outback internet

The Next-G network is the only network you will find in most of those areas, so yes I think you will have to bite the bullet.
I have found their customer service of late to be really great, just my observation.

Watch the lead as they have the best coverage.

Cheers

Steve

Telstra, the others don't exist out there. You even get full 3g at some of the road side rest stops on the main roads. The internet speed is way better with Telstra nextg as well. Mike

Do you want internet every day or just occasionally. If you want internet every day, satellite is the only way and set up is expensive and i don't think you'll get prepaid. See Internet on the move. Otherwise Telstra Next G will give you reception when in or within 20 flat kilometres of a town. I don't use prepaid and have an antenna to put on caravan roof to boost reception chances. On the link given, scroll up to the links for Telstra and Optus coverage maps and you will see what i mean.

Motherhen

Last year did the similar trip to Alice and I was with vodaphone. I got it in Dubbo, MT Isa and Alice. Oh might have got in Lightening Ridge but I don't think so.

Unfortunately telstra only way to go. Amazing where you do get it with telstra.

Looks like the bullet needs biting

Inish

Mate,
I dislike Telstra with a passion, but guess what my prepaid phone and internet stick are with Telstra, I wear it or I don't get reception.

Pity we paid for all the cards as we the taxpayers paid for it, then sold off and other telcos can't use it.

Just do it, at least you will have something you can use,

RA.

I don't know anyone who lives over the great Divide who use anything but Telstra. Some major towns as mentioned may have Voidaphone or Optus, or ithey are a fly in fly out Miniing site but they are useless more than 10km from the town.

As bad as Telstra's customer service may be, at least it's there.

Telstra/Bigpond is the only one to go with...as all the other replies have stated. I have found their customer service and tech help prompt and excellent when I have needed it during the last couple of years with no long waits in queues as used to be the case.

I have a mobile wireless broadband 'Ultimate' USB which is my only internet connection, using it at home and when travelling. The latest USB sticks have a stronger antennae than earlier ones too, as I found when I upgraded mine from a Blue Maxon one a few months ago. I no longer need to use an external antennae to get a good signal.

Telstra has by far the best coverage of any of the providers however it doesn't work everywhere.

Cheers,

Heather

does anyone have any more information on those internet sticks for internet? How does it work - ???

Thanks everyone, looks like its them or nothin, ah well

Having just returned from a 6 week trip to the Kimberley, I couldnt fault Telstra. I have an OziExplorer file which shows me where all the Telstra towers are, so it made my trip really pleasurable. I was quite surprised where I did get coverage, as a lot of the aboriginal communities and some of the mines have towers close by.

Every time we run 4WD trips, we have people on the other networks. They sit and stare at their phone screens hoping for a signal, while I just keep going with my Telstra coverage.

As for customer service, they all have their faults. Having accounts with other telcos, I have found that they all have their good days & their bad days with their assistance.

BTW, not sure what the current cost is with pre-paid, but I love my $10 add on for my post pay account. I get 1GB of data per month, which is fine for my travelling needs, and I can easily get another 1GB if I go over in a month for another $10. I think this is good value.

Laurie

Telstra is so far in front with coverage its a joke to use anyone else. You may not like em BUT they are Australian owned. Vodafone, optus, 3, virgin etc.etc. ...all overseas companies . Guess where their profits go! Customer service has improved a hell of a lot. Still have trouble understanding some of the different dialects of their customer service staff at times! Virtually every large town in OZ has coverage via Telstra.

To do some research, go to http://ozcamps.net/test/tvstations2.html, click on the Next G link, type in your town, radius and number of stations. When you hit the return key you will get a map of all the cell centres.

The TV Station link (default) will give you the analogue stations.

another plug for Telstra's coverage - if anybody wants to follow the train line from Glendambo in SA to the west, you'll get Telstra's 3G

cheers
bb