[Farfields]

Hi,
I've been thinking of having broadband via a 3G card instead of getting a landline installed.

Vodafone do 1GB plan for $50/mth, + $10 for next 1GB. and $99 for the modem card. But do have to sign for 2 years. First 3 months connection is free at the moment also.

This compares to around $70-80/mth for a landline and internet for 5GB. $50 to connect.

As we will be moving out of temporary apartment in 3 months, it galls me to pay $50 now and another $50 at the next place, when I can get a 3G modem for the same amount.

Does anyone have experience of 3G use, e.g. reliability, speed, data use?

We are living in central Chch so coverage should be good. Typical use is email, listening to BBC radio and web-browsing. No video or TC download, no gaming, no other big downloads.

cheers all.

[barryp]

Check the coverage map for where the 3G network is actually available; you'll still be able to connect to the 2G network when 3G is not available, but the speeds are much lower.

Also make sure your data volumes are going to be low; streaming media gobbles that quota pretty fast. It's possible to run up a HUGE bill if you run far over your quota. (Even more so if you leave the country; watch a quicktime video in Oz, get a bill for a hundred bucks for the privilege!)

If you will spend most of your time in a 3G coverage area, and your data volumes are reasonable, this can be a good solution, especially if you can avoid the landline cost.

Summary: speeds are typically overstated, but not much. Reliability is good. Latency is high (so Skype et al. would be problematic). Coverage is good, outside rural areas. Telecom and Vodafone both offer plans.

[phatsharpie]

Out of curiosity, but wouldn't Whoosh (http://www.woosh.com/ContentClient/Home/Home.aspx) be more affordable? And it looks like you can travel around with the wireless service (apparently it's a WCDMA service). It doesn't list the speed but supposedly it's "40x faster than dial-up" (who knows how that matrix is determined).

Brian

[Farfields]

Thanks for comments. Latency for Skype is a good point - might not make a difference for international calls as the latency is high anyway, but might make it unreasonable for local calls.

I didn't know about Whoosh, they seem to be also using 3GPP which might make roaming possible. Plan prices look good as well 5GB for $40, and extra 1GB is $15. Contract is just 12 months, with $99 'connection' fee. Have to return their kit at end of contract though.

cheers.

[Farfields]

an update...
Decided to go for Woosh, as the contract is 12 months and they offer a 30 day trial period. Seems fine so far, but need to manually connect each time instead of instant connection that I'm used to with a DSL router.

Location in central Chch gives good signal and a reported 916bps/344kbps speed.

Skype does seem to be blocked (anyone know of ways around this?). I guess this is because Woosh also offer a VoIP phone for another $10 a month. Something I may need to consider.

cheers.