I am in need of a new phone and would like a "Blue Tick" unlocked Android system phone, for country travel.
Not one bit interested in Apple product.
Bonus if I could find one that has a RF port for a external Ariel.
Have had good successes with Samsung, last mobile phone was a Motorola which served me well but it had some short comings, no compass for one.
Looking forward to audience's thoughts.
Gundog said
03:56 PM Jun 26, 2023
Hi Radar the problem these days is not many phones are submitted to Telstra for blue tick rating/testing.
The number 1 thing you should look for is it must have Band 28 the 700Mhz frequency, band 28 will transmit about 20 kms further than band 5 the 850Mhz Band.
The other thing to consider choosing a phone that is 5g also, there are more and more regional areas getting 5G rolled out, only downside is about up to 1km then 5G slows to similar speds to 4G. Some of the 4G bands are now being redesignated 5G.
As for an external antenna plug I think they are becoming very rare, a passive patch pad attached to an external antenna, have a look at telcoantennas.com.au, generally the patch pad your phone sits on it and it is passively connects to the antenna.
yobarr said
04:09 PM Jun 26, 2023
Radar wrote:
Hi All.
I am in need of a new phone and would like a "Blue Tick" unlocked Android system phone, for country travel.
Not one bit interested in Apple product.
Bonus if I could find one that has a RF port for a external Ariel.
Have had good successes with Samsung, last mobile phone was a Motorola which served me well but it had some short comings, no compass for one.
Looking forward to audience's thoughts.
Hi Ralph. This is an excellent phone which has worked all over Australia, with the help of my CelFi Go set up
. Although some/many phones claim Blue Tick I am reliably informed by an independent phone supplier that nowadays "Blue Tick" means little to nothing. Good luck. Cheers
Hi Ralph. This is an excellent phone which has worked all over Australia, with the help of my CelFi Go set up
. Although some/many phones claim Blue Tick I am reliably informed by an independent phone supplier that nowadays "Blue Tick" means little to nothing. Good luck. Cheers
Yobarr, The blue tick given to phones is only after testing by Telstra and certified by them, the phone manufacturer can't claim a 'Blue Tick'.
The phone you put up is a Telstra phone.
As a side issue, the ACCC blocked the teaming up of TPG and Telstra because Optus complained.
Telstra has the towers in the bush, TPG has all the Spectrum which would have meant full coverage in the bush/outback if it had been approved.
What phones have the blue tick?
As of 2022, the most recent line up of Telstra Blue Tick phones include:
Samsung Galaxy A51.
Samsung Galaxy Note10+ 5G.
Samsung Galaxy Note20 5G.
Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G.
Samsung Galaxy S20 5G.
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G.
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G.
Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G.
yobarr said
07:12 PM Jun 26, 2023
Bobdown wrote:
yobarr wrote:
Hi Ralph. This is an excellent phone which has worked all over Australia, with the help of my CelFi Go set up
. Although some/many phones claim Blue Tick I am reliably informed by an independent phone supplier that nowadays "Blue Tick" means little to nothing. Good luck. Cheers
Yobarr, The blue tick given to phones is only after testing by Telstra and certified by them, the phone manufacturer can't claim a 'Blue Tick'.
The phone you put up is a Telstra phone.
As a side issue, the ACCC blocked the teaming up of TPG and Telstra because Optus complained.
Telstra has the towers in the bush, TPG has all the Spectrum which would have meant full coverage in the bush/outback if it had been approved.
What phones have the blue tick?
As of 2022, the most recent line up of Telstra Blue Tick phones include:
Samsung Galaxy A51.
Samsung Galaxy Note10+ 5G.
Samsung Galaxy Note20 5G.
Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G.
Samsung Galaxy S20 5G.
Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G.
Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G.
Samsung Galaxy S20+ 5G.
Thanks Bob. Next time I see the Telstra man that I spoke with I will let him know he has given me wrong information! Cheers
Radar said
07:26 PM Jun 27, 2023
Hi All.
After some time chasing, talking, it is not easy buying a mobile phone when your main priority was a mobile phone to make phone calls.
I have settle on a Rugged Phone S61 Pro. 6gb ram, 128gb storage, Android 12, 6 inch screen with a blue tick and unlocked.
A couple of phones recommended, I found were unavailable at the moment and sellers wanted to much information before selling.
My preference was a Samsung product, their cheaper blue tick one was unavailable. The prices for there so called better models were over the top for me as I make very limited calls and did not need all the extra young ones need.
My new S61 is better then my existing phone in specs and slightly small, the battery makes it a bit heavier but I do need the exercise to carrying it.
I am looking forward to using the S61 in the field when we leave for Atherton Tablelands early July and returning via Aramac, Dunns Lake in August.
Thank you Everyone for your time and thoughts. Radar
Radar said
08:52 AM Jun 30, 2023
Update on my Doogee S61 from the Rugged Mobile phones in Melbourne.
Ordered on-line Monday at 3.30p.
Delivered at 4pm Thursday to Brisbane.
Battery charged ready to go, excellent.
Spent about hour transferring my phone numbers and data across, so easy.
Now have a Compass and GPS including a couple of others J could not do with my previous phone.
Seems to be enjoying more reception strength and that is what I was hoping for.
Very user friendly.
I think I am in love with this phone.
jegog said
08:40 PM Sep 10, 2023
I read yesterday that HUAWEI has just released a new 5G phone which doesn't include USA patent components.
Waiting list is very long and growing.
dorian said
07:44 AM Sep 11, 2023
I wouldn't trust any Chinese telecommunications company, nor would I purchase an Apple product.
Are We Lost said
10:52 AM Sep 11, 2023
dorian wrote:
I wouldn't trust any Chinese telecommunications company, nor would I purchase an Apple product.
