Talk the Talk

As the sun begins to set at many camping spots around Australia, the sounds of birds, crickets, clinking glasses and laughter are often interrupted by electronic beeps or theme tunes alerting their owners that a ‘text’ has just come in, or that a grandchild is on the line. Grey nomads have well and truly embraced the communications revolution and you can find many busily texting messages to loved ones from their camp chairs.

Although the technology itself is improving and even the process of using a mobile to make a call, send a text, or access the internet is pretty straightforward … the process of choosing the right phone and the right network can be quite complicated! There is Telstra, Optus, Vodafone, 3G, NextG, GSM and then there’s the now redundant CDMA.  And that’s before you even get into all the different brands of mobiles on the market and their many wonderful and sometimes weird features.

The first thing to consider if you’re upgrading your current mobile or choosing one for the first time is the network coverage of where you plan to travel.  Optus, Telstra and Vodafone have produced online maps to show the coverage of their networks and they also provide phone numbers for customers to determine whether a specific area is within their network range. As mentioned, the CDMA network has now been switched off and all CDMA phones, booster sets and antennas have been rendered unusable. Telstra has guaranteed that its new Next G network will provide at least the same, and in some cases greater coverage than the CDMA network.

Telstra spokesperson Brent Hooley reckons that some of the problems people are having with Next G network coverage in the more remote regions could be traced back to equipment. “Perhaps those people who are not getting the same coverage as they had with CDMA are having difficulties with some aspect of their equipment.  For example, they could be using old handsets, outdated CDMA booster sets or perhaps even outdated CDMA SIM cards,” he says. “We now offer a great new mobile which would be perfect for travellers. It is designed to withstand the tough outdoor conditions and it also has a pullout antenna to enhance reception in rural areas.”

Once you have determined which network and company to go with, the fun begins.  Why miss a single episode of ‘Neighbours’ even if you’re visiting Uluru?  Simply choose a mobile that has a TV function and you can keep up with all your favourites on Ramsay Street.  A few of the other features available on the latest mobiles include built-in cameras, video conferencing capabilities, access to the internet, music players, GPS interface and even the facility to make a phone call and send and receive texts. With all those options available, the phone companies have cleverly come up with heaps of different plans so you can make full usage of all your phone’s features – and pay for them. 

Selecting a mobile phone plan involves determining whether you intend to keep in touch by text, voice or a combination of the two, whether you think you may use your phone to access the internet and even if you think watching TV or taking photos with your phone would enhance your trip.  

Then there is the choice between prepaid (which usually involves a higher call rate) and monthly plans (which usually includes a set amount of calls in the price).  Sometimes the phones themselves are included in long-term plans although they must be purchased separately with pre-paid options.  Vendors frequently offer specials or bonus options as part of their monthly plans. These may include things like 20 minutes of free talk time to any number during a specified hour, 50 free text messages per month to any phone, a discounted rate to one nominated number etc.  Have a chat to your mobile phone supplier to see which plan and ‘special bonus option’ might suit you best.

Glossary of mobile terms:

GSM: Global System for Mobile Communications - it's the most commonly used type of mobile phone network.

3G: 3rd Generation network.  This is basically an enhanced version of GSM which allows higher data peeds to provide features such as video calling, streaming video and web browsing.

NextG: The brand name Telstra has given to its countrywide 3G network which replaces the CDMA network. It provides better coverage in rural and country areas than any other network in Australia. Some phones are better at accessing the Next G network in remote spots than others. Telstra has devised a system whereby the mobiles with the greatest capacity to receive a signal are given a blue tick indicating that it is "recommended for rural handheld coverage."

CDMA: Code Division Multiple Access network. The CDMA network provided pretty good coverage for travellers – albeit sometimes patchy in the more remote areas. Unfortunately, the CDMA network is now defunct so anyone who still has a CDMA phone must find a replacement phone and plan.

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