bezzanbob

Folks,

We are validating our visa next week and will be in Oz for about five weeks.

Two questions:

We have two unlocked phones - Apple 3GS and a bog standard Samsung bought in Oz a few years back. Any recommendations about which company to go with? Not going far off the beaten track - essentially just travelling Sydney to Cairns.

Secondly we have a two year old Vodafone USB mobile broadband modem. Do the new USB modems offer any advantage or are the new packages any better?

Your input would be much appreciated

Bezza

Pollyana

Vodafone mobile broadband coverage is pretty patchy, you might be better off with Telstra, specially once you get away from the cities. Same with the phones - I'd avoid vodafone, go for optus or telstra, and if you ahve two phones i recommend that one get one of each, gives more complete coverage then

Icecube

The down side to using 2 different networks is that you may miss out on special deals when there are low cost (if not free) calls between numbers on the same network. Assuming you only want 2G services Telstra would give the best coverage but I am not sure they would provide the best value deals.... the price to pay for the coverage / large number of towers to provide that coverage.

GarryP

From a 3G standpoint, a UK phone is likely to be 900/2100, whereas Telstra is 850/2100. So you wouldn't get coverage except where you'd get Vodaphone coverage anyway.

Better to go with the Optus network, since that uses the 900/2100 frequencies that you have. It's not a widespread as the Telstra NextG network, but it will give better service for your phones. Personally I'd say get a Virgin Mobile SIM - works on that network, gives you data, and you don't have to deal with the poor customer service of Optus.

And although Sydney to Cairns shouldn't be considered off the beaten track, it IS as far as the poor state of Australian mobile coverage is concerned:

Nice Guy

Avoid Vodafone completely.

Very poor coverage, very inconsistent, terrible customer service, over charging on bills all the time.

Has been dubbed Vodafail in Oz.

www.vodafail.com

PaulandNic

Seconded!

Vodafone are best in the UK, but certainly not here.

Telstra is the ONLY way to go if you want to be able to actually use the phone. Pisses all over all the other networks with coverage AND data downloads. We've tested Telstra, Optus, and Vodamoan and web pages / downloads fly with Helstra compared to others ...

bezzanbob

Thanks guys - looks like it's the Telstra store for me.

Bezza

jorgon

How about Amaysim?
The sim worked perfectly in my unlocked UK Phone, you top up either online or in store, and you can buy the sim at 7/11, Coles, Woolworths etc which are everywhere and the call charges were much, much cheaper than Telstra.

PaulandNic

But what network do they use?

Anything other than Telstra's network aint worth the agg, no matter how cheap the deal is.

jorgon

Well what they say is:-
On their website they provide a map so you can see if there is coverage in your area. I've always had a good signal. I've travelled with the phone around Brisbane, Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast.

PaulandNic

Work colleague is with Optus and trust me it's a diff league from Telstra.

Next time you're with someone who's with Telstra, and in an ideal world the same phone (our case as all have iPhone 4's). Run some tests. Open webpages, tab from pages. DL some files and watch the DL speeds. Google Earth loads new pages in less than a seconds, and mate with Optus takes easy 3 - 4 seconds to do the same. Other on Vodafone comes off worst to Optus, but 'in our experience' Telstra seriously pisses over the rest.

Let alone when I have signal and they don't ...

I'm a phone tech and curse Telstra OFTEN, but credit where it's due! ...

Pollyana

I hate Telstra when it comes to customer service, but i agree with you here. Using my iThing, which is Telstra, as opposed to the phones and blackberries we have at work, that are Optus, the difference at times is staggering, Tlelstra is sooo much faster.

PamE

Telstra customer service is the pits, if you run into issues you will be done for.
Vodaphone has a shocking reputation with regard to coverage.
Optus has exceptional customer service and from what I know, great coverage. For sure I'd pick Optus. Enjoy your trip

bezzanbob

Bizzarely my Vodafone Huwaei connection is up and active after two years of no use so we will wait and see.

Writing this from Coogee Beach and will pick up two sims from Optus/Telstra tomorrow.

Many thanks all.

Bezza

Pollyana

Enjoy the trip