Comments on: Wireless access in Sydney? http://stopdesign.com/archive/2004/09/27/sydney-wireless.html Stopdesign is the creative outlet of Douglas Bowman. Tue, 04 May 2010 11:39:03 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Simon Pritchard http://stopdesign.com/archive/2004/09/27/sydney-wireless.html#comment-2382 Simon Pritchard Mon, 04 Oct 2004 00:52:17 +0000 http://70.32.90.75/?p=225#comment-2382 Matt mentioned that British Telecom have there "talons' firmly wrapped around the countries... erm, scrotem I believe was the term he used, in terms of un-metered broadband over 512kbps Matt, DON'T COME TO NEW ZEALAND! I did and here you're lucky if you can get un-metered broadband PERIOD! (And according to Telecom NZ broadband is anything over 128Kbps) <strong>Example:</strong>   <em />Package: Jetstream Home   <em />Speed: 512Kbps (ADSL)   <em />Bandwidth Limit: 500Mb per Month (No I'm not kidding!)   <em />Price: NZ$59 (US$40) Matt mentioned that British Telecom have there “talons’ firmly wrapped around the countries… erm, scrotem I believe was the term he used, in terms of un-metered broadband over 512kbps

Matt, DON’T COME TO NEW ZEALAND! I did and here you’re lucky if you can get un-metered broadband PERIOD! (And according to Telecom NZ broadband is anything over 128Kbps)

Example:
  Package: Jetstream Home
  Speed: 512Kbps (ADSL)
  Bandwidth Limit: 500Mb per Month (No I’m not kidding!)
  Price: NZ$59 (US$40)

]]> By: Daniel http://stopdesign.com/archive/2004/09/27/sydney-wireless.html#comment-2381 Daniel Sat, 02 Oct 2004 14:01:50 +0000 http://70.32.90.75/?p=225#comment-2381 Free Wi-Fi in Haymarket? Damn, and I was just there for two weeks. I do agree, compared to the US and Europe, the wi-fi scene here sucks. Very few (if any) free hotspots, and the others are a tad too expensive. If you do need to use the Telstra hotspots, consider getting a PhoneAway card. Saves paying the minimum fee of $5, and it's just a flat 20 cents a minute. It's a pity there isn't much competition. Optus have given up, and I can't see Azure or Xone doing much. Telstra are expanding though, but I'd like to see the price drop at least 50%. Free Wi-Fi in Haymarket? Damn, and I was just there for two weeks.

I do agree, compared to the US and Europe, the wi-fi scene here sucks. Very few (if any) free hotspots, and the others are a tad too expensive.

If you do need to use the Telstra hotspots, consider getting a PhoneAway card. Saves paying the minimum fee of $5, and it’s just a flat 20 cents a minute.

It’s a pity there isn’t much competition. Optus have given up, and I can’t see Azure or Xone doing much. Telstra are expanding though, but I’d like to see the price drop at least 50%.

]]> By: Nathan http://stopdesign.com/archive/2004/09/27/sydney-wireless.html#comment-2380 Nathan Fri, 01 Oct 2004 13:58:30 +0000 http://70.32.90.75/?p=225#comment-2380 Welcome to Sydney, how embarrassing, you would think WIFI would be more widely available here considering the scope of the place (2000 Olympics, WE04, etc). Sadly however we have a communications giant running the show and he hates to share air space. To sum it up we pay large amounts of money for small amounts of service, but that works for the man... Welcome to Sydney, how embarrassing, you would think WIFI would be more widely available here considering the scope of the place (2000 Olympics, WE04, etc). Sadly however we have a communications giant running the show and he hates to share air space. To sum it up we pay large amounts of money for small amounts of service, but that works for the man…

]]> By: Steve Farrugia http://stopdesign.com/archive/2004/09/27/sydney-wireless.html#comment-2379 Steve Farrugia Thu, 30 Sep 2004 09:49:07 +0000 http://70.32.90.75/?p=225#comment-2379 Try Darling Park on Sussex St. Thats the identical Nestle & IBM buildings next to Pyrmont Bridge (the one which the monorail uses to cross Darling Harbour) Both these buildings have wifi in the foyer. Good Luck!! Enjoy Sydney! Try Darling Park on Sussex St. Thats the identical Nestle & IBM buildings next to Pyrmont Bridge (the one which the monorail uses to cross Darling Harbour)

Both these buildings have wifi in the foyer.

