I do use Skype which you can call a land line or mobile for a fee or computer to computer for free , but because all our family have apple computers we also use IChat which is also free video chat , We have talk to our son when he was working in Germany from our laptop to his laptop when we were in Barcaldine queensland
I use V.O.I.P. (voice over internet propocol) which is the same as Skype. There are many providers including 'Pennytel' and 'Mynetphone' which is who I use. Most I.S.P's have this facility available, and is built into the 'packages'.
I pay Telstra $20 p/m for the land line and that is all they get out of me. I have not made a phone call from the line for several years, now.
The home phone is plugged into the modem and ALL out calls are made over the net. Cost is 10 cents per call anywhere in Australia, untimed.
When overseas we call home using it, and because it is via the Aust. server it is a local call (10c). We made 35 calls in four weeks when we were in Scandinavia - total cost $3.50.
I use skype all the time with kids & grandkids in 3 states its great to keep in touch, took me quite a while to get used to it, felt very uncomfortable at first but the g'kids soon put you at ease, & its free how good is that.
There was a time when I was interstate, I wished my family used their computers to communicate with me more, one way or another, but now I'm not so sure. I've just learned my family isn't what I thought they were, and I'll never live up to their expectations. Technology is a wonderful thing, when it works. I'm struggling to get TV, analogue and digital where I am in Adelaide, well, north of Adelaide. I get it all one day, and nothing the next. Too hard. I have a TV antenna man coming around next week. Ok, yes, he's just the antenna man.
__________________
20ft Roma caravan - Mercedes Benz Sprinter - SA-based at the moment. Transport has no borders.
Management makes the decisions, but is not affected by the decisions it makes.
I too find Skype quite convenient .. which I use primarily if I know that I need to make a call to a 'landline' somewhere in Oz .. you know the sort of things .. like getting put on hold .. or just sitting in a lineup to await your turn while you listen to the ongoing spiel thats provided ..
so .. it cost me only about $81.00 for a 12 month period .. unlimlited calls to any landline in Oz (from my computer) .. not bad value .. and the quality is quite good and much more comfortable if using a good headset ..
As I do use a 3G internet connection, I have a fair coverage .. and in an average month, I fail to use my full quota of 3GB .. so that goes to phone calls before I lose it.
Calls to Mobiles from my computer (at an added cost) are also of a good standard .. but its there for my use if an urgency arrives where it could be more beneficial .. I've yet to see that Skype has the capacity to make cheaper calls to mobiles than I'm already using with a mobile phone ..
Hi guys, I use Skype all the time as it's a great tool to talk face to face and I can understand the older establishment of members on the caravan forum finding it a little hard at times trying to use this tool."But" Once you set it up and play a little guys you wont look back,as talking to our grand kids is magenificent when travelling and your good friends soon come on board. It's to use and the best thing about Skype it's free.
To download Skype just google it and take it from there,it walk's you through the step's guys
Currently in Melbourne heading to the Australian National Caravan Rally at Elmore (Vic) from the 30th to 9th Jan 2011
If anybody up for a chat look out for our Lotus caravan with the Nomads forums Flag cheers Mick
I didn't know about the flags either. I "fly" the sticker on the car and the van.
The TV antenna man couldn't help me with my problem. In fact he didn't seem to have too much of a clue, except to announce my antenna was probably the wrong one, and he could sell me the right one. Yeah, right! Not this little white duck. So I have to explore my options further for digital VHF TV reception.
__________________
20ft Roma caravan - Mercedes Benz Sprinter - SA-based at the moment. Transport has no borders.
Management makes the decisions, but is not affected by the decisions it makes.
I don't think there is a flag yet. I know there has been a lot of talk about wanting one but no mention of anyone having one other than Mick. Maybe he made his own.