Online Healthcare Support while you travel the Outback (Front Story)
Happywanderer said
11:57 AM Apr 15, 2011
Has anyone read the latest front story. The medical profession are worried about the thousands of grey nomads travelling in the outback without medical support. Said it is becoming quite a worry. So they have come up with this marvellous idea of an Online Healthcare Support the grey nomads can register with, log into and keep in touch with the health profession if the need arises.
Only trouble is how hard is it to get good reception in the outback to be able to log on??
Travel Bug said
03:48 PM Apr 15, 2011
I read it Marj and it is a great idea...but...I agree with you re: reception problems.
_wombat_ said
04:39 PM Apr 15, 2011
heading from WA to Victoria, using Camps 5 for site numbers, just to give an idea of the lack of coverage coming across the Nullabor
Site 26 WA = 10 mile rock no Telstra or Optus coverage
Site 16 WA = Domblegabby Rest Area no Telstra or Optus coverage
Site 8 WA = Boolaboola Rest Area no Telstra or Optus coverage
Site 665 SA = Yalata Rest Area no Telstra or Optus coverage
Shelly Beach Caravan Park Ceduna = a last coverage for both Telstra & Optus
Gerty Dancer said
05:08 PM Apr 15, 2011
Looks like a brave new world for the future... in the meantime, we carry on as we have been with patchy coverage!
billy the kid said
10:00 PM Apr 15, 2011
G'DAY wOMBAT, AT THE RISK OF BEING HOWLED DOWN AGAIN, IT WOULD NOT BE ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE FOR TELSTRA TO ERECT TOWERS ACROSS THE NULLABOR.IE; LITTLE OR NO POPULATION.
Zoomtopz said
07:02 AM Apr 16, 2011
But , Billy , WE Want More Erections telco towers , that is .
Ya don't have to be on Nulla - We got heaps a trees & we got no coverage from
Cootz to A/dale - from Armidale , they call it th Grafton Rd - from Grafton , we call
it th Armidale Rd , so from Coutts Crossing to 3 k nth of Armidale rd 180kliks , no
coverage .
Richo
Delta18 said
10:21 AM Apr 16, 2011
billy the kid wrote:
G'DAY wOMBAT, AT THE RISK OF BEING HOWLED DOWN AGAIN, IT WOULD NOT BE ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE FOR TELSTRA TO ERECT TOWERS ACROSS THE NULLABOR.IE; LITTLE OR NO POPULATION.
Don't shout Billy & you won't get yelled at.
It should be "relatively" cheap to do it as the towers are already right across the Nullabor, the old disused Microwave Comms towers. They would just need the antenna bit on the top.
Something does need to be done, even though there is an Emergency phone every 5 or 10 kms.
Cheers Neil
-- Edited by Delta18 on Saturday 16th of April 2011 11:14:20 PM
Happywanderer said
01:35 PM Apr 16, 2011
Even a lot of the area up through the Newell has poor reception. Its roughly 100ks between towns and even with my Telstra mobile I can't get reception betwen those towns. Should say that was two years ago, it might have improved by now. This article said the outback so that is anywhere in Aus were nomads travel.
Cruising Granny said
09:32 PM Apr 16, 2011
There are the beaten tracks and major highways, but what about the Strez Track, Birdsville Track, Simpson etc. There are travellers out there every day the roads are passable. Many of them have satellite phones and 2-way radios which can be used to call for help. What did they do before mobile phones? There are rescue helicopters in all states, in major cities and regional centres, which also work with the Royal Flying Doctor Service. As we've learned recently, there are ways of dealing with emergencies outback. There are roadhouses at least every 300 kms, even on the central highway between Alice Springs and Leonora, and most Aboriginal communities have resident medical staff. I'm not worried about getting sick anywhere in this country.
jonathan said
01:41 AM Apr 17, 2011
.. I have two mobile phones .. one with very good coverage and one which suits communication from cities and large towns. On the average I may use a phone once every 3 or so weeks .. so they are usually turned off !
However, I am daily in touch with my friends from the East Coast to the West Coast via HF Radio .. That just happens to be my choice .. this internet contact is another preferred choice (when available) ..
As stated previously, there are so many folk out there that can and will help someone in trouble .. and don't forget that we HF Radio enthusiasts (many of whom are ham licenced) are also permitted to operate (under extreme life threatening emergencies only) on other frequencies that are outside our licenced areas .. to get that help when needed !
Jon
(currently in Broome, WA)
Vic said
03:28 AM Apr 17, 2011
Even with the main small or larger places you only have coverage on either side for a limited distance (about 45kms I think, can't recall). Going across the top was the same, none in most rest/free camps, had to wait to get in or near a town. Nullabor Road House has Telstra coverage by the way. I made all my calls in towns/roadhouses along the way most of which had coverage, but of course once you went away from them zero, not much good in an emergency. I carried a hand held HF two way so at least I could contact passing travellers or truckies if I had an emergency etc in between.
