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??
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.
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
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.
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.
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20ft Roma caravan - Mercedes Benz Sprinter - SA-based at the moment. Transport has no borders.
Management makes the decisions, but is not affected by the decisions it makes.
.. 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 !
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?
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Vic
Hi Ace Pop Top Campervan & A'Van A'Lite Camper Trailer.....
Khalil Gibran says "We tarry forward - not backward".
Spread the laughter Share the cheer Let's be happy While we're here.
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 ..
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 !
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Vic
Hi Ace Pop Top Campervan & A'Van A'Lite Camper Trailer.....
Khalil Gibran says "We tarry forward - not backward".
Spread the laughter Share the cheer Let's be happy While we're here.
telco towers , that is .
