computer while traveling

Cowboy7307 · Senior Member

computer while traveling

Fried Rice · Guru

I have a small laptop (notebook?) which serves me well while travelling. I also use a next G mobile phone (cost about $45) as a modem which provides access to the WWW just about everywhere in the country; yes, there are numerous internet access points, some in shopping centres etc, libraries,visitor centres.coffee shops and so on.

For more independence, if you are a telstra account you can get "Data packs"..

http://www.telstra.com.au/mobile-phones/data-packs/

Be careful not to exceed data pack allowance, otherwise you get slugged a small fortune for over-use.

I'm aware of but not familiar with smartphones, others will surely comment; my view is that they'd probably be a bit fiddly to use as a laptop alternative.

Fried Rice.

Hylda&Jon · Guru

Wouldn't be without our computers. We actually travelled with one each. Handy to use as a TV also

Cheers

Jon

beiffe · Guru

Macca's for a burger and a coffee and then log into their wifi and do your emails etc.

If a pensioner you can get the pensioner coffee for a reasonable fee (FREE).

Often nice to sit down in the restaurant and sip a coffee you didn't make and watch the world go by and do your updates etc if you are short of download.

I use a Telstra modem for my internet and have an aerial for better reception as I spend a lot of time out bush.

Use the computer when you NEED to don't neglect the scenery by sitting inside all day. I use it while having breakfast then turn off for the day.

Regards
Brian

Scotty01 · Senior Member

I have just upgraded to a smart phone for my upcoming travels.You can set it to have your own "hot spot" so as long as your lappy has wifi you just log on through the phone. I also carry a 3g prepaid dongle incase I use my monthly allowance as over use data is extreamly expensive

Clyde Camel · Veteran Member

I have a Mac Book Pro + a 24" external screen that connects to it, so when I am plugged into the power I effectively have a normal computer. When I am not plugged into the power I am still using the same computer, but with a smaller screen.
Because I am spending many hours a day working on the website, a smart phone just wouldn't do the job. The new iPads however show promise and I might get one, once the real 4G phone system is everywhere an the next model of iPad is fully compatible with it.
Clyde Camel.

brickies · Guru

We use Wireless dongle at home with wireless Router on Telstra Plan which we use on mac book and I mac , when we travel we take the dongle and mac book , we now have an I PAD which we will take it fits into hand bag so so on the net were ever we go it work WI FI , but we have a telstra chip which is pre paid $150 for 10G and good for 1 YEAR if you recharge before the 365 days any unused download is added onto new recharge . Any body who have not got a computer I think Ipad would be a good start but talk to someone at an Apple shop they are a big help in working out your needs

Happywanderer · The Master

I have a laptop with a wireless broadband dongle. I am able to charge using power in the van and also a 12 volt adaptor. All works well.

villatranquilla · Guru

I use a laptop with dongle and a prepaid package via Telstra ($150 and lasts 12 mths) and have just bought an external aerial which has improved reception from where I had none to having constant service - even where our telstra mobiles struggle at times and either have no service or keep dropping out.
Looked at a new phone today that can also plug into the aerial but at $299 cannot justify it at the moment

brickies · Guru

Is the Aerial mounted on your caravan

Dougwe · Chief one feather

I have a Lap Top with wireless Next G Broadband and Next G Rural cover (Telstra Blue Tick) Mobile Phone. I also have a external antenna for the wireless Broadband if needed.

valnrob · Guru

I use a Samsung tablet. I use my Samsung phone to access wifi through its hotspot connection. My Ph is a prepaid which I put fifty dollars credit per month. I use telstra talk and text plan, gives me 200 free talk mins. I then deposit the fifty bucks thru to their bonus and data plan and get three or four gig usage. So far so good. This way is great for me. Hope this may help you Cheers

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

I prefer to hack into somebody else's IT connection a lot cheaper than buying a Telstra dongle biggrin

Happywanderer · The Master

_wombat_ wrote:
I prefer to hack into somebody else's IT connection a lot cheaper than buying a Telstra dongle

Like maccas wombat.

villatranquilla · Guru

brickies wrote:
Is the Aerial mounted on your caravan

currently we have it taped to extended camping poles tied to the bikes on the back of the van. Will remove it when travelling and probably look at a more permanant arrangement for fixing to the van bumper bar using an extendable pole. Aerial is about 3 foot in length and came with 8 mts of cable.

