Telstra "T100" phone ..... no longer available ....

Good to know Joe

Same thing with the Samsung flip style pre-paids that I like , the C5220 which has an Antenna port is being cleared at $59.

Have one as a spare and always carry.

The Telstra Tough 2 (T54) also takes an external antenna. They don't mention it in their description on the website but it's there. I bought one a couple of weeks ago and it has a plug on the back just next to the camera lens. This takes the same plug as my wife's old Telstra phone (ZTE model), which we got when CDMA was phased out.

Joe,
I hope they don't phase out all the phones that can directly connect to an antenna. I am right for the moment as I have a new spare Samsung A411 sitting there for when my old one dies. Just hope I can still get batteries for them.

As you say the antenna helps no end in low signal areas.

Have a good trip,
RA.

Joe,
the T90 is readily available, is pretty well waterproof as well. Patch leads are readily available for them as well.
regards

I live rural and have a BlackBerry with Satan that has a passive patch lead (not with a plug), that is hooked to my antenna on the roof of the house (magnetic base to go on the car also) and that gives me 3 extra also to a full rack. I have found when hooking in to my Satan's NextG Internet toggle (using the same size plug as a phone) that the female connections end up damaged due to their minute size. There is quite a range of phones suitable for rural livers or travelers that can hook onto an antenna to get the reception. Worth their cost.

Yep the T90 has good reception and external antenna. I bought one as a second, "travelling" phone.

They have been as low as $29 at coles and are still available at Telstra shops service stations, Disck smith etc.

Great little phone. The voice prompts are a bit anoying though.

Hi J n M n kids,
Yes they are a good phone when they are working. Mine died about a month ago at 14 Mths of age.
Took it to a Telstra shop in Emerald and they could not get it to fire up. Advised that it could be sent away to be repaired but had no idea what it would cost.
I decided to purchase the newer model (Model T54) it also has the Antenna plug and is every bit as good as the T100.
Cost around the $420.00 mark.
Duke