Re: [SLUG] Bigpond NextG on Linux (Ubuntu)?
We have something of a special relationship with Telstra in that regard, since we're going to be buying (or causing others to buy) somewhere between 100 and 1000 of those accounts. In fact, we've gotten amazingly good service from Telstra from day 1. :) Adam K Rev Simon Rumble wrote: This one time, at band camp, Adam Kennedy wrote: We will be paying somewhere in the vicinity of $200-400 a month for our NextG data nodes, for (I believe) unlimited data. You'll be wanting to check the fine print. Tel$tra haven't offered unlimited data on any service for some time. Yes, I've seen the big billboards too, but that doesn't mean you can buy an unlimited plan. -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
Re: [SLUG] Bigpond NextG on Linux (Ubuntu)?
Robert Thorsby wrote: On 2007.04.19 10:39 Sonia Hamilton wrote: On Wed, Apr 18, 2007 at 06:52:40AM +1000, Robert Thorsby wrote: Up our way (Mid North Coast) the response has been universal -- NextG is crap. Most who were coerced by Telstra into converting their mobiles are trying to convert back to CDMA. But, since Telstra hasn't listened to customers for three-quarters of a century, they are getting nowhere. Robert, does this comment apply to data (ie internet) or voice/mobile phones? Data over mobile in the bush -- you must be joking!! :-) The word has got out -- no one in the bush is changing over to NextG, except those conned by Telstra. Robert Thorsby Out here in Dubbo they are trying to flog their NextG stuff pretty hard, but it does seem to be falling on deaf ears. I am due for a phone upgrade but I don't see anything of better value (service or phones) than my current old Nokia. My mother-in-law received the production line 'you need to upgrade' marketing phone call, to which I advised her to wait until the CDMA service actually does end. I wonder how many people are going to be stuck between a rock and a hard place when it comes time to pull the plug? Andrew S -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
Re: [SLUG] Bigpond NextG on Linux (Ubuntu)?
On 2007.04.20 03:57 Andrew Swinn wrote: The word has got out -- no one in the bush is changing over to NextG, except those conned by Telstra. My mother-in-law received the production line 'you need to upgrade' marketing phone call, to which I advised her to wait until the CDMA service actually does end. I wonder how many people are going to be stuck between a rock and a hard place when it comes time to pull the plug? First, it will depend on how far off the next Federal election is. Secondly, there will be an extended period of grace just as there was with the analogue-digital changeover. Thirdly, there will be a drastically reduced price marketing campaign as D Day draws nearer. This time, however, Telstra will have a much harder row to hoe. The switch analogue-to-digital was made after many statements from the outset that analogue was only a temporary measure and would be replaced in due course by digital. In the instant case, Telstra conned many subscribers into changing from GSM (which, BTW, shows no sign of going away any time soon) to CDMA by the promise that CDMA was the technology of the future -- knowing all the time that it wasn't. Of course, now that Telstra is (or is about to be) fully privatised their arrogance will increase exponentially. Robert Thorsby -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
Re: [SLUG] Bigpond NextG on Linux (Ubuntu)?
* On Wed, Apr 18, 2007 at 06:52:40AM +1000, Robert Thorsby wrote: On 2007.04.18 00:37 Adam Kennedy wrote: So nothing but good things so far with the network, at least in areas where you get the good towers. Haven't tried in country areas yet. Up our way (Mid North Coast) the response has been universal -- NextG is crap. Most who were coerced by Telstra into converting their mobiles are trying to convert back to CDMA. But, since Telstra hasn't listened to customers for three-quarters of a century, they are getting nowhere. Robert, does this comment apply to data (ie internet) or voice/mobile phones? I'm only interested in data access - how good is it in non-metro areas? -- Sonia Hamilton | GNU/Linux - 'free' as in | free speech, not free beer. -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
Re: [SLUG] Bigpond NextG on Linux (Ubuntu)?
On 2007.04.19 10:39 Sonia Hamilton wrote: On Wed, Apr 18, 2007 at 06:52:40AM +1000, Robert Thorsby wrote: Up our way (Mid North Coast) the response has been universal -- NextG is crap. Most who were coerced by Telstra into converting their mobiles are trying to convert back to CDMA. But, since Telstra hasn't listened to customers for three-quarters of a century, they are getting nowhere. Robert, does this comment apply to data (ie internet) or voice/mobile phones? Data over mobile in the bush -- you must be joking!! :-) All reports I have relate to voice/mobile phones -- the drop-out rate is horrendous; far worse than with CDMA. All anecdotes commence with: I used to get good CDMA from my back paddock, now the phone drops out all the time. This is in spite of a saturation ad campaign by Telstra that starts: The CDMA service is closing I might add that mobile coverage of the Pacific Hway is very good under GSM, better under CDMA, hopeless (unreliable) under NextG. Telstra's reputation has hit a previously thought to be impossible new low. The word has got out -- no one in the bush is changing over to NextG, except those conned by Telstra. Best anecdote I have regarding data over NextG comes (second hand) from the Campervan and Motorhome Club annual rally earlier this year. Internet on the Road guru giving talk at rally; explains why he switched from CDMA (which used to cost him over $100 per mnth, IIRC) to NextG; then advised a thunderstruck audience of Grey Nomads that his first monthly bill for his new service was for in excess of $4,000!!! Use Avian Carrier -- cheaper, faster and more reliable than NextG. Robert Thorsby -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
Re: [SLUG] Bigpond NextG on Linux (Ubuntu)?
