Last time "Around the Block" I carried three phones; my primary Samsung S8 which is with Optus; a backup S6 with a Telstra SIM; and a Sat phone.
Yes, the obvious question is why don't I just stick with Telstra and toss Optus? Fetch boxes and bundled account etc... is the answer.
And yes, I did use all phones at various times last trip to keep in contact with my wife and family. While I'm out having fun riding around Australia I need to ensure my wife and family are kept in the loop of what I'm doing and where I am. Without her blessing this trip wouldn't be happening.
On a number of forums and Facebook groups the question of what phone to take and what network to sign up to is often asked. As far as I can see it's a no brainer. Telstra reigns supreme if you're heading anywhere away from the East Coast of Australia or large city. Have a look at the coverage maps below of Optus and Telstra and their coverage in the outback. However to Optus' credit, their coverage today is far greater than it was a couple of years ago.
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| Optus |
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| Telstra |
I did contemplate getting a dual sim from Kogan but decided having the backup phone with sim installed was a better option if one goes missing.
I'll purchase a Telstra Pre-Paid SIM for the time I'm away. There's not a snow flakes chance in Hell that I'll even scratch the surface of using a poofteenth of the available data on the cheapest plan, but being contactable most of the time is reassuring.
Gotta go and set up the apps on the new phone
Gotta go and set up the apps on the new phone
Surprisingly, OPTUS is the only signal in Oodnadatta and Kirijini. There may be other places as well, but I too think you need both carriers to get the optimal coverage.
ReplyDeleteYes, had a couple of spots last time. Optus had placed a small satellite dish on the roadhouse roof and it gave a coverage of a radius of a hundred metres or so. I expect to see a much better coverage this time around.
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