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<font face="Arial"><small><big><b>In this edition:<br>
</b><b><br>
</b>Very short newsletter...<br>
<b><br>
</b><b>Assorted News:<br>
</b> Landline Killer!<br>
More tablets coming...<br>
<br>
<b>Popular Internet and Phone deals</b><br>
<br>
<b>General Ramblings:<br>
</b></big></small></font><font face="Arial"><small><big>
Dead Bird Power.<br>
Defensive Driving Course<br>
</big></small></font><font face="Arial"><small><big> <b><br>
</b></big></small></font>
<hr size="2" width="100%"><font face="Arial"><small><big><br>
<b>Landline Killer!<br>
<br>
</b>This plan kills everything else for value. $39.90 per
month for unlimited local, national and mobile calls <u>from
a mobile phone.</u><br>
<br>
That's $40 a month to talk as long as you like to anyone
anywhere in Australia, from a mobile phone! Heck, landline
rental alone almost costs that much.<br>
<br>
This is from a company called Amaysim, who's been around for a
while now. I don't have any relationship with them.<br>
<br>
The bad news? It uses Optus' towers; so the coverage is not as
good as Telstra, but unless you live out of town it's not a
problem in Guyra / Central and elevated Armidale. (I have
antennae that might help outliers)<br>
<br>
There's no contract, and you can get it prepaid or postpaid.<br>
<br>
It also includes 4GB of Internet a month. <br>
<br>
Most modern mobile phones have the ability to work as a
wireless hotspot as well, so you could potentially press a
button on your phone and have internet access on all your
laptops / desktops - but of course bear in mind 4GB won't go
far if you like watching video on the Internet.<br>
<br>
So, for many people it could be 'good bye landline' and for
some 'good bye VoIP'<br>
<br>
Anyway, check it out at <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="http://www.amaysim.com.au/mobile-plans/amaysim-unlimited.html">http://www.amaysim.com.au/mobile-plans/amaysim-unlimited.html</a>
- and if you want to see what others are saying about them,
check out the independent website <a
class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum/?action=threads_search&f=114&q=amaysim">http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum/?action=threads_search&f=114&q=amaysim</a>
- and if you need a new phone, you can buy prepaid Optus
handsets outright from places like Harvey Norman for prices
starting from $20 for a basic phone.<br>
<br>
What's the con? Well, they charge for calls to 13, 1300 and
1800 numbers - so before calling any of those, look on the
Internet for the company's overseas equivalent number instead
- starts with +61, as that will be free.<br>
<br>
<b>More Tablets Coming.<br>
<br>
</b>I'm sure there's going to be a tablet price war come
Christmas. See <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="http://www.reghardware.com/2011/08/27/ten_budget_android_tablets/">http://www.reghardware.com/2011/08/27/ten_budget_android_tablets/</a>
for a hint of what's already happening. Since then, Amazon has
announced a $200US one as well -
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/28/amazon-fire-tablet-unveiled-7-inch-display-199-price-tag/">http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/28/amazon-fire-tablet-unveiled-7-inch-display-199-price-tag/</a><br>
</big></small></font><br>
<br>
<hr size="2" width="100%"><br>
<b>Popular Internet and Phone Prices.<br>
<br>
</b>Here's a listing of the most likely popular Internet and Mobile
plans currently known by myself. All figures are approximate, and
town availability is based on likely service quality as well as
availability. No guarantee is made to the accuracy of this data, as
it is a rough guide only. Install / setup fees may apply. Figures
are monthly.<br>
<br>
<i><b>ADSL</b></i><br>
<br>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="255"
width="600">
<col style="width: 48pt;" span="6" width="64"> <tbody>
<tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15pt; width: 48pt;" height="20" width="64"><br>
</td>
<td style="width: 48pt;" width="64">ADSL1</td>
<td style="width: 48pt;" width="64">ADSL2</td>
<td style="width: 48pt;" width="64">Guyra</td>
<td style="width: 48pt;" width="64">Armidale</td>
<td style="width: 48pt;" width="64"><br>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Exetel</td>
<td>$34.50/100G</td>
<td>$39.50/50GB</td>
<td>Yes</td>
<td>Yes (Mostly)<br>
</td>
<td>6/12 month contract, no excess fees.</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">TPG</td>
<td><br>
</td>
<td>$30/50GB</td>
<td>No</td>
<td>Yes (Mostly)<br>
</td>
<td>18 month contract, no excess fees.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br>
<i><b>Mobile Internet<br>
<br>
</b></i>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="485"
width="600">
<col style="width: 48pt;" span="5" width="64"> <tbody>
<tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15pt; width: 48pt;" height="20" width="64"><br>
</td>
<td style="width: 48pt;" width="64">Mobile Internet</td>
<td style="width: 48pt;" width="64">Guyra</td>
<td style="width: 48pt;" width="64">Armidale</td>
<td style="width: 48pt;" width="64"><br>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Exetel</td>
<td>$25/5GB</td>
<td>Yes</td>
<td>Not recommended<br>
</td>
<td>12 month contract, Massive excess fees. No warning on
usage.<br>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">TPG</td>
<td>$1 + $27.50/GB</td>
<td>Yes</td>
<td>Not recommended<br>
</td>
<td>No Contract</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Telstra</td>
<td>$10/1GB</td>
<td>Yes</td>
<td>Yes</td>
<td>No Contract, Massive excess fees. Requires existing phone
plan. Warning on Usage.<br>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br>
