Optus coverage up around Wilpena Pound

The Optus coverage map shows nothing past Hawker on the trek up to Blinman. In my experience one thing you can say about all coverage maps - Optus included - is that they are invariably optimistic. On that basis I'd venture you will be SOL.

One key thing to always bear in mind with cellphone coverage is the installed frequency bands vs the bands in your mobile device. To that end I often employ a search tool which details installed capability.

Telstra do show coverage at WP. Unable to ascertain their exact site, so it doesn't lend itself to band disclosure via OzTowers.

at the risk of stating the obvious why not just give them a call and ask ?

Hi Chris

The only real reliable mobile phone coverage away from the big smoke is Telstra.

Many complain about Telstra, but they seem the only guys to bother about phone coverage away from big towns.

We have stayed many times in Wilpena and Telstra offer 100% coverage for both mobile phone and wireless internet.

Same as Birdsville, you can get 2 bars from Telstra on Big Red. You can tell who is using Telstra on top of Big Red and those that only wished they had Telstra.

I live in country South Australia and many of the big phone Providers are tollally useless in many country areas with the exception of Telstra.

You may oy dearer for Telstra, but at least you know will will have phone coverage compared to no service at all from others.




Cheers




Stephen

WiFi is available in public areas and charges are applicable

Thanks all. It's pretty much what I thought. Nope.

It's unfortunate my work is moving me off telstra when they are. Think I'll get a telstra prepaid sim and divert my number to it.

I've used telstra in the past up that way without issue.

Hullo ChrisGU

My mobile is with Optus, my tablet with Telstra and I also carry a cheap ($48) mobile (T96) from Telstra with a prepaid ($70/year) sim when I am out of range with Optus.

Over the last 4 years we have traveled around NW and central WA, the NT, outback Qld and outback NSW plus frequent trips into the Vic High Country.

Generally Optus has give us the mobile coverage we needed and in situations where it was not available, we used the Telstra mobile. In some areas we have received Optus coverage and no Telstra, but it has more often than not the other way around. Sometimes a mining operation will have an Optus service way out in the donga and the mobile picks it up with a message notification.

In my experience, talking to customer service is problematic with both suppliers, with Optus slightly in front by a nose!

With respect to the Flinders, the last time we were up that way, Optus cut out at the first major saddle north of Hawker on the main Leigh Creek Road. If you were to climb St Marys Peak, you may get a signal :-)

If you intend to do a lot of remote travel and are supplied with an Optus mobile, you may wish to do as we did and invest in the cheap Telstra phone.

Oh, btw, people who have bought plans from a supplier that uses either Telstra (eg Southern) or Optus (Amzim?) need to be aware that these plans are for city or major regional areas use only, with more rural towers blocked.

Cheers
Andrew

If you get up high enough you are a chance. We were at Rawnsley Park Station in August and if you climbed the hill behind the camping park it was possible to get reasonable reception on Optus. And your exercise for the day. On a similar theme, don't rush into buying Wi-Fi access from the caravan parks as you pay up to $10 an hour and even with Telstra can struggle to get anything downloaded in that time as it is so slow.