GaryKelly wrote:

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Funny innit. Most people go camping to get away from it all hehe. Caravans and motorhomes have names like escape, adventurer, outback, getaway, etc, and yet many of us, like me, can't do without our phones and laptops and battery chargers.

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 I am  a woman travelling alone it would be stupidity for me to be out of contact with others.

Also i rarely meet other campers and my net friends are my companions.   They are my life line.

My way of life cannot be compared to people who go 'camping' for a short time. I am not on holiday this is my way of life and some things are necessary.

when i did that i never worried about communications either.

There are two other reasons I need signal

My son with disability likes to phone me each day.....he is the only family i have.

The other reason is if I fall and break something I need a link to get help.

When you finally get out here you will realise how vast the distances can be.

I am also going to get a GPS finder beacon which is something weekend/holiday people have never even heard of. 

Dawa

Gerty Dancer wrote:

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Very wise Dawa... being on your own brings a responsibility for your safety that few people realise.
I remember bushwalking on my own in an isolated area of Wadbilliga NP, twisted my ankle, and realised how silly I was to be there with no means of contact at all. It was a good lesson.

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 I don't want people having to search for me.   I also want to be in contact with my son and my net friends.     I am never lonely or bored because of my craft and internet.

Good to hear that someone does understand the need for communications when we are actually out here doing the nomad thing

Dawa

jules47 wrote:

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Agree totally - we need to be in communication - never know what can happen out there - and the beacon thingy is a good idea Dawa -

We call the "holidaymakers" Weekend Warriors!!!!! Of course, that is why a site like this Grey Nomad is great - newbies can learn so much - of course whether they take it in or not is another question.

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 ROFLOL

Dawa

_wombat_ wrote:

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if you do not have a signal and find yourself in trouble look for a vechicle with a HF radio, has a large ariel and ask them to contact the radio base and get some help, it is part of the licence to help other people in distress, there is always somebody to help on the road.

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 well yes that is true.

However i think we need first to help ourselves and not camp in isolated places with no signal.

Maybe a vehicle won't come for days......then I would be up the proverbial creek   LOL

Dawa

GaryKelly wrote:

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dawa wrote:

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Good to hear that someone does understand the need for communications when we are actually out here doing the nomad thing

Dawa

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 Did I sound like I didn't understand?

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 Yes you did......

But i am a cranky exhausted old woman today.

Dawa

Sheba wrote:

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Personal GPS is definitely something I will be getting when I go on the road long-term.

Cheers,

Sheba.

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 Yes it is essential especially if you do the Nullabor and west coast.

I think it needs to be mandatory.....especialy for o/seas visitors who hire the campers.........and get them selves lost

Dawa

Dawa,

You might try heading back along the river between Narrandera and Darlington Point. Maybe even Hay. A few places listed with phone signal in CAW6. I like a spot at Euroly Bridge but there is no phone according to CAW. Its also a water ski spot. But try some of the others.

msg wrote:

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Dawa,

You might try heading back along the river between Narrandera and Darlington Point. Maybe even Hay. A few places listed with phone signal in CAW6. I like a spot at Euroly Bridge but there is no phone according to CAW. Its also a water ski spot. But try some of the others.

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 some of the places i stopped the camps book said signal and this was not so.

other campers had different servers and none could get on.

i would love to stay on the rivers ....that is my first choice but my son may need me soon

I would live the rest of my life around the rivers if i could do so.

might even learn to fish 

Dawa

 

msg wrote:

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Yes I like the rivers too. Spent a lot of my younger days there. You often have to pass through farms to get to the river. So, talk to the locals. Also if they know you are down by the river, they will look out for you.

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 do they still do that?

I was told bad campers and being worried about being sued if we injure ourselves has stopped most land owners letting us in

Dawa

Dawa if you wish to go where there is no signal for your phone etc there is a couple of options to look at.

