Phone coverage on Big Red

Hi Kev
When I was reading the Westprint Friday Five today, it had the following press release from Telstra.

Mobile Phone reception for Birdsville Races

Part of a press release from Telstra

If you’re about to hit the road and head to Birdsville for the famous races next month, don’t forget to pack your Telstra Next G™ mobile phone because the town now has its first permanent 3G mobile service. It will provide coverage to the town and surrounding areas, extending outwards in a radius of approximately 20 to 30 kilometres.

This would explain why we had phone coverage. Having said that it was only on the high parts of Big Reg and not in the hollow on top where most people part their vehicles.

Cheers

Stephen

At least Telstra has made it permanent, I was worried you had caught the temporary one LOL

Cheers Kev

Hi Stephen,

When we were there in late May, did not have Telstra, we had to use our Optus mobile.

Must be a new service.

Cheers,
John

Hi John
We could not believe it when we gave it a try. It is now reassuring to know that it could help you out in times of trouble.

Cheers

Stephen

OPTUS setup a temporary site at the races last year and after a great response they decided to make it a permanent site, not sure if telstra had coverage but if they didn't then they're probably playing catchup.

Site Link

;-))

Hi Brett
This is the first time that we have had a try. As I do not use Optus, I can not comment.

Cheers

Stephen

Hi Ed
Thanks for the link, very interesting.

Cheers

Stephen

That is strange as when I was on top of Big Red in July there was no coverage at all and I am using Telstra and 3G.

Hi Vernp
I could not say how long it has been working out there, but was definitely working last Saturday 21st August 2010.

Cheers

Stephen

Vernp
3G is not Next G.

.

Hi blue one
I have also phone years ago with the HF, but my older Codan does not have the new facilities.

We have using HF now for over 18 years.

Cheers

Stephen

I have a 8525A and can phone home with a Jenal SC2 microphone.

Hi Pete
I have an 8525, but still have the original microphone and can not make the phone call now, where as before I made them via the RFDS

Cheers

Stephen

You need one of these:

Image Could Not Be Found

The your old 8525 will have full SELCALL/TELCALL capability.

Jenal SC2

Although the website says they are discontinued a lot of HF shops still have them around. I picked up mine on Ebay for $160 and when Electric Bug set it up for me the mentioned they still had one or two in stock. Lake MacQuarie Communications also sell them.

New they are expensive and you would have to balance the cost of the SC2 and what you could sell your 8525 for against the cost of say a second hand 9323 or even an older 8528 series.

Still the 8525 seems bullet proof and mine still works just fine.

I liked your Simpson photos on the other posts. We are off up north on the 11th of September for 3 weeks. The plan was:

Coober Pedy - Painted Desert - Oodnadatta - Dalhousie - William Creek - Halligans Bay - Maree - Cooper Ferry - Birdsville -Cordillo Downs - Innaminka - Gammons - Chambers Gorge - Flinders.

Now we are going to head off anyway and see what is open when we get up there. If NE SA is too wet we will head up to the Territory instead.

Cheers

Pete

Hi Pete
Thanks for that and have a great trip and keep dry.

Cheers

Stephen

The plan is to get rained in somewhere about 2 1/2 weeks out.

I already have the custom message programmed into my Spot2 to be sent to my work mates email:

"Blocked by floods. Will be at least 1 week late back. Suffer in your jocks. Pete"

Cheers

Pete

Hi Pete
Get a Telstra Mobile and keep the number secret from your work. LOL

Cheers

Stephen

Mate I have Vodafone...it means you can camp almost anywhere. I'm in Tamworth for the weekend and no signal. How pathetic!

I look on the poor coverage as a benefit. I am on call 24/7 but most people who call me are on about non urgent problems taht could wait until the next working day.

I enjoy the peace. For those who need th get me there is VKS737 and the codan.

Cheers

Pete

Hi Flynnie
Have a read of the link that Ed has supplied, it is very interesting. The service is Satellite Fed 3G Service and it is the first town in Australia to use this service.

Cheers

Stephen

Hi Joe
I do not give out my mobile number, so I do not have to escape all those unwanted calls. I use it very sparingly and just handy to use when needed. I know that most times you are never alone out at Big Red but who knows, it could save some ones life one day.

Cheers

Stephen

A few years ago I was at wallaroo rock wich is 70km NW of Coolgardie and I reieved a phonecall from my mum in SA saying Grandma was close to death and she was flying straight off to England


so wile phones are often a novelty or PITA in the never never sometimes they come in handy

hence i now own and carry a sat phone, dont care how much it cost and dont listen to all the arguments about HF ect ...

Hi Ruth
To me the most stunning was still the amount of water out at Big Red, we have seen it wet before but that volume of water leaves one for words. There must be thousands of budgies right across the Simpson and we have never seen and heard so much bird life. The way people were talking about the wild flowers, yes they were great but we have seen better displays in the Simpson from memory in about 2003.

All the best to you and Ian and I hope is OK

Regards

Stephen and Fiona