Following the launch of its Next G network and matching PC Card, Telstra's rollout of wireless broadband hardware continues with the slim BigPond Next G Wireless Broadband USB Mobile Card.
That moniker is a muddle as well as a mouthful, with only the tell-tale inclusion of 'USB' to set it apart from the similarly-named PC Card version. To be honest, this product isn't really a 'card' per se -- but we can appreciate that 'BigPond Next G Wireless Broadband USB Dongle Thing' would lack a little something in the marketing stakes.
Design
The blue plastic-shelled modem looks more like an oversized USB memory key. A concealed sliding panel at one end of this stubby stick contains the SIM card, while a pivoting white hub at the other end swings open and out to unsheathe the USB connector. There's also a tiny side-mounted socket for fitting an external antenna.
It's a compact yet study design engineered by local manufacturers Maxon, who also built Telstra's recently-released Next G wireless desktop modem and have a Next G ExpressCard modem due mid-year.
Drivers and client software are provide for Windows 2000 and XP, although Maxon tells us that drivers for Vista and Mac OS X are in development.
Also supplied is a short (10cm) stiff USB extension lead, in case the protruding edges of the modem's case prevent other devices such as mice or memory keys being plugged into adjacent USB ports.
Features
It's not just the interface which makes this different from the PC Card model. The USB modem is designed to tap the full 3.6Mbps capabilities of Next G (which uses the HSDPA 3.6 standard), compared to the 1.8Mbps redline of the PC Card.
This makes the USB modem worthy of close consideration even if your laptop can accept a PC Card, in addition to its being the only Next G option for newer notebooks sporting an ExpressCard slot.
Like its PC Card sibling, the modem will fall back to GSM if you wander into a low-signal or no-signal area. The device can also be taken overseas, where it roams onto the 850MHz 3G networks of Telstra partners in 33 countries, but the surcharge of AU$15 per Mb makes for a significant ouch factor.
The BigPond Wireless Broadband connection manager doesn't knock you out with features but it runs smooth and stable.
We can safely repeat the same bouquets and brickbats as directed at the software and manual of the BigPond Next G PC Card. Telstra's BigPond Connection Manager 2 provides a user friendly front-end and setup routine, although it makes every effort to hijack your browser's home page and branding. The manual, on the other hand, is a superbly informative effort written in plain English.
Performance
No wireless modem can ever reach the much-trumpeted throughput of its parent network, so don't expect the USB modem to suddenly set your connection rocketing along at 3.6Mbps.
Even allowing for the most ideal conditions -- and few cities or offices get close to that -- there are enough overheads in data transmission to shave a fair whack off the maximum theoretical speed. The available bandwidth and speed will also be reduced depending on how many users are sharing each Next G cell.
Testing the modem in and around the Sydney and North Sydney CBD zones, from outdoor cafes to inside a city office block, we enjoyed solid signals at an average of 1.8Mbps with peaks to 2.2Mbps. This was well clear of the results for the BigPond Next G PC Card in those same areas, where the average was closer to 1.2Mbps.
Curiously, the USB modem lagged well behind the PC Card when tested in a North Sydney apartment. The card clocked close to 1Mbps while the USB modem managed no better than 300Kbps.
We're at a loss to explain this because in all other tests the scoreboard was reversed, unless there's something about mid-range signal locations where the USB modem isn't quite so snappy.
In the end, it only serves to underscore our previous cautions about wireless broadband -- signal strength and quality of service is so reliant on your location that you have to test drive any wireless broadband network in your most visited areas before you sign up.
Telstra offers a 10-day trial of BigPond Wireless Broadband with a refund of the card's cost "if there's no or poor coverage at your preferred location because it's outside the coverage area or in a black spot".
On top of the AU$299 for the USB modem is the cost of usage plans. These are based either time or volume, with two speed levels -- G Fast is limited to 256Kbps, while Super G Fast ratchets between 550-1500Kbps.
The entry-level AU$29.95 plan buys you 10 hours of Super G Fast per month. For AU$49.95 per month you can choose between 200MB at G Fast speeds or 20 hours of Super G Fast. Time-based pricing disappears with the AU$79.95 scheme, which delivers 1GB of G Fast or 400MB of Super G Fast. For AU$109.95 you get 1GB of Super G Fast, while AU$199.95 covers 3GB of Super G Fast. Excess usage on either G Fast or Super G Fast is charged at 30c per Mb on usage-based plans and 80c per five minute block on time-based plans.
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solutionist
24/08/2008, 11:16 PM
rating
4/10
Thought I'd try Telstra after being slugged several thousand dollars twice by Vodafone for overseas roaming. First time was an acknowledged billing system error (afterf going to the Ombudsman). Second time told me tough #@$^. Telstra service usually works wherever I travel around Australia, but speeds are often painfully slow. Tech and customer service are appallingly bad. Don't try to use it overseas - you'll be sorry if you have to foot the bill!
Pros: Generally manages to connect to a network, but may take several attempts, despite strong signals.
Cons: Often very slow, despite good apparent signal strength. Expensive. Lousy tech and customer service.
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Sparky by trade!
