wireless broadband
Travel
12:00PM Angus Kidman | I’ve done a lot of testing of how well 3G broadband services work on trains, including two separate attempts at maintaining a connection while travelling to Townsville on high-speed trains. Last week, I upped the speed ante again, seeing if I could maintain a broadband connection while working on the Eurostar between London and Paris. More »
The Train Torture Test Takes On Eurostar
12:00PM Angus Kidman | I’ve done a lot of testing of how well 3G broadband services work on trains, including two separate attempts at maintaining a connection while travelling to Townsville on high-speed trains. Last week, I upped the speed ante again, seeing if I could maintain a broadband connection while working on the Eurostar between London and Paris. More » 
Travel
12:00PM Angus Kidman | It’s an obvious way to sell a netbook computer: using the mobile phone “monthly payment over two years” approach, complete with a wireless broadband contract so you can use it anywhere. Which of the three bundles currently on the market offers the best value? More »
Comparing Netbook Broadband Bundles
12:00PM Angus Kidman | It’s an obvious way to sell a netbook computer: using the mobile phone “monthly payment over two years” approach, complete with a wireless broadband contract so you can use it anywhere. Which of the three bundles currently on the market offers the best value? More »
Travel
12:00PM Angus Kidman | Last year, I found out how well wireless broadband works when you’re stuck on a train to Far North Queensland. But what happens when you switch networks and the train gets a lot faster? More »
The Townsville Train Torture Test Revisited
12:00PM Angus Kidman | Last year, I found out how well wireless broadband works when you’re stuck on a train to Far North Queensland. But what happens when you switch networks and the train gets a lot faster? More »
Communicate
9:56PM Angus Kidman | One of the big disincentives to signing up to mobile broadband services — especially as your main means of Internet access — is the excess data charges you face when you go over the limit. Primus has just introduced two plans that eliminate data limits in favour of ’shaping’ your connection down to a 64Kbps speed. That’s a familiar model in ADSL, but hasn’t been much used in wireless broadband before. Primus is offering a $49.95 a month plan which is shaped after 6GB and a $79.95 plan which drops after 12GB; for both, you need to sign up for two years and get an access speed of up to 3.6Mbps (via the Optus network). Would a shaped wireless broadband plan appeal to you, or would the lack of speed drive you mad at the end of each month? Share your thoughts in the comments.
[Primusvia Australian IT]
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Primus offers shaping for mobile broadband
9:56PM Angus Kidman | One of the big disincentives to signing up to mobile broadband services — especially as your main means of Internet access — is the excess data charges you face when you go over the limit. Primus has just introduced two plans that eliminate data limits in favour of ’shaping’ your connection down to a 64Kbps speed. That’s a familiar model in ADSL, but hasn’t been much used in wireless broadband before. Primus is offering a $49.95 a month plan which is shaped after 6GB and a $79.95 plan which drops after 12GB; for both, you need to sign up for two years and get an access speed of up to 3.6Mbps (via the Optus network). Would a shaped wireless broadband plan appeal to you, or would the lack of speed drive you mad at the end of each month? Share your thoughts in the comments.
[Primusvia Australian IT]
More »
Communicate
12:59PM Angus Kidman | If you only want wireless broadband occasionally — when you travel for work or pleasure –then a prepaid plan sounds like a good investment. Optus has just launched such a deal; pay $199 for a wireless broadband modem and then recharge in blocks starting at $30 for 30 days access. That might sound like a tempting offer but, as Paul Wright points out over at APC, Optus is charging a minimum 10MB access each time you connect — so if you check your mail a few times a day, you might chew up more data than you anticipated. Proceeding with caution might be wise. [Optus Pre-Paid Wireless Broadband]
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Optus prepaid wireless broadband may prove costly
12:59PM Angus Kidman | If you only want wireless broadband occasionally — when you travel for work or pleasure –then a prepaid plan sounds like a good investment. Optus has just launched such a deal; pay $199 for a wireless broadband modem and then recharge in blocks starting at $30 for 30 days access. That might sound like a tempting offer but, as Paul Wright points out over at APC, Optus is charging a minimum 10MB access each time you connect — so if you check your mail a few times a day, you might chew up more data than you anticipated. Proceeding with caution might be wise. [Optus Pre-Paid Wireless Broadband]
More »
Communicate
11:47AM Angus Kidman | 3 has upped the capacity on its wireless broadband plans, adding two new options and increasing download limits on its X Series plans. New to the 3 arsenal are plans offering 6GB of data for $39 a month or 7GB of data for $49 a month, with a free USB modem in return for a 24-month signup. Capacity on X Series plans (designed for on-phone use with the option of using your 3G handset as a modem for your PC) have also increased, with the $20 plan now offering 1GB, the $30 2GB and the $40 3GB.While that makes all the plans comparatively better value than their rivals (Vodafone’s equivalent $39 plan offers 5GB), the usual 3 caveat remains: if you’re going to make use of the service outside 3’s capital city coverage areas, you’ll get slugged with an obscene $1.65 per megabyte roaming charge. The 24-month lock-in might also be a concern, though this applies to most equivalent offers. If you are in a good 3 reception area, this is a potentially tempting offer, and don’t forget you can use it on an Eee PC for a highly portable solution. [3]
More »
3 increases allowances on wireless broadband plans
11:47AM Angus Kidman | 3 has upped the capacity on its wireless broadband plans, adding two new options and increasing download limits on its X Series plans. New to the 3 arsenal are plans offering 6GB of data for $39 a month or 7GB of data for $49 a month, with a free USB modem in return for a 24-month signup. Capacity on X Series plans (designed for on-phone use with the option of using your 3G handset as a modem for your PC) have also increased, with the $20 plan now offering 1GB, the $30 2GB and the $40 3GB.While that makes all the plans comparatively better value than their rivals (Vodafone’s equivalent $39 plan offers 5GB), the usual 3 caveat remains: if you’re going to make use of the service outside 3’s capital city coverage areas, you’ll get slugged with an obscene $1.65 per megabyte roaming charge. The 24-month lock-in might also be a concern, though this applies to most equivalent offers. If you are in a good 3 reception area, this is a potentially tempting offer, and don’t forget you can use it on an Eee PC for a highly portable solution. [3]
More »
Communicate
1:48PM Angus Kidman | OK, you’ve picked out a wireless broadband plan you can afford, checked the coverage is OK for your home and office, and made sure it works with your chosen operating system. Reckon you’re done? Not so fast, Speedy Gonzales. No matter who you want to buy from, there’s a few simple steps you can take to make sure the transaction goes smoothly.
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Checklist for wireless broadband buyers
1:48PM Angus Kidman | OK, you’ve picked out a wireless broadband plan you can afford, checked the coverage is OK for your home and office, and made sure it works with your chosen operating system. Reckon you’re done? Not so fast, Speedy Gonzales. No matter who you want to buy from, there’s a few simple steps you can take to make sure the transaction goes smoothly.
More »
Work
5:46PM Angus Kidman | Optus, 3 and Vodafone might claim to only support Windows and Macs with
their wireless broadband systems, but in fact you can use any of them on a
Linux Eee PC without special driver software. Here’s the step-by-step guide to
getting it set up for Australian 3G networks.
More »
Making wireless broadband work on the Eee PC
5:46PM Angus Kidman | Optus, 3 and Vodafone might claim to only support Windows and Macs with
their wireless broadband systems, but in fact you can use any of them on a
Linux Eee PC without special driver software. Here’s the step-by-step guide to
getting it set up for Australian 3G networks.
More » 