Good Luck!! Enjoy Sydney!

]]> By: Lach http://stopdesign.com/archive/2004/09/27/sydney-wireless.html#comment-2378 Lach Wed, 29 Sep 2004 13:35:33 +0000 http://70.32.90.75/?p=225#comment-2378 Sunny: "Yeah this may be a shock to you but in Australia we pay for bandwith per gigabyte." By the gigabyte? If you're lucky. It's strictly by the megabyte for me. Sunny: “Yeah this may be a shock to you but in Australia we pay for bandwith per gigabyte.”

By the gigabyte? If you’re lucky. It’s strictly by the megabyte for me.

]]> By: timfm http://stopdesign.com/archive/2004/09/27/sydney-wireless.html#comment-2377 timfm Wed, 29 Sep 2004 13:02:22 +0000 http://70.32.90.75/?p=225#comment-2377 Doug -- contact Jeremy or Daniel at segpub.net. They're sure to know of some wifi hotspots. Doug — contact Jeremy or Daniel at segpub.net. They’re sure to know of some wifi hotspots.

]]> By: Marcus Tucker http://stopdesign.com/archive/2004/09/27/sydney-wireless.html#comment-2376 Marcus Tucker Wed, 29 Sep 2004 11:01:45 +0000 http://70.32.90.75/?p=225#comment-2376 And here's yet another wifi hotspot list, courtesy of a quick Google... http://www.wi-fihotspotlist.com/browse/au/1900002/1901111/ ;) And here’s yet another wifi hotspot list, courtesy of a quick Google…

http://www.wi-fihotspotlist.com/browse/au/1900002/1901111/

;)

]]> By: Richard Rutter http://stopdesign.com/archive/2004/09/27/sydney-wireless.html#comment-2375 Richard Rutter Wed, 29 Sep 2004 10:30:06 +0000 http://70.32.90.75/?p=225#comment-2375 Multimap has a <a href="http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?client=public&localinfosel=true&X=16832500&Y=-3987500.95825662&scale=100000&width=700&height=400&gride=16832455&gridn=-3987411.95825662&place=&pc=&coordsys=mercator&db=AU&local=wifi&kw=Wifi+Hotspots" rel="nofollow">Wifi Hotspots finder</a> and it seems there are plenty in Sydney. I was really hoping to get out to WE04 but I couldn't persuade work to stump up the cash for a flight from the UK (even though we have an office in Syndey). Oh well - hope it goes well - I'm looking forward to the feedback. Multimap has a Wifi Hotspots finder and it seems there are plenty in Sydney.

I was really hoping to get out to WE04 but I couldn’t persuade work to stump up the cash for a flight from the UK (even though we have an office in Syndey). Oh well – hope it goes well – I’m looking forward to the feedback.

]]> By: Hunter http://stopdesign.com/archive/2004/09/27/sydney-wireless.html#comment-2374 Hunter Wed, 29 Sep 2004 08:19:02 +0000 http://70.32.90.75/?p=225#comment-2374 Just to repeat what most of the other sydneysiders have to say, wireless is pretty poor at the moment in Sydney. What's worse is that Haymarket probably has the best coverage in Sydney which kind of shows just how bad the rest of sydney is. UTS has reasonable coverage if you can get access to it. As other people have mentioned, a fair few of the food courts around chinatown have access. I'm always partial to the Sussex Centre FC which has azure wireless with pre paid cards available in one of the shops downstairs, but then I go there for the food rather than the net access so I don't know how good it is. Unwired would be a great option if it was available for short term access as it has coverage of lots of sydney. Just to repeat what most of the other sydneysiders have to say, wireless is pretty poor at the moment in Sydney. What’s worse is that Haymarket probably has the best coverage in Sydney which kind of shows just how bad the rest of sydney is.

