LouiseR

Hi,

We are going to be staying in a holiday let for 4 weeks when we arrive in Brisbane. It has a phone line so my question is - can we get on the internet via some sort of pay and go option, as I don't want to be landed with a massive bill from the owners.

If we can is it just a case of buying a CD or do we need some sort of connector type thing?

Apologies if this sounds really dim but I was just wondering!


** I spelt internet wrong in the title because I was typing too fast not because I am actually dim....

rightruccus

You can buy "pay as you go" internet but you need to buy the modem which just looks like a memory stick. It's quite expensive to buy and you also need to make sure that whatever provider you go with actually covers the area you are in.
You can get "pay as you go" without buying the modem but you're tied into a 2 year contract with them normally.
If it's just for catching up on E-mails etc and not hours and hours online, you could always sit outside the mobile phone shops and log in on their network.. or a McDonalds... (some of them)... or a highly populated area that has connections which are unsecured....

daunted

If your pc has a modem built in you can get a pre paid dial up cd rom from telstra - this is what we did - very easy to get going. think it was around $25. Horrid being back on dial up but is better than nothing.
If you have no modem you can get prepaid broad band through telstra - and others but i use telstra - for the cost of a usb pen drive thingy which cost me $199 then just buy credit as you do a mobile phone. Much more civilised than having to worry about a bill or contract each month

datamile

Get a library card, and have free internet at any library is another option.

aussiedreamz

All the major telco companies offer pre-pay broadband, the cost varies from $150 up to $199 dollars for the USB modem and sim card, The 3 network coverage is limited to the major cities and populated areas. Vodafone I know nothing about and Telstra is really expensive for top ups but the coverage is the best in Australia. The next best is Optus and Virgin as they share the same networks.
I use Virgin broadband it costs $179 for the modem and the top up is either $15/$30 for 30 days or $50 for 60 days, it rolls over if you top up before the expiry date. If you choose this route then I would suggest you buy a $15 top up to start with, if you find yourself using it up quickly then just by $30 credit next time.
If you only need the internet for checking emails then I would suggest using an internet cafe or joining the library as it's normally free...

LouiseR

Thanks for all the advice. I'm pretty sure my laptop has a modem built in, I only bought it last year.

We will primarily using it to look for jobs, house, car etc. At home I have a wireless adaptor that plugs into my phone line and then I can use the laptop all round the house, would I need to buy one of those or could I just bring mine?

Or is that what people are on about the usb/modem thingy that costs a couple of hundred dollars?

hoofie2002

If your laptop hasn't got it built in, get a USB Wi-FI adapter. Then before you come here, google for all the wi-fi hotspots around the area you will be staying.

cj321

The thing they are talking about is broadband using the mobile phone network.

you could bring your own but the phone plug is different and you would need an adapter for the power point as the UK plug wont fit.
.

ramlmmjem

You might want to check out:

http://www.choice.com.au/viewArticle...aspx?id=104496

Good luck

Alistair

Confused 2012

Hi Louise & Mark, Great news you are off soon bet you're getting excited. We also live in Cheltenham and were out in Brisbane a couple of years ago and validated our visas, whilst there we were able to find out some important pointers about starting out. If you would like any info or meet up send us a PM. Good luck. Pete & Wendy

brian.w

If you get one of those broadband modem things payg,make sure you can get in unlocked before coming over well im in perth had a guy unlock it but he never did the job and i am stuck with $30 of credit i can use and a sim,which ok i could use in future,but i tried so hard to get places to unlock nobody knew how,maybe its better in the east coast.

SurferBoy

use pidgeons and smoke signals. Its simpler, cheaper and in some Australian Internet Providers cases...faster

wardy2

we have pay as you go Telstra costs $149 for a memory stick type thing, you can go somewhere like woolworths, coles to get a recharge voucher just like getting a mobile top up for various fixed amounts.

Then just top up via the telstra option on the desk top page its straight forward.

I think it is expensive though especially if you use the internet a lot you have to be strict on your usage (we arent) if you dont want to have to keep topping up.