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Free Uncapped Telstra Air Wi-Fi until Sep 2016 (Telstra Customers)

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Free Uncapped Telstra Air Wi-Fi until Sep 2016 (Telstra Customers)
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Roary on 15/12/2015 - 01:27 telstra.com.au (5718 clicks)
Last edited 21/04/2016 - 15:09 by 2 other users

Just read that Telstra are giving unlimited data to their Air wifi until June 30 Sep 30 2016 for Telstra customers!!

Awesome!!!!

From News.com.au article:

Telstra launched the Telstra Air Network in June but there were several catches to using it. You had to be a Telstra broadband customers, you could only log on for 30 minutes at a time and the data you used was counted against your home data limit.

From today, when Telstra customers log on to the network, they will not have any data caps or time limitations and any data they use will not affect their other accounts.

For non Telstra customers, see realfancyman's forum post on how to obtain the deal via a $2 sim card.

Update 21/4: Deal has been extended from June 30 2016 to Sep 30 2016 (thanks creeps_bay).

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  • thelastnoob on 15/12/2015 - 01:34

    Are they able to handle excessive loads from many people at once? What are the general speeds like?
    Can I use a mate's login and can he share with others for multiple logins?

    • theraque on 15/12/2015 - 07:36
      +3

      People are going to run a train on Telstra. So much excessive loads from many people at once.

    • massafiri on 15/12/2015 - 07:38
      +5

      The Air network (from the phone booths) runs off Cisco Meraki; an enterprise grade Access Point which can handle 100's of simultaneous connections quite effortlessly and mesh unbelievably well. The only thing that would limit the internet speed is the physical connection at the phone booths.
      And yes, you can use your mates login.

      • Scrooge McDuck on 15/12/2015 - 10:40
        +2

        Any Telstra customers wanna be my mate?

        Have some hacks of my own to trade…

        • [Deactivated] on 15/12/2015 - 15:01
          +1

          Edit: Sorry.

        • Scrooge McDuck on 15/12/2015 - 15:05

          @Bargitrage:

          Relax, I don't think my Cap'n Crunch whistle is of much use anymore…

        • realfancyman on 15/12/2015 - 17:47
          +5

          Scrooge McDuck, just get a $2 SIM, use this to make a Telstra ID/My Account, but don't recharge. All you need is a mobile service on your Telstra ID/My Acc., doesn't even need to be active going from this Whirlpool post: http://whrl.pl/Revy9e Too sum up, $2 = Unlimited Free Wifi at thousands of hotspots across Australia until June 30 2016 :-)

        • Scrooge McDuck on 15/12/2015 - 18:26

          @realfancyman:

          Thank you mate!

          x

        • realfancyman on 15/12/2015 - 18:27

          @Scrooge McDuck: NP ;-)

      • robberbutton on 15/12/2015 - 13:46
        +2

        Considering they mostly use ADSL links, that's definitely a bottleneck…

        • massafiri on 17/12/2015 - 14:25

          More than likely, yes, this will be the limiting factor.

    • Employeelac0449 @ Telstra on 15/12/2015 - 08:10
      +2

      I believe you have access to 'Telstra Air' if you have a broadband account with Telstra and the 'Air' feature active. Home sites are limited to a few 'outside' connections and it's capped speed so it doesn't impact the owner of the site.
      If it's a Telstra owned site (like the payphones) im sure in metro area's it has some decent bandwidth behind it, but i wouldn't expect 100/40. (i think its capped around 5?) not 100% but the info is out there.

      • jv on 15/12/2015 - 08:47
        +2

        You also need to use their router.

        • Davros on 15/12/2015 - 09:57

          Yeah, I have several Telstra routers lying around as whenever I had an issue in the pit outside (water when it rains) instead of fixing the problem they would send out a new router for free claiming that was the problem, so now I have a collection of CG3100D's.
          Unfortunately, they are not air compatible and there is no way I am paying for a modem, not when they give them away so freely before.

        • MelbBoy on 15/12/2015 - 18:11

          … delete

        • rye on 15/12/2015 - 20:21

          I've successfully signed up for Telstra Air without a Telstra modem.

        • jv on 15/12/2015 - 22:21

          @rye:

          I've successfully signed up for Telstra Air without a Telstra modem.

          …using somebody else's account…

        • rye on 15/12/2015 - 22:58

          @jv: no, using my own. I have a Netgear router, but when registering I just selected a Telstra model modem and my Telstra Air account was approved.

        • massafiri on 17/12/2015 - 14:28

          You can still use your own Wifi Router in your home network and bridge the connection to Telstra's router.
          This is a good solution for people, like me, who use Apple's Time Capsule for backup and Wifi (a really amazing Wifi AC router) but also want to offer (and get) Telstra Air.

