Iphone reception on Next G in rural areas.

1) My wife had a 6120 and I had an iphone for a while, both with telstra. We did a bit of touring around qld last year and found them fairly similar in coverage. I was expecting the 6120 to be a lot better but it wasn't significantly better. We did not have a cradle.
3) You can certainly use the iphone as a modem via a usb connection. It works quite well and is easy to setup. I'm not certain about bluetooth. Best place to look for advice is the whirlpool iphone forumhttp://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum/128?&p=1

I'd like to hear of experiences with cradles/antennas for the iphone.

Apple calls it Internet Tethering:

Site Link

I bought the Cellnet inductive cradle and patch lead but haven't used it yet. Inductive is all that's available.

There's a recent thread on all this somewhere.

I would say the Iphone 3GS is good in rural areas, I have had enough reception to get an SMS through when other phones couldn't. I'm not sure that the inductive antenna would help a lot. I also have a Telstra 165i Rural phone with pull up antenna and patch capability, it is the emergency phone if you like and only cost around $150 on Ebay 2nd hand, I have a long life pre paid Next G sim sitting in it so I don't have to swap simms from the Iphone, so far so could haven't had to use it yet, however going 150KM's offshore next week and plan to test them both

Here goes The Iphone is not as good as a 6120 by a long shot.

My wife is using my 6120 since I got the Iphone and can have several bars when the Iphone has only 1.

Make sure the Iphone has NEXT G enabled more battery usage but better reception

I have a Carcomm cradle with an inductive aerial and this makes a significant difference to both phones.

Get the Carcomm here

http://www.ow.com.au/shop/iPhone-Car-Accessories-Car-kit-holders/Carcomm-Apple-iPhone-3G-In-Car-Mobile-Phone-Cradle

Cost $129 + $10 post

It works on all frequencies as its the aerial not the cradle that makes the difference

I have an RFI multiband aerial which works on 850-900-1900-2100mhz

So will pick up anything that available Cost $129 at a Telstra shop Dont pay more some are dearer

Basically the Iphone is a City phone as thats where the yuppies are.

Force and Kressell now make leather cases with a spring clip for the Iphone as well

Got a force at Target for about $10



Cheers

I've just ordered the Apple iPhone 3G S Bury Comfort Car Kit with External Antenna which is $89.90 including postage.

I'll let you know how it goes.

Unfortunately, data with Telstra is fiendishly expensive. $59 a month for 1 GB datapack on the phone. The same 1 GB is $39 if you use a wireless modem - go figure!

God help you if you go over the limit.

Even thats outrageous compared with other providers. 1 GB from 3 is $15 a month (including the USB modem).

Its hard to know what to do. I use the Telstra SIM card in the satphone, and have to pull it out and put it in the iPhone for local calls and using the phone as a modem. I could get a separate 1GB plan for the modem, which will mean an extra 1 GB data, and no more swapping SIM cards - is it worth $40 a month?

I hate Telstra.

Hi I have been using the 6120 for 2 years as a modem on the laptop, no extra ariel, works all over australia ( where we have been ), only have used it in townsmostly but works great anywhere you have a signal ( most places) .
Mate used the same setup on his trip and I was talking to him on Skype at Undara Lava Tubes.
It has bluetooth as well but I find it quicker to just plug in the cable and open Nokia PC suit , and you are on in 10 seconds.
I just have a data pack from Bigpond the $10.00 for 150 meg seem s ample for normal use when travelling.
Cheers Des.
ps, just got the new 6720 seems good connects the same way,

Boobook

The Bury cradle arrived yd.

It is a very well made unit, and the phone connects easily and securely.

I have an iPhone 3G. In the cradle I get 4 bars, out of the cradle 3 bars (in the driveway at home). The antenna is a dipole about 15 cm long that sticks to the windscreen. Its on a 2.5m cable. With the phone cradled and charging there is no access for an extra USB cable so tethering has to be via Bluetooth. Its a pity they don't put a USB port on the cradle.

I can't find the specific frequencies covered but as it is designed specifically for the 3G I am certain it covers frequencies relevant to the phone.

Bury brochure.

It matches the cradle I have for the satphone, which has proven to be robust and effective.

At $79.95 USD its looking like a bargain.

Bob