Mobile Phone Coverage

It would have to be Telstra Next "G" given the wind down of CDMA.

I think next "G" is the way to go but I have just come home from the Telstra shop a bit disapointed. I have a "Maxcard" for my laptop and it has given me good service although a little slow and was led to believe that it would be changed over for free to the new service.....not so. I have been quoted Telstra Turbo Card for either $400 plus for purchase and then onto a $29.95 casual plan, gives 200mb. per month or on the "drip" system 24 month plan @ $59.95 per month. I am thinking that old Sol is determined to make a profit this year. I don,t know how the phones work yet but others will.
Cheers, Nev.

There's no doubt Telstra's Next G with an external antenna is your best option. Failing that CDMA I would have thought. I tested the Next G network last few days 120KM's offshore on a remote island and I got coverage in places Telstra thought I wouldn't. Very impressed. Buy your cheapest plan and use the phone wisely if your concerned about your budget, check your detsinations via the Next G coverage Map, if they aren't covered then perhaps HF and VHF radios.

As others have said, if you want coverage outside the main cities, you have a choice of one.... 3G.
Nokia don't yet make a 3G handset. Can get handsets from ZTE, LG, Motorola or Samsung.

Hi Red Up

I think others have outlined the direction to go , but there is no time against your plans , and a cheap CDMA is still fine for this year, and some pre-paid can be picked up for almost nothing 2nd hand.

Just when and where Next-G will be better than CDMA this year is a bit undefined but I wouldn't expect much from either on the Gibb river road.

Robin Miller

PLEASE go with Telstra. They are BRILLIANT. You will LOVE THEM. DON'T GO ANYWHERE ELSE.

Yes, I do own currently almost worthless Telstra 2 shares.

NextG phone is best bet.

For budget concious the ZTE 850 is the basic phone in NextG range and is available free on $20 plan per month with some include calls.

Something I found out too the other day is that the ZTE 850 (the lowest cost NextG phone) and the JASJAM PDA (the most expensive NextG phone) are the only ones in the range so far that have a hard connection for external antenna. All the rest either have no provision for external antenna or work on the "proximity coupler" devices that are much less efficient.

So if you are on a budget and want the phone for just a few calls with maximum coverage area my advice is a ZTE 850 on NextG with and external antenna.

REMEMBER though that if you are going to remote country ie: 50km outside any town of less than 1000 people, a mobile phone will be useless and you should have a sat phone or HF or be travelling with someone who does.

Cheers
Muddy

Red up
You say you are looking at HF, what's better than that, except maybe Sat phone???

Then you say you are on a tight budget!!!

I think you need to understand that if you want the best, you may have to pay for it mate.

Sat phone or HF are the best. The rest is compromise.
On Patrol.

Check out Telstra on line red up. They are offering phones free as usual 'on a plan' for their new wonderful 3G and nextG, so we can all watch the cricket or whatever at mobile phone prices, log onto the Internet, and take movies. Maybe someone somewhere will invent a gizmo that you can just use to ring your family and friends, like in the good old days there was something called a telephone.

Anyway greydemon - those Telstra shares are slowly creeping up - just need to jag the best time to sell 'em - anyone got a crystal ball? (Got mine in float 1 so I'm better off than those who bought in float 2.)