Telstra's Next G Network reception — Your Say

By Joseph Hanlon, CNET.com.au
09 January 2008 03:54 PM
Tags: bush, country, next g, telstra, blue tick, cache, cms, lib

Attention regional Australia! Contact us with details of Next G black-spots and areas of limited reception and we'll update the map below to indicate the regions worst affected by the CDMA shutdown.


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Battle-stations everyone: Telstra's CDMA network is set to shutdown on 28 January and all current Telstra customers using CDMA will have to switch to the Next G service to remain connected.

What is your experience of Telstra's Next G network?

Since the announcement of the shutdown there have been grumblings and speculation about the inadequacies of the Next G network for providing regional Australians with a reliable mobile phone service.

But here at CNET.com.au we don't deal in rumour and speculation; we're all about cold hard facts and, since we're also a bunch of soft-handed city-slickers, we are calling on our friends in the bush to help us piece together the actual on-the-ground experience of what the switch from CDMA to Next G is really like.

Has your ability to use your mobile phone suffered? Has it improved? When you bought your new Next G handset did you choose one from Telstra's "blue tick" list?

We'd like to hear from anyone who has made the switch either by posting on our forums or by replying in the talkback below. Be sure to tell us your location and the model of phone you are using so we can track the successes and failings of the Next G network on the map above.

Talkback 43 comments

    NextG in the Central West of NSW Anonymous -- 10/01/08

    (Unfortunately) I have to say that the NextG coverage around Bathurst, Orange, Forbes is very good compared to the old CDMA, but there are still back spots, such as where I live in Riverview Estate in Bathurst

    Telstra 3G modem H -- 12/03/08 (in reply to #320093303)

    Does anyone knows which vendor telstra used for their Hsdpa modems?

    Next G Anonymous -- 10/01/08

    can not use Next G phones at properties around Cygnet Coast Rd Tasmania near Walters Road
    seems to be a black spot

    Next G Anonymous -- 12/01/08 (in reply to #320093311)

    forgot to say the phone is a Samsung A411 which has blue tick also the Telstra coverage map shows full service in this area

    next G Coverage Tassie Anonymous -- 16/01/08 (in reply to #320093439)

    we are also with Telstra Next G using LG TU 500 & Samsung A 411 both have blue ticks and we can not get service in the Wattle Grove Huon Valley area though our friends still with CDMA can Telstra coverage map shows full service no need for an antenna

    Lower Wattle Grove Mobile Anonymous -- 15/10/08 (in reply to #320093636)

    Hi,
    We are moving to LWG.
    Have you found which phones do work well with Next G in that area?
    Thanks,
    Andrew

    coverage G Smith -- 10/01/08

    no coverage 15kms west of Edenhope victoria

    Coverage Jeff -- 10/01/08 (in reply to #320093314)

    Sounds like you do not have an external antenna

    Tel$tra Next G Alan Westerman -- 10/01/08

    No Next G Service at King Ash Bay NT. CDMA Service progressivly getting Worse.Come on Vodafone & Optus.

    Telstra NextG Anonymous -- 10/01/08 (in reply to #320093315)

    Don't know what you mean about King Ash Bay. I wasthere isSeptember with my Next G and t worked fine. Betterthan my CDMA ever did. Maybe get another handset.

    Tel$tra Next G alan westerman -- 08/02/08 (in reply to #320093318)

    I am a resident of King Ash Bay & 98% of the people that have tried to use Next G find it Doesn't work. Sure you will find the odd spot,but i"m talking hand held on a regular basis,not just one offs.CDMA use to work real good,but service has diminished recently.As for handsets,In Telstras words "where you want it when you want it" yeah right, that's bulldust.

    I am sure you can switch to Optus or Vodaphone Anonymous -- 08/02/08 (in reply to #320095226)

    ... Oh!!! do they have coverage?

    NEXT G COVERAGE Anonymous -- 10/01/08

    I travelled from Buderim on the Sunshine Coast to Longreach and the only noticeable spot (out of truck/fuel/rest stops,etc) that I didn't have coverage was BanBan Springs - which never had CDMA coverage in the first place. I took a wireless card and was able to stream NRL and V8 Supercar content on the outskirts of Barcaldine and Alpha. The best one was making a video call to my kids from the wing of the Qantas Boeing 747 in Longreach! Not only did I have good coverage but the features are awesome.

    Next G Phones Anonymous -- 11/01/08

    This relates somewhat to the roll out of the Next G network. There are very few phones that are avaliable on the network. And being a nokia fan i find this disapointing as there are only 2 offered. Telstra needs to scrap it's idea of HSDPA supported phones. Lots of people DON'T want access to stupid Bigpond and Foxtel... they just want to make calls and send text messages. All that HSDPA is doing is pushing up Telstra's revenue from WAP/internet usage!

