with an on-glass 5db antenna, obviously due to my busses high roof it effects the signal somewhat, so if you dont have this issue you will do better then me.
I've been able to connect to a cell 35Kms away, which isn't a bad effort off the external antenna.
I am not aware of any ISP that allows you to 'turn-off' your net or convert to wireless for a specific period of time. Although Exetel do allow you to change plans (at no cost) on a monthly basis, so if you are aware you will be in an area with no or very limited coverage you can switch to the $5 a month option. You must change your plan prior to the 1st of the coming month for it to be effective and activated. Its a great option, especially when you consider there are no charges for this.
There is a company that provides portable satellite services: www.ausnomadtech.com.au Compared to others providing 2-way sat their prices are in the ballpark. Although prior to getting wireless I e-mailed them with some querries and they never responded to me via e-mail or phone, so I am not so sure on how keen they are for business nor how effective they would be when you may require support.
