Telstra has the best cover - but there is still no service out of the towns.

I use Telstra prepaid 4g wifi when travelling and just connect my iPad or laptop via wifi. If camp site is a bit lower than surrounds then I put up my Yagi antenna for the wifi. The prepaid wifi sim will have its own logon code (on the box/packet) and you use the code to access the wifi from your laptop etc. I use Skype to make the phone calls as my phone is on another network (which doesn't have the coverage like Telstra.

Hi landcruiser, I also use a Telstra 4GX prepaid modem router whicn I think is around $110 from any telstra shop and includes a complimentary 10gig of data (good for 28 days). You can run up to 6 devices of it, I suggest that you go on their website and see what they have to offer incuding their monthly plans. I just recharged mine on line for $90 which although its only 10gig of data it will last 6 months so you dont lose what you havent used after a month if you forget to recharge it on time. If you intend streaming or doing video calls you will probably need more data than that eg. when I was recently living in Oman I was streaming Netflix and making video calls each day through facebook messenger and was using around 100gig a month. Some van parks offer complimentary wifi like the one that we were in last week in Crescent Heads but I think the limit was 500meg/day, it dropped out a bit when it got busy and there is always some risk with security using free wifi. I got hacked recently in Muscat using the hotels free in house wifi when I was making video calls on Facebook Messenger.

cheers

BB

I use a Telstra 4GX wifi modem. Until recently I was using Telstra lomgr life prepaid. Officeworks have two versions at $29 (mine) or $59 the latter has a more informative front display. I also use an $80 magnetic base external antenna. They are probably cheaper of you shop around and only needed of you are on the edge of coverage.

Ever forgetful..... Be wary of your phone/tablet apps updating and chewing through data unexpectedly when connected through a wifi modem. They won't know it's add the end of a 4G link.

T1 Terry wrote:

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Dickodownunder wrote:

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I use a dongle similar to this.

www.ebay.com.au/itm/HUAWEI-E5573-UNLOCKED-POCKET-WIFI-USB-4G-4GX-MOBILE-BROADBAND-MODEM-ROUTER/112616255755

I got mine from Telstra which is very expensive but mine came with a cradle with signal gain antennae.

I velcro mine to an internal wall of the van adjacent to a power outlet. They will charge via a transformer or a usb.

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Does that only accept an Optus sim or can you get one that will work on the Telstra network as they only mention the Optus network in the E Bay listing?

At the Stone the Crows Rally in Wagga there were a heap of long poles with plastic bags attached. Turns out they are collapsible Tuna fishing poles and the WiFi dongle goes in the plastic bag and hangs up near the top of the pole to give better coverage. I was thinking about using a USB dongle and a mega long cord and attaching that to the 9mtr Tuna pole. That way it wouldn't need to come down to get recharged regularly and the Modem listed says it only has a 6 hr use capacity but a 300 hr stand by .... a 120 gig Telstra prepaid sim would require a lot of rechargers before the 120 gig was used up wouldn't it?

I see Optus now have an unlimited data plan available, now if they have the coverage I'd say that was a winner, could a Yagi antenna be attached to the 9mtr Tuna pole and how much would that improve the coverage? Enough to equal the Telstra coverage?

 

T1 Terry    

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 Hi Terry

As long as the unit is unlocked you can use any Telco.

If you get the dongle from Telstra with the cradle included you can plug a Yaggi aerial into it as well so you could if you had a lead long enough actually put it on a pole and have the dongle and the cradle inside the van.

I have looked at Optus but do not seem to have the coverage of Telstra

When my Telstra dongle is out of contract I will talk to Boost regarding a data sim as they are on the Telstra network and are a lot cheaper than Telstra.

 I should add that if it is used in the cradle then it will charge as well and mine also came with a charger that plugs into the dongle.

I dont use the cradle anymore as I carried it for all of last year and did not use it..... If I built it in it would be a different matter

Here is a link that lists the many accessories that you may use with the dongle.

http://www.campadelectronics.com.au/wifi-advanced-3-patchlead-antennas.php

-- Edited by Dickodownunder on Saturday 26th of May 2018 08:40:28 PM

-- Edited by Dickodownunder on Saturday 26th of May 2018 08:47:38 PM

Thanks for your comments

am I right in thinking that rather than buy a dongle,I can use one of my iPads as a hot spot (All my devices ar 4G capable) Buying a SIM card when we get to Australia, loading data on and use that iPad as a hot spot for the other devices

Will this get the same results or do dongles have better reception strength

Thanks Geoff, I reallly appreciate your comments. 

-- Edited by Land cruiser on Sunday 27th of May 2018 09:24:49 AM

vanman wrote:

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This seems to me to be a good deal on Boost.
$15 for a SIM and 15GB data and unused data can be rolled over with conditions.

I am paying $35pm for 10GB on Telstra plan with a 4G X advanced 111 modem.

Boost would save me $20pm plus an extra 5GB. I can put the SIM into my Samsung Galaxy tablet and maybe tether my phone to the tablet to make calls.

How do others see this deal?

Chris

-- Edited by vanman on Sunday 27th of May 2018 12:14:54 PM

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 I see it as a good deal but I am already converted.

My daughter just gave me an IPad that takes a sim so when I am out of the contract for the dongle with Telstra I will have many options.

As with all deals the telcos offer changing deals on a regular basis.

There are so many variations....generally on line is a much better deal than going into one of their outlets....but I did say generally 

My advice is do not go into a contract with anyone. I am amazed how many deals Telstra have offered me since I cancelled my phones with them.

I will remain a free agent from now on when it comes to the Telcos.

My aerial sits permanently on top of my van. This makes it about 3.5mtrs above ground level. Never had a problem with internet access. even when I was supposedly 70ks out of Telstra coverage area. Phone access different matter. But can plug my phone into the internet aerial if necessary. Make sure you deny updates on your computer. I have a Telstra 4g box on the wall wired in etc in the van like the pocket WiFi above.

I've done something new recently - gone completely mobile. So now I'm not paying whoever their fees of having a "home-phone" & internet plan that I cannot use because they are installed at home. NBN? I ignored it!

I went & saw my ex-employer & got a Netgear Nighthawk modem that I can take everywhere with me. I get 40GB a month with my phone as a shared pool. It's not cheap but I think I'll end up in front of what I was on in past years. At least the young lady in the Telstra Shop gave me a discount on the modem so that makes it better. My phone gives unlimited calls & texts to any number in Australia for $49 a month. Overseas? I cannot recall the costs but that doesn't worry me.

Pat has her phone with Virgin (an offshoot of Optus). The contract ends this year & she's just been told they are going to disappear from the scene within two years. The only Virgin shop I know of in Qld & the ACT is in Canberra! She'll probably join in with Telstra too.

I did find out the 11th Commandment "Thou Shalt Have a Home Phone" according to the "customer service(???)" girls in India. Particularly if you want to take up Telstra extras - eg a Bigpond email account - I told them what they could do with that & went to gmail.

Some advice! If you're considering going to Telstra, MONITOR their site CONSTANTLY as they change from day to day & the new deals are NOT for existing customers! Refer to www.telstra.com.au/broadband/mobile-broadband/plans - from there you can select your device, etc.