Keeping connected

Pen n pep · Member

Keeping connected

Meredith · Senior Member

Aldi uses only part of the Telstra network and as you found it is inferior to full Telstra as soon as you get away from major population areas. The only choices for full Telstra network are Telstra or Boost, Boost is exactly the same as actual Telstra but no 5g which isn't an issue away from major cities anyway. We have 2 phones and have 1 on Telstra with a reasonably large data allowance and the 2nd on the Optus network with a smaller data allowance. There are some places where Optus works and Telstra doesn't, though more where Telstra works and Optus doesn't, and we find having both gives us more flexibility.

PeterInSa · Guru

We have a Mobile phone aerial (approx 1m) mounted on top of our older style Winegard TV aerial, it gives us a better signal in poor signal areas, the aerial cable is connected to a Blue tick Telstra Smartphone ( T86?) in the van that has an aerial connection or a Telstra Modem with aerial connections for data.

hufnpuf · Senior Member

I have come across reference to Telstra "blue tick" which is devices that are recommended for rural use. Some phones are better than others, apparently.

oldbloke · Guru

To cover our bases, the Mrs has Aldi and very cheap, lots of download.
I'm on a prepaid telstra. Pay, same but less download but tad better coverage.

Covers all bases.

Mike Harding · Guru

hufnpuf wrote:
I have come across reference to Telstra "blue tick" which is devices that are recommended for rural use. Some phones are better than others, apparently.

Hmmmm... yeah... maybe....

Assessing the transmission and receive capabilities of a mobile phone which is being used by a human is somewhat akin to attempting to measure the length of a hungry and angry crocodile with a tailors tape measure. The last I heard was that Telstra always used the same technician at the lab to do the measurement because different individuals body's exhibit different RF characteristics at SHF frequencies. I'd say the Blue Tick is a slight suggestion that this phone *may* be a little better than a few others but I would not give it any more credence than that.

Unfortunately it is all but impossible to find a handset with a socket for an external antenna but what you can do is buy a mobile modem which has external antenna capability and use that to make calls with VoWiFi - this will work well but is more cumbersome and expensive.

*Never* expect mobile phones to work more than, say, 25km from a town with a cell, they may but don't expect it.

When buying a mobile phone or modem *ensure* it covers band 28 - this is Telstra's "country band" and provides better distance than all other mobile phone bands.

Better still... get an Amateur Radio licence and a HF radio and talk to the world from the middle of nowhere :)

Cuppa · Guru

When blue ticks were first used to signify phones were recommended for rural use, my recollection is that those with the blue ticks generally had sockets for an external antenna. Haven't seen phones with external antennas for quite a while now though. Do they still exist? Last one I had was a Telstra Dave which despite having a connection for a patch lead to connect to an external antenna was pretty ordinary to say the least. The even older Samsung CDMA I had before the 'Dave' was far better reception-wise, but it had no speakerphone & made my ear very hot if used for more than a few minutes. Now what was I saying ..........?

Ah yes, Boost, dislike the company for a couple of reasons, (but less so than Telstra) but don't think there is a cheaper way to maximise coverage around the country.

-- Edited by Cuppa on Wednesday 25th of May 2022 12:51:47 PM

PeterInSa · Guru

I have the Telstra Tough Max 2 ie the T85 with aerial connection for remote use with a Telstra Sim, around the City I use a Samsung S9 ( no aerial connection) but I think labeled at the time a Blue tick phone.

The T85 works great with the mobile aerial above the TV aerial in the caravan when remote, unfortunately does not have VoLTE. like the T86.

www.everythingid.com.au/mobile-phones-internet-c-47/telstra-tough-max-3-zte-t86-4gx-blue-tick-ip68-rated-64gb-4gb-external-antenna-patch-lead-port-black-blue-p-582

Ger08 · Senior Member

We use a hybrid of Optus and Boost. Boost runs on the full Telstra network except for 5g. Optus is our main carrier due to huge data allowance and you can find that in some remote areas you may only get Optus, Karijini, parts of the Gibb, Mungerannie, to name some. Also with huge numbers of travellers we have often found that the Telstra network can be clogged and slow while the Optus network has much less congestion.

86GTS · Guru

We just spent a week camped in a remote place in Victoria's Big Desert with no phone reception, even Telstra.
It was a beautiful mind cleansing experience.

Mike Harding · Guru

86GTS wrote:
We just spent a week camped in a remote place in Victoria's Big Desert with no phone reception, even Telstra.
It was a beautiful mind cleansing experience.

What! No Facebook!, no Grey Nomads!, no Twitter!

I can hardly believe it... how did you survive...?

Whenarewethere · Guru

86GTS wrote:
We just spent a week camped in a remote place in Victoria's Big Desert with no phone reception, even Telstra.
It was a beautiful mind cleansing experience.

We have done trips around Europe with no phone, GPS or computer for 2.5, 3 & 4 months.

So nice to get away from the crap. There has been absolutely no issues asking for information or help from actual people. I think they were happy to talk to a real person!

Interesting thing is, when we get home, we find it near impossible to use a keyboard after that timeframe.

86GTS · Guru

Mike Harding wrote:
86GTS wrote:
We just spent a week camped in a remote place in Victoria's Big Desert with no phone reception, even Telstra.
It was a beautiful mind cleansing experience.
What! No Facebook!, no Grey Nomads!, no Twitter!
I can hardly believe it... how did you survive...?

Watching satellites & stars while looking up at the windmill blades at Broken Bucket Tank.

The pump still isn't working but there's plenty of good quality water in the tank next to the drop dunny.