<i><b>Mobile Phone (optional internet.)<br>
<br>
</b></i>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="302"
width="600">
<col style="width: 48pt;" span="5" width="64"> <tbody>
<tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15pt; width: 48pt;" height="20" width="64"><br>
</td>
<td style="width: 48pt;" width="64">Mobile Phone</td>
<td style="width: 48pt;" width="64">Guyra</td>
<td style="width: 48pt;" width="64">Armidale</td>
<td style="width: 48pt;" width="64"><br>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">TPG</td>
<td>$1 + 10c/min</td>
<td>Yes</td>
<td>Yes</td>
<td>Internet $27.50/GB, No Contract</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">Telstra</td>
<td>$50 for 6 hrs</td>
<td>Yes</td>
<td>Yes</td>
<td>Includes 1GB Internet, No Contract or 2 yrs with free
phone, Massive excess fees. No warning on usage.<br>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15pt;" height="20">TPG</td>
<td>$20 for 5 hours</td>
<td>Yes</td>
<td>Yes</td>
<td>Or ratio up to 1.5GB offsetting calls, No Contract,
Massive excess fees. Warns on usage.<br>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td valign="top">Amaysim<br>
</td>
<td valign="top">$39.90 for unlimited hours<br>
</td>
<td valign="top">Yes<br>
</td>
<td valign="top">Yes<br>
</td>
<td valign="top">Includes 4GB Internet. Excess fees if
exceeded.<br>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<br>
<br>
<hr size="2" width="100%"><b><font face="Arial"><small><big><br>
</big></small></font><font face="Arial"><small><big>Dead Bird
Power.</big></small></font></b><br>
<br>
I have decided to take the risk and sign up for Dodo Electricity.
Dodo was known to be one of the worst Internet Providers in
Australia for some time, but during the early '00s I was using them
as a wholesale dialup port provider without incident. Since they're
about 15% cheaper than Country Energy on my last bill, I've decided
to give it a shot.<br>
<br>
The key difference is that they charge you monthly for your usage,
even though they still read the meter quarterly. This could confuse
some people; but I'm OK with it. <br>
<br>
Side note: My Winter power bill was $1100. I use electric heating
exclusively. My summer bill is typically about $500-$600. A
neighbour says he spends $1200 a year on wood for heating. Others
say similar figures for gas heating. Admittedly we only heat the
rooms we're in to 17 degrees, using halogen and fan heaters - but it
seems hard to get a heating bill less than $600-$800 per year in
Guyra unless you have your own wood supply?<br>
<br>
<b>Defensive Driving Course.<br>
<br>
</b>For a treat, I went on a one-day defensive driving course in
Grafton, via Wheel Skills. <br>
<br>
It was quite entertaining - I even came second in the race! (Three
seconds behind the leaders who took equal first.) And being in the
oldest vehicle (in this case the '95 commodore) I had to be taught
differently to the others since I have no ABS.<br>
<br>
Since odds are most of you will never do a driving course, here are
some pointers form it:<br>
<br>
1 - It's good to steer in a manner where your hands never cross to
the opposite side of the wheel - a technique they call push-pull
steering. Apparently it allows faster turning in an emergency and
prevents you getting crossed-up. There is a technique to it, so I'm
not sure if it's safe to try it without tuition.<br>
<br>
2 - Ideal distance between you and vehicle in front is currently two
seconds; although personally I still stick to three since I'm used
to driving older vehicles that take longer to stop. (For me, as a
rough gauge it's far enough away that I can't read their license
plate.)<br>
<br>
3 - In a modern ABS car, planting your foot on the brake will stop
you fastest, and it will feel like you're standing on a grinding
gear.<br>
<br>
4 - When sitting, it's best to be positioned so that even with your
foot hard on the brake or accelerator, your knee is still a little
bent. That way if you do hit something, you knee will buckle instead
of your hip.<br>
<br>
5 - (My favourite from the course!) If you have a tailgater, double
your distance to the car in front. That way if something happens in
front and you need to stop, you can brake much more gently giving
the idiot behind you time to also brake. (But if it's a semi, all
you can do is get off the road to let it pass.)<br>
<br>
<hr size="2" width="100%"><br>
<font face="Arial">Well, that was a short newsletter. I've been
fairly busy, and there isn't a huge amount of news.<small><big><br>
</big></small></font><br>
<hr size="2" width="100%"><font face="Arial"><small><big><br>
</big></small></font><font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><b>Old
Editions<br>
</b>You can find old editions of this newsletter on the CCC Blog.
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://auzzie.net/cccblog/">http://auzzie.net/cccblog/</a><br>
<br>
You can also subscribe or unsubscribe at <a
class="moz-txt-link-freetext"
href="http://auzzie.net/mailman/listinfo/ccc-news_auzzie.net">http://auzzie.net/mailman/listinfo/ccc-news_auzzie.net</a></font><br>
<font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif"><b><br>
</b></font>
<hr size="2" width="100%"><br>
Michael Kean<br>
<b>Proprietor, Cool Country Consulting.</b><br>
Trading Hours: 10am to 8pm weekdays.<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://coolhelp.com.au/">http://coolhelp.com.au/</a><br>
Tel: 02 6775 0239 Fax: 02 8212 9582 Mob: 0427 644 825<br>
Chat contacts: WLM: <a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated"
href="mailto:michael@auzzie.net">michael@auzzie.net</a> Skype:
cccons<br>
<br>
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