I know you are not near me Mara and even unsure which State you are in...

We have had wireless now for nearly 12 months and it is good for us @ just $29.95 a month and we just go pay it cash each month so we do not notice it all that much...

It only cost us $75 to have connected (for anyone with a Seniors Card) so that was good but

we are very happy with 2-1/2 gigs, which may not be enough for people like you who like u-tube and to download music as we do not (u-tube now and again) but I do like to go to Africam.com and watch the wild animals but have to be a bit careful. I listen to radio most nights via the computer which takes a bit also but I never go over the 2,500mb so we are very happy. But ours does not support Voip either.

Sorry I am no help am I, but chatting is nice lol

Have a lovely Saturday - The weather here in Vic. is wonderful

Phyl.

Looking for broadband providers pensioner rates, of course;)

My family says wireles is better, easier to instal to use??

Can see how ignorant I am...

Currently dial up and quite happy but can't use U-tube or download any music etc.

Any bright ideas??/thanks!! mara



I always listen to what my family sugest and then they help me sort out problems as they occur ..........which they always do ..........The younger ones have a better understanding of the system anyway ..................

..

I am a keen member of the technological kindergarten, but I have been told recently, that the way to go is ''Naked Broadband''. Apparently it operates from satelite & does not require any telephone land line. It is high speed, DSL, & you even have a normal telephone service, which I presume, operates over the VOIP system, but I am not sure. I have even been told that you can port your normal phone number. The cost varies from $30 upwards, depending on the number of Gigs you need. I believe that there are not many providers yet, but all the major Companies are getting ready to supply the service. At the moment, you can go through Optus, IINet & TPG & others, but all the others will be there soon.

My knowledge of marketing tells me that, although this technology is not that new, it is only just being pushed to the market, so I would advise to wait a little while & you will see the competition cause major drops in the cost of the plans.

The savings are amazing. Not only, do you save the cost of a land line, 20 to $30 per month, but the cost of calls drops dramatically. Eg: Mobile calls & international calls drop to 2 to 7 cents a minute

Thank you all for yr responses.

I may have to wait to work it all out; they all seem to want to sign you

up for 24mths and if this new technology turns up soon as Innes suggested

then I'd better wait and see and have more choices.

Telstra certainly hasn't done that much for us; shares have come down

and that Cowboy got his pockets lined up with millions.

Who said we are a smart country? I bet Cowboy is laughing all the way to

the bank with Oz dollars

Seems if you are o.k. at the moment Mara might be a good idea to wait just a little bit longer

as I know I would not sign up for anything for 24 months but that is me and I know many do.

We pay our mobile phone with just a bit on it and it was very cheap to buy outright No contract

and we just walk around the corner and pay $29.95 each 1st of the month for our wireless broadband and can have it taken off at any time which suits us just fine. No contract

We all manage our money and lives differently but that suits us. No blanket covers everyone.

Phyl.

I am with internode--you can go on a plan--I didn't so paid for the router--I get 5GB per month shaped--$39.95 they also have some free areas that are not charged for--like radio etc--I have found them good so far--I don't have the home phone with them as Telstra --gives pensioners a $12 per month reduction on the land line rental--on top of what the government gives 3 monthly--I might add the ONLY reason I stay with them.

Then there's Tadaust. $29.95 per month on a 24 month contract for 12gb of downloads. Me, I've stuck with dial up - can't justify the cost, simply for speed or available downloads.

How much do you pay for dial up Bev--I was paying $29 per month for dial up--and now with BB I am saving the difference on the dial up fees

Our wireless broadband would have to be the cheapest price if we go over our allotted

2,500mg. as it is just 1c yes just 1c each mg you go over so even going over 1000mg = just $10 so no worries if we did decide to download anything we want but for us I just want the internet to chat a bit and surf a bit but mainly to listen to the radio for a few hours each evening x 7 so I never go over the 2 and 1/2gigs. but can if I want to :)

Phyl.

I pay $6.60 per month for the dial up - unlimited downloads - four hour sessions - 20 minutes time out. It's only 31,200bps, so is fairly slow. The dial up fees through Telstra usually only cost $8 - $10 per month.

Mara go to this place to check what the cost is for broadband and if it is available in your area.



Easy put in your telephone number etc.



Lots of plans for your area then will be available if you put in how much you are prepared to spend.



http://whirlpool.net.au/





On the forums you can also read about your own ISP ior one you think is ok - but take it with a pinch of salt.





Most when you sign up for ADSL/24 months give you the modem/router for free - but if you dont want to sign - you just pay month by month and pay for your own modem/router for ADSL which is over the telephone line.

Thanks BigVal,

In the questioneer Whirlpool ask for speed.

Where do I find that on my computer;

would you or anybody know please/thanks!!

Thanks BigVal,

In the questioneer Whirlpool ask for speed.

Where do I find that on my computer;

would you or anybody know please/thanks!!





--- When I was on dial up --I used to put the mouse over the little "TV screens" in the right hand bottom--of the screen--and it should tell you what you are connecting at--



If you are asking about what speed you need for BB--you need at LEAST-- 512--and 128-- the 1st number is what they let you download--ie-- access sites TO your computer etc--the 2nd one is up loads--ie-- sending stuff FROM your computer. I hope I have explained that OK ?

If you can get ADSL then try for 1500/264 to get Ytube and download movies and stuff or too slow and you get loading breaks on Y tube.



512/128 is a bit slow.



ADSL2 is a lot faster if your exchange is geared for it.



Mine isnt so I have 1500/264 which is okay.



Just had a look at Whirlpool and they have so many plans from more providers than ever for my area and I am rural Tassie.