Ditto
Gundog said
01:06 PM Sep 11, 2023
Just my two bob's worth re blue tick, generally a blue tick phone is tested suitable for rural area's, band 28 is the 700mHz frequencies which give greater range.
Update some urban areas are having some 3g and 4g bands including band 28 being rolled out as 5g.
dorian said
02:23 PM Sep 11, 2023
I couldn't find an official document that laid out Telstra's methodology for Blue Tick testing, but here is their lab as it was in 2012:
Warwick Taylor, radio technologist with Telstra, is referred to internally as the "Hand of Telstra" as he is responsible for holding the device during the testing process. Goonan said it wasn't possible to replicate the effect a person has on their mobile antenna using anything other than an actual human hand.
"In this world, we haven't yet to be able to find a fake hand. We haven't been able to simulate using a human hand better than using a human hand. I'm not sure what we're going to do when Warwick decides to retire."
Try these tips to get the most out of your Telstra Blue Tick phone.
Hold your phone as loosely as possible. Try not to grip your phone too tightly when you're on the edge of coverage. Your hand essentially absorbs and almost blocks part of your phone's signal. Engineers call this a detuning effect.
It seems to me that the difference between getting or not getting a blue tick might depend on how Warwick is feeling on that particular day.
Does Telstra suspend Blue Tick testing for 4 weeks when "The Hand" goes on holiday?
-- Edited by dorian on Monday 11th of September 2023 02:44:39 PM
Hi All.
I am in need of a new phone and would like a "Blue Tick" unlocked Android system phone, for country travel.
Not one bit interested in Apple product.
Bonus if I could find one that has a RF port for a external Ariel.
Have had good successes with Samsung, last mobile phone was a Motorola which served me well but it had some short comings, no compass for one.
Looking forward to audience's thoughts.
Hi Radar the problem these days is not many phones are submitted to Telstra for blue tick rating/testing.
The number 1 thing you should look for is it must have Band 28 the 700Mhz frequency, band 28 will transmit about 20 kms further than band 5 the 850Mhz Band.
The other thing to consider choosing a phone that is 5g also, there are more and more regional areas getting 5G rolled out, only downside is about up to 1km then 5G slows to similar speds to 4G. Some of the 4G bands are now being redesignated 5G.
As for an external antenna plug I think they are becoming very rare, a passive patch pad attached to an external antenna, have a look at telcoantennas.com.au, generally the patch pad your phone sits on it and it is passively connects to the antenna.
Hi Ralph. This is an excellent phone which has worked all over Australia, with the help of my CelFi Go set up
. Although some/many phones claim Blue Tick I am reliably informed by an independent phone supplier that nowadays "Blue Tick" means little to nothing. Good luck. Cheers
Thanks Bob. Next time I see the Telstra man that I spoke with I will let him know he has given me wrong information! Cheers
Hi All.
After some time chasing, talking, it is not easy buying a mobile phone when your main priority was a mobile phone to make phone calls.
I have settle on a Rugged Phone S61 Pro. 6gb ram, 128gb storage, Android 12, 6 inch screen with a blue tick and unlocked.
A couple of phones recommended, I found were unavailable at the moment and sellers wanted to much information before selling.
My preference was a Samsung product, their cheaper blue tick one was unavailable. The prices for there so called better models were over the top for me as I make very limited calls and did not need all the extra young ones need.
My new S61 is better then my existing phone in specs and slightly small, the battery makes it a bit heavier but I do need the exercise to carrying it.
I am looking forward to using the S61 in the field when we leave for Atherton Tablelands early July and returning via Aramac, Dunns Lake in August.
Thank you Everyone for your time and thoughts. Radar
Update on my Doogee S61 from the Rugged Mobile phones in Melbourne.
Ordered on-line Monday at 3.30p.
Delivered at 4pm Thursday to Brisbane.
Battery charged ready to go, excellent.
Spent about hour transferring my phone numbers and data across, so easy.
Now have a Compass and GPS including a couple of others J could not do with my previous phone.
Seems to be enjoying more reception strength and that is what I was hoping for.
Very user friendly.
I think I am in love with this phone.
Waiting list is very long and growing.
Ditto
Just my two bob's worth re blue tick, generally a blue tick phone is tested suitable for rural area's, band 28 is the 700mHz frequencies which give greater range.
Update some urban areas are having some 3g and 4g bands including band 28 being rolled out as 5g.
I couldn't find an official document that laid out Telstra's methodology for Blue Tick testing, but here is their lab as it was in 2012:
https://www.zdnet.com/google-amp/home-and-office/networking/telstras-mobile-testing-lab-in-the-spotlight/
Warwick Taylor, radio technologist with Telstra, is referred to internally as the "Hand of Telstra" as he is responsible for holding the device during the testing process. Goonan said it wasn't possible to replicate the effect a person has on their mobile antenna using anything other than an actual human hand.
"In this world, we haven't yet to be able to find a fake hand. We haven't been able to simulate using a human hand better than using a human hand. I'm not sure what we're going to do when Warwick decides to retire."
I wonder how loosely Warwick holds his phone.
https://www.telstra.com.au/mobile-phones/blue-tick
Try these tips to get the most out of your Telstra Blue Tick phone.
Try not to grip your phone too tightly when you're on the edge of coverage. Your hand essentially absorbs and almost blocks part of your phone's signal. Engineers call this a detuning effect.
It seems to me that the difference between getting or not getting a blue tick might depend on how Warwick is feeling on that particular day.
Does Telstra suspend Blue Tick testing for 4 weeks when "The Hand" goes on holiday?
-- Edited by dorian on Monday 11th of September 2023 02:44:39 PM