[plug] [OT] CDMA 1x for broadband blackspots

[Ben Jensz]

Burstable to 144kbit... in practice it seems to be around the 80-90kbit 
mark... but it fluctuates a bit.  I've seen it in use... and its rather 
interesting.  Those plans suck though... but there are other plans you 
can get onto, but they still aren't really competitive with ADSL 
prices.  Basically all it was, was with a PCMCIA card in a laptop and 
some software from Telstra to start the connection... of course it'd be 
Windows only.

I think its still aimed at mobile laptop users... so sort of competing 
in the wireless net access space, not really the broadband space.  It is 
better than wireless in that the fella that was showing it off, said 
that he had actually had it working on the internet with signal so poor 
that it wouldn't hold a phone call, but the cdma1x service was working 
perfectly still.  Telstra are still upgrading their cdma towers to be 
cdma1x capable, and they are doing it to all of their cdma towers.  For 
instance I think all of the towers up here in the Kimberley have been 
done... but Telstra are holding off on really announcing it and 
publicising it until its all done.  I think they were supposed to be 
aiming at around September this year for a proper product launch.  So 
you may see some better plans for it come out around that time as well.


/ Ben


Steve Boak wrote:

>Hi you lucky ADSL users...
>
>I had heard CDMA 1x suggested for rural areas where physical lines are not 
>available or not up to a standard that wired broadband is a viable option. A 
>a large part of my local area fits into that description. Wireless connection 
>at 144Kb/sec wherever there is CDMA mobile coverage? Sounds great!
>
>After a little research, it seems only if you have very deep pockets, and live 
>in Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane metropolitan areas :-)
>
>From http://www.telstra.com.au/mobile/business/plans/cdma1x.htm
>
>Usage 	Monthly data		Monthly fee	Charge/10KB	Speed
>Low   	1MB				$10			10¢  		72 kbps
>Medium  	4MB				$30			10¢			72 kbps
>High   	15MB			$85			10¢			144 kbps
>
>No, I didn't type the above charge wrongly - it does say $85 for 15MB, and 10c 
>per additional 10KB! (but you can stay online for 24 hours for each 22c 
>connection fee. If the connection doesn't drop out.) How does that look to 
>those of you used to bumping up against GB limits?
>
>Working out the cost of your average daily use at the above charges is left as 
>an exercise for the interested reader :-)
>
>Steve
>
>P.S. Apologies if my tabs don't line up with yours...
>
>  
>