Trials of Next G technology at Upper Murray Regional Library

UMRL has been using CDMA/1X on one of its mobile libraries since late 2004, which is being phased out in 2008. Recently the service was upgraded to a NextG network (provided exclusively by Telstra).

The Next G network has dramatically improved the speed, reliability and availability of the service.

Next G is Telstra branding for the 3G850 HSDPA band and should not be confused with 3G (3G2100 band) which is slower and has less coverage (currently limited to capital cities in Australia).

How we tested

The mobile libraries have 72 stops spread over two weeks and two mobile libraries. The terrain covered by the mobiles libraries varies from Alpine valleys to flat inland plains and provides a significant challenge for any telecommunication technology.

NextG coverage is limited to the mobile phone network which is advertised as covering 98% of the population. The NextG service has increased the number of stops that have a workable connnection but some UMRL mobile stops still do not have coverage - hopefully this will change as more mobile phone towers are built in areas such as the Mitta Valley. The UMRL mobile library with a satellite connection services these stops which are mainly in Alpine areas.

A Telstra turbo modem was purchased on a 100 hour per month $149 plan which included the upgraded modem. (The hourly plan may have been phased out - check with Telstra). It was installed on one staff PC.

The Next G modem provides an internet connection and is easy to set up and use. This connection provides access the UMRL Library Management System (LMS) via the internet and a Windows 2003 terminal server in the Wodonga headquarters. The Windows 2003 terminal server manages all remote access (12 branches plus 2 mobiles) the LMS similar to a Citrix or Metaframe server. This setup prevents data corruption from connection drop outs and speeds up data transmission.

Telstra's website states that the Next G service is capable of:

• Broadband connection, with average speeds of 550Kbps to 1.5Mbps, and a peak network downlink speed of 3.6 Mbps^* on the Next G™ network
   
• HSDPA 3.6Mbps support - upgradeable in the  future to 7.2Mbps

Visit the Telstra site for more details

Conclusion

Next G  is affordable, easy to use and inexpensive to install. It provides sufficient speed to access the Library Management System via the Internet (and a terminal session).

Even with the limitations of the mobile phone network (which Next G uses) it is a valuable and extremely workable connection. The few sites which are not covered are fairly remote and the UMRL two way satellite connected mobile library provides services to these areas.

Currently the Next G modem is only connected to one PC but the W25 Ericson router has been released which will enable multiple connections.

Recommendations

Test your locations for CDMA/Next G coverage with a Next G (or CDMA) mobile phone. Many mobile library services will have coverage at all stops. Provided you choose the most appropriate plan, Next G can be a very affordable option for putting your mobile library on-line. Available plans can be either casual, data or time based.

Ask Telstra for a trial and consider the router if you want to connect multiple PCs to the Internet.

by Sonia Higgs - Information Systems Manager at Upper Murray Regional Library