          Alternatively, if you are Tech Savvy, you can setup two seperate networks, disconnecting your own home network from the Router that provides Telstra Air.
          If you use FTP however; like I do, this isn't a viable option because of double NAT.
          If you have no idea what I'm talking about, disregard this entire comment.

  • SchroederCat on 15/12/2015 - 01:44
    +3

    Prepaid Telstra included too?

    • Benno123 on 15/12/2015 - 01:53

      Hope so! That'd be pretty great.

    • John Stone on 15/12/2015 - 01:56
      +3

      As far I as I can tell, the offer is still only for Telstra broadband customers. Not mobile customers.
      The title should probably be changed to reflect that.

      • Chuppa on 15/12/2015 - 02:06
        +3

        Telstra’s broadband director Stuart Bird says opening up the Telstra Air Network to mobile users would enable the system to go from it’s current usage to tens of thousands of unique customers a day to millions of potential users.

        • IVI on 15/12/2015 - 02:26
          +7

          Semantics lesson:

          "Would" does NOT imply "will"

        • Diji1 on 15/12/2015 - 08:06
          +10

          Read: no one uses Air, let's see if we can give it away so people might notice it exists.

        • syousef on 15/12/2015 - 08:14

          @Diji1:

          There's a good reason no one uses air. You never know when your WIFI will be flooded and your broadband degraded.

        • mostlygordon on 15/12/2015 - 08:29
          +6

          @Diji1:

          I am at least one person using Air. I had a month long road trip in October, and quite often downloaded Podcasts and new albulms when seeing a hotspot. Same sort of use when I'm working at client sites in the CBD. It is a great saving on 4G data and usually quite fast.

          The Andriod App can be configured to give an alert when in range of a hotspot.

      • entropysbane on 15/12/2015 - 11:59
        +6

        Despite being on Telstra broadband I find it difficult to justify the uptick to include Telstra air. Telstra want me to buy a new modem. If they gave that to me for free I would think about it, but I am not spending a few hundred dollars for the pleasure of even starting to use it when my current cable modem router is fine.

        Ps: on this deal though I will certainly connect all our mobile phones which are also on Telstra. Looks like a good deal. But if they want my modem as a hotspot they will have to wait until I don't have to buy. Anew one.

        • Trantor on 15/12/2015 - 16:21

          my thoughts exactly!

    • [Deactivated] on 15/12/2015 - 08:59

      Yes

      • Scrooge McDuck on 15/12/2015 - 10:47

        How much Air usage could one get out of registering a Telstra Prepaid Starter Pack?

        • realfancyman on 15/12/2015 - 21:43
          +1

          Ummm, its unmetered so all you can eat until june 30 2016

    • realfancyman on 15/12/2015 - 10:33

      Yep, I signed up and the only services on my account are Prepaid (Freedom Plus and Data Pass to be exact)

    • BanannaMan on 15/12/2015 - 13:31

      Yes Pre-Paid included

  • Chuppa on 15/12/2015 - 01:50
    +2

    Telstra customers can find if they are eligible for the offer at telstra.com/freewifi.

    Have a look at that link later today - it's 404ing atm

    • Davros on 15/12/2015 - 10:57
      +1

      Try getting rid of the dot at the end

      • awoff1 on 15/12/2015 - 11:01
        +2

        When that comment was made it was 404ing regardless of full stop or not.

      • Chuppa on 15/12/2015 - 13:27

        It was taken directly from the article at 4am when the page didn't exist.

  • happychappy1 on 15/12/2015 - 02:24
    +1

    Do you have to be sharing your WiFi at home for this to work? I guess your SOL if you have your own WiFi router and not using the C6300 or the ADSL equivalent.

    • thelastnoob on 15/12/2015 - 02:57

      good idea to cap your shared wifi like mad using a limiter like cfos

      • RangaWal on 15/12/2015 - 07:41

        Tell me more?

        • thelastnoob on 15/12/2015 - 11:45

          Maybe it's not possible after reading the comments
          Let's see if someone knows how to do this

      • zuccs on 15/12/2015 - 09:15
        +2

        It uses a separate radio so you can't touch any settings as far as I know. Never looked into rooting it before though.

    • damion on 15/12/2015 - 07:42

      Last time I checked, the only way to get an account that worked with Air, was to also share your own home connection (using the designated equipment)

      • cookie9 on 15/12/2015 - 08:02

        yes true, must be telstra provided modem. But easy to get around it if you dont want to share by using non telstra equipment or put the telstra modem in bridge mode.

    • Bandit74 on 15/12/2015 - 08:11

      Do you have to be sharing your WiFi at home for this to work?

      In theory yes …. but the modem is so weak I can't get a wi-fi connection from my own modem if I am standing on the footpath anyway outside the house anyway

      • Scrooge McDuck on 15/12/2015 - 10:50
        +1

        You could put a Faraday cage around it…

    • zuccs on 15/12/2015 - 09:14

      It's all done automatically - you have to use their WiFi router. There's nothing you can configure.

