Design
Telstra offers its BigPond Wireless Broadband service with either a fixed desktop modem or a PC Card roaming modem for notebook users. The notebook option is the more expensive option, both in upfront cost (AU$199 for desktop, AU$299 for PC card) and in the plan cost, which varies depending on the usage plan you select. We tested with the notebook variant, and given Telstra's claimed coverage map for the actual broadband part of the service, it's fair to suggest that most of the users will do likewise; within most of the coverage areas there's an embarrassment of riches when it comes to broadband choice.
Installation of the service involves a relatively pain-free installation - we tested with the Windows software, but it's also available for Mac OS X 10.2.8 and better users -- and then insertion of the PC Card Modem. The PC Card modem for the service is a standard Type II card with a very slender antennae that works best in an upright position. There's only one problem here, and it's particularly pressing for a product that's intended to be mobile. The antenna is fixed on with a very slender little antennae that's somewhat reminiscent of the type of antennae you'd find on mobile phones about eight years ago. This is hardly surprising, as the broadband service does use Telstra's mobile network for operation -- but it's also somewhat worrying, as it feels extremely fragile. We used very light fingers and lots of caution during our testing, but could easily imagine the antennae snapping, at which point you'd be out a further AU$299 for a replacement.
Features
Telstra offers the wireless broadband service on two platforms. Within a coverage area, you'll connect to its 1xEV-DO service, which offers broadband speeds of up to 512kbps, although that's only for downloads -- uploads run at a far more sedate 64kbps. Outside the coverage area, you'll connect to the significantly slower CDMA service. Telstra calls this "high speed" in its marketing material, but also notes that while it's capable of bursts of up to 144kpbs, an average speed of 80-100kbps is more realistic.
Speeds vary by plan as well. On the cheapest desktop modem plan (AU$34.95/month with 200MB allowance) you'll get only a 256/64kbps connection, whereas the highest rate mobile card plan will set you back AU$129.95/month for a 512/64kbps plan and 1GB of download allowances. The desktop plans offer significantly cheaper rates for usage over plan allowance at 15c/MB, while the mobile card plans cost twice that.
Performance
We tested the Wireless BigPond service with the mobile card on the highest rate 512/64kbps plan within a coverage zone in far north Sydney, as well as from an area in the Hunter Valley that was most decidedly outside any coverage. Outside the coverage zone, our connection was a touch sketchy -- rather like using a mobile in a country area, which is after all exactly what we were doing -- but it still worked at a better rate than comparative dial up connections. Within the coverage zone we got generally good download speeds from popular sites, and predictably poor uploads. Ping times were resolutely poor, so it's not a product for gamers, but then with these specifications and especially pricing, that's not really a great surprise. It's also worth noting that as it's technically a product that utilises a dial up connection, if you use it in conjunction with other network access services you may find the connection manager popping up when you don't actually need it.
Despite its very beach-centric advertising, BigPond Wireless Broadband has a clear target market, and that's business types who need an additional broadband connection that can drop down to slightly better than dial up outside normal coverage areas. Its pricing makes it a less than compelling option for anyone who's able to procure any type of ADSL or cable connection, and even compared to other wireless providers like unwired or iBurst it's costly. In its favour, it has unrivalled coverage for its total service within its 1xEV-DO coverage areas, and the added bonus of slower coverage outside it.
susan
21/06/2008, 05:35 PM
rating
1/10
If there was a minus 100 rating I'd have used it!
absolutely no one at telstra has any freaking idea about wireless. They cannot even give you a telephone number. They have no people trained on it at all.
Pros: none
Report offensive comment
z17813
27/02/2008, 08:25 PM
rating
2/10
Telstra service is terrible... would have given it 1 or 0 but 2 is as low as the slider
Pros: Makes you realise no matter how bad other ISPs are they are not Telstra
Cons: TELSTRA service, cost, incompetent techs, sales people, helpdesk, services they will sign you up for and then say 'oh we actually have a blackspot there' after previously assuring you that your specific address was in a good coverage area
Report offensive comment
dickandjill
11/10/2007, 05:26 PM
rating
2/10
Hello my name is Jill and my husband and I are pensioners I am 62 and he is 64. I hope I am sending this to the right place as this is a very large complaint and I am considering going to the dept of fair tradeing or the ombudsman.
My problem started one day last week. I rang to chat about haveing my out going phone calls barred and still have incomming calls.
I spoke to a young lady who said that this was possible but as I still wanted to have the internet on [I have dial up connection] I would have to go to broadband. That was fine and the broadband quipment arrived at my address yesterday. As my husband is not well we waited till this morning to attempt the connection. It was all going fine until the last bit and then we had a red light blinking on the gateway so we rang the technical department so try to sort it out, we spoke to a young lady who I will just give her first initial P.she informed my husband that the broadband would not be connected for two more business days as technicians had to come to do something in the wire boxes that you have in the steet so we were satisfied with that as we expect a company like Telstra to know what they are talking about, anyway I wanted to know something else so we rang the same number and spoke to C, she told me that we didn'y need technicians to come and work on the boxes in the street and that it could be fixed over the phone, she then connected me to S. who in turn told me that there was no way we could have any sort of internet as well as barring all outgoing calls as this just was not possible, that was intirely different to the young lady last week. S. in turn connected me to T. who said he was not the right person and so connected me to C. who then put me through to S who said that they would send a retrival bag to pick up the broadband equipment, by this time I was very very angry as I felt that I was being spoken to by a whole lot of people who did not have a clue what they were talking about, but it doesn't end there either because they last person could tell how angry I was he went to speak to his supervisor, in turn eventualy I spoke to I. who just he was very sorry and couldn't help any more.This all happened in a period of about 2 hours. about half an hour later I was called from an office in Telstra who looks after accounts and his name started with the name B. who in turn proceeded to tell me how to go about haveing cheaper phone calls.
