Wireless Broadband

[ratchet]

I've gone Totoblue's route anticipating a couple of months travelling outback. NextG is atm the only network to go with to get max coverage and for emergencies I wanted something between blowing hard on a whistle and a PLB.

Got a $69 Samsung prepaid on sale; with recharges there's an option of 12 months expiry. A patch lead and portable 5 db gain antenna cost $45. Will add a datapack and send copious boring reports back to the forum from the laptop

What was the number of the samsung and where was it on sale

did the patch lead and the antenna come from the same place

[totoblue]

What was the number of the samsung and where was it on sale

http://www.lasoo.com.au says the Samsung A411 is on sale at $69 at Australia Post. It used to be $99.

I believe the Samsung A411 is Blue-tick approved which means it is recommended for country areas. I haven't used one, but this Samsung has good user reports on whirlpool.net.au

There is now a Samsung A412 on Next G but it doesn't seem to be available as prepaid yet.

The Sony Ericsson z750i that I have is Blue-tick too. Most phones available on Next G are not blue-tick, nor is the USB modem.

You should get better coverage in the sticks with a blue-tick phone. I believe one of the blue-tick criteria is the ability to plug in an external antenna which the z750i can do. It also comes with the USB cable.

The Samsung has 1.8Mbps data rates while the z750i and the USB modem have 3.6Mbps. However I am not sure that is a huge handicap as speeds I have seen are not usually over 1.8Mbps. The Samsung also only has a VGA camera vs the z750i's 2Mp camera.

[ratchet]

Looks like the samsung is locked to telstra.

I use telstra when nomading and optus at home (bundled with cable , getting a good deal)

my local Australia post had none in stock

the sales person said that it maybe locked to telstra , $80 to unlock , or free after 6 months

maybe worth the wait

[totoblue]

Looks like the samsung is locked to telstra.

I use telstra when nomading and optus at home (bundled with cable , getting a good deal)

my local Australia post had none in stock

the sales person said that it maybe locked to telstra , $80 to unlock , or free after 6 months

There's no point in trying to unlock the Samsung as the Telstra model will only work on Telstra Next G.

Telstra Next G operates on 850 MHz only, while Optus (like the other 3G networks) is on 2100 MHz. Optus also uses 900 MHz in some country areas, which is claimed to improve range.

Some phones work on multiple bands. The Samsung A411 is not one of them. I am not sure if you will find any phones that support all three of 2100 MHz, 900 MHz and 850 MHz. The Next G Sony Ericsson z750i for example works on 850 MHz and 2100 MHz but not 900 MHz.

Telstra also has a 3G network in partnership with Three on 2100 MHz but it is capital cities only. Not sure what is happening with that given that Three and Vodafone are merging in Australia.

If you are going to continue to use both Optus and Telstra at different times, why not just use 2 phones (presumably you already have a mobile that works on Optus). If you choose the Long-Life option on Telstra prepaid, you can recharge $60 and the credit will last 12 months and you can buy data "plus packs" to give 6 periods of 100 Mb/30 days or one of 750 Mb/30 days.

I see Telstra seem to have dropped the 4GB/30 day "plus pack" for phones which was $89 IIRC. That's a bugger.

[rsser]

Patch lead and antenna were off ebay.

Seems I got the last Samsung at that PO that was on special.

...

3 are now selling some phones that will roam on the NextG frequency - 850 mHz I think it is.

[Lignum]

Question, i have an E160E wireless modem (pre-paid) on the 3 network. It sux. No coverage outside Melbourne (Rockbank it cuts out) and roaming costs an arm and leg and its constantly cutting out. As all the networks use the same modem, is it possible for me to just get an OPTUS sim and use that?

[ratchet]

Well ,
got a samsung a411 from the post office

need to get an antenna and cable now

Ratchet