OK Folks, for those of you who read my post about drinking water acroos the 'Boor, we are now in Norseman and staying at the local CP. It works out cheaper to pay the $35 fee there than haul all my water up from Esperance in terms of fuel used.
My next question is: can you get Telstra mobile phone and internet service pretty well right the length of the Nullaboor?
And two other questions for the many of you who have run this highway before are a) what paid places would you NOT pay to stay at overnight (we intend to free camp, but just in case and b) what places would you NOT pay for a shower (not accommodation) because they are so dirty or whatever.........but the primary question please, is the Telstra phone and internet WIFI service (we use dongles with an attached portable aerial on our laptops)
And for those that want to drop everything.....its race (presume horses) at Norseman this Saturday LOL
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Cheers Bruce
The amazing things you see when nomading Australia
"but the primary question please, is the Telstra phone and internet WIFI service (we use dongles with an attached portable aerial on our laptops)"
Even with Telstra 4, and attached portable aerial, you will not get phone or internet access across the Nullarbor. Sorry, I can't remember the 'start/end' of this though. Maybe close to the major roadhouses, but I can't remember for sure now.
Note: We have a Telstra Blue Tic
-- Edited by Dunmowin on Friday 13th of March 2015 06:55:11 PM
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Pay it forward - what goes around comes around
DUNMOWIN is no longer on the road and still DUNMOWIN!
Have Googled "Telstra coverage map". Try that and it will give you a good idea of what coverage is available where.
Looking at the Nullarbor, it seems that coverage under 3G is available within a 30 - 50 km radius of the major roadhouses. This is similar to coverage on roads such as the Stuart Highway as well. This is without an external antenna, which will improve availability
It does appear that if you are using 4G, you will struggle to get any reception until you now get to Ceduna. If you phone and Internet dongle is switchable between 3 and 4G perhaps try changing to 3G
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Regards Ian
Chaos, mayhem, confusion. Good my job here is done!
I didn't have any hassles, I did it on my own. I free camped in places where I was the only one there. I stocked up on water at Kambardi I think it was, just below Kalgoorlie. I always have my 55 litre tank full and I carry 5 x 10 litre containers.
I stopped in at Roadhouses for a coffee and a look around. At the Nullabor Roadhouse I was joined by Mark "Jacko" Jackson and his mate for a great chat. One overnight stop was outside the gate of The Head Of the Bight. They do lock that gate at night.
Unfortunately I was too late for the whales. They had been and gone.
I was never worried or frightened, can't remember where I had Telstra access. If I don't have it I do something else, if I have it will go on to catch up.
Lots of people had said, Be careful, it's a long way, it's not safe. I never felt unsafe and didn't even think of it as an epic journey as I had been told. I took a week to cross and filled up with fuel each time my gauge was around half full.
Easy Least.
When we went into the Cp at Norseman there were about 3 vans there. By dusk there were another 8-9 and all had just come off the 'Boor. Most if them had done it more than once and also free camped with no problems at all.
We have to do an email next Tuesday (got to be that day unfortunately), so will start our run Sat and looking at my GPS to Ceduna, should be in that town by Monday or Tuesday (as we get closer, may do less kms a day as we don't like to drive more than about 5-6 hours a day - prefer to make it a half day so we can see the countryside and I can confuse the local servos and shops by asking for a flat white, which I think they think is road kill).
Interesting how many grey nomads haven't heard of this site. We've only been on our latest run for about 8 days and so far have got 3 newbies hooked to the Forum and cant get off it lol. We always push this site to any serious traveler - we always need new member to keep us alive and the info fresh and at times, challenging
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Cheers Bruce
The amazing things you see when nomading Australia
Oh, and I looked at Telstras coverage map as Ian suggested. Appears that WA is the poor cousin for Telstra coverage - none showing till you get into SA and then its 10/10 pretty much from then on. Most be better pollies in SA !!
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Cheers Bruce
The amazing things you see when nomading Australia
Howdy Bruce and Bev, "MAN" you Guys can get around, seems like it was only yesterday when you were making comments from Yanchep,
Now you're about to meet the challengers of the "Big sand patch" best of luck, although the real challenge of crossing has gone out of it , now that it's sealed.
We've done it 9 times now, piece of cake, never had a problem with free camping, and there's plenty of free sites all along the Highway, just check Camps 5,6,7,8,
It's interesting to note, in this modern age, the old C.B. Radio is still an important part of communication on the Nullarbor, U.H.F. radio as you would know is used by just about all Truckers, plus most of the Roadhouses have them, most importantly the Police at Boarder Village and at Eucla also use or monitor CH 40, on our last trip over I was surprised to hear Boarder Village Check Station calling the Highway Patrol on that Frequency, We were a good 50-75 kms down the highway at that point, It's good to know, even if the phones don't work out there, there is still some form of contact available in case of an Emergency.
Have a great trip Guys, there's a lot to see, so take your time, "Oh" by the way, watch out for the Wombats on the road around the Nullarbor Roadhouse, you'll see their holes on the side of the road, they're the biggest and ugliest thing the Missis has ever seen !!
K.J.
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From Coast to Coast, We'll see it all.......One Day
HiBruce n Bev, I crossed last Aug/Sept Had no prob with internet or mobile, Telstra mobile and Telstra 4G Dongle.,, Don't panic., its not as remote as you think..., just make sure you have drinking water, there's Road houses for showers if you don't have your own.., stop panicking and just enjoy..., the sights are fantastic... happy travels Fran
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