Internet & Outback
Submitted: Tuesday, Jan 08, 2013 at 10:58
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Maxine C
Any recommendation of what is the best option for internet in remote areas. Particularly interested on something that does not cost and arm and a leg.
Reply By: member - mazcan - Tuesday, Jan 08, 2013 at 11:15
Tuesday, Jan 08, 2013 at 11:15
hi maxine c
my advice is if you aren't with telstra then before leaving change to telsta based reception as its everywhere the other companies are hit and miss and dont have the broad coverage that telstra has most minesites use telstra
im not connected with the telstra company or engaging in selling their products just a very happy customer who has proved they have the best system in the many arears that i have travelled using optus and telsta based mobile phones side by side
as for the best and lastest eqiupment to have i'm sure others will give that advice in due course
cheers
barry
AnswerID:
501989
Reply By: Peter E10 - Tuesday, Jan 08, 2013 at 16:33
Tuesday, Jan 08, 2013 at 16:33
Hi Maxine- We travel to the northwest of WA regularly and I use a Telstra blue tick iPhone, (4 S) pre paid which gives me phone wherever there is reception. My wife's phone is a non blue tick jobbie (HTC Wildfire) and after about 5 k's out of towns, it is useless. I also use a Telstra Wireless 3G modem with my laptop which is ok. I also buy $30 pre paid vouchers for it. In WA, any further north than about
Carnarvon and Telstra is it really. I buy $30 vouchers from Coles or Woolworthjs simply because you get the fuel vouchers with them and if you are travelling, any fuel discount is worth getting.
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Reply By: Herbal - Tuesday, Jan 08, 2013 at 16:43
Tuesday, Jan 08, 2013 at 16:43
It seems that most people are suggesting Telstra.
My suggestion would be to get a pre-paid modem (unlocked). Then you can use a sim from which ever gives the best service at the time.
Telstra is no better than any other provider...It just happens to have a lot of customers that are also share holders ! Think about it. Most, not all, but most other providers rent Telstra equipment to provide their service.
I live just outside Nowra, a large south coast city. Telstra on mobile, both phone and web is almost a non event. When I lived at Moss Vale, only about 5 years ago, I waited 9 months for Telstra to put an internet signal on my LANDLINE. But that is nothing, my neighbour had been waiting 4 and a half YEARS. I never did get my Telstra internet there as I moved back to the coast. Telstra's given reason was that Moss Vale is considered by them as "remote".
At the and of the day, not enough people have objected to the way these so called "service" providers opperate. Imagine if you went into say a car sales yard and paid for a car and the salesman said 'sorry, even though you have paid for a car, we don't have to provide you with the car but we will keep your money anyway'.
Well that is how these "service" providers work. Not only that, but infact YOUR representatives, the Government, have introduced LAWS allowing these companies to take your money and not be under any obligation what so ever to provide any sort of service!!!
When Telstra REFUSES to provide a paid for service at locations like Moss Vale and Nowra outskirts, what hope do you think there is for say...mmm..
Shady Camp?
AnswerID:
502024
Follow Up By: Member - eighty matey - Tuesday, Jan 08, 2013 at 22:04
Tuesday, Jan 08, 2013 at 22:04
When you head "just about" anywhere west of the Great Divide it has to be Telstra (I hold no shares at all).
We travel with two other couples regularly.
We have a Vodafone account and it's useless west of Moree, until
Alice Springs and then only good for
Darwin,
Broome and
Kununurra.
Another couple have an Optus number and it's hit and miss nut mostly miss.
There's a Telstra 3G which is hit and miss.
My mate does a lot of remote work and he's had Telstra Next G since it started and was often on the phone where I thought phones wouldn't be possible.
By far the best is Telstra Next G. We have bought a cheap one for $25 and top it up. We were in contact more than we ever have before. Even picked up signal halfway down the Tanami Rd near the Tanami
Mine, so we made calls, received and sent texts and the wife updates her Facebook status.
That's our story.
Hoo roo,
Steve
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: mikehzz - Tuesday, Jan 08, 2013 at 23:11
Tuesday, Jan 08, 2013 at 23:11
I don't like saying it out loud, but Telstra's mobile internet is so much better than the others for coverage and speed it's not worth looking at the others. I've been with all the main 3 providers, no contest at all. Not a shareholder either.
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778430
Follow Up By: mikehzz - Tuesday, Jan 08, 2013 at 23:15
Tuesday, Jan 08, 2013 at 23:15
And Optus and Vodafone have their own mobile service towers separate from Telstra.
FollowupID:
778431
Follow Up By: Member Andys Adventures - Wednesday, Jan 09, 2013 at 00:22
Wednesday, Jan 09, 2013 at 00:22
You can get Telstra service 5 klm out of
shady camp. Was their last year and made several phone calls and checked my emails on the internet. So you do have hope Herbal.
Andy
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Reply By: Motherhen - Wednesday, Jan 09, 2013 at 00:16
Wednesday, Jan 09, 2013 at 00:16
Hi Maxine
Firstly where are you going, and how long will you be in a remote area? Do you need internet every day?
If you need internet daily and are going remote, you will need Satellite internet. We travel with Telstra Next G with antenna but carry a satellite phone when remote for emergencies. I coped with two or three weeks at maximum without internet when touring. Three weeks when in the
Kimberley would have been the longest time.
You are welcome to email me at westnet.com.au if you would like information about satellite
services or mobile network coverage.
Motherhen
AnswerID:
502081
Follow Up By: Maxine C - Wednesday, Jan 09, 2013 at 08:29
Wednesday, Jan 09, 2013 at 08:29
We are heading up the
Birdsville into QLD and then along the west QLD roads to the coast, following the gulf to
Normanton, across to the coast and then to Wepar. We will zigzag back south from coast to inland and back so not worried about that area.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Motherhen - Wednesday, Jan 09, 2013 at 14:28
Wednesday, Jan 09, 2013 at 14:28
Hi Maxine
Although i have not been through the entire area, you would not be away from towns for long periods so Next G should give you coverage most days. As we prefer to camps away from towns and in National Parks, i sometimes prepare emails so we can stop in the town we are driving through during the day to
check and send emails, do banking or other internet based requirements. Next G coverage usually extends for around 20 kilometres around the town in relatively flat terrain. With the antenna which is can place on the caravan roof depending on the terrain this can be extended with a week but usable signal outside of this radius.
I have in an emergency prevailed upon at station to use their internet at their station store/fuel outlet - they were a very helpful family.
Mh
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