what do l need for access to phone & internet in a mobilehome through outback australia.?

Question

travelling australia in a mobilehome. do l need satellite access to obtain internet and phone availability. or are there other options

Answer 1

There are different mobile phone systems in Australia. The country network, CDMA is being phased out and replaced by 3G. I have recently changed my CDMA phone to 3G and it works at my place but not 100metres up the road. Ordinary mobile phones will not work in the country.

Once you get away from the 3G network, and you don't have to travel far to do that, you will need a satellite phone to get an internet connection. This will not be cheap to run. You can get phones that have both 3G and satellite connections and take the cheaper option if both are available. Talk to Telstra about them.

Some years ago the government intoduced a scheme to bring the internet to small towns and villages. Most villages will have internet access in libraries, community centres, post offices or pubs. Ask at the local pub or post office. All towns and villages have public phones as well.

As far as which phone company to use is concerned, only Telstra and Optus have any interest outside the cities and Optus's interest is dubious. Telstra has its faults but it owns all the infrastructure and is experienced in dealing with country and outback communications. I have also found them to be less rapacious and more knowledgeable than the other companies - but it is up to you.

Answer 2

Mobile phones are virtually useless away from towns of more than about 5000 people and there are precious few of those. You don't have to go far to lose signal. Satellite is really your only option if you really going bush. I speak from experience. I got a mobile mainly for use on major highway trips and found it was a waste of money and did not work even in reasonably sized towns not all that far from Sydney. There is a new system replacing CDMA coming in but I can guarantee it will be nearly as worthless.

Edit, several hours later. I had a Vodafone service. Actually, having spent some time on the net recently trying to determine what coverage they had, I gave up. Apparently they try to hide it, or don't put in on the net as they might not look good against the competition. Go with Telstra, if you want a mobile, their coverage is somewhat better.

http://www.telstra.com.au/mobile/networks/coverage/index.htm

Answer 3

In Australia you get out of touch with mobile phone networks real fast, then Satellite is the only option, but check prices before you spend money on an installation. It might be worth it just to have a phone and save internet connection till you are within reach of the mobile network again.

I found Optus, the former national network the most reliable, that is could be received in the most places, but nowhere near covering the continent.
If you know which area you will travel you might be able to check where there will be connections on which network.

This site has links to maps of the different areas:
http://www.optus.com.au/portal/site/aboutoptus/menuitem.cfa0247099a6f722d0b61a108c8ac7a0/?vgnextoid=6ed776b387797010VgnVCM10000029867c0aRCRD

Answer 4

I am sure that in "outback Australia" You can get an account with Optus or Telstra, and take a mobile phone (Cell phone) and connect any where,, Australia is not so remote as even much more populated areas.. I am in N.E. Thailand with no possibility of a land line. I use a Nokia 6600 mobile phone with a bluetooth device.. very cheap but very slow