catweasel
Member Since: 05 May 2006
Location: Bundaleer
Posts: 4805
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when do the changes come into effect and when are the older type services getting terminated. I have a basic phone but some one wants me to get them a phone from fleabay and need to know how much longer before the current systems are switched off. I have no idea in these matters. thoughts please.
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 21st Jul 2007 9:16 am |
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SKP
Member Since: 07 Feb 2007
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 219
  
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CW, All I know is that I switched to Telstra 3G a couple of months ago and I am finding it much better than gsm or cdma.
While in The Kimberley last month I had a signal where people on Optus did not.
I also got a full strength signal (and made calls) while in the Tanami midway between Alice Springs and Halls Creek. 
There is probably a tower at The Granites goldmine, although my invoice showed Alice Springs tower 
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| 21st Jul 2007 10:20 am |
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bkehoe
Member Since: 24 Feb 2006
Location: Wexford
Posts: 1481
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Bringing this OT a bit, but is it the norm in Aus for your bill to show which cell site your call was routed through? Very cool!  IE - 05 D3 TDV6 HSE - Zambezi Silver
SA - 07 VW Golf TDI - White - Sold!
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| 21st Jul 2007 10:23 am |
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SKP
Member Since: 07 Feb 2007
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 219
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Yes bkehoe, it is with Telstra anyway. Years ago, when we were using the old anologue system, I made a call from a mountain top called "Frenchmans Cap" in Tasmania, the call went through a tower 126 km (about 80 miles away) and that was the closest tower.
Mind you, my calls in June must have been relayed to Alice Springs, because I was a good 500 kms (300+miles) as the crow flies !!
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| 21st Jul 2007 1:40 pm |
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Baggy
Member Since: 11 Feb 2006
Location: sydney.....in the land of oz
Posts: 183
 
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I've got a Telstra CDMA and Optus 3G phones. THe Telstra CDMA could pick up a signal south of Tumut (NSW) where the Optus 3G could not.
My laptop has a Telstra 3G card and I couldn't get a signal for it in the same location - and I was using the external (extension) antenna.
I think the Telstra CDMA still has the better coverage - so perhaps consider keeping it as a backup until they completely shut it down.
sorry CW - just re-read your post, the above doesn't really help you  I think. Your looking at GSM vs 3G networks I gather. '11 TDV6 - Stornoway Grey.... still lovin' it!!
REDUCE GREENHOUSE GASSES.......Eat more BEEF!!
Addendum: Red wine goes REALLY well with BEEF
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| 22nd Jul 2007 10:07 am |
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catweasel
Member Since: 05 May 2006
Location: Bundaleer
Posts: 4805
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Baggy wrote:I think the Telstra CDMA still has the better coverage - so perhaps consider keeping it as a backup until they completely shut it down.
I don't know the diff between GSM,CDMA or 3G but need to know when they will only have 3G and shut down the other two.
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| 22nd Jul 2007 10:18 am |
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Baggy
Member Since: 11 Feb 2006
Location: sydney.....in the land of oz
Posts: 183
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THe talk is Telstra is planning to shutdown the CDMA network after Jan'08. However, I believe they will be audited and must demonstrate that their 3G network has at least the same coverage before they are allowed to swtich the CDMA system off.
I don't know about the future of the GSM network though, but it is heavily used in all major areas so I guess it will be around for a while. GSM doesn't have the same coverage of 3G.
Telstra's wireless broadband service tries to connect to 3G first and if it can't it will try to connect to the GSM network. The 3G system gives you a faster broadband connection.
THat's my limit of knowledge on this one. '11 TDV6 - Stornoway Grey.... still lovin' it!!
REDUCE GREENHOUSE GASSES.......Eat more BEEF!!
Addendum: Red wine goes REALLY well with BEEF
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| 22nd Jul 2007 10:34 am |
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catweasel
Member Since: 05 May 2006
Location: Bundaleer
Posts: 4805
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infintely more than me.
cheers 
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| 22nd Jul 2007 10:38 am |
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bkehoe
Member Since: 24 Feb 2006
Location: Wexford
Posts: 1481
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I'm guessing when you guys are talking about '3G' that it's Next G that you're on about, as normal 3G has far worse coverage than GSM as it operates on 2.1GHz, whereas Next G is 850MHz? IE - 05 D3 TDV6 HSE - Zambezi Silver
SA - 07 VW Golf TDI - White - Sold!
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| 22nd Jul 2007 10:41 am |
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Martin Krutli
Member Since: 17 Apr 2007
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 229
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Cat - the 3G network has been developed to take over from the old analogue network and allows alsorts of fancy things like video streaming access to internet etc, etc, What it doesn't do is make it a better phone system!. All of the providers (Telstra, Optus, Vodaphone, etc operate 3G networks). Their is a significant difference in the network coverage between providers - in my opinion Telstra has far superior, particularly once out of the metro area.
CDMA, which allowed operation in regional areas with greater distances between repeater repeater towers is due to be switched off sometime in 2008, but the shut-down seems to be getting extended because of slow take up of the new system. As someone else commented, Telstra's Next G system is what is designed to be taking over from CDMA and operates in an entirely different frequency spectrum than 3G - namely 850Mhz, so don't confuse 3G with Next G. So if you, or the person who you are buying from wants coverage in the areas previously the precinct of CDMA (where you couldn't get coverage with a 'normal' phone) you will have to go Next G. I'd question the wisdom of buying that over eBay as these phones are pretty new and you don't really know what you're getting (but perhaps I'm just wary of eBay).
Hope that helps.
Cheers.
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| 22nd Jul 2007 11:14 am |
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catweasel
Member Since: 05 May 2006
Location: Bundaleer
Posts: 4805
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the person in question wants a phone to ring and dial out on, they struggle to operate the remote for a tv (and do not have or care for the tinternet which is why I am buying for them). would one of these GSM jobbies do the trick. I'd hate to buy them a phone only to be switched off.
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| 22nd Jul 2007 11:18 am |
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Martin Krutli
Member Since: 17 Apr 2007
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 229
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If they're operating in the metro area - absolutely not a problem. If they want coverage where the current CDMA sytem works (ie pretty much anywhere away from metro or key regional centres) - no.
I get coverage most places between Adelaide and Pt Lincoln with my 3G ( GSM), but as soon as I move anywhere away from the main highway, it pretty soon drops out. My brother=in-law who live in Lincoln has a CDMA and when we are travelling away together, he gets coverage most places long after mine has dropped out. The Next G system is supposed to do the same - only better. We'll see.
Cheers.
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| 22nd Jul 2007 11:25 am |
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Boofrmb
Member Since: 12 Dec 2005
Location: Northern NSW
Posts: 123
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catweasel wrote:when do the changes come into effect and when are the older type services getting terminated. I have a basic phone but some one wants me to get them a phone from fleabay and need to know how much longer before the current systems are switched off. I have no idea in these matters. thoughts please.
Hi CW. I assume u are talking about the Telstra CDMA. As I am aware, u have 6 months left of the CDMA (plug pulled on the 31 Jan 2008 ), unless changes happen. If the GSm, its should be around for quiet a while, as it is the full back if the 3G (replacement for CDMA) fails. Hope this helps you. Rob 2006 Disco 3 TDV6 SE in Zambezi Silver
1948 Series 1 SWB Soft Top in Standard green
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| 31st Jul 2007 6:05 am |
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catweasel
Member Since: 05 May 2006
Location: Bundaleer
Posts: 4805
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| 1st Aug 2007 12:46 pm |
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