14/05/2008, 12:45 AM
rating
9/10
I love this shizz... its faster than my ADSL service at home.. peaking at about 3400 kbps with about 3 to 4 bars of receptioin... my ADSL peaks at about 1200!!! and thats on one of the decent ADSL plans... I tried a 3 mobile BBand modem (Dont go there... Slooooooow, and they told me they roamed off Telstra's Next G network when roamin and that they were the exact same speeds and the same service but that "they were cheaper"! BullSh** they roam on Next G... They roam on Telstra's GPRS speeds not Next G (and at a higher cost mind u), and the proper 3g coverage for 3 is SHOCKING AND AWEFUL, to say the least, the customer service havent got a clue and they lie to get sales and commissions... grr... still fighting over my bill wit them)
Pros: Super fast, not bulky, attractive card, did I mention its speed? Tech support that know what they are on about, great and Honest staff in the shop (told me where id get coverage or not on an online coverage map). Super easy to install (you'd have to be a bit dim to get it wrong... lol) Awesome all round!
Cons: Not enough variety in plan choices, (like a 5 gig plan or something they're A bit pricey too... but id rather pay more for the internet... and get it reliably everywhere i go... than pay less and get less quality and get next to no coverage... and even at full bars of coverage 3s Bband is shite in comparison! (Do your Homework ppl)
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RockyOne
18/02/2008, 10:43 AM
rating
9/10
I got the outside antenna as we live 16k from the tower..Get a good 4 bars out of 5 reception and at last have upgrades all my Mac OS X software.
Pros: Portable USB plug in swivel card (some folk would even call it sexy) Guess I'll be able to use it mobile on my Mac iBook in 4x4 or anywhere.Go Telstra
Cons: YouYube vids reload sometimes but I mainly got the service to keep my software up to date at home. More expensive so far. 3 Year Contract.
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michaelism
28/01/2008, 02:51 PM
rating
4/10
Handy and portable, but have had slow speeds, and terrible customer support, in fact disgraceful via phone or internet. Bigpond movies have disappeared from my Bigpond Media Manager, and customer support never gets back to me.
Pros: Compact, portable
Cons: Slow speed, disgraceful customer support, Bigpond Media Manager problems, terrible internet support with many links saying they are currently unavailable, terrible phone support and huge delays when trying to make contact
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Ruth
15/01/2008, 02:25 PM
rating
2/10
Map showed that I would have wonderful coverage where I live, alas no. I have never had more than 2 bars of service and often none. I tried various locations around the house and yard to no avail. So Telstra sold me an antenna, which didn't help. I have since found out, when seeking a professional opinion, that the antenna is completely unsuitable for that device and that I may as well stick a piece of dry spaghetti in the side. However Telstra sold me "the only antenna available for that device". When I was offered a firmware download to increase my speeds I jumped at the chance. I downloaded and installed it and I was propmtly no longer able to connect to the internet. After many phone calls to Telstra's mostly incompetent tech support, numerous emails and complaints they finally agreed with mre that they needed to replace my device. From the day I downloaded the firmware to that when I finally got my new device was only 9 weeks.
Pros: None that I can think of.
Cons: Expensive, poorly serviced, bad reception and speeds, limited choice of plans and 24 month contract.
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Mazza
06/12/2007, 02:11 PM
rating
7/10
I have found the product quite good. I use it on my way to work on the train (40 Minutes Journey from Outer easter subs of Melb) and have no dropouts the whole way. It slows down sometimes but I generally get internet as fast as I do at home. I am happy and look forward to when Telstra increase it to 14MBps in the next year. No complainst so far. I even watch you tube videos driving in the car (Actually the passenger does).
Pros: Easy to Install
Good Coverage
Cons: Some areas have lesser speed
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aimsm
24/11/2007, 02:13 PM
rating
2/10
I swaped from Unwired to the Bigpond USB. I was dissapointed. I have vista and it works fine but is to slow and to expensice. My first bill was up around the $800.00 mark I went over my usage (which I had never done on the same plan with unwired) and received no alert emails. After arguing the fact that it was hard to track your usage. I was credited the additional usuages on my bill. I have tried to change to another telsta service but since I have no phone line and they cant confirm that broad band will work if I pay them to install phone lines.. Im going to look for other options. With three months to go on my contract it will be cheaper to pay it out and find something new.
Pros: No wires, other than that I honestly cant think of any.
Cons: Expensive
Drops out and jams.. works ok after you rebook
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QLD user
10/11/2007, 11:03 PM
rating
2/10
False promisses by advertsing. Poor reception and poor speed! 7.2mps, that's NOT TRUE!!!
Pros: Small and durable.
Cons: Expensive and not what Telstra says it can do.
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stevo
28/10/2007, 09:05 PM
rating
2/10
drivers wont load onto xp home. machine detects usb card but wont detect drivers
Pros: none so far
Cons: tech support suggested taking back to dealer for a full refund.
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Carl
07/10/2007, 11:51 AM
rating
2/10
expensive, unreliable and trapped on a 2 year plan - if you are considering Telstra's NextG - DON'T DO IT... Looking for ACCC to declare all contracts null & void for false advertising...
Pros: None really
Cons: Can't get decent speeds, doesn't work unless you live between 100 & 150 metres of a Next G tower, drops out, never get even minimum speed
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