UTS has reasonable coverage if you can get access to it. As other people have mentioned, a fair few of the food courts around chinatown have access. I’m always partial to the Sussex Centre FC which has azure wireless with pre paid cards available in one of the shops downstairs, but then I go there for the food rather than the net access so I don’t know how good it is.

Unwired would be a great option if it was available for short term access as it has coverage of lots of sydney.

]]> By: daimon http://stopdesign.com/archive/2004/09/27/sydney-wireless.html#comment-2373 daimon Wed, 29 Sep 2004 06:15:01 +0000 http://70.32.90.75/?p=225#comment-2373 i am a sydney resident. and sadly, wifi isnt anywhere as nearly developed as it is in usa or other countries. with that said, we do have some places. and since u said u were in china town, if you go to the dixon st food court, there is optus wireless there. so you can have some noodles and surf the web/check ur mail etc. you will though need to buy a optus wireless account thing. so go to the optus shop in china town and get that and then go to the food court. if you want good noodles, get them from happy chef in dixon food court. there really nice. i recommend, chicken wonton soup with rice stick noodles. i am a sydney resident. and sadly, wifi isnt anywhere as nearly developed as it is in usa or other countries. with that said, we do have some places. and since u said u were in china town, if you go to the dixon st food court, there is optus wireless there. so you can have some noodles and surf the web/check ur mail etc. you will though need to buy a optus wireless account thing. so go to the optus shop in china town and get that and then go to the food court. if you want good noodles, get them from happy chef in dixon food court. there really nice. i recommend, chicken wonton soup with rice stick noodles.

]]> By: Margaret http://stopdesign.com/archive/2004/09/27/sydney-wireless.html#comment-2372 Margaret Wed, 29 Sep 2004 03:43:48 +0000 http://70.32.90.75/?p=225#comment-2372 In response to Ismail: My sister was writing a travel guide and had to communicate with her editors on a regular basis to send them copy-- internet access was necessary. (She did have several days with an entire national park to herself. You've gotta love WA for that...) In response to Ismail: My sister was writing a travel guide and had to communicate with her editors on a regular basis to send them copy– internet access was necessary. (She did have several days with an entire national park to herself. You’ve gotta love WA for that…)

]]> By: Tim Hill http://stopdesign.com/archive/2004/09/27/sydney-wireless.html#comment-2371 Tim Hill Wed, 29 Sep 2004 01:24:30 +0000 http://70.32.90.75/?p=225#comment-2371 wireless at my place, party down welcome to sydney, did you see the golden tree thing at chinatown? check out ippon sushi if you get a chance wireless at my place, party down

welcome to sydney, did you see the golden tree thing at chinatown? check out ippon sushi if you get a chance

]]> By: ismael http://stopdesign.com/archive/2004/09/27/sydney-wireless.html#comment-2370 ismael Tue, 28 Sep 2004 23:26:11 +0000 http://70.32.90.75/?p=225#comment-2370 what a tragedy! Probably she had to spend that extra time on those awful beaches, in the OPEN AIR!! what a tragedy! Probably she had to spend that extra time on those awful beaches, in the OPEN AIR!!

]]> By: Margaret http://stopdesign.com/archive/2004/09/27/sydney-wireless.html#comment-2369 Margaret Tue, 28 Sep 2004 13:47:04 +0000 http://70.32.90.75/?p=225#comment-2369 My sister just got back from eight weeks in Western Australia, and she never succeeded in finding wireless anywhere, not even in the middle of Perth. And when she asked about it, people looked at her like she was crazy... My sister just got back from eight weeks in Western Australia, and she never succeeded in finding wireless anywhere, not even in the middle of Perth. And when she asked about it, people looked at her like she was crazy…

]]> By: Sunny http://stopdesign.com/archive/2004/09/27/sydney-wireless.html#comment-2368 Sunny Tue, 28 Sep 2004 12:42:26 +0000 http://70.32.90.75/?p=225#comment-2368 Wow, had no idea that wi-fi was not widely available in Sydney. I live in Adelaide and just going down to the CBD (city center) means instant wi-fi. I would recommend the libraries maybe. Again this is just from my experience in Adelaide. Yeah this may be a shock to you but in Australia we pay for bandwith per gigabyte. Wow, had no idea that wi-fi was not widely available in Sydney. I live in Adelaide and just going down to the CBD (city center) means instant wi-fi.

