New phone needed

[Moondog55]

Well according to the Boss it is
So we can contact each other during the ski season while I am outback
So the question is
Are there any phones that have better reception on the margins than others ?
Alternatively does anybody know which carrier [ if any] has the best reception when at Pretty Valley campsite, I'm a little tired of having to ski up to the cattle grid to to say goodnite
Yes I have asked this question before but that was 3 years ago and things may have improved on the smart phone side of things and I admit I am a Luddite where smart phones are concerned
Apart from reception rugged and waterproof would be nice as would long battery life and inbuilt GPS

Nephew tells me to buy a HTC

[MickyB]

I've got a HTC. Have no problems with reception (with Telstra). It lives in my pocket and I often work out in the rain which doesn't seem to effect it. I have cracked the screen a few times (expensive to fix) so I wouldn't call it rugged however if I had a better cover I probably could have avoided that situation.

[highercountry]

Telstra "Blue Tick" phones, prepaid or on a plan, are supposed to have the best range in more remote areas.
This one looks interesting; https://www.telstra.com.au/mobile-phones/mobiles-on-a-plan/telstra-tough-max
Are you willing to trust Telstra marketing?

[north-north-west]

Are you willing to trust Telstra ...

[Strider]

Telstra "Blue Tick" phones, prepaid or on a plan, are supposed to have the best range in more remote areas.
This one looks interesting; https://www.telstra.com.au/mobile-phones/mobiles-on-a-plan/telstra-tough-max
Are you willing to trust Telstra marketing?

Rebadged Motorola. Wouldn't touch it personally.

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

[vanNek]

One if the iPhones are blue ticked. Whack a life proof on and your good!


"No half measures......"

[neilmny]

Telstra "Blue Tick" phones, prepaid or on a plan, are supposed to have the best range in more remote areas.
This one looks interesting; https://www.telstra.com.au/mobile-phones/mobiles-on-a-plan/telstra-tough-max
Are you willing to trust Telstra marketing?

Blue tick is definitely the go. Telstra coverage is the best.
I have an old Nokia blue tick and I make calls and receive calls on 3 or 4 bars where others have 1 bar or no signal.
The thing is, if I understand it correctly the blue tick phone ramps up output to attempt contact with a tower.
If there is no signal where you are it is best turned off because it will use a bit of battery trying to connect every so often.

[oldpiscator]

I purchased a Samsung Galaxy Core Prime ($189) with the blue tick from Telstra 12 months ago. Fantastic help in setting it up from the Geelong Telstra business office and now can get coverage in the Snowies and down at Liawenee in Tassie that I have never had before. Not waterproof though.

[Aushiker]

Tempted to upgrade my LG G4 non-blue tick to the Samsung Galaxy S7 which has a blue tick. Anyone played with one out in the back blocks?

[Watertank]

Moondog
I have one of these, https://www.telstra.com.au/mobile-phone ... elstra-t20
It has the blue tick and is only a few months old with a good battery life, best only for phone calls a bit slow to do text messages, it is a Telstra phone so you would need to use the Telstra network which is best out bush in my opinion. I'm happy to gift it you if you would like it, just PM me. It has good reception. I bought it when I thought I would give up on my iPhone....but I went crawling back to it!
WT

[Moondog55]

OK I will PM later after talking to The Boss
EDIT
Boss and I just googled coverage in the area we need and it seems Telstra offer no coverage with that particulate phone

[photohiker]

Pick up a satellite comms device like an InReach (pricey) or a Spot (you can find Spot gen 2 on ebay cheap)

You need a service plan to connect.

There might be several spot/inreach users on the forum that would be willing to loan you a device for free or a small cost.

[Son of a Beach]

If you're considering iPhones, it's worth noting that the 6S has Telstra's 'blue tick' (for good rural reception), but the 6S PLUS does not. (See the official answer from the Telstra support person at https://crowdsupport.telstra.com.au/t5/ ... d-p/509853

[Moondog55]

Having looked at all the reception maps for the various networks i think I'm going to have to walk the 3 klicks every time I need to make a phone call.
Even tho you can see the tower on the top of Mt Mckay from almost everywhere there seems to be no reception
So I may as well keep my old Nokia

[vanNek]

Thats normal, I seem to be i the 5% of Australia that telstra doesn't have covered pretty regularly!

Could you look at adding an antenna to you house?


"No half measures......"

[Strider]

Thats normal, I seem to be i the 5% of Australia that telstra doesn't have covered pretty regularly!

Could you look at adding an antenna to you house?


"No half measures......"

Repeaters are unfortunately illegal in Australia. I can see the Melbourne CBD from upstairs window but can't make a phone call inside my house [DISAPPOINTED FACE]

Sent from my SM-N9005 using Tapatalk

[Watertank]

Moondog
I reckon there must be someone on here that will be where you are going before you get there - (but that might be soon) that could check it out. I was up that way over Easter and I remember getting good reception with Telstra almost everywhere. Another option is to buy a prepaid Telstra card and put it in a spare phone and take it and try. I see from you post that you think that the Telstra map indicates that the phone I have won't have reception but I would be surprised that places with 4G don't offer 3G as well - that might need a call to Telstra to check
WT.

[neilmny]

They do my phone is only 3G and works all over the place. 3G is the fall back.
Unfortunately I don't recall if a I made any calls or checked reception out at PV.
If I recall correctly, I did send a photo home of Tawonga Huts from the huts. I had my camera with me and wouldn't have bothered to take a photo with the phone unless I could send it. The photo is below.
I don't think an external antenna is illegal or the antenna on your car would be illegal. It is not a repeater just an antenna but you have to have a phone that you can connect to it.

[Moondog55]

I'm accepting Watertanks kind offer; if it works with a PP Telstra sim in it at least I'll have emergency contact

[bearded bushwalker]

Check out Boost pre paid Moondog,
Uses Telstra network but cheaper to buy.

[Moondog55]

Check out Boost pre paid Moondog,
Uses Telstra network but cheaper to buy.

OK Thanx

[Moondog55]

I also just bought a really cheap little powerbank just in case the phone runs out while in camp. When funds permit I may get something a lot bigger than 2400mAh

[Stew63]

Moondog - I carry a small, cheap and light $50 Samsung flip phone with Telstra prepaid as my emergency/backup phone - a single charge lasts about 9days in the cold - I also have a spare battery for it - it's virtually indestructible having been dropped from several metres onto both rocks and concrete - just pick it back up stick the battery back in and it works again! It's awesome. Has all my primary and emergency numbers stored in it. I also carry a Smartphone (iPhone6/Telstra) but it seems to suck the juice in the cold even stored in my jacket and I'd be foolish to rely 100% on it alone - hence the Samsung backup that's never failed and is almost indestructible.

I also carry a power bank but like you I really need to upgrade it to something bigger.