Best anecdote I have regarding data over NextG comes (second hand) from the Campervan and Motorhome Club annual rally earlier this year. Internet on the Road guru giving talk at rally; explains why he switched from CDMA (which used to cost him over $100 per mnth, IIRC) to NextG; then advised a thunderstruck audience of Grey Nomads that his first monthly bill for his new service was for in excess of $4,000!!! We will be paying somewhere in the vicinity of $200-400 a month for our NextG data nodes, for (I believe) unlimited data. Adam K -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
Re: [SLUG] Bigpond NextG on Linux (Ubuntu)?
This one time, at band camp, Adam Kennedy wrote: We will be paying somewhere in the vicinity of $200-400 a month for our NextG data nodes, for (I believe) unlimited data. You'll be wanting to check the fine print. Tel$tra haven't offered unlimited data on any service for some time. Yes, I've seen the big billboards too, but that doesn't mean you can buy an unlimited plan. -- Rev Simon Rumble [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.rumble.net My opinions may have changed, but not the fact that I am right. -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
Re: [SLUG] Bigpond NextG on Linux (Ubuntu)?
I'm using the CDMA as well at the moment (2 Windows machines, 1 linux machine, 6 mac-based embedded devices), and I agree, slow and semi-reliable. At the moment I have to keep a permanent ping running to prevent the connection falling off. So while Quozl's information does seem sufficient, the result (at least for me) has not inspired huge trust in a reliable solution. HOWEVER, we have some NextG cards we're currently using on Windows (can't transition the Macs yet since the drivers are still too buggy for release) and I can tell you it's a world of difference. Connects in no time flat, quite responsive, decent data rate. And from my testing, better coverage in tight urban spaces. One of our CDMA modems is deep in an inner city shopping plaza inside a building, and only phones home about 6 out of the 24 times it should daily. The connection keeps falling off. In comparison, the NextG modem I tested on the laptop seemed to connect quite effortlessly. So nothing but good things so far with the network, at least in areas where you get the good towers. Haven't tried in country areas yet. So assuming you can get the device itself working and stable, by all means make the move. But if you can do be absolutely sure you can jump through the necessary hoops to get it working before you commit to moving. I won't be transitioning the linux server to the new network though, it's moving to some other weird connection into the Telstra WAN segment we're doing our stuff on. 1.5 meg and not before time :) Adam K Sonia Hamilton wrote: I've been using Telstra's Maxon CDMA for internet access while on the road - slow, semi-reliable. The Telstra phone bunnies are telling me it's time to upgrade to NextG. I've had a google around on Whirlpool, pulled up this Quozl's guide at [1], which seems to indicate it works; I'm interested in ppl's experiences before I take the plunge and submit myself to the next round of Telstra pain... [1] http://quozl.linux.org.au/bp3-usb/ -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
Re: [SLUG] Bigpond NextG on Linux (Ubuntu)?
On 2007.04.18 00:37 Adam Kennedy wrote: So nothing but good things so far with the network, at least in areas where you get the good towers. Haven't tried in country areas yet. Up our way (Mid North Coast) the response has been universal -- NextG is crap. Most who were coerced by Telstra into converting their mobiles are trying to convert back to CDMA. But, since Telstra hasn't listened to customers for three-quarters of a century, they are getting nowhere. Of course, if we **really** need reliable communications Telstra has this wonderful thing (read: prohibitively expensive and ssllooww) with satellites ... Robert Thorsby -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
Re: [SLUG] Bigpond NextG on Linux (Ubuntu)?
Robert Thorsby wrote: On 2007.04.18 00:37 Adam Kennedy wrote: So nothing but good things so far with the network, at least in areas where you get the good towers. Haven't tried in country areas yet. Up our way (Mid North Coast) the response has been universal -- NextG is crap. Most who were coerced by Telstra into converting their mobiles are trying to convert back to CDMA. I should probably add that my comments ONLY apply to the use of NextG for data with those USB NextG modems. If we're talking mobile phones on NextG, I've switched from Vodafone (paid by me) to NextG (paid by company) and the Motorola Razr whateveritis phones (that I'm told are the best of a bad lot) are horrid. It has quite possible the worst user interface I've ever seen on a mobile device. What the hell were the designers thinking. Adam K -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
Re: [SLUG] Bigpond NextG on Linux (Ubuntu)?
Adam Kennedy wrote: If we're talking mobile phones on NextG, I've switched from Vodafone (paid by me) to NextG (paid by company) and the Motorola Razr whateveritis phones (that I'm told are the best of a bad lot) are horrid. It has quite possible the worst user interface I've ever seen on a mobile device. What the hell were the designers thinking. I trialed a Motorola L6 for about a week and its UI was considerably worse than my ancient Nokia. I work with a womain who messes about with a lot of phones (part of her job) and she says that the Nokia UIs are *way* better than that of other mobile phone brands. Erik -- +---+ Erik de Castro Lopo +---+ The plural of anecdotes is not data. -- Lee Revell on LAD mailing list -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
