McCafe internet

[Daddles]

So I saw this ad on the telebox claiming that McCafe's have wireless internet. I needed to do some research while the lad was at soccer practice, so I dragged me laptop into McDonalds and fired it up. Sure enough, there was a Telstra Bigpond wireless node, which my laptop happily connected to. All I had to do was log in. I had my Bigpond broadband username and password handy, so I typed it in.

No go
Repeatedly no go, I can be very stubborn sometimes.

What's the deal? Do you need to do something daft or buy an extra connection or something? The blurb all seems to suggest that if you're a Bigpond customer, you can connect, but I couldn't

And yes, the username and password I was trying to use just connected me to the Bigpond site here at home, so I wasn't doing something daft like typing in the wrong details

The stupid thing is, I'm not overly fussed about being able to go McD's and play internet, I'd rather not go anywhere near the places, but it seemed convenient solution to a need. Hell, I even bought a mug of their horrid coffee thinking that seeing they were doing me a favour, I'd do them one. Not much of a service if you can't connect to it. Fortunately, Internode have a number of free nodes around the place, and they don't care if you're a customer or not (and you don't feel obliged to buy a cup of coffee).

Richard

[Big Shed]

Maybe you have to ask them for the login info?

[Daddles]

They say you use your bigpond log in so nyah!

Just found out they charge you for the service. They can get stuffed. I can get free wireless in all sorts of places, why the hell would you pay for it? Makes the golden arches look pretty stupid too.

Richard

[Big Shed]

That was a waste of a lousy cup of coffee then, wasn't it?

As a matter of interest, how much do they charge for it? (the wireless access, not the coffee)

[KevM]

Some information here or below from the Telstra Wireless Hotspot webpage.

Eligible BigPond customers: One log-in session at a time

Eligible BigPond customers will be charged the following:

Time purchased	Amount
Minimum charge per log-in session (includes first 15 minutes of use)	$5.00 (inc GST)
Charge per minute (or part of minute) after first 15 minutes of use	20 cents (inc GST)

To be able to use the service you have to make sure you have activated your BigPond via Telstra Wireless Hotspot service from your home, using your regular BigPond service to access the appropriate Additional Services pages.

[Daddles]

Makes you wonder why they bother doesn't it. They have nothing like a monopoly, but if you knew you could connect to the internet anywhere, for nothing, wouldn't that be a selling point?

Internode have free hotspots that anyone can use, just log in as a guest (I do it all the time when in the State Library).

Nearly all libraries have free wireless internet, and joining a library is painless, not to mention having access to those lovely databases (SilentC could give up having to rely on Wikipedia if he joined a library )

I'm sure there are other ways to connect ... without resorting to piggy backing off some poor private bod's connection (because he didn't put security on it and you're lacking a bit of moral fibre).

Nah. MacD's tried to sell this availability as a good thing, but it's just like their burgers, ultimately disappointing. I guess I should be comforted that Telstra are acting true to form.

Richard

[echnidna]

maccas and telstra,
watta combination

[Daddles]

maccas and telstra,
watta combination

Made in heaven mate, just ask 'em

Richard
ultimately frustrating but by cripes it was a good grump

[bitingmidge]

It's been like that for several years Daddles, and the same at Starbucks too!

Funny thing is, if you check out the prices, even though you are a bigpond member, you can log in via Telstra's network and pay by credit card and save a few bucks on the log in cost!

It is handy when travelling, because Macca's is pretty much ubiquitous, but getting in and out without buying any other crap is a test.

Cheers,

P

[scooter]

I think Gloria Jeans are wireless hotspots too.

[zathras]

It's been like that for several years Daddles, and the same at Starbucks too!

It is handy when travelling, because Macca's is pretty much ubiquitous, but getting in and out without buying any other crap is a test.

Cheers,

P

Yep, you used to also be able to log into other ISP's via the wireless link years ago, don't know if that is still the case now.

Certainly when travelling, the good old McCrappers can be very useful for exactly that, quite happy to leave crap behind

[Ron Dunn]

I think wireless hotspots are dying with the coming of phone-company wireless internet.

If you take a look at the Optus, Virgin, Vodafone or Three websites you'll find somewhere between 4Gb and 6Gb per month for around $50. Telstra have a typically "competitive" offering of more than $70 for less than 2Gb.

Check your internet usage. You might find that you can get rid of a fixed internet connection to ADSL, and always have your internet with you when you travel for the same or less cost.

[echnidna]

I'm waiting for the optus towers to come on line down here then I'll go over to Virgin (who use optus infrastructur) bye bye to moneygrubbing frogpond and telstra

[bitingmidge]

I'm waiting for the optus towers to come on line down here then I'll go over to Virgin (who use optus infrastructur) bye bye to moneygrubbing frogpond and telstra

heehee, good luck.

Two of my kids have VirginBroadband. One has a reasonable service, although it does drop out rather a lot. They aren't big users so it's not an issue.

The other couldn't stay online for more than a few minutes at a time, and the phone kept dropping out every few minutes or so. Interestingly, the Virgin broadband phone plan runs on the GSM network, and there's a 90 minute limit on all calls, which is exactly less time that it takes Virgin to answer their own support line when you are on hold, so you get cut off after waiting for 90 minutes.

After documenting all her woes, and writing to Virgin three times with no response, she cancelled her unusable service. They sent her a bill for the cancellation fee.

Off to see the ombudsman, got a number to call which to date has not been answered. After five attempts, the ombudsman has sent a letter of demand. Currently day 19 of the 21 required for a response has elapsed.

It seems that Virgin are OK if it all works, but woe betide you if it doesn't!

Good luck!

P

[Ron Dunn]

bitingmidge, are they using the big box like an ADSL modem that is phone as well, or the little matchbox-sized thing that plugs into a USB port?