Now i didn't get to be 62 years old with out learning a thing ot two so after being treated like a 2 year old, I eventually hung up. By this time my husband who has multiple illnesses, was threatening to throw the phone and the computer out in to the paddock.
Then to add insult to injury about an hour later I had a phone call from another department asking me if i wanted to be taken off broadband please keep in mind all i wanted in the first place was to have my out going calls barred and I was prepared to go off the internet all together.
The situation at the moment is this. I am considering who I am going to talk to next about this because I feel that with a company like Telstra, your employees should be well trained in their field and they obviously are not.
oh, I forgot, when I spoke the first young lady last week she told me I had a phone bill of $274.03 to pay when the bill came out. When I spoke to the last person B. he told me that that was the last account and the next one doesn't come out until next month.
I give up; so I am going to keep my dial up connection and consider my options from here, this may sound funny to you but believe me it most certainly was not. I await your reply and if this isn't the correct department could you please forward it to the right one Thank you Jill
Pros: could have been very funny
Cons: almost caused my husband to have another heart attack
Report offensive comment
warrent
22/08/2007, 01:45 PM
rating
2/10
Have just had two laptops set up with the new 3G wireless broadband system. As yet unable to get either to work efficiently. Dissapointed to say the least,
Pros: None thus far.
Cons: Yes we were conned.
Report offensive comment
Peter & Jan Cotterill
24/03/2007, 05:55 PM
rating
7/10
I find that the wireless broadband is great when at home but initially bought this system so that we could get coverage when travelling. Not worries about speed just need to check emails do banking etc.
Pros: can use it with notebook as well as pc
Cons: find we don't get any coverage in small country towns even if we have mobile reception.
Report offensive comment
Doug and Shirley McDougall
12/03/2007, 10:01 AM
rating
4/10
Hello there. We have broadband but we have been getting a lot of scam mail for the past 12 months and had started reporting it recently as SCAM MAIL by selecting it and then clicking on a Report as Scam Mail Tab, but all of a sudden that Tab has not been being made available for us to use--WHY??? is that? Why is Bigpond no longer asking for people to report obvious nuisance mail as Scam??? At least it gave us a feeling that someone was at last interested in knowing that it was annoying customers , and was trying to do something about it...
Regards Shirley & Doug McDougall
Pros: Convenient and faster
Cons: Unhappy with the way it automatically slows down when we thought we were paying for unlimited download. Surely $59.95 per month should give a smooth and excellent service. We could use an opposition company for much less and get as good or better deal!!! Telstra are just too costly and now we cannot even report the scam we are sent.
Report offensive comment
kogvos
03/01/2007, 12:59 PM
rating
8/10
Have the USB desktop modem - really happy with it so far. Used to have Unwired for a year wich was abysmal, even with an external antenna, but the Bigpond baby works a treat all the time with no extras. It's more expensive that Unwired, but I happily pay the premium to get something that actually works.
Pros: It works, and I don't need a home phone.
Cons: Expensive when compared directly with other ADSL options, but still a great alternative to having a phone line (that I wouldn't use) and ADSL.
Report offensive comment
Hollywood
05/11/2006, 10:10 AM
rating
5/10
In Torquay obviously on the CDMA system was not quick enough for my requirments ,will be changing providers
Pros: OK in Strong coverage areas ,
Cons: average in CDMA areas
Report offensive comment
bigponduser
20/10/2006, 08:00 PM
rating
8/10
Great for a specific purpose
When I first got my card, I was 8 hours from civilisation, in the middle of the NT. It was great to be able to get some internet off the local CDMA tower. Dont discount it as a great way to access the net, but as yet it's not a substitute to your home Cable or ADSL connection - nor is it designed to be!! More designed to work alongside your home cable - to keep you on the net when your mobile!!
Pros: For a truly mobile internet connection this is your answer. No more looking for Hot Spots, and no more finding a spare phone line to dial in and get your emails. Great for emails on the road, and a bit of surfing in the middle of no where.
I use mine in SE Melb, with no dramas getting 1xEV-DO coverage, and most of suburbian melb.
Cons: Based on Telstra's CDMA netwok, reception can be dodgy, BUT REMEMBER YOU ARE ESSENTIALLY USING A MOBILE PHONE ATTACHED TO YOUR PC.
The new 3G based cards promise the world, but as yet hav'nt heard enough about them. At the moment, whoever had the old CDMA wireless 1xEV-DO simply have to put up with it, until Telstra decides to swap the cards over!
Report offensive comment
26/08/2006, 10:11 PM
rating
7/10
Not perfect but Good
I use this on the train in Melb. and find it to be very reliable, although some area's are patchy, but overall the coverage is good, can take it to the country and know it works.
Pros: Coverage footprint is large, works in a lot of places you would not expect it to, ev-do is fairly snappy.
Cons: Price is high, I think the time based plans i.e. 10 hours - 20 hours are not worth it. Go for the data based plans if you can. Some areas signal is non existant.
Report offensive comment