Missed the start of this, but, FWIW: I have:
100MB/month: Next G Telstra Prepaid wireless running on Maxon BP3 USB Dongle + modem originally used with Bigpond) + it uses the prepaid phone system because the 100MB data blocks are cheaper than on the prepaid broadband plan. It's actually easier to register the sims that way. 2GB/month: 3 3 postpaid, 2GB as a free bolt on to my phone plan, Huawei 169G ?GB/month: Virgin Prepaid WiFi battery modem Huawei i-Mo E5830 + only just got it + up to 3 devices can connect via WiFi, (more if you change the firmware) + device is good for connecting phone to net without getting the (typically nasty) 3G prices the phone carrier gives. + 10GB with 365 day expiry available fro $149. All three devices play fine with Ubuntu 9.10 Netbook Remix Only catch is sometimes Network manager leaves the /etc/resolv.conf empty and I have to overwrite it with something that has DNS servers in it. Next G: rocks! and with their new plans I may defer to to them 3: when it's on 3G it's ok, when it's not it's usable Virgin: When it's on 3G it's really good. when it's not it's really bad. Now I just need a Vodafone based connection, just to round things out :-P ) Ideally I would have a gumstix or similar to auto switch between them all - would consider sponsoring someone to code up an auto switcher thing. I like being online. Ben On Sat, Jan 23, 2010 at 12:44 AM, Amos Shapira <[email protected]> wrote: > 2010/1/22 Dean Hamstead <[email protected]>: >> >> >> the down side of pre-paid is that the data expires fairly quickly. >> a few gigs typically only has a 30 day expiry. larger data blocks tend to >> last longer (up to 90 days on optus) >> >> you can just whip out your credit card and buy a data block. >> that may not sit well with the on call person... "heres a usb 3g modem, just >> add your CC# and expiry date as needed" > > Of course there is a down side, just as is the matter of higher cost > per megabyte. > > I usually hardly manage to use up 4 Gb/month from my home (including > two computers and a couple of WiFi phones), so I'd feel comfortable > with a 5Gb cap over a course of a weekend. > > On the other hand, in the long term there would be very little use of > this modem if at all. So far we managed without it and it'll be there > just for a reassurance that it's possible to connect if absolutely > needed. I can pre-charge them with a company CC if required. > > Still - so far I haven't heard that it works with Linux so I'm not > sure it's an option, unless I manage to test it successfully in the > shop somehow (my own company issued laptop's display died this week so > I'll have to buy a new one before I can do that). > > Cheers, > > --Amos > -- > SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ > Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html > -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
