Telstra mobile coverage in Vic high country

[jayjay]

Wanting to go camping for a few days up in Vic high country- but need to be in daily contact with family......... can anyone give me an idea of the extent of Telstra mobile phone coverage up there? Thanks

[Bird]

Can be good can be Shit

where exactly are you going up there?

[jayjay]

Ha- not sure yet.... at this stage we are flexible, but it has to be somewhere we can get coverage- hence our question.

[barrel01]

Pretty patchy at best, particularly in the valleys where you tend to camp.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Bird]

Pretty patchy at best, particularly in the valleys where you tend to camp.

agree

Are you base camping or travelling... Any rough plans?

Places like Sheepyard/Frys (or dozens of other areas) - the popular places, you can get signal sometimes at one end but not the other end.

[KeithB]

We were there before Christmas and there was no coverage except in a few very high places. Best hire a satphone.

[Patr80l]

I use Telstra and I often find that my Optus mates have a signal when I don't.

[jayjay]

I use Telstra and I often find that my Optus mates have a signal when I don't.

Yes, we have found that often- if there is any chance of signal, Telstra is the best option.
We will base ourselves rather than travel- but will need to be contactable, as well as being able to chase a signal.
Unfortunately we are at that stage of our lives when parents ailing health is very unpredictable, but we can't put everything on hold indefinitely waiting for the inevitable to happen- as much as we love them, we are really missing our (bush) camping!!

[Patr80l]

Yes, we have found that often- if there is any chance of signal, Telstra is the best option.
We will base ourselves rather than travel- but will need to be contactable, as well as being able to chase a signal.
Unfortunately we are at that stage of our lives when parents ailing health is very unpredictable, but we can't put everything on hold indefinitely waiting for the inevitable to happen- as much as we love them, we are really missing our (bush) camping!!

Unfortunately the only reliable comms, available on short notice, will be a hired sat phone.   HF radio needs to be installed in your vehicle and is more cumbersome for making phone calls.   If this is going to be a recurring problem you can buy an Iridium Sat Phone (second hand on eBay for $600-800) and slip your Telstra GSM SIM into it.   Calls are more expensive but there are no ongoing costs (ie if you don't make or receive calls it's $0 and no special instructions needed for your family as they dial your mobile number to call the sat phone) There are a couple of threads on this forum relating to this.

[Patr80l]

ps if you can drive to a place with a signal you can get them to send you an SMS and then check a couple of times per day.   The SMS will be received when you gain a signal.

[jayjay]

Unfortunately the only reliable comms, available on short notice, will be a hired sat phone.   HF radio needs to be installed in your vehicle and is more cumbersome for making phone calls.   If this is going to be a recurring problem you can buy an Iridium Sat Phone (second hand on eBay for $600-800) and slip your Telstra GSM SIM into it.   Calls are more expensive but there are no ongoing costs (ie if you don't make or receive calls it's $0 and no special instructions needed for your family as they dial your mobile number to call the sat phone) There are a couple of threads on this forum relating to this.

Thanks for all the feedback.
This could be a dumb question, not having had any experience with a sat phone, but is it possible to link a sat phone to a hot spot, as you would with a mobile phone, to enable internet connection?

[GGV8Cruza]

Thanks for all the feedback.
This could be a dumb question, not having had any experience with a sat phone, but is it possible to link a sat phone to a hot spot, as you would with a mobile phone, to enable internet connection?

Yes but very expensive and slow speeds.

If you camp on the higher peaks with a bit of a veiw to the snow resorts you can get coverage. I have a large antenna on the bull bar with a passive phone cradle which boosts the reception.

GG

[Patr80l]

Thanks for all the feedback.
This could be a dumb question, not having had any experience with a sat phone, but is it possible to link a sat phone to a hot spot, as you would with a mobile phone, to enable internet connection?

Iridium does a hot spot gadget, the Iridium Go.  https://www.iridium.com/products/details/iridiumgo   I'm sure you could get a data plan but I've heard they're expensive.

[Bad Scott]

Iridium does a hot spot gadget, the Iridium Go.  https://www.iridium.com/products/details/iridiumgo   I'm sure you could get a data plan but I've heard they're expensive.

But still slow.

[J.R]

You'll get 3 bars at Craig's Hut.

I did last week.

[Fizzie]

ps if you can drive to a place with a signal you can get them to send you an SMS and then check a couple of times per day.   The SMS will be received when you gain a signal.

You may not even need phone signal to get a SMS in?

We've just had a few days out at Cullendore on NSW / Qld border near Warwick & Stanthorpe, & needed to make a phone call one day. Turned phone on in camp - no signal showing, couldn't make call or get internet access, but almost as soon as I turned it on, got a spam SMS in! Drove up the top of the hill & showed 3G (Telstra) with no signal bars but was able to make necessary call.

Back down to camp & tried to check weather that pm but no access - but eldest son spent the next 2 days on his bloody phone with texts to & from his mates  Turn that bloody phone off & put it away! Sure thing Dad. 30 min's later, sitting surreptiously tapping away on the phone sort of hidden on his lap ...

[GanG]

An indication of area you intend to be would be helpful, but around this side of the ranges you will get service on most peaks, where I hunt in the Alpine park we drive or walk to the top each afternoon to check in with family. Most camp sites on water are a dead loss for phone service unless you are right near a population center such as Bright or the ski fields.