telstra coverage

Hi Mal B

I live in northern NSW near the coast. I am about 1.2 kms from the nearest Telstra mobile tower but live on the opposite side and just below the ridge line from it.

If we wish to have mobile service, we have to leave the interior of our home and go to an outside spot. Telstra installed a directional antenna on my roof and I get great coverage but I am 'chained' to the cable. However, it does give excellent mobile service. I have an in car kit fitted with a 'broomstick' antenna for great coverage.

The worst part is we live in sight of an Optus tower and Telstra have told me when they get the 4G installations done they will then look at blackspots. There are about 200 people down hill from me that have no service from Telstra. There was a 'NIMBY' group opposed to the Optus tower but they already had mobile coverage. As I travel a lot, Optus is not a choice for mobile provider in remote areas.

Anyway, if you need mobile service in your home, the antenna is better than nothing. Just ensure your mobile can be plugged into the cable and not just passively connected as that is not very good.

Good luck.
DW

I don't understand these things too much but why cannot Telstra put their thingy on the Optus tower??????

G'day Mal B
I have a Telstra Zte ( blue tick phone ) and an aerial in the caravan and car. Without the aerial the range is a little better than my wifes I phone. With the phone plugged in to the aerial it almost doubles the range. The higher the aerial the better the signal and this actually plugs into the back of the phone. Have been told that the passive type aren't too good, but no actual experience with that.
Cheers
Joel

Hi Mal,

You said you were in plain site of an optus tower but need telstra for your daily travels.
Have you thought about a dual sim mobile - telstra for when you travel and optus for when you are at home. Optus (Boost) have a prepaid service with unlimited calls to any mobile/landline in the country for only $40 /month. And yes as a general rule both Optus & Vodafone have crap reception - Telstra is the only real choice for travel
cheers
Andy