Communication in the bush

hi all
a few months ago there was a post running with the same heading as this one. because of that post and the paths it went down, i bought a laptop computer and an optus wireless modem.the reason i went for optus was, they claimed that their next g network covered all of the areas that i wanted to go to in the goldern triangle and you get about 5 times as much download for your $30 as telstra.

i have a prepaid plan that costs $30 for one gig of download for 30 days.its pre paid so you only have to pay for the months that you want to use it.i am in the triangle at the moment and EVERYWHERE i have tried to access the net i have been able to get on.

the places i have been able to get on the net are inglewood,moliagul,kingower,tarnagulla,waanyarra,bendigo,wedderburn.  most people want to get away from all that stuff when they are out and detecting,but if you want to access your email or your banking or whatever when you are out in the bush,this really does work.

i bought the optus modem E169,cause you can plug a little aerial into it.i had to use the aerial in moliagul,but i was able to get on the net. i have no connection with optus,other than i am a customer.i have a telstra mobile phone.

Hi Dave

I just made your post more readable. I am going around Australia in two years time and I was wondering about how to communicate. It sounds like you have brought yourself up to date and as I use a computer a lot, what you have done certainly sounds like the thing to do.

Under Prospecting Tips, there is great information that is certainly worth the read, under the heading Communication. It looks like I may have to follow that advice as well.

Jeff

Hello. First post here but been lurking for a while.

Just want to point out 3G and NextG are not the same.
NextG is the one that will let you call from up to 100k's from town and only Telstra has it.
3G will work in most towns on the Telstra network.
Some operators are offering 3G on the Optus network for example but there is no Optus in the NT.
Lots of questions to ask when looking into it.

Alan

Whats that number that you can call from any mobile phone when there is no service?
Its the same as 000, yet for mobiles in an emergency situation.
I wouldn't mind putting it in my mobile memory under, EMERGENCY.
Brett.

hi brett i think its 112 that gets you through to someone to help you cheers buck

From my understanding 112 Emergency calls work from a mobile even with no Sim Card installed too.
So as long as your mobile is charged it will make the Emergency Call.
The old Nokia's used to have a RED Keypad Number(9 from memory), that if held down for >2 seconds it would dial 112.
Not sure if this is still the case with current model Nokia's though.

Corey...

Gday

I believe that 112 is the right number, not sure how it works if you have no service though?

Another couple of things I heard about with mobile phones:

1. Hidden battery power, apparently your mobile phone has some hidden battery power that you can access if your have forgotten to charge it, you put in *3370# (thats "star" 3370 "hash"), havent tried it either as I forgot about it until now, apparently it supposed to give about 50% improvement, so if anyone would care to experiment.

2. If you have locked your keys in the car and have a keyless entry system, and you have a spare unit at home, you call home on you mobile phone and get someone to activate the remote into the home phone, while you hold your mobile phone 12" from the car it will unlock it, also have not tried this one as I dont have a keyless entry system so maybe someone could give it a go and see if it works or not.

cheers

stayyerAU

We use big pond Next G Aircard on our laptop and have had amazing results. We are currently camped at Wilsons patch 66klm north of Leonora and have 2 bars. We are probably patched in through a nearby mine but have had service up to 30klm straight line from the nearest server. Our mobile is a Telstra Country phone and will access a network up to 50klm away. My wife bought a Vodaphone and it won't work outside any large town, that means 90% of Australia it won't work.
You may not like Telstra, or its charges but they are the only ones when you are out bush. Nothing else works out here. Jim

112 sounds like the go. A for sure confirmation wouldn't hurt before I set it in my phone memory.
I have a 3G phone and I am under the impression that when 3G is out of service range then it all switches to the telstra network.
Frankly my dear I don't give damn who I am with if 112 works?
As I sit in this meteorite crater in the middle of no mans land with a mobile in my hand, I simply want to make a call to someone. Is 112 the number to dial?
I don't want to be a smart ass but is this number (112) the ultimate life saver that we should all have in our phone memory?
Brett.

hi
before i bought the optus modem i looked at the coverage maps for optus & telstra,and certainly telstra has much better australia wide coverage than optus,but since i was going into the triangle,i went for the provider that was offering a better deal.the optus modem was $150.it wasn`t a massive amount of money if the thing didn`t do what i wanted it to.  if i am ever lucky enough to get over to WA again i will get the telstra set up,but for the triangle the optus setup is fine.
 my understanding of 112 ,is that it will jump networks,but you have to be in range of any provider to get it to work.
  got 2 pieces in tarnagulla yesterday

Hi Jim

Interesting info and will keep it in mind.

112 is the emergency number for any mobile phone, and I dont care how it works, but in an emergency, just ring it.

Jeff

This link might help.
Regards Tarnagulla


http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/pc=PC_100581

*3370# my nokia wants to know if it should change the speech codec.

Think the 'Locke the Keys in the car' bit is a bit like the rumors that got around years ago about Nokia's being a Radar Detector too

dont rely on 112, it still only work if you can get a signal. It's a myth that it is satalite tracked

Steve,
I was told that these phones of ours would pick up a satellite connection in the event of an emergency. After reading the link put up, it appears you are correct. The up side to this 112 thing is that at least it connects you to any available network. The technology is there for a phone to work anywhere above ground but alas there is no money in saving lives by turning it on. Rather cynical I know.
Brett.

The bottom line here is....if you haven't got a signal you can't make a call. Remember that.

As for Telstra, I hate them, they are a rip off, they rely on mums and dads that are not phone or internet savy to take advantage of. I have convinced many friends to change provider of phone and internet from Telstra as they are being ripped by their pricing etc.

However if I need to USE them in the bush in the future I will.....only because I have to.

Steve

I.C.E stands for In Case of Emergency
Most emergency personnel will check the mobile phone of persons injured or found in accidents who cant respond to questions. We as those who move around could be in that prediciment.

In your mobile you greate an entry for I.C.E - and put the phone number for the person you would want contacted in case of an Emergency, this allows Police / Ambulance to get onto family etc quicker , especially if you are injured and have a medical condition or allergies etc.
john

Hi everone
interesting thread, i always take my laptop bush with me and i am on telstra wireless, i also have firefly internet phone which i use on the laptop via a headset and the usb port.i can ring home for 10c untimed and they can ring me and leave messages for the cost of a local call, i am on the 9.95 plan which also gives cheap rates to mobiles,this is a much cheaper option of keeping contact with home in the camp and leaving the mobies for when you are actually prospecting

The previous post about opening your car throuh the spare keys via a mobile does work ,, its not a myth,, i,ve done it just to see if it could be done about 18 months ago

cheers spider

I was pleased to find my iphone on telstra prepaid worked well enough for all features in most parts of victoria when I prospected there a few months back.