Telstra have the best coverage and 4G seems to be able to use the phone as a modem so internet where there is coverage you get the net.One bill not two.
Others will give their input based on their own experiences but Telstra do have the best coverage.
There is also a safety net phone to consider.
Satellite phones subsidised for travellers by the Govt
I believe there is a company at http://www.toxictech.com.au where you can get a subsidised refurbished satellite phone for around $130
100% coverage of Oz.
There are other companies like campersat also
I have one, not from toxictech with a prepaid $100 which expires in two years.
The calls are not cheap but as an emergency aid ,invaluable.
Works out around a dollar a week over the two years to have the peace of mind that you can call from anywhere in an emergency.
Hope this helps
Safe Travels
-- Edited by Yuglamron on Sunday 6th of May 2012 04:38:33 PM
mr ed said
11:10 PM May 6, 2012
Hi everyone,
We are looking at going on the road in a couple of months - just sorting everything out at home can we have your ideas of a phone on the road re coverage etc all around oz....??
Dougwe said
11:55 PM May 6, 2012
Telstra NextG is the best cover and go for a phone with the "Blue Tick" as it get extra cover, usually they have two internal antenna's.
I have just today updated from my Nokia N95 to a iphone 4s, both "Blue Tick".
Not sure if the iphone 4s can be used as a modem though, I didn't know about that.
billeeeeeee said
01:03 AM May 7, 2012
Howdyeeeeee Nomads,, on a quiet day , I use smoke signals,,, windeeee day , not much good,, tryed Optus,,smoke signals better, but Telstra is about the best,,,sooooo c u out there in the play ground (Aussie),,,,,,,Billeeeeee
Ditto Ditto Ditto............Telstra 4G blue tick.
Landfall said
04:13 AM May 7, 2012
I'm going to go out on the other limb.
The best phone? The one that doesn't work, unless you want it to work.
One that never rings when you are fishing, having a quiet candle light dinner, watching your favourite TV show, etc. You get my drift?
Otherise it Telstra NextG network.
Dusty
milo said
05:33 AM May 7, 2012
i think iphones you can use them as modems called "tethering" you have to check with your carrier...
billeeeeeee said
11:03 AM May 7, 2012
kandagal wrote:
Billeeeee What's with the impossible Alice - I'm an Alice. Cheer
Howdyeeeee K, Have Alice, Madhatter, on back of My van .Nothing is impossable if you Belive .....stay excited , might catch U out there in the play ground........Billeeeeeeee
-- Edited by billeeeeeee on Monday 7th of May 2012 11:13:48 AM
Billeeeee What's with the impossible Alice - I'm an Alice. Cheers
villatranquilla said
05:19 PM May 7, 2012
look for one that will take an external aerial - I sometimes have internet (via external aerial) where I don't have mobile coverage but unfortunately my phone doesn't have a plug for aerial connection - damm it
jules47 said
06:08 PM May 7, 2012
kandagal wrote:
Billeeeee What's with the impossible Alice - I'm an Alice. Cheers
Think about it -from the book.
kandagal said
07:14 PM May 7, 2012
Yeah I realised if was from the book Jules & I do live in Wonderland - another name for Oz. Say hi if you see me out in the playground Billeeee. in Cairns at present. Cheers to all
Esmeralda said
01:05 AM May 8, 2012
Telstra next G with a blue tick
Fried Rice said
03:01 AM May 8, 2012
villatranquilla wrote:
look for one that will take an external aerial - I sometimes have internet (via external aerial) where I don't have mobile coverage but unfortunately my phone doesn't have a plug for aerial connection - damm it
We have been very happy with ZTE T100 bought early 2011 for our trip around the block from April to October. I think the low price (under $50) included USB connector and "Join Me" software. It has a connectiom point for external antenna, we bought antenna with magnetic base but used it only rarely.
I continue to use it as my everyday phone in preference to all the tricky smart phones etc
FR
Smokeydk said
04:24 PM May 8, 2012
I have Telstra next G with a blue tick..............pretty useless actually.......wont work 5klm from home...and I'm close to Adelaide....as others said I too will be looking for a model that can take a external arial...