Where are you staying at Broome Jonathon and if in a caravan park what are they charging?
jonathan said
09:11 AM Apr 17, 2011
You're quite right too Vic .. I think that many folk (myself included) also refrain from asking for assistance when its really needed. Its good to know that there is that help readily available if we are prepared to ask for it.
I'm staying at the Roebuck Bay CP which is quite a pleasant spot .. ocean views etc .. etc .. but costs are quite high .. its the Easter period ! .. $202.00 per week - powered.
I was hoping to meet up with some friends in Broome, but I found out yesterday from them that due to more heavy rains in Darwin that they now will have to defer travel for another month .. and as I have long been one that will not travel over the Easter holidays, I gotta pay their prices ..
But its a great place to be .. and enjoying it ..
Jon
Vic said
12:18 PM Apr 17, 2011
That's not too bad for up there John, less than $30 per day by my calculation. That park has a good reputation from RV'ers too. Last year I bypassed Broome but stayed at the new Roebuck Bay Roadhouse caravan park (at the road junction to Broome/Perth) I think that was about $30 a night for one night.
Things could be worse in "Paradise". The silly season will be there soon (June/July), the traffic in Broome is worse than Pitt Street in Sydney (or Parramatta), lol! I couldn't believe last time I was there they had traffic lights !
Has anyone read the latest front story. The medical profession are worried about the thousands of grey nomads travelling in the outback without medical support. Said it is becoming quite a worry. So they have come up with this marvellous idea of an Online Healthcare Support the grey nomads can register with, log into and keep in touch with the health profession if the need arises.
Only trouble is how hard is it to get good reception in the outback to be able to log on??
I read it Marj and it is a great idea...but...I agree with you re: reception problems.
Site 26 WA = 10 mile rock no Telstra or Optus coverage
Site 16 WA = Domblegabby Rest Area no Telstra or Optus coverage
Site 8 WA = Boolaboola Rest Area no Telstra or Optus coverage
Site 665 SA = Yalata Rest Area no Telstra or Optus coverage
Shelly Beach Caravan Park Ceduna = a last coverage for both Telstra & Optus
G'DAY wOMBAT, AT THE RISK OF BEING HOWLED DOWN AGAIN, IT WOULD NOT BE ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE FOR TELSTRA TO ERECT TOWERS ACROSS THE NULLABOR.IE; LITTLE OR NO POPULATION.
But , Billy , WE Want More Erections
telco towers , that is .
Ya don't have to be on Nulla - We got heaps a trees & we got no coverage from
Cootz to A/dale - from Armidale , they call it th Grafton Rd - from Grafton , we call
it th Armidale Rd , so from Coutts Crossing to 3 k nth of Armidale rd 180kliks , no
coverage .
Richo
Don't shout Billy & you won't get yelled at.
It should be "relatively" cheap to do it as the towers are already right across the Nullabor, the old disused Microwave Comms towers. They would just need the antenna bit on the top.
Something does need to be done, even though there is an Emergency phone every 5 or 10 kms.
Cheers Neil
-- Edited by Delta18 on Saturday 16th of April 2011 11:14:20 PM
This article said the outback so that is anywhere in Aus were nomads travel.
There are travellers out there every day the roads are passable. Many of them have satellite phones and 2-way radios which can be used to call for help. What did they do before mobile phones?
There are rescue helicopters in all states, in major cities and regional centres, which also work with the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
As we've learned recently, there are ways of dealing with emergencies outback.
There are roadhouses at least every 300 kms, even on the central highway between Alice Springs and Leonora, and most Aboriginal communities have resident medical staff.
I'm not worried about getting sick anywhere in this country.
.. I have two mobile phones .. one with very good coverage and one which suits communication from cities and large towns. On the average I may use a phone once every 3 or so weeks .. so they are usually turned off !
However, I am daily in touch with my friends from the East Coast to the West Coast via HF Radio .. That just happens to be my choice .. this internet contact is another preferred choice (when available) ..
As stated previously, there are so many folk out there that can and will help someone in trouble .. and don't forget that we HF Radio enthusiasts (many of whom are ham licenced) are also permitted to operate (under extreme life threatening emergencies only) on other frequencies that are outside our licenced areas .. to get that help when needed !
Jon
(currently in Broome, WA)
Where are you staying at Broome Jonathon and if in a caravan park what are they charging?
You're quite right too Vic .. I think that many folk (myself included) also refrain from asking for assistance when its really needed. Its good to know that there is that help readily available if we are prepared to ask for it.
I'm staying at the Roebuck Bay CP which is quite a pleasant spot .. ocean views etc .. etc .. but costs are quite high .. its the Easter period ! .. $202.00 per week - powered.
I was hoping to meet up with some friends in Broome, but I found out yesterday from them that due to more heavy rains in Darwin that they now will have to defer travel for another month .. and as I have long been one that will not travel over the Easter holidays, I gotta pay their prices ..
But its a great place to be .. and enjoying it ..
Jon
Things could be worse in "Paradise". The silly season will be there soon (June/July), the traffic in Broome is worse than Pitt Street in Sydney (or Parramatta), lol! I couldn't believe last time I was there they had traffic lights !