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18-05.-2005, 04:38 AM
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#1 |
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 1
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Mobile phones in the outback
Hi,
I am cycling around the perimeter of Oz soon, coming over from the U.K. I just wondered if there was any mobile phone reception in the outback and, if so, what the best phone / network is? Thanks Footieimp |
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18-05.-2005, 07:08 AM
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#2 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Sydney
Posts: 129
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Re: Mobile phones in the outback
If you are really in need to have continuous phone contact you will need a satellite phone.
Telstra is your best option, and a CDMA phone will give the best coverage http://www.telstra.com/countrywide/...ity/default.asp However once away from regional centres, without a sat-phone you're on your own. Since you're cycling around Australia I guess you're coming for a year or so. Enjoy ... all 15,600km of it  .Last edited by 886014 : 18-05.-2005 at 07:18 AM. |
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18-05.-2005, 03:13 PM
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#3 |
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 492
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Re: Mobile phones in the outback
I'd go for a CDMA phone with Telstra. A sat phone will give you better coverage, but do you really need phone coverage all the time?
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18-05.-2005, 10:38 PM
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#4 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: In low earth orbit
Posts: 4,945
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Re: Mobile phones in the outback
Quote:
You'll correct about the sat phone, but costs are very steep-ish. A friend cycled around Australia via National Highway One in 2002-03, he found that GSM worked most of the time. My partner is currently on the Bike 'n Wheels (ie: 'Burke and Wills') trip from Spencer Gulf to Gulf of Carpentaria. No GSM coverage from Hawker (SA) up to Mt Isa (QLD) The trip organisers have a sat phone for basic contact & emergencies. BTW, they're going to try to call Australia All Over this Sunday morning (22/5). |
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21-05.-2005, 09:08 AM
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#5 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 201
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Re: Mobile phones in the outback
Quote:
Telstra (our dinosaur of a monopolistic phone company) has one good thing going for it - its rural mobile network. Should keep you in touch while near major highways but will still be useless in the outback. You'd need a sat phone for those areas and I believe they are quite expensive. |
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22-05.-2005, 12:22 PM
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#6 | |
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 16
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Re: Mobile phones in the outback
Quote:
Telstra CDMA is definately the way to go. To get an idea of coverage have a look at http://www.telstra.com.au/mobile/ne...verage/maps.cfm. You can get a decent prepaid CDMA phone for $130. |
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