1. Look at getting a external aerial that is larger than normal. For the old Testra modem you can use the old CMA phone aerial. Bit expensive but works a treat by getting a signal where normally you would not.

2 the EPERB can only be used in a situation of life or death and then only as a last resort. There is an option that you may consider to widen your camping options to look at a satellite phone. This can be subsidise with a government subsidy when you will be out of regular phone contact for 180 days in two years which you WOULD be LOL.

With the sat phone I believe anyone can ring you at a normal mobile cost but is about 80c to $1.20 per 30secs. Even though expensive you will only use it when out of contact with normal phone and when you really need it then money does not count. You can also get a data pack

I am planning to go where there is no communication for several months shortly and have been looking at the options re EPERB and sat phones. I have the big aerial for the internet.

For the EPIRB if you check BCF they have a special on a small portable EPERB that you can carry on your belt like a mobile. if you enter this number 271034598656 in Ebay search box you will see what I am talking about priced at the moment at $370.46 Buy NOW price.

Glad to see you are still enjoying yourself.

There are many sites around you just have to look around.

Have you tried Google Earth to find a spot before you move as that is what I use to fond the little spots that are not normally used but when you look you can see where people have been camping there and have left their little tell tale signs HEHE Don't tell anyone else how to do this and the others on the forum will not remember WILL YOU.

Regards
Brian

The aerial can be purchased at any GOOD communication store, not your dick smiths but one that does proper radio work for trucks and mines etc. I think it was about $300 with a pivot point but I think it is worth it. It is the one used for the CMA old telstra phones, but is only good for older modems, not suitable fro the new G4.
The sat phones are good when you are out of contact as all they need is to be able to see the sky. most also have a GPS alarm you can press the same as an EPIRB. Not sure exactly how they work but I am looking. Not sure if I really need one as I have no one to call anyway LOL.

I am not young either but I suppose my old brain absorbs this stuff easier than many.

I usually look for spots where they turn around and tracks that have create when they go in and out. Follow a river near where you want to stay and then when you see an area that looks promising then follow the track back to the main road and then get the bearings or an idea and then follow it in. I have found many like that.

Regards
Brian

blaze wrote:

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dawa wrote:

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Sheba wrote:

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Personal GPS is definitely something I will be getting when I go on the road long-term.

Cheers,

Sheba.

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 Yes it is essential especially if you do the Nullabor and west coast.

I think it needs to be mandatory.....especialy for o/seas visitors who hire the campers.........and get them selves lost

Dawa

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 the nullabor and the west coust highways could never be clasifield as isolated , trucks 24/7

cheers blaze

ps understand your lack of comunication concerns

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 Sorry guys.  I said the wrong thing back there.  I was meaning an EPIRB.  Had a seniors moment when I posted originally though, and couldn't think of the right term.

Cheers,

Sheba.

beiffe wrote:

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The aerial can be purchased at any GOOD communication store, not your dick smiths but one that does proper radio work for trucks and mines etc. I think it was about $300 with a pivot point but I think it is worth it. It is the one used for the CMA old telstra phones, but is only good for older modems, not suitable fro the new G4.
The sat phones are good when you are out of contact as all they need is to be able to see the sky. most also have a GPS alarm you can press the same as an EPIRB. Not sure exactly how they work but I am looking. Not sure if I really need one as I have no one to call anyway LOL.

I am not young either but I suppose my old brain absorbs this stuff easier than many.

I usually look for spots where they turn around and tracks that have create when they go in and out. Follow a river near where you want to stay and then when you see an area that looks promising then follow the track back to the main road and then get the bearings or an idea and then follow it in. I have found many like that.

Regards
Brian

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 Fining a spot isn't as hard as finding a spot with signal......that is the difficult one

Dawa

Dawa, do you have an iPad or iPhone?

there is a free app for both called wikiCamps and that show a lot for free camp sites and also has a icon showing if a site has a Telstra signal, it show a purple icon with a large T, maybe that will help you find a site with a signal.