Telstra reception drops out around 10kms north of Yanac.

We posted 4 new photos on Wikicamps 3 days ago.

-- Edited by 86GTS on Wednesday 25th of May 2022 06:40:08 PM

KevinJ · Senior Member

Who cares if there is no mobile coverage? Burke and Wills did not have much either.

yobarr · Guru

Pen n pep wrote:
We have just returned home from 3 month road trip with caravan from Perth to East Coast, great trip apart from issues staying connected on mobile and internet.
We both have Aldi mobile services and as it uses Telstra network we assumed incorrectly that we would get Telstra coverage across Australia. As soon as we neared Norseman, WA, we lost service until we got close to Streaky Bay, SA, and the it was patchy. So following recommendations from a couple of Roadhouses we purchased Telstra Sim, this helped, now considering going back to Telstra on both mobiles.
The other issue was staying connected on internet, we had data on Aldi mobile, however, this was a problem due to above and we didn't find too much WiFi.
Would be grateful for suggestions regarding staying connected on mobile and internet as we intend doing similar trip (bit longer), next year?

Telstra Tough Max 3 (T86) and Celfi Go works for me. Max 3 is Blue Tooth and still works well when I'm remote in the Roadtrain, which doesn't have Celfi Go fitted. Cheers

86GTS · Guru

KevinJ wrote:
Who cares if there is no mobile coverage? Burke and Wills did not have much either.

Yep & look what happened to their expedition, it turned out to be a total disaster.

Whenarewethere · Guru

86GTS wrote:
KevinJ wrote:
Who cares if there is no mobile coverage? Burke and Wills did not have much either.
Yep & look what happened to their expedition, it turned out to be a total disaster.

Their problem was arrogance. They were offered help to start their trip further up the "road".

How many of you travel will a piano?

Burke & Wills maybe should have swapped this out for an accordion & useful resources.

I have repaired tyres, given water, provided fuses, put fuel in tanks, jump started vehicles in remote areas.

Nothing has changed since Burke & Wills.

KevinJ · Senior Member

Whenarewethere wrote:
86GTS wrote:
KevinJ wrote:
Who cares if there is no mobile coverage? Burke and Wills did not have much either.
Yep & look what happened to their expedition, it turned out to be a total disaster.
Their problem was arrogance. They were offered help to start their trip further up the "road".

How many of you travel will a piano?

Burke & Wills maybe should have swapped this out for an accordion & useful resources.

I have repaired tyres, given water, provided fuses, put fuel in tanks, jump started vehicles in remote areas.

Nothing has changed since Burke & Wills.

Agreed to both responders. I have just read a book on them, "The Dig Tree" by Sarah Murgatroyd. It's a brilliant read. The expedition was a disaster but the rescue teams managed to cover the same territory with ease and no loss of life. My point was that we "seem" to need technology more than we really do. If there is no coverage, just do what you did thirty years ago.

Whenarewethere · Guru

KevinJ wrote:
If there is no coverage, just do what you did thirty years ago.

Not difficult!

Tony Bev · Guru

Pen n pep wrote:
We have just returned home from 3 month road trip with caravan from Perth to East Coast, great trip apart from issues staying connected on mobile and internet.
We both have Aldi mobile services and as it uses Telstra network we assumed incorrectly that we would get Telstra coverage across Australia. As soon as we neared Norseman, WA, we lost service until we got close to Streaky Bay, SA, and the it was patchy. So following recommendations from a couple of Roadhouses we purchased Telstra Sim, this helped, now considering going back to Telstra on both mobiles.
The other issue was staying connected on internet, we had data on Aldi mobile, however, this was a problem due to above and we didn't find too much WiFi.
Would be grateful for suggestions regarding staying connected on mobile and internet as we intend doing similar trip (bit longer), next year?

Hi Pen n pep

I am in the same boat as yourselves

I have a tablet with an Aldimobile 12 month plan sim, of around 130 Gb of data, and unlimited phone and text

I found that the Aldimobile map coverage was fairly accurate, with no coverage on the Nullarbor, from Norseman to Ceduna

Also if you look on WikiCamps, you will notice that in the Details of the place you have picked, there is an icon which shows both Telstra and Other phone coverage
This was also fairly accurate

In a normal situation the wife has a Telstra mobile phone, and a Telstra Mobile WiFi thingio, which is used as a hub, to connect to her laptop, and my tablet

The last trip (Bunbury to Tamworth, and return), I went solo, and had no Telstra Mobile WiFi thingio

The next trip I shall have the Telstra Mobile WiFi thingio, and just pay for the month or so I am out of Aldimobile range

Ivan 01 · Guru

Gee it is funny when reading back through posts on this forum.

I came across a few topics on Boost where, when Boost was suggested it was howled down by some on here. Some of the comments were downright disgusting when criticising the bloke who was supplying the information. I see that some of the howlers are now commenting in this topic.

It is amazing how a group will stick together no matter what until someone within the inner sanctum actually gives a suggestion a go and then without any further nonsense the suggestion becomes the new flavour of the forum.

Boost has been my go to Telco for several years now. I avoid large cities like the plague and even when I have to visit an area I can survive without 5G service.

From memory there was another member that ran both Telstra and Boost side by side around Australia while noting the reception was exactly the same except for 5G areas.
Unless there are some that can do a business type deal with Telstra then presently Boost is far cheaper for the same service with the full T coverage that the others cant offer.

msg · Guru

Sometimes, and I mean sometimes, if you take the back off the handset you will find and external antenna. More likely if its and ordinary phone than a smart phone.

-- Edited by msg on Saturday 28th of May 2022 11:36:32 AM