I would recommend the libraries maybe. Again this is just from my experience in Adelaide.

Yeah this may be a shock to you but in Australia we pay for bandwith per gigabyte.

]]> By: Amit Karmakar http://stopdesign.com/archive/2004/09/27/sydney-wireless.html#comment-2367 Amit Karmakar Tue, 28 Sep 2004 11:51:29 +0000 http://70.32.90.75/?p=225#comment-2367 The other option of course would be to get a wireless plan with <a href="http://www.unwired.com.au" title="Get unwired" rel="nofollow">unwired. Try it all you want for a month and then give it to someone who will use it before you leave :)</a> The other option of course would be to get a wireless plan with unwired. Try it all you want for a month and then give it to someone who will use it before you leave :)

]]> By: Matt Wilcox http://stopdesign.com/archive/2004/09/27/sydney-wireless.html#comment-2366 Matt Wilcox Tue, 28 Sep 2004 10:25:32 +0000 http://70.32.90.75/?p=225#comment-2366 One day Britain too shall discover the joys of WiFi, and perhaps even un-metered broadband faster than 512kbps. In terms of communication access British Telecom holds this countrys scrotum in it's iron like talons. *big frown* One day Britain too shall discover the joys of WiFi, and perhaps even un-metered broadband faster than 512kbps.

In terms of communication access British Telecom holds this countrys scrotum in it’s iron like talons. *big frown*

]]> By: Luke Moulton http://stopdesign.com/archive/2004/09/27/sydney-wireless.html#comment-2365 Luke Moulton Tue, 28 Sep 2004 09:05:09 +0000 http://70.32.90.75/?p=225#comment-2365 Go to http://www.whereis.com.au and select Wi-Fi for wireless spots around Sydney (and Melbourne for that matter). It's a pretty handy site for tourists!! Go to http://www.whereis.com.au and select Wi-Fi for wireless spots around Sydney (and Melbourne for that matter). It’s a pretty handy site for tourists!!

]]> By: Sander http://stopdesign.com/archive/2004/09/27/sydney-wireless.html#comment-2364 Sander Tue, 28 Sep 2004 08:59:02 +0000 http://70.32.90.75/?p=225#comment-2364 Internet cafes where you can 'relatively cheaply' (_very_ relatively) plug in your laptop (as stupidly most internet cafes don't allow this) would be ... uhm, I forgot their names, but one is on Broadway (slightly west of Railway Square), half a block before Glebe Point Road ($3/hr, $10 unlimited, $4 unlimited (3 hours) after 20:30), and another one is on the south side of the railway station (sorry, forgot the name of the street) - it's on a corner iirc - walk parallel to the rails on the first major street and you should come across it - $2.50/hr Internet cafes where you can ‘relatively cheaply’ (_very_ relatively) plug in your laptop (as stupidly most internet cafes don’t allow this) would be … uhm, I forgot their names, but one is on Broadway (slightly west of Railway Square), half a block before Glebe Point Road ($3/hr, $10 unlimited, $4 unlimited (3 hours) after 20:30), and another one is on the south side of the railway station (sorry, forgot the name of the street) – it’s on a corner iirc – walk parallel to the rails on the first major street and you should come across it – $2.50/hr

]]> By: Sophie http://stopdesign.com/archive/2004/09/27/sydney-wireless.html#comment-2363 Sophie Tue, 28 Sep 2004 08:34:18 +0000 http://70.32.90.75/?p=225#comment-2363 I had the same question last April, and found that theXone has a few hotspots in the city, they are not free : http://www.thexone.com.au/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=64 Chocolate by the Bald Man, in Manly wharf, has one even if the waitresses don't know it. The signal was low but useable. And the chocolate and Manly are a big plus :) I had the same question last April, and found that theXone has a few hotspots in the city, they are not free :
http://www.thexone.com.au/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=64

Chocolate by the Bald Man, in Manly wharf, has one even if the waitresses don’t know it. The signal was low but useable. And the chocolate and Manly are a big plus :)

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