Mobile Phone Coverage

[Hugo]

Can anyone help?
What is the best Phone coverage in regional NSW?
I currently use a Orange CDMA but it is old and failing, also not 100% happy with them.
I thought asking this forum would be wise as this is the largest and most knowledgeable goup of people I know and always appear to be honest and unbiased.
Is Digital better than CDMA? or vica versa.
Is CDMA now, old technology?
I have recently visited all the retail shops and everyone is of the opinion that theirs is the best coverage.

Whos the best?
Any advise?

Hugo ( confused )

[macca2]

Hugo, I'm not in your neck of the woods but it is generally accepted that CDMA has a better coverage in the regional areas than GSM.
Telstra replaced the old anologue system with GSM and then introduced CDMA to get coverage that GSM could not give in regional areas.
Choice of carrier depends on the coverage in your area. All carriers have maps showing coverage. Then checkout their prices if you can wade thru all the bumf that comes with the advertised plans.

Good Luck
Macca

[Robert WA]

I have Telstra CDMA for use in country WA.

I understand that Orange uses the Telstra network and, subject to equipment, should offer the same coverage.

I have a high gain antenna fitted to my car and that definitely makes a difference.

CDMA, despite the Telstra boasts, does not give the extent of coverage that we once had with analogue. It does give much better coverage over here than standard digital and the coverage is getting better, slowly.

For WA country use standard digital is a waste of time, except in major centres, and CDMA is the only alternative.

[Barry_White]

I use Telstra CDMA. All providers of CDMA use Telstra CDMA network. I have used both telstra optus and vodaphone GSM and feel that the Telstra CDMA gives the best coverage in Rural NSW. They do have a few dead spots but much better than GSM. The range of a CDMA tower is over double that of a GSM tower.

I also have no problems with it in Sydney or Brisbane and have had the current phone for 3 years and 9 months and it will still hold a charge for 3 days.

I have a $20 plan and selected a free hour and that allows me to call any phone for free in that hour for a maximum of 20 min in that hour. But you can call as many numbers as you like in that hour but as I said a maximum of 20 Min.

I live 1/2 way between Tamworth and Armidale in NSW but trave up to brisbane regularly and never have any problem except going from Armidale to Grafton down the Tyringham Road which is in the middle of nowhere.

I also have a high gain antenna which makes about 2 bars difference in signal strength in the lower signal areas.

[Grunt]

I use Orange CDMA with a fairly crappy Samsung phone. The Samsung phone is better than the unbelievably crappy LG phone I had before. According to Choice (www.choice.com.au) the Kyocera handsets have significantly better reception than the other CDMA handsets around. If you're in the country the CDMA network is the one to use. I think you'll pay less at Orange than at Telstra.


Grunt

[Hugo]

Thankyou for your responses people. It has helped a lot, and yes mine is slso a crappy Samsung CDMA.
I visit places like Hay, Wagga, Eden, Dubbo, Cobar and other places in between, the coverage I have at the moment is quite good but phone lets me down.
The high gain ariel sounds like a good idea although not the prettiest thing hanging off the car, but something I will peruse.


Thankyou again, your all a great help.

[Iain]

Telstra CDMA, Kyocera handset with hands free (in car, not earpiece).
I travel along the coast between Orbost (and up to Omeo) and Mt Gambier and only have a couple of minor dropouts, mainly around Nelson and in the cuttings around Darnum.
Apart from that I can be found (unfortunately) almost any time, anywhere.

[oges]

I recently moved over to Orange from Vodafone, mainly because the missus was on that and we can call and sms each other for free now.

Orange uses the Telstra CDMA network when out of reach of the Orange network.

I like you am not too fussed on Orange as I dont seem to be able to get reception around home/town where I used to get it fine with Vodafone. I dont use it that much so Im not too worried about it .. hopefully seeing the lower bills should make me happier anyway