Hello Fellow Birders,
I'll be making my second trip to Australia in October/November
this
year, and this time I am planning to take my laptop computer, so I
can
access the internet while I travel. I have researched AUS
internet
providers, and I can find a number of attractive offers, but they
all
involve calling a "0198" number.
It appears to me that these 0198 phone numbers (0198 3xx xxx)
are
specifically for data transfer use, and it appears that they are
billed
like a local call from any private phone. As I understand it,
that
charge is usually 25 cents, for unlimited time, from a private
phone.
How does this work in motels/hotels? What is the local practice
as
far as charges in motels/hotels for this service? Does anyone
have
recent experience with this?
Also, do most motel/hotel room phones have modular telephone connectors,
to
connect a computer? I have read that most telephone connections
in
AUS use the RJ11 plug that we use in the USA, but that there are
also
some proprietary Telstra plugs that are different. I guess I will
buy
a converter for this Telstra connector, before I go, in case I
run
into those. I presume that my USA modem will work with Aussie
modems.
Any other advice about accessing the internet on a laptop from
a
motel/hotel room in AUS? I do it all the time over here in the
USA,
but I wonder if things will be different over there.
I should add that this is primarily a birding trip. I posted my
itinerary here, in three parts, about a month ago, and I am very appreciative
for all the great help and advice that I got from birding-aus members. For
the benefit of anyone who missed those posts, my trip will start in Sydney,
proceed down the east coast to Wilsons Prom, then go through Melbourne, out
along the Great Ocean Road, through the Grampians, next a brief stop in the
Little Desert, then the Ouyen area, then Deniliquin, then on to the
Chiltern/Bright areas, and finally finish with 5 nights in the Melbourne area
again. I'm still gathering birding information, so if anyone has anything
to add, or if anyone along that route would like to meet an American birder,
please email me.
Barry
