Cheapest way communication and internet access

[shovpow]

We want to travel approx. 10 weeks in NZ and 12 weeks in AUS. Can somebody have some tips for the cheapest communication there. We plan to take a Laptop with us. How do I access best and most flexible in the internet? (Accept cost free WiFi points at MC Do)
Regards
Robert

[Kusi1]

Hi Robert

Go to any Library in Australia you will get 30 min of free Internet access per visit.

Happy travel
Mark

[ozhank]

Hi, enjoy your trip. McDonalds has free Wifi access from certain tables in each location. Many cafe have them as well.

[Keith1954]

When and where you can't pick-up free access, then consider getting a prepaid UBS dongle from a wireless ISP like Telstra. Not an altogether 'cheap' option, but much more economical than the rip-off charges offered by some [nay, most] aussie hotels & motels.

Let us know how you go on.

Cheers

K&E


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[clintnz]

A prepaid cellphone can be a good idea, you get a phone plus now many cheap phones can be plugged into the laptop for a fast internet connection. If you already have a gsm phone then all you need is a $30 SIM card. In NZ they charge around $1 for the 1st 10MB per day then $1/MB after that, so fine for email but no good if you want to upload lots of pics or watch lots of youtube.

eg: Mobile Home: Telecom Mobile

or Mobile phones & plans. Prepay, On Account, 3G, Smart - Vodafone NZ

Cheers
Clint

[Road Hog]

We have just returned from Australia and while there needed to manage business via internet,(I took company accountant, aka wife, with me). We used McDonalds some but there system is very slow (I think their credit card system over rides), used some librearys but did have problems finding them open. another good spot was information centers often had wireless. Where we needed the acess to pay bills and stuff we ended up getting a USB cell phone thingy and it worked great. (got at Target) (Boost I think) Many of the motels and camp grounds had internet but charged for it, up to wanting $20 day. you need to decide how much you need it then decide which way to go.

Bob

[ozhank]

Hi, best if you get Telstra one - more expensive than 3, Boost, etc, but Telstra has the best coverage across Australia and in areas where others will not operate. I have just swapped from prepaid one to post paid, as costing more than neccessary due to change in business operations. Normally $40 per month was more that ample for USB modem and the same for prepaid mobile - mostly get incoming calls, very few outgoing.

Hope you enjoy your stay. I'll be doddling back through Flinders Ranges and up Oodnadatta Track if not too wet in about 2 weeks time.

[hosko]

Buy a Google android phone (best option for price is the crazy johns Huwai Ideos $150) Dont put a Crazy johns sim in it put a telstra Sim in and purchase a data pack. The phone will work as its own little wireless hotspot but you can use the phone to check emails, use google maps, and thousands of good traveling applications like currency conversion. You can use it as a back up gps and mp3 player. All for $150 plus a teltra sim. Go prepaid on the sim and if you pay over $30 you get some free data. My wife has one of these phones and it is great value for money.

[shovpow]

Sorry for not being here for some time. So first of all thank you very much for all the replies. We will be 8-10 weeks in NZ and 12 weeks in Oz so I think the best choice would be either the prepaid Telstra option or staying focused on McDonalds or Information centers access.
I have a MacBook so I also will check the possibility of the USB dongle. Can I use the same dongle with different prepaid companies in NZ and OZ or is there a general provider for both?
regards
Robert

[Mike.C]

We bought a Vodaphone dongle in NZ at Christmas and it works just fine here in Oz.

[gixxer.rob]

As other have said the McDonald's wifi is free but can be painfully slow at times. But it's free.

I am not sure about NZ but a Telstra prepaid is a good way to budget your usage and Telstra does have the best coverage.

A tip..
all txt or simple email used the free or Telstra pre paid, photo uploads use a net cafe when available.

[realgraverobber]

iPod Touch gets excellent reception and is great at sniffing out wifi zones. Best technology piece of kit after my GPS.

[m37charlie]

Telstra is the only carrier to have if you are venturing away from the heavily populated areas (i.e. into 95% of the country, towns of <5000).
But if you are bush camping you need a satellite system; not cheap. We have an Inmarsat/BGAN system with a Sabre antenna. I use it with the IBM T30 laptop that came with my Mercedes Star diagnosis system. Download rate is only 32kB/sec unless you want to pay more. The system cost $1500 in the US and service is ~$1500/year.

Charlie

[Keith1954]

I'm out in the bush right now .. at Undara NP, QLD. As you can see, my Telstra dongle is working well.

Make sure you get a 'Next G' one though; '3G' wouldn't cut the mustard out here.

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[grrrrrr .. bloody noisy Kookaburras at 05:30am! .. .. ]


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