MOBILE PHONES
The mobile phone has entered our lives and is irreplaceable as a communications tool, as long as you're in an area that has mobile reception. Looking at the coverage provided by Australia's two main carriers, Telstra and Optus, the coastal fringe has mobile coverage. As the population diminishes, so does your mobile coverage. Once you get into rural, regional or remote areas, your mobile phone becomes less and less reliable as a communications tool. We have found that Telstra has a wider network than Optus, covering more than 1 million square kilometres than its next nearest competitor.
Mobile coverage in regional areas is by no means blanket coverage. Be aware that your travels will be interspersed with large areas of no mobile coverage. A handy hint is when you are out of range, turn the phone to flight mode to save battery life. Mobiles tend to ‘ping’ to see if there's coverage and drain the battery. Simply turn off flight mode once you get close to town.
BOOSTING YOUR MOBILE PHONE COVERAGE
In May 2018, Telstra introduced the Telstra GO Mobile Smart Signal Vehicle Repeater. This device “gives you greater range, clearer mobile calls and better data connection in a moving vehicle”. Once installed the unit acts as a network coverage extension device. Telstravariables affecting signal (terrain, distance, signal availability) that Caravan World would advise you to undertake extensive research to make sure you get value out of a booster.
