Internet option around Adelaide, South Australia

[Zulaiha]

I am due to go to Adelaide in 2 wks and still can not decided which accommodation should I take

We will be in ADL for 6 nights, and would prefer to have a self catering type of accommodation seeing the 4 of us will be travelling.

I have to admit to find myself shocked to see how not many self catering units around ADL has an internet connections. It is sad especially when they charge arm and legs (compare to UK, US and even Auckland). I can easily find a place to stay around UK for less than £100 that provide free internet access, yet I find it hard to find a place to stay in Adelaide that charge AUD150 that will provide internet access let alone free

Can anybody please help me with advice on what is my cheapest option to get an internet access while we are in Adelaide.

With 2 wired (iPod, iPad, and laptops) girls coming with us, life is not going to be fun without internet

 

[markis10]

Grab a prepaid wifi router, they give a couple of gb of data for a month or so for $100 or less.

 

[medhead]

Check out internode. A fair amount of Adelaide CBD has free internode wireless.


Sent from the Throne

 

[Archphoto]

Cibos has free wifi - not sure if that helps too much as you'd only be able to use when they're actually open, but it works well for checking emails and small stuff during their opening hrs; grab a coffee (or tea) and away you go.

And you are correct - internet charges in Australia are *outrageous*!! I'm returning on Wednesday for a little while and need to remember to turn off the mobile internet on my phone whilst there.

I'd go with the dongle WiFi as well if I didn't have family in AU (ADL) - Telstra may be the better choice, simply because of their better network, but Optus may be ok (Vodaphone uses the Optus network) depending on where you're staying. Others can probably advise the best choice - nothing worse than spending the cash only to find the network is sloooooow or worse continually drops out at *the* most inopportune time. . . . .

 

[markis10]

Cibos has free wifi - not sure if that helps too much as you'd only be able to use when they're actually open, but it works well for checking emails and small stuff during their opening hrs; grab a coffee (or tea) and away you go.

And you are correct - internet charges in Australia are *outrageous*!! I'm returning on Wednesday for a little while and need to remember to turn off the mobile internet on my phone whilst there.

I'd go with the dongle WiFi as well if I didn't have family in AU (ADL) - Telstra may be the better choice, simply because of their better network, but Optus may be ok (Vodaphone uses the Optus network) depending on where you're staying. Others can probably advise the best choice - nothing worse than spending the cash only to find the network is sloooooow or worse continually drops out at *the* most inopportune time. . . . .

Vodafone don't use the Optus network, there are three carriers, Telstra, Voda and Optus all with their own networks.

 

[Archphoto]

Sorry, meant to say they piggyback on Optus' towers, not their network - (or at least they did), maybe they've expanded their towers? Not sure, but it has been a while and I still prefer Telstra over the others - better network overall.

 

[Zulaiha]

Wow... thanks for the advice... I know I can always count of FFF for advice.

The free hot spots are great, but we more likely will need the internet connection during the evenings, when the girls will need their down time, and mum and dad will be busy catching up with friends and or during early morning, when I want to have a slow start while they have been up much earlier than I

Anyway, I might want to see Telstra upon arrival.

I was looking at the option of staying in and around Eastern Suburb like Dulwich, Burnside up to Magill for the practical reason (got lots to do around that area) and another choice is to stay by the golf course in North Adelaide (simply for the view).

thanks again for a speedy replies, please know I humbly appreciated.

 

[Shelf]

Internode used to provide free wifi at ADL airport and a number of places around the Adelaide CBD, not sure if they still do. As mentioned, the various Cibo cafes/expresso bars provide free wifi, as do McDonalds.

 

[richie9x]

Vodafone don't use the Optus network, there are three carriers, Telstra, Voda and Optus all with their own networks.

There are also Virgin mobile and Dodo who are mobile virtual network operators essentially reselling Optus network. Virgin and Dodo are typically cheaper. And there is also Three who use to be a separate network but were taken over by Vodafone and have been almost fully merged now.

 

[markis10]

There are also Virgin mobile and Dodo who are mobile virtual network operators essentially reselling Optus network. Virgin and Dodo are typically cheaper. And there is also Three who use to be a separate network but were taken over by Vodafone and have been almost fully merged now.

They are virtual carriers and have no control over the QOS, often getting last priority when it comes to traffic flow on busy sites.

 

[Zulaiha]

Grab a prepaid wifi router, they give a couple of gb of data for a month or so for $100 or less.

Markies,

I am looking at

Telstra Elite​

[SUP]®[/SUP]

Pre-Paid Mobile Wi-Fi​

and I think I should get one. We are travelling to Australia at least once a year, sometime twice, this might be our cheapest option.

Do you think I made a right choice? i.e is there any better dongles that what I currently look at? Having never use dongles before, I am not sure if I made the right choice and or decision.

Edit to add:
I mean to ask, shall I pick one company over a dongle that can be use for other products (I saw something call Hwahuie ?)

 

[Archphoto]

I think that one is good value - if you're heading back every year (sometimes 2x) maybe the $150/365day would be a good choice? Nothing worse than topping up and finding out you haven't used everything and you lose the lot upon expiration.

I haven't used dongles in AU, but have used them here in TH, and with their 3G network - AIS -(Telstra also offers a 4G version too), it was highly reliable and very fast for email and general surfing. (Can't comment on YouTube, because I rarely use it; I was outside Chiang Mai for 6 weeks with no other internet access available, and it was great.)

 

[Zulaiha]

I think that one is good value - if you're heading back every year (sometimes 2x) maybe the $150/365day would be a good choice? Nothing worse than topping up and finding out you haven't used everything and you lose the lot upon expiration.

I haven't used dongles in AU, but have used them here in TH, and with their 3G network - AIS -(Telstra also offers a 4G version too), it was highly reliable and very fast for email and general surfing. (Can't comment on YouTube, because I rarely use it; I was outside Chiang Mai for 6 weeks with no other internet access available, and it was great.)

Thank you Archphoto, am now reading the ZDNet review on it, and getting confuse ha ha, too much information sometime can be confusing.

From time to time when I finally had a chance to visit Indonesia, I do not need internet as I have plenty to occupy me during my visits, and sms is just enough to let family knows what and where I am.

We are going to visit Australia for many reasons mainly business related, and need internet to stay in touch as well as one source of entertainment for my girls (15 and 13 yrs old). I am just shocked so sad that a very developed country like Australia had forced me to find other source to find a connection to internet without denting my wallet

Thanks for your advice and opinion, I appreciate it.

PS:
Yes going a year sound very wise.

 

[markis10]

Markies,

I am looking at

Telstra Elite​

[SUP]®[/SUP]

Pre-Paid Mobile Wi-Fi​

and I think I should get one. We are travelling to Australia at least once a year, sometime twice, this might be our cheapest option.

Do you think I made a right choice? i.e is there any better dongles that what I currently look at? Having never use dongles before, I am not sure if I made the right choice and or decision.

Edit to add:
I mean to ask, shall I pick one company over a dongle that can be use for other products (I saw something call Hwahuie ?)

I would probably go for the Optus WiFi router, they have a nice all you can eat for $3 a day plan once the initial bundle is used.

 

[Zulaiha]

Thank you Markis10. Definitely will try Optus.

 

[moa999]

They are virtual carriers and have no control over the QOS, often getting last priority when it comes to traffic flow on busy sites.

Agree.
TPG (Optus virtual who have a brilliant $18/month plan for approx 500minutes and 1.5Gb) are absolutely horrible around sporting events (SCG and Suncorp)