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General => General Discussion => Topic started by: Hodgies on February 18, 2014, 08:05:46 AM

Title: Mobile reception in the gulf?
Post by: Hodgies on February 18, 2014, 08:05:46 AM

Hi all,

Just wanting some clarification on how mobile reception is up in the gulf. Or did you have a satphone?

We are going from Mt Surprise through to Mataranka. ( We are following basically the footsteps of McGirr and friends)

Appreciate any feedback.

128 sleeps to go.

Title: Re: Mobile reception in the gulf?
Post by: HEM19X on February 21, 2014, 06:25:52 AM

Mate, provided that you are with Telstra AND have a phone that is "country usage" [stronger signal reception] you can usually get a signal in the towns.

That said, I wouldn't rely on it if you are travelling alone, Depending where you are, you can hire a sat phone cheaply rather than fork out $$$'s on buying one...

Have a great trip.

Title: Re: Mobile reception in the gulf?
Post by: Barra on February 21, 2014, 06:33:17 AM

Depends how quick you travel around the Gulf. At most you will a couple of days out of service with the 3G network. If you go up to Lorella Springs there will be no service at all.

Sat phone hire is not cheep, I inquired at Alice Springs to hire a phone, $20 a day for a 3 week desert trip.

Title: Re: Mobile reception in the gulf?
Post by: MattNQ on February 21, 2014, 10:02:24 AM

These maps are handy - also show how much an external antenna helps.
 
Through that country, Telstra has bases at all the bigger towns, plus Century Mine
http://www.telstra.com.au/mobile-phones/coverage-networks/our-coverage/ (http://www.telstra.com.au/mobile-phones/coverage-networks/our-coverage/)

Optus has made a token effort.   ;D
https://www.optus.com.au/network/mobile/coverage (https://www.optus.com.au/network/mobile/coverage)

Vodafone....yeah don't bother.
http://www.vodafone.com.au/aboutvodafone/network/checker (http://www.vodafone.com.au/aboutvodafone/network/checker)

Title: Re: Mobile reception in the gulf?
Post by: muzza01 on February 22, 2014, 06:52:18 AM

Besides any major town, don't count on any coverage. I had a look on the Telstra map that Matt provided a link for, I think Telstra have seriously got their hand on it. They have  hugely overegaduated the distance of their reception towers.

Title: Re: Mobile reception in the gulf?
Post by: MattNQ on February 22, 2014, 08:29:07 AM

Yes, I should have qualified -those maps are usually best case only. Reality is you won't get that much coverage.  Those cells typically decrease coverage as traffic increases ,  plus up in that country you get fading, particularly over those black soil plain areas. On the edges you might get a text through but can't call.

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Title: Re: Mobile reception in the gulf?
Post by: Hodgies on February 23, 2014, 02:07:07 PM

Thanks all for your replies.