Member - Captain (WA) replied:

Hi Jeff

I am with Optus CDMA in WA and its actually the Telstra network that Optus uses. Even the phone powerup message has Telstra come up. So, simply go with whoever gives you the best deal, as you will be using the same network regardless.

Cheers

Captain

T-bone replied:

Try Orange too. Same deal - once you are out of the Orange network coverage (only in the east coast cities I think), you roam on the Telstra CDMA network. Spent a couple of months travelling around outback SA / WA / NT last year, and had much better coverage with the CDMA phones than we did with the digitals...

BTW, I do drive a V8 Rangie, and I'd kill for $2 per minute running costs! :-)

Dave from Fraser Coast 4WD Club replied:

unfortunatley, phones (any network) with an external aerial jack are becoming very rare.

apparently we all want cameras and polycrappy ringtones, rather than good coverage.

bruce replied:

Have just got a Hyudai tx60b on the Telstra network ..on $20 mth plan , $10 worth of calls ,.. "my free hr" per day..heard that the the free hr is to end on 8th sept for new connections...the phone can be hooked up to a computer , have not gone into the setting up of it in detail yet but it seems pretty good...probably worth checking out...cheers

Uppy - Member replied:

Hi Jeff,Nothing wrong with the 4800!!!!!!!!,Josie and i use a Telstra no much coverage away from the main high ways
uppy the 4800 lover

stevesub replied:

We have 2 mobiles, a Telstra Pre-pay CDMA for country coverage and a Vodafone GSM on account for normal usage incl international calls and global roaming for when we are overseas (2 or 3 times a year). Will be changing the Telstra CDMA for Orange or something else when I have used the credit up as Telstra is too expensive (could take a while as the phone is only for emergencies).

Also have a UHF CB and will be getting an EPRIB and a Sat Phone shortly before we do much more in the outback.

Stevesub

Member - Brian (WA) replied:

hi Jeff
I was with Optus once.Was heading out to Yamana 120 km east of Laverton.
The story is I left a piece of equipment back in perth. When i found out in
Leonara. Optus would not work or the public call boxes were smashed up to call my mate who
was coming up a week later to bring this part with him. It was in Laverton
where i found a public phone working. I am now with Telstra CDMA It Works
for me
Brian

Member - Jeff M (WA) replied:

If anyone us interested, Telstra are doing Motorla t730 phones for $0 on a $50 plan, no repayments off the phone it is actually free and you get the car kit for $49, and that's a real car kit, not a cheap crappy pretend one, offer is only valid for today and tomorrow as it is being changed on the 8th.
We have gone this way, the phones are hard to find as they are sold out almost everywhere, however ours is comming in today. Then all it is going to cost is about $130 for the high gain spring base antenna.

We are happy with the call rates vs optus and alike, these are just my observations, not affiliation with Telstra.

So in short, anyone who is interested in going CDMA, do it today or tomorrow and you'll get a good deal.