New CDMA network

Submitted: Monday, Aug 20, 2007 at 03:38

ThreadID: 123987 Views:5299 Replies:6 FollowUps:5

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Has anyone found the best brand as regards the NextG network being promoted by Telstra?

Was looking at the Nokia 6120 but have heard some bad reports.

Does any one know anything about the LG TU550?

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Reply By: Titans - Monday, Aug 20, 2007 at 06:56

Monday, Aug 20, 2007 at 06:56

Hey there,

I thought all phones worked about the same. We bought a Motorolla V6 Maxx on Telstra's next G network and recently drove from Perth to Adelaide. We found we had signal most of the way across. There was only short distances when we didn't have coverage. However with all of them you are not going to get coverage in most of Australia.

In saying that we are very happy with our phone.

Cheers

Lola & Wayne

AnswerID: 572748

Reply By: Innkeepers - Monday, Aug 20, 2007 at 07:03

Monday, Aug 20, 2007 at 07:03

Well, not a big range to choose from, however....our Krooza has a UHF and a HF and GPS and well.....not much room left for a phone cradle....So....how to hook up to the external antenna on the vehicle?

We got LG TU-500 NextG phones as they have a tiny little rubber plug on the rear panel that pops out so a small 3mm antenna plug slides in and this is on the end of a short coaxial tail that connects to the external antenna. Very neat.

The phone has an easy menu system to drive too as we have always had Nokia phones and were reluctant to switch brands.

8 months on and both phones haven't given us any grief....don't know if VOIP will do you any good as the internet browsing charges might negate any "Savings"...after all, Telstra is in the business of charging for phone and data....

Hope this helps
Cheers
Rick & Julie

AnswerID: 572749

Follow Up By: Willie - Monday, Aug 20, 2007 at 20:17

Monday, Aug 20, 2007 at 20:17

Rick and Julie ,
Does the TU-500 have an in car kit available which will still allow you to plug in th aerial ?
Thanks ,
Jigalong .

FollowupID: 848492

Follow Up By: Innkeepers - Monday, Aug 20, 2007 at 20:40

Monday, Aug 20, 2007 at 20:40

Yes they do have a full hands free in car kit available which connects to an external antenna and we joined up on a 24 month contract for $40.00 per month with both phones and they threw in 2 full in car hands free kits as well as 2 bluetooth hands free headsets.

In addition, we provided our ABN and they put us on a business plan where we can use our combined credit of 2X $40.00 per month across both phones. Eg If one uses only $20 for the month...then JULIE can ring her MUM and use the remaining $60.00.

The same plan also allows unlimited, FREE, 10 minute Voice or Video calls between the 2 phones so we can chat to each other whenever we want for no cost.

Hope this helps
Cheers
Rick & Julie

FollowupID: 848493

Follow Up By: Willie - Monday, Aug 20, 2007 at 23:06

Monday, Aug 20, 2007 at 23:06

Rick and Julie ,
That sounds perfect , although I will buy mine outright , as I make few calls .
Thanks ,
Jigalong .

FollowupID: 848494

Reply By: Tellem Bugrem - Monday, Aug 20, 2007 at 17:33

Monday, Aug 20, 2007 at 17:33

Next Gee'ers,

Our Telstra Rep convinced us that the LG TU550 (which also has the aerial plug) is the best performer (reception-wise) of the current range of Next G phones. This has been backed up through postings on other travellers' Forums. ie. from people who are out there testing them on the road. We matched (or paired) the phones to a Blue Ant hands free car unit, and had our Mini-Max upgraded to the Next G modem at no cost.

Does anyone know the difference in operating cost of the Next G modem vs the LG TU550 (or TU500) for internet and email ?

Rob

AnswerID: 572750

Follow Up By: Willie - Monday, Aug 20, 2007 at 20:18

Monday, Aug 20, 2007 at 20:18

Rob ,
Does the TU-550 have an in car kit available which will still allow you to plug in th aerial ?
Thanks ,
Jigalong .

FollowupID: 848495

Reply By: Tellem Bugrem - Monday, Aug 20, 2007 at 21:21

Monday, Aug 20, 2007 at 21:21

Jigalong,

The Blue Ant is the in car kit and it receives and transmits via the LG TU550's Bluetooth. There is no wiring or physical connection between the two units, and the Blue Ant is also wireless and sits up on the sunvisor. So, the aerial will only connect to the phone. Have'nt got the aerial yet as they are out of stock here. The aerial is $30.

As usual, the LG instruction book is hopeless and I reckon the phones should come complete with a one week lease of a 10 year old child.....so us old fuddy duddies can learn the basics. I went to Telstra and asked for a phone that has a dial with 10 large numbers for the purpose of making and receiving phone calls.
No letters, no menu and scroll buttons, no camera and memory card, no text message feature, no internet or email (I have a bloody laptop and Next G modem for that!) and no musical ring tone.....just "ring - ring",

I reckon if I could make a phone like that, I'd sell a squillion!!

Rob.

AnswerID: 572751

Follow Up By: Willie - Monday, Aug 20, 2007 at 23:36

Monday, Aug 20, 2007 at 23:36

Rob ,

This might seem an obvious thing to you , but does the car kit charge the phone ?

The rest sounds great , as my stereo has bluetooth for controlling the phone and the sound is put through the car speakers ( if can figure out how to work it all ! ).

I know what you mean about the gadgets on the phone . I have never taken a picture with mine or used the browser , although sometimes I have hooked it up to my laptop , to get share prices and send email .

I know what you mean about an eleven year old kid to explain it . Luckily I have an in house computer freak , to do all that for me . Actually , now that I think of it , the new laptop is bluetooth too , so that is an added bonus

Maybe we could market the optionless , easy to use phone , as the "Oldfartfone". Better register the name now !

I have an external aerial on the bull bar of my Landcruiser , so that should help coverage .

All I need now is a second had 16' Bushtracker to appear on the second hand market - I can't wait 12 months for anything - could be dead by then !

Thanks ,

Jigalong .

FollowupID: 848496

Reply By: Tellem Bugrem - Tuesday, Aug 21, 2007 at 17:24

Tuesday, Aug 21, 2007 at 17:24

Jigalong,

The Blu Ant doesn't charge the phone, and, you have to charge the phone via 240v. So if you have a BT inverter in the van you can do it there. I also have an 800 watt inverter in the LC100 with Narva plug connection to the second battery.

The Blue Ant is charged via a normal cig plug lead.

Rob.

AnswerID: 572752

Reply By: Way2go - Saturday, Aug 25, 2007 at 20:30

Saturday, Aug 25, 2007 at 20:30

Hi Folks
We are soon to hit the road again for a working holliday and have been investigating replacing my CDMA phone, the best advice I have recieved so far is that the TU550 is by far the best for travelling, tends to pick up the weaker signal alot better than others, it also comes with a free hard wire car kit with a connection for external arial.

I agree with other comments that so far it has proved to be better than current CDMA phones, but I plan to hang on just in case a better product hits the market before November.

Telstra is about making money at the expense of reliability and until that is all sorted it will be an expense we have to live with.

Telstra advised me that the $60 plan comes with free car kit (hard wired and external arial connection, plus 1 hour free per day to any phone at a set time you choose.

regards
Kev

AnswerID: 572753