Mobile Broadband while travelling around New Zealand

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Hendos

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#16146 26-Sep-2007 21:45

We are planning to live in our motor home fulltime for two or three years, travelling around New Zealand. Alot of that time will be spent away from popluated areas, free camping by lakes and rivers.

Is there someone on this forum who could suggest the best way that we would be able to connect our Laptop to Broadband while we are "living on the road?" We are in our 60's and will need things explained in plain english, if that is possible

We have been on the Telecom website, but have come away from that totally confused.

Do we buy a plug in card, if so what type or are there better ways to do it?

Are some devices more reliable than others?

What system would give us the best coverage at a fast speed, throughout the country?

We will want to clear our emails and spend probably up to 30 minutes per day on the internet. Would we be able to get mobile broadband for around $75 per month on a 12 or 24 month plan?

We have a new HP Pavilion Laptop with wifi etc.
Hope someone can help as we are totally confused at the moment.
Hendos

nzbnw

2374 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 22

Trusted

Spark NZ

#88228 26-Sep-2007 23:28

Hi Hendos
Welcome to Geekzone!

Ok, first thing, Mobile Broadband (as in 3G speeds) will likely only work in the more populated areas of New Zealand, although it will fall back in Telecom’s case to a 1xRtt (plan English = Faster than Dial Up Speeds). Telecom will however be your best choice of provider for coverage reasons, with an expansive 3G network (72% of NZ, every major town and city covered) and a nationwide network to fall back on where needed.

There are three cards you can choose from, and for most people, only two of these will be options. First of all what type of card slot does your current laptop have (your local Telecom Dealer will be able to help you if you don’t know). If you have the older PCMCIA card slot and plan to upgrade your laptop within the next 24months, then go for the USB option. The other alterative is the Express card, which most newer laptops are compatible with.

In my opinion the two card slots offer a tidier solution, as they fit nicely into the laptop and are largely out of the way. In comparison the USB, does future proof yourself in the fact that all the computer requires is a free USB port. The included cradle also allows the user to place the Sierra Modem in a more signal friendly position. However I find the USB modem to appear a little less sturdy compared to the two PC Cards.

If you have the option go for the Card, but then someone else is bound to disagree.

There are two major Telecom Mobile plans available
200MB Plus
• 200 included MB
• Double your usage automatically for $10 (total of 400MB)
• $29.95 plus GST 24 month Plan, $299 plus GST for the selected mobile broadband card
• $39.95 plus GST Open Term Plan, $429 plus GST for the selected mobile broadband card
1GB Plus
• 1000 included MB
• Double your usage automatically for $10 (total of 2000MB)
• $49.95 plus GST 24 month Plan, $199 plus GST for the selected mobile broadband card
• $59.95 plus GST Open Term Plan, $429 plus GST for the selected mobile broadband card

Hope I have been of help?

nzbnw

Hendos

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#88232 27-Sep-2007 07:32

Thankyou NZBNW, for the prompt reply.

Yes your information is very helpful, thanks for taking the time to set it out in an easy to understand message

The new HP Laptop we have has all the bells and whistles and will take the Express Card you mentioned.

There are many retired Grey Nomads like us out there who are on the move, with mobile homes, caravans and off road vehicles, living either full time or part of each year "on the road," enjoying the wonderful scenery our beautiful country has to offer. Many of us carry laptops and mobile phones with us and solar panels or generators to power everything through a pure Sine Wave inverter. The majority want to be able to keep in touch with family and friends, pay accounts, keep tabs on what is happening in the world, the stockmarket etc.

Now to work out an estimate of how much usage we would require each month ! Being retired really is a full time job, getting our heads around all this amazing technology, we wonder how we ever got time to go to work .

Thanks
Hendo

_Allan

153 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 1

Trusted

#88356 27-Sep-2007 17:28

Hendos,

One way to figure out your usage is to look at your telecom bill or log onto the telecom site and see what your broadband useage has been in the past...

However you mentioned ½ an hour a day, but there are those rainy nights where time just flies.
I suggest that the plan you should select is the - $49.95 plus GST 24 month Plan, $199 plus GST for the selected mobile broadband card (Express Card). I'm pretty sure you would find this ideal.

I also suggest that once your on the road, you will have most probably have skype on you notebook (Skype.com) so you can talk to your friends and family on-line. This will further justify the 1G plan.

Hope this helps.

__Allan

Hendos

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#88358 27-Sep-2007 17:46

Thanks Allan,
that looks like the ideal plan for us and also suitable for a few of our Grey Nomad friends who, like us, plan to spend a few years wandering around the side roads of New Zealand, before we get too old to do it !

regards
Hendo