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Best mobile provider for travelling...

Best mobile provider for travelling...

Old Jul 21st 2008, 2:59 pm
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Default Best mobile provider for travelling...

Hi Guys,

We are going to travel around as much of Oz as possible in a camper before we settle down to "normal" life (mortgage, jobs etc...) and I was wondering which mobile provider would have the best overall coverage?

We will both be using Uk bought, unlocked phones.

Cheers guys..

Darren
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Old Jul 25th 2008, 12:31 pm
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Default Re: Best mobile provider for travelling...

Anyone....?

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Old Jul 25th 2008, 12:53 pm
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Default Re: Best mobile provider for travelling...

Telstra has the best coverage around australia

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Old Jul 25th 2008, 1:25 pm
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Default Re: Best mobile provider for travelling...

Doesnt really make mch difference to be honest, if you went on a contract watch out as most are 24months.
I went for a pay as you go style, called prepay here which you can just top up when you like. Personally I prefer it.
Just like the UK you can buy just the sim only for all networks. I bought the super slim nokia on pre pay with Optus network costing me $120, its solid and so thin you dont notice it in your pocket
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Old Jul 25th 2008, 2:30 pm
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Default Re: Best mobile provider for travelling...

Originally Posted by sunshine23
Telstra has the best coverage around australia

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Cheers Sunshine23. I take it that it would be no problem picking up a Pay-as-you-go Sim Card once we arrive?

Darren
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Old Jul 25th 2008, 2:31 pm
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Default Re: Best mobile provider for travelling...

Originally Posted by dave99
Doesnt really make mch difference to be honest,

<snip>
Would you say that all providers have equal cover Australia-wide?
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Old Jul 25th 2008, 3:16 pm
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Default Re: Best mobile provider for travelling...

Originally Posted by aus2be_OH
Would you say that all providers have equal cover Australia-wide?
No. In some areas you can get Telstra coverage, in some Optus. Cities are OK, but if you are going away from the main centres you may have problems. If you have a phone each pick up to Prepaid (pay as you go) cards - one optus and one telstra, that'll give you the best possible range though you still will get black spots.
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Old Jul 25th 2008, 3:46 pm
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Default Re: Best mobile provider for travelling...

Originally Posted by Pollyana
No. In some areas you can get Telstra coverage, in some Optus. Cities are OK, but if you are going away from the main centres you may have problems. If you have a phone each pick up to Prepaid (pay as you go) cards - one optus and one telstra, that'll give you the best possible range though you still will get black spots.
Seems like very sound advice Pollyanna. Many thanks...

Darren
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Old Jul 25th 2008, 3:55 pm
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Default Re: Best mobile provider for travelling...

Yes, dont bother with 3 they acknowledge that their coverage is basically metropolitan.
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Old Jul 25th 2008, 8:27 pm
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Default Re: Best mobile provider for travelling...

Telstra have hands down the best coverage for travelling by road. Look at the coverage maps for Vodafone, Optus etc and you will notice that basically its metro areas and major highways. Anything out of that and expect nothing.

However, Telstra know this and its the only reason they are still in business mobile wise I suspect. Because although Optus, Vodafaone, 3 and Virgin will offer great deals on prepaid (PAYG) wiht say $49 giving you $250 of call credit, Telstra basically give you nothing other than the value of the money you put on your phone so $49 = $49.

They a rip off without a doubt, but if you want to travel then you are a bit buggered. The only other way to do it is to sign up to a Telstra 12 month contract on cap plan. $49 will give you $200 credit every month which is much better. A word to the wise though, only certain handsets can operate on the NextG network which operates on a frequency unique to Telstra at 850. Most 2G & 3G handsets will operate at 2100 which is OK for cities and major highways, off that and you wont get Telstra reception if you handset isnt compatible.

You dont have to get your handset from Telstra to work, just make sure its one of the few which operate on that frequency. You can look at the Telstra website to see the models which are NextG compatible.
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Old Jul 27th 2008, 10:50 am
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Default Re: Best mobile provider for travelling...

I work for a mining services company and Helstra Next G is the only network with wide enough coverage. They are a f*in rip off and get away with it because no one else has the coverage at the mines.

Originally Posted by aus2be_OH
Hi Guys,

We are going to travel around as much of Oz as possible in a camper before we settle down to "normal" life (mortgage, jobs etc...) and I was wondering which mobile provider would have the best overall coverage?

We will both be using Uk bought, unlocked phones.

Cheers guys..

Darren
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Old Jul 28th 2008, 1:20 pm
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Default Re: Best mobile provider for travelling...

Mmmm....alot of food for thought there guys. Thanks for the tips. We hopefully won't be using the mobiles too much. Possibly just to call ahead and check camp site availability, emergencies etc... We'll be keeping in touch with people via email etc..

Might be worth getting Telstra for best coverage then. If I get a pre-pay do I have to keep topping up each month or just whenever the credit runs out?

Darren
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Old Jul 30th 2008, 8:12 am
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Default Re: Best mobile provider for travelling...

Originally Posted by aus2be_OH
Mmmm....alot of food for thought there guys. Thanks for the tips. We hopefully won't be using the mobiles too much. Possibly just to call ahead and check camp site availability, emergencies etc... We'll be keeping in touch with people via email etc..

Might be worth getting Telstra for best coverage then. If I get a pre-pay do I have to keep topping up each month or just whenever the credit runs out?

Darren
Remember to get NextG and not GSM if you go helstra. GSM coverage is mainly in towns and major roads.
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Old Jul 30th 2008, 8:16 am
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Default Re: Best mobile provider for travelling...

Telstra cover 98.9% of Australia which is the best avaliable. You say you are bringing phones from the UK this will not guarentee the 98.9% of coverage as you need a 'Blue Tick' handset - Different handsets = better coverage this is ideal for rural areas
http://www.telstra.com.au/mobile/net...e/maximise.cfm
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Old Jul 30th 2008, 10:58 am
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Default Re: Best mobile provider for travelling...

Originally Posted by IvanM
Remember to get NextG and not GSM if you go helstra. GSM coverage is mainly in towns and major roads.
Originally Posted by emmyjc1
Telstra cover 98.9% of Australia which is the best avaliable. You say you are bringing phones from the UK this will not guarentee the 98.9% of coverage as you need a 'Blue Tick' handset - Different handsets = better coverage this is ideal for rural areas
http://www.telstra.com.au/mobile/net...e/maximise.cfm
Thanks Guys....
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