brickies · Guru

Thanks for that at a Caravan Show in Brisbane 3 years ago a session put on by Telstra Country they suggested putting aerial on caravans for better reception , so great to hear it does work

tonyd · Guru

The aerial sounds like a good idea. Where would you buy such an object, please?
It may even help with my poor reception on a Telstra dongle in a northern Perth suburb. Can't get ADSL (too far from exchange), so I am limited to wireless but my house is in a little black spot about 300 metres by 300 metres, so only Telstra works.
It's not bad, except between 4pm and about 8.30pm, when it's terrible. This puzzled me for ages, until a neighbour, who has two young kids, pointed out that it's kids coming home from school, logging on and using most of the bandwidth!
Cheers, Tony

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

Happywanderer wrote:
_wombat_ wrote:
I prefer to hack into somebody else's IT connection a lot cheaper than buying a Telstra dongle
Like maccas wombat.

HW, maccas is ok as a last resort, very slow connection usually, but at least it's a connection you don't pay for as long as you are hungrey or want a coffee, you can also sit outside of maccas and still get a connection

-- Edited by _wombat_ on Wednesday 11th of April 2012 07:52:48 AM

Hylda&Jon · Guru

We got an antenna guy to install an aerial to the back of our van which I can raise, lower & rotate when I want. Before we left in the mornings for the next destination I'd check this site http://ozcamps.net/test/tvstations2.html for the Next G tower locations then, upon arriving, I would point the aerial in the correct direction. We found we had reception in places no one else had.

I think the cost was a bit over $200

Cheers

Jon

-- Edited by Hylda&Jon on Wednesday 11th of April 2012 08:25:34 AM

landy · Guru

Telstra have just released a smart phone called the active touch, which we have just purchased ( $245 ) that has both an aerial socket and wi fi. (most do not have the aerial socket)

We can carry it as a phone in the day and be able to log on for directions and such, and when back at the van we plug onto the aerial and use it as a wi fi modem to connect our lap tops.

Hope this helps Landy.

-- Edited by landy on Wednesday 11th of April 2012 09:46:46 AM

villatranquilla · Guru

tonyd wrote:
The aerial sounds like a good idea. Where would you buy such an object, please?
It may even help with my poor reception on a Telstra dongle in a northern Perth suburb. Can't get ADSL (too far from exchange), so I am limited to wireless but my house is in a little black spot about 300 metres by 300 metres, so only Telstra works.
It's not bad, except between 4pm and about 8.30pm, when it's terrible. This puzzled me for ages, until a neighbour, who has two young kids, pointed out that it's kids coming home from school, logging on and using most of the bandwidth!
Cheers, Tony

Hi Tony - bought it at Retravision Telstra shop ($150) plus a patch lead - just took the dongle in to match the connector - maybe check out Dick Smith

-- Edited by villatranquilla on Wednesday 11th of April 2012 09:18:24 AM

_wombat_ · Master (of Mischief)

Jon, great link there, very useful.

brickies · Guru

The telstra Guy at the Caravan show said the best place to get this type of gear is in a rural location has city Telstra shop don't stock this sort of product, look for a Telstra country Shop maybe Dubbo NSW or Roma QLD , HE also said some black spot area they use these same aerials on house to improve reception in bad area tin roof can stop signal

bill12 · Guru

I use this magnetic little aerial which came with my tv dongle for the computer. It plugs in the nextg telstra wirelees broadband dongle and doubles coverage . It also plugs it mt nokia next g phone and gives me better fringe reception.I have a spare if anyone is interested. Bill

brickies · Guru

Bill were did you buy them from looks simple and works

Hylda&Jon · Guru

An aerial like the one on my van was fitted by a local antenna guy here in Grafton that does TV antennas & the like. He looked at the problem, scratched his head then bought some piping for the telescopic mount & proceeded to build it & rivit onto the back of the van then mounted the aerial on top. and fed the lead into the van. Works a treat.

Cheers

Jon

bill12 · Guru

I bought it with a tv dongle on ebay called blaze tv. It give you digital tv on your laptop. I think it was about $27 .Then I tried the connection on my phone and internet dongle , and it fitted. It certainly make a difference in fringe areas.In places where I was getting no signal, I get 2 or 3 bars with the aerial.I have a spare aerial if someone wants it. Bill