  • HardQuiz on 15/12/2015 - 03:31
    +1

    With the way they share statistics in the article, using a VPN is a must.

    • Diji1 on 15/12/2015 - 08:09

      I'm afraid a VPN will not stop Telstra measuring how long you connect for or how much data you use. Bad news: all internet providers collect this data, VPN or not.

      • chipstss on 15/12/2015 - 09:12
        +1

        We both know thats not what they really want to collect.

      • massafiri on 17/12/2015 - 14:23

        This is true but it does encrypt the content of the session.
        Keep in mind that if bandwidth is a concern, VPNs does effect speeds (depending on the VPN provider) and encryption does (very slightly) increase the size of the data due to encapsulation. Nothing too notable for emails or websites.

  • digitalterrorist on 15/12/2015 - 06:21
    +1

    Does the Telstra SIM need to be in the phone to use? Say can you buy a prepaid starter kit, get a bigpond username and use that on their app with a phone with another carrier?

    • awoff1 on 15/12/2015 - 06:50

      Nope it doesn't. You simply login with your Telstra ID to get connected. Not known if prepaid will be eligible as details aren't available for now.

      • ronnknee on 15/12/2015 - 08:52

        Man, I actually tried to click on "log in" a few times before realising it was an image. Why not just link to the website?

        • awoff1 on 15/12/2015 - 09:03

          Because it's the page that appears when you connect to a Telstra Air hotspot, not available otherwise afaik.

        • ronnknee on 15/12/2015 - 10:42

          @awoff1: Ah fair enough.

  • hawkers8905 on 15/12/2015 - 06:46

    home broadband customer with an ADSL, Cable or NBN connection and have a compatible gateway you can become a member of Telstra Air

    Pity they don't open this up for mobile customers.

    • uggugg on 15/12/2015 - 08:13
      +2

      Just signed up with my mobile prepaid account. Will try connecting at lunch time today

      • hawkers8905 on 15/12/2015 - 08:41
        +3

        Just tried myself too, looks like they have opened the free offer up to mobile services too. Great!

        • malouphix on 15/12/2015 - 10:45

          This is really good.

  • Ravensbane on 15/12/2015 - 07:19
    +6

    Nice if you happen to have a phone box outside your house. Not enough locations for it yet.

    • malouphix on 15/12/2015 - 10:46
      +2

      But you have to have Telstra broadband at home, so why would you want a Telstra phone outside your house too?

      • Steptoe on 16/12/2015 - 14:50

        but if you just have a mobile…

  • djcharliek on 15/12/2015 - 07:26
    +1

    The roll out has been slow and it doesn't Auto connect……i hope they fix it. Great idea but poorly executed so far.

    • massafiri on 15/12/2015 - 07:40
      +5

      On iPhone it does Autoconnect, you need to keep your Wifi on and let the iOS App install a certificate of some kind. Works surprisingly well for me.

      • djcharliek on 15/12/2015 - 12:41
        +1

        sweet. can you post up detailed instructions? doesn't work with my iphone.

        • massafiri on 17/12/2015 - 14:19
          +1

          It's all very straight forward - Search Telstra Air on the AppStore and install it, theres a step by step guide upon launch which includes logging in with your Telstra ID and installation of the Certificate.
          The certificate isn't dodgy, I assume (from my limited knowledge on encryption) it's verifying that the SSL Certificate that is issued from the Access Point is "certified", otherwise you'd be getting those certificate warnings all the time.

      • chipstss on 15/12/2015 - 15:39
        -3

        A certificate? That sounds dodgy…

  • gwindsor on 15/12/2015 - 07:30
    +2

    Good way to get free internet if you go over your monthly quota. Just re-connect everything in your house to Telstra Air!

    • pensionday on 15/12/2015 - 08:31
      +5

      Or use of the three free resets on quota

  • random101 on 15/12/2015 - 07:33

    Ditto, what are the speeds like?

    • random101 on 15/12/2015 - 07:34

      and can anyone log in yet using their mobile account?

      • random101 on 15/12/2015 - 07:40
        +1

        No luck, says I need a valid Mobile broadband plan.

    • zuccs on 15/12/2015 - 09:15
      +4

      Where I use it, I get around 9mbps over 50m away from the phone box.

  • pennypincha on 15/12/2015 - 07:33
    +3

    I see an easy way to take advantage of this.

    IF you are currently a Telstra Broadband customer and have already opted into Telstra Air, then your connection is automatically shared as a "Telstra Air Hotspot". If you (like me) have a data threshold on your regular connection - stop using your wifi, and use your Telstra Air Hotspot instead for unmetered access!.

    Just as I was thinking of upgrading my 100GB limit in time for oodles of streaming over the Christmas holidays, this is perfect.

