Boat 4G data options? (Australia)

[JeffBurnes]

There is a lot around this discussion in another thread already:

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...as-182739.html

Also try WiFi Onboard and speak to David - they specialise in Marine comms, WiFi, 4G, Sat.

They now have an office in AUS.

david@wifionboard.co.uk

WIFIONBOARD.CO.UK

David Walker

[Seawindow]

Originally Posted by savoir

With that amount of data you must be streaming a pile of movies. That kind of extravagance always comes at a price.

Cut yourself back to basic net surfing and you can get 10gpm for $45 or 20 gpm for $70.

A little presumptuous Savoir! No we don't stream movies, except for live video of bar conditions (very handy when you have to leave and get somewhere!) plus BOM radar and the odd YouTube on how to fix something on the boat... but yes, less is certainly more. Thanks!

[Seawindow]

Originally Posted by StuM

Telstra coverage is much better than Vodaphone up the Qld coast.

Cheers Wantok 😜 I was in Lae for 4 years. Bet the country is "interesting" now...

[pacific_voyager]

Originally Posted by svseachange

Great info, Pacific Voyager. I've got a couple of questions:
1. Did you buy your Telstra broadband modem unlocked from a Telstra store?
2. How did the external antenna connect to the Telstra modem? Can you point to the info on the web?
3. Is it Optus you get free Netflix data with?

Thanks also to all the other responders to this thread for the great feedback. Great information.

1. Huawei Telstra unlocked modem bought on Gumtree. Telstra will unlock a device for a fee.
2. External antenna was bought in Hobart at Active Electronics. I am sure they are readily available. There is a small diameter coax cable that runs to the modem and a special patch lead for the cable's SMA connector to plug into the modem's antenna port. A quick google found https://www.telcoantennas.com.au and they have some available. I would call and make sure.
3. Yes, OPTUS has free bandwidth with Netflix on certain SIM-only plans.

[sapient sue]

Seawindow

We have lived aboard 20 years and have lived through the period where we had to take our PC to an internet cafe, to finally having a modem aboard. We have a boosted antenna and have used the Telstra network for all our communications. However - since using a smart phone I have changed to Boost (which still uses the Telstra network) and have a $40 plan which gives me 5Gb per month but with an extra 1Gb each weekend) hence we get 9Gb per month. We find this a good option for our yachting needs.

Sue

[Oceanride007]

I reckon buy a Aldi sim and put it in your locked Telstra modem, I betchya it works. My locked blue tick does.

Suggestion is to use any cheaper carrier that uses the Telstra network in your locked devise.

I use a Aldi XL plan gives 6GB for a month $35, but get a small plan first to ensure it works.

You got to have a back up, I have a alternative sim in a pocket wifi devise, 12month plan 10GB for $93.
....................

I didn't see Sue comment above, sounds good also.

[clownfishsydney]

I am pretty sure that the other companies that use Telstra's network actually do not have access to all Telstra's towers, so coverage is not as good. A tip, you can use your phone to access data for your PC (I am sure you already know this). I sometimes haul the phone up the mast to get access in remote locations. For example, we have had internet at Lady Musgrave Island which is almost 70 km from the nearest tower at 1770.

[daga]

I bought a TP Link 300Mbps Wireless N 4G LTE Router Model No. TL-MR6400. So far I've been using Optus prepaid SIM cards, which have been great in Tasmania. Not even Telstra provide coverage of the West Coast though!

The TP Link router runs off 12V and is wired to the boat. It is the backbone router for the ship wifi and all data is routed through it (local movies, music, photos, nav data and Internet when available via 4G).

Several years ago, Telstra was the only game to play on the Queensland coast and coverage was amazing for the time, and so was the cost. The deals are better now and I suspect other networks may have caught up somewhat, but with prepaid sims I can afford to experiment.

Dave.

[Mirage Gecko]

Originally Posted by clownfishsydney

I am pretty sure that the other companies that use Telstra's network actually do not have access to all Telstra's towers, so coverage is not as good. A tip, you can use your phone to access data for your PC (I am sure you already know this). I sometimes haul the phone up the mast to get access in remote locations. For example, we have had internet at Lady Musgrave Island which is almost 70 km from the nearest tower at 1770.

4

That is an interesting thought which I also had.
However I used a genuine Telstra sim in my IPhone and an Aldi/ Telstra sim in my IPad for about twelve months occasionally swapping them about.That twelve months included a trip in the boat from Bris to Innisfail and back and 13000 Kim's by road around Qld mainly on back roads and plenty west of Longreach on 4x4 tracks.
Maybe there are areas where Telstra is better but the result for us is both identical so I no longer pay the Telstra premium for what I consider the same service.
Interestingly my wife had a Samsung Galaxy with a Telstra card during that period which did not get a signal many times when the "I" things did.

[svseachange]

Originally Posted by clownfishsydney

I sometimes haul the phone up the mast to get access in remote locations.

I'm going try this first while researching the fixed antenna solution. We have two spare unlocked 4G phones we can use as hotspots.

Went to an Optus store today and confirmed they have prepaid data plans with free Netflix, iView and Spotify data. That's going to be a crowdpleaser on our boat when it is in range.

We will try two data plans - Optus and Telstra. Use Optus when possible then switch to Telstra. Expensive, but not too bad, and anything that makes boat life more comfortable is a good thing.

[Dave_S]

Optus - not as good coverage as Telstra - can be annoying. No sorry IS annoying.

But

200Gb = $83.00 p/m

Best Deal I've found.

[knockabout]

sending this reply from Brampton island on 3g-4g Telstra pre paid wifi modem / cost $49 for the modem $50 for 5gb long life pre paid plan / can hoist the modem to the masthead for better reception / make sure you password protect your wifi in crowded anchorages or your pre paid credit will disappear fast / can connect 5 gadgets laptop, phone etc at the same time / tested sat email and hf from here all work well /reception is good most of the east coast even lizard island / our mast wasn't high enough so a brisk walk up to cook's lookout and (bling) good reception / there were boats with giant rigs and 9db gain antennas that had no problem from the anchorage / unless you put your neck in a noose for 12 month plans the pre paid rate works out best / if you are using 20-30 gb's a month when do you find time to sail