short time internet connections

[tracker]

Hi all,I have some visitors coming out in the new year.They require a laptop internet card/usb connection for 2 months only. It will be used mostly east coast . Did a google and its pretty confusing for a old bloke.
Any clues?
thanks

[hiker]

Hi there

It is not easy to have a temp[orary broadband connection as the ADSL has to be activated on a valid telephone line which can take 5-10 working days.

You can still have a prepaid dial up facility such as
http://www.letsgo.com.au/prepaid.php

Let me know if I can help further

cheers

[barryj]

Will they have a land line telephone connection or do they want wireless?

Pre paid dial up as mentioned in the previous post is good.

The other option are Internet cafés as well as the good old council libraries. I know Coffs Harbour Library allows 30 minute sessions for visitors for free.

[Bytemrk]

Tracker,

What sort of budget have they got..and where will they be located/travelling?

If you are talking mobile broadband... you can purchase wireless cards outright then go on casual data plan with Telstra ( NextG).. not cheap though..

The last NextG cards i got for work cost $335 outright... then the data costs are still pretty rude.. 1Gig is $109 (then 30c per meg after than ouch!!!). if you go on a 24 mth contact they give you the card... but obviously that option doesn't work in this case.

Coverage in much of Vic is pretty good..and I can get pretty impressive speeds even in the bush..but coverage in the area they are in may be an issue, and unless they have very deep pockets they certainly don't want to be sending or receiving large amounts of data.

There may be a better option in your area but it definitely can be done if they want to part with enough $$$.

Mark

[tracker]

Mark,
Thanks for that mate.
They require mobile connection and will be travelling from seqld down to vic.
We seem to get gsm coverage from telstra and optus in most areas now.
A while back I ran over the cdma phone and telstra would not reactivate a older cdma phone.They said I HAD to go new gen(something) but it was useless compared to cdma. I cancelled cdma and now use a old prepaid gsm which works better then the new crap.(here anyway).Must be some new towers.
So I guess optus or telstra and to a lesser degree vodophone gsm works ok here.
Most cards for laptops are contract but some one must do a temp for tourists.On their last trip a drive down most main streets would find a unprotected connections but he feels guilty using them.

[Outlaw]

put my phones on NextG (telstras new cdma replacement) about 5 months back... not fantastic but getting better every month. Will say though that the internet connection through NextG is brilliant and fast... was connecting around 1300k from memory so only a touch slower than my home connection.

They are completely switching off the CDMA network in February and will then be up to 100% power on the NextG signals so if you believe all there PR then as of Feb it should be perfect :D

[incisor]

They are completely switching off the CDMA network in February and will then be up to 100% power on the NextG signals so if you believe all there PR then as of Feb it should be perfect :D
me thinks a lady called helen has screwed them plans.... ;)

[RonMcGr]

me thinks a lady called helen has screwed them plans.... ;)

I hope so :D

I'm not changing over until Next G is better than CDMA, and I can get a car kit with the phone.

Ron

[JDNSW]

me thinks a lady called helen has screwed them plans.... ;)

Although that may depend on whether she has a seat or at any rate a ministry by then.........


John

[slug_burner]

I hope so :D

I'm not changing over until Next G is better than CDMA, and I can get a car kit with the phone.

Ron

Mate when they switch off CDMA Next G will certainly be better:)

[Outlaw]

a few usb modems and deals available on Dick Smith

[HangOver]

if they have ADSL at home get them to ask thier internet company for a dial up number.
They nearly all have then as a backup.
It might be ok for a month or two for them and will cost nothing to setup

[tracker]

will check that hangover,only problem no landlines,they like the aussie bush thats why the mobile connection.

[HangOver]

Maybe they can borrow or hire one of those nextG mobile PDA thingys I have one and can get internet & email as long as I am in telephone network range. It's pretty good for what it is.

If you want "bush" internet ie out of telephone network range the only alternative is a satellite connection pretty simple to setup but the setup cost for 2 months would be prohibitive. Prob about $500 for the gear, (excluding laptop) then 6 months or so connection fee at about $80 month-ish prices are very-ish this is based on the UK prices from several years ago.

[tracker]

thanks for the replys,I will post what we end up doing.
cheers