    Can anyone comment on speeds though? I find that Telstra Air Hotspots seem to be no faster than 1.5mbps, which is pretty atrocious for streaming in HD - fine on a small mobile screen though….

    • damion on 15/12/2015 - 07:43
      +1

      Wouldn't the Air system be smart enough to know that the account name on your own broadband connection matches your own air account, and use normal quota?

      • Janko on 15/12/2015 - 13:10
        +1

        It's Telstra remember.

      • MrMcHairyHead on 15/12/2015 - 14:14

        Go grab a prepaid sim and make a new account then?

        • fatty on 15/12/2015 - 14:33

          Counter ticks over for the half yearly subscriber number report.

    • sweets000 on 15/12/2015 - 07:47

      Your neighbours thank you for their new unlimited internet for the next month.

      TBH if it is only 1.5mbps, and it probably would have to limit it along those lines to keep performance for the primary user, I wouldnt want to endure the speed just to save a few MBs. Unless your downloading large qtys over a long period of time, it is easier to watch youtube, netflix etc via a legitimate paid connection and get 10mbit without buffering or quality issues.

      • realfancyman on 15/12/2015 - 21:55

        I've got some relatives that only had mobile broadband at their property and they had two mobile broadband plans, one with a small data allowance, but had shaping enabled and one with a big data allowance and made you pay for excess data. They would use the one with shaping for big downloads like movies, music, updates and all that, whilst the other was reserved for daily browsing and stuff where speed was important. In this scenario, the Telstra Air hotspot is the "shaping enabled" connection and your regular home internet connection is "pay for excess data".

    • BanannaMan on 15/12/2015 - 14:11

      They thought of that already

      https://www.telstra.com.au/broadband/telstra-air/how-it-work…

      With Telstra Air, a portion of your home broadband bandwidth is used to create a home hotspot. Your Telstra Air compatible gateway will broadcast separate Telstra Air and Fon Wi-Fi signals for others to use.

      EG if you're getting 8mbit connection, 1mbit maximum is shared.. ADSL 2 speeds - you'll only share 2mbit of your conx. Shaped - Telstra air is disabled. Got this from the critical information summary when i signed up. I found i was getting 20mbit in Melbourne CBD

      So if you're happy browsing internet slowly at home.. then i guess you could use this method

  • ultraviolet on 15/12/2015 - 07:44
    +2

    Hope Optus and Vodafone realize the issues they are facing and give bonus data to their customers.

  • m2000 on 15/12/2015 - 07:52

    Not many people were using or opted into Telstra Air, I guess!

  • cookie9 on 15/12/2015 - 07:58
    +2

    Great concept, poor implementation. I have a telstra air telephone booth outside my office and it has never worked.

    • djcharliek on 15/12/2015 - 12:42

      i've also found it tedious.

  • kfuerza on 15/12/2015 - 08:07
    +2

    Not available for Biz customers. :(

    Just ported my phone to a biz plan as I started my own consultancy biz.

    On the bright side…I've got 10GB per month on their BYO no contract plan so…meh. I'm cool.

  • dsdsyd on 15/12/2015 - 08:07
    +2

    Mobile customer can use this page to check if they eligible or not .

    Turn off your wifi and using your Telstra Mobile Interenet Connection . I got a mobile service with telstra but it is not eligible as it under a company name for business customer

    https://www.telstra.com.au/latest-offers/telstra-air-free-wi…

  • syousef on 15/12/2015 - 08:10

    No way am I opting into Air and I wish they'd stop pushing. If other people want it that's fine but I'm not sharing my connection with random people when I need it for work.

    • garage sale on 15/12/2015 - 08:51
      +1

      I would share mine, im not home during the day, and dont use much at night….im all over the netflix thing…..

    • itbargainhunter on 15/12/2015 - 09:36
      +2

      Ditto.

      I would not trust sharing your home network with a stranger no matter how secure Telstra promises you.
      (I worked in Telco and now IT). It is NOT impossible to hack into your home Telstra Max modem if you have the right tool/skill and enough time.

      • blurrybird on 15/12/2015 - 09:49
        +4

        Same could be said about any commercial router. I know I've broken in to my RT-AC87U just by reading the source code available on ASUS's github and trying a few things.

        Besides, the Air service runs on the Gateway Max. If you're like any normal person and bridging this to a decent router you can segregate your traffic by subnet / network entirely - which I assume is what already happens with the Air service but just for extra piece of mind.

        • BanannaMan on 15/12/2015 - 14:14

          I wonder how the mandatory internet logging would work with Telstra Air or url restrictions you place on the router

          would suck if people are browsing your telstra Air connection on terrorist websites and you get earmarked by government

      • malouphix on 15/12/2015 - 10:49

        Any Wifi router can be hacked with or without Air.

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