Best mobile provider for travelling...
#1
In Perth & Loving it...
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2008
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Posts: 539
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
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
#2
In Perth & Loving it...
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2008
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Posts: 539
Re: Best mobile provider for travelling...
Anyone....?
#3
Re: Best mobile provider for travelling...
Telstra has the best coverage around australia
sunshine23
sunshine23
#4
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
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
#5
In Perth & Loving it...
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2008
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Posts: 539
#6
In Perth & Loving it...
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2008
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Posts: 539
#7
Home and Happy
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Keep true friends and puppets close, trust no-one else...
Posts: 93,787
Re: Best mobile provider for travelling...
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.
#8
In Perth & Loving it...
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2008
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Posts: 539
Re: Best mobile provider for travelling...
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.
Darren
#9
Re: Best mobile provider for travelling...
Yes, dont bother with 3 they acknowledge that their coverage is basically metropolitan.
#10
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.
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.
#11
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,555
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.
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
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
#12
In Perth & Loving it...
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2008
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Posts: 539
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
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
#13
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 4,555
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
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
#14
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 587
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
http://www.telstra.com.au/mobile/net...e/maximise.cfm
#15
In Perth & Loving it...
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2008
Location: Perth, Western Australia
Posts: 539
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
http://www.telstra.com.au/mobile/net...e/maximise.cfm