PeterInSa said
04:10 AM May 10, 2012
Bought a ZTE (Telstra) T100 today from Woolies as a back up, as FR said above is blue tick has aerial connection and can use as a modem to link laptop/desktop to the Net, Using that setup now. With Big T, 1Gb of data for $10 turn on/off any time
All for $19 with a $10 call Sim card included.
Peter
Fried Rice said
09:38 PM May 10, 2012
Well done.. I believe you'll find that's the best deal you'll do this year!
FR
cannylass said
11:18 PM May 10, 2012
We used to have a optus one and enen under a tower never got a signal so we bought the teltra next G and never had a problem
briggspc said
05:28 AM May 11, 2012
Only one way to go, Telstra Next G and a Iphone4 does the lot and I mean the lot, info, internet,photos,all those smart apps to use on the road.
Good luck.
Pam said
04:15 PM May 11, 2012
Dougwe wrote:
Telstra NextG is the best cover and go for a phone with the "Blue Tick" as it get extra cover, usually they have two internal antenna's.
I have just today updated from my Nokia N95 to a iphone 4s, both "Blue Tick".
Not sure if the iphone 4s can be used as a modem though, I didn't know about that.
Dougwe , on your iphone go to settings. Does it show personal hotspot? Turn that on and your wi-fi and you can use it to link to another device such as a laptop if it has wifi as well. There is a passcode shown on the iphone that you put into the computer.Just remember to keep a check on your data usage.
RnD Drifters05 said
05:11 PM May 11, 2012
We have telstra ZTE100 with blue tick and big car aerial but we have still been in places where it does not work. We are looking at a Sat phone for emergency as we are on the road full time.
Well Mr Ed.
Lots of answers to what seems a simple question.
Telstra have the best coverage and 4G seems to be able to use the phone as a modem so internet where there is coverage you get the net.One bill not two.
Others will give their input based on their own experiences but Telstra do have the best coverage.
There is also a safety net phone to consider.
Satellite phones subsidised for travellers by the Govt
I believe there is a company at http://www.toxictech.com.au where you can get a subsidised refurbished satellite phone for around $130
100% coverage of Oz.
There are other companies like campersat also
I have one, not from toxictech with a prepaid $100 which expires in two years.
The calls are not cheap but as an emergency aid ,invaluable.
Works out around a dollar a week over the two years to have the peace of mind that you can call from anywhere in an emergency.
Hope this helps
Safe Travels
-- Edited by Yuglamron on Sunday 6th of May 2012 04:38:33 PM
Hi everyone,
We are looking at going on the road in a couple of months - just sorting everything out at home can we have your ideas of a phone on the road re coverage etc all around oz....??
Telstra NextG is the best cover and go for a phone with the "Blue Tick" as it get extra cover, usually they have two internal antenna's.
I have just today updated from my Nokia N95 to a iphone 4s, both "Blue Tick".
Not sure if the iphone 4s can be used as a modem though, I didn't know about that.
Howdyeeeeee Nomads,, on a quiet day , I use smoke signals,,, windeeee day , not much good,, tryed Optus,,smoke signals better, but Telstra is about the best,,,sooooo c u out there in the play ground (Aussie),,,,,,,Billeeeeee
The best phone?
The one that doesn't work, unless you want it to work.
One that never rings when you are fishing, having a quiet candle light dinner, watching your favourite TV show, etc. You get my drift?
Otherise it Telstra NextG network.
Dusty
-- Edited by billeeeeeee on Monday 7th of May 2012 11:13:48 AM
Think about it -from the book.
Telstra next G with a blue tick
We have been very happy with ZTE T100 bought early 2011 for our trip around the block from April to October. I think the low price (under $50) included USB connector and "Join Me" software. It has a connectiom point for external antenna, we bought antenna with magnetic base but used it only rarely.
I continue to use it as my everyday phone in preference to all the tricky smart phones etc
FR
All for $19 with a $10 call Sim card included.
Peter
Well done.. I believe you'll find that's the best deal you'll do this year!
FR
Good luck.
Dougwe , on your iphone go to settings. Does it show personal hotspot? Turn that on and your wi-fi and you can use it to link to another device such as a laptop if it has wifi as well. There is a passcode shown on the iphone that you put into the computer.Just remember to keep a check on your data usage.