Next G - external aerial

Phillip,

Which model ZTE phone do you have and how long have you had it? Is it any good? Would you buy another one?
I am just about to go back to Telstra for rural coverage and am trying to gleen info on these ZTE phones.
Thanks, Ian

Philip
Thanks for that. I bought the aerial and a patch lead from my local Telstra shop. They didn't mention the "flimsy" side, or that I should have an in-car kit. Franchisees I suppose, not interested in the product, only in the sale. I haven't been away since I bought it, so haven't had the opportunity to test the system. But we are leaving next week for 11 weeks in the Outback and the Kimberley. I know I am only going to get very patchy reception, but I was hoping to broaden the field, at least slightly.

teege

I have a ZTE 165i....it's only problem is I can not use it as a modem when using my new computer with windows 7.

Mine is an old 252 flip phone, bought 05/2007.
I have been quite happy with it except it uses a lot of power with the battery only lasting 2-3 days.
I had to buy another battery a couple of weeks ago . Was terribly expensive at $12 or so including postage.

Just a word about high gain antennas. Unless you have a very good ground plane you will be able to hear a conversation but the the other end will not hear you.

I had a 7DB CDMA antenna on a gutter mount and this happened quite often in hilly country.
I have now switched to a 4 db tiny antenna in the middle of the roof after snapping the 7DB on a low building entrance, and in and out perfromance is more balanced.
Regards Philip A

My ZTE165 works as a modem with Vista and XP haven't tried Windows 7..? Is that what you are saying..? 7 is the issue.

Yep, I can not get Windows 7 to work on my ZTE so have cancelled it untill I get my EeePC back/XP Pro

We had one the same and I agree that the induction antenna made very little difference. However, some friends of ours had a later model cradle with a direct connection antenna and that certainly was much better than ours.

We have now switched the the Telstra Discovery (ZTE T7) with a high gain antenna directly connected, but have yet to try it out. Guy at work has one and even without the antenna, he was most impressed on his last trip out bush.

The antenna also fits in the Telstra broadband dongle.

Cheers
Gerry

I have the same phone with an extermal broomstck aerial, and i gain an extra 3 or 4 bars with external aerial pluged in.