    Nokia next G phones Taneika -- 16/01/08 (in reply to #320093346)

    I agree with this because personally my family and I think it is simply a way for Telstra to once again gain more money.
    They are FORCING everyone to have the Next G Network otherwise your unable to use your CDMA SIM. I find this useless as in 2 days I am getting a new phone (I've needed one for awhile) and can't seem to find any decent priced Nokia's with Next G network. Yes you can switch your CDMA SIM to Next G network because we are being forced to but it's not like we need to switch for the phones we actually want because it won't make any difference! It is really ridiculous. I've had many problems with Telstra before but this is the worst.

    Far West NSW Anonymous -- 11/01/08

    Had the opportunity to do a side-by-side test at a friends property WELL west of Condobolin, on a tractor in the middle of a paddock. The Acid Test!

    CDMA (Nokia 2112) 2signal bars and usable service, with and without a vehicle kit.

    NextG (Telstra 165) No service with antenna extended in cab, No service on the roof of the cab. (No vehicle kit available.)

    Your mileage may differ, but to me it was quite unambiguous!

    Far West Jeff -- 11/01/08

    There is a directly coupled car kit and patch cord oprions available for the 165, I know I have one and it makes the phone sing in the bush

    CDMA Next G Allan Wright -- 11/01/08

    We changed our CDMA for a next G in Port Hedland and had a lot better coverage on the way to SA.We have done this trip three times and the CDMA on previous trips was next to useless.

    Any mobile reception in Fitzroy Falls NSW Anonymous -- 11/01/08

    No reception - every variety of GSM, Next G and CDMA phone - the old analog did work. This is the main road from Moss Vale to Nowra - pathetic

    Country Vic Darren -- 11/01/08

    Have upgraded from a Nokia 6255 to a new LG TU550, but made sure I have the right car kit and aerial and man what an improvement, where I had drop outs in the past, I can honestly say that I don't have any now.

    Fantastic.

    LG TU550 Rob Smith -- 29/04/08 (in reply to #320093365)

    Be interested to know which carkit you installed. The genuine LG has no direct connection to the external entenna & if you use the generic brand which connects into the back of the phone you will void your warranty according to LG

    LG TU550 Philip A Senyard -- 15/05/08 (in reply to #320100601)

    try web site pcfirst.com.au for a patch lead. Works like a dream!!

    165 Car Kit Lyn -- 11/01/08

    Weird, don't know who you've been talking to, I have a kit for the 165 and it works fine

    Next G coverage Anonymous -- 12/01/08

    I have tested all blue tick phones in my area (Mylneford west of Grafton NSW 29deg 37min S / 152deg 49min E)

    None worked as well as my CDMA using a direct coupled aerial on the roof.(A direct coupled aerial is essential). The main problem with the Next G phones was droppouts, wheras CDMA reception is consistently stable.
    One Next G phone (non blue tick) worked marginally better (ZTE 158) but is $600+.

    Overal for me, the Next G reception is disappointing. Also disappointing is the fact that only one Telstra shop in Grafton (that happily gave me 4 new phones to test without fuss) was able to facilitate my wish to test before buying. The other Telstra shops failed miserably for various reasons.

    Another need for rural subscribers is to have access to some serious competition between telcos to provide network alternatives. The current situation of the Telstra monopoly of take it or leave it facilities and high priced plans disadvantages many rural subscribers who don't have any other choice of telco as do most city users of telecommunications product.

    Finally, in view of the fact that Next G reception for many rural people is still not as reliable and consistent as CDMA the Government minister for Communications Sen.Conroy should veto Telstra's impending shutdown of CDMA until the Next G network can deliver up to or better than Telstra's hype.

    Next G vs CDMA Anonymous -- 13/01/08

    CDMA reception works at Broadmarsh but Next G signal works in certian parts and it is very patchy at my mates property

    Sky High Joe -- 14/01/08

    I have used a Next G JasJam on a plane between WA and NSW, between SA and WA, between QlD and NSW, between Vic and SAand these are not all capital city flights. I can send and receive e-mail, web browsing is patchy but works.

    On the ground I wouldn't trade the phone or the network for all the animals in the optus ads. I travel over 200,000km each year, have used Next G since April and I can not recall a single call drop out in that time.

    CDMA but No NextG reception around Dover Tas Anonymous -- 15/01/08

    I travelled to Dover Tas last weekend and could not get NextG reception in areas around Dover within 3k of town area. People I visited had CDMA reception fine, esp up Coast road and Glenbervie Rd.

    NextG sim in GSM phone NOT Anonymous -- 15/01/08

    I have a next G sim in my GSM phone and reception at my home is worse than with previous GSM SIM.

    I have line of site 3km to comms towers at Pelverata.

    (GSM SIM dont work in NextG phones as they use different towers apparently according to sales droid in Telstra shop Hobart. I had a loan NextG phone while mine was in being rejected for a warranty repair.

    Apparently lots of bad pixels down the side of the screen are user damage.

    I'll be going back to vodaphone as soon as my contract is up Telstra is the biggest mistake I ever made.

    Next G sim Anonymous -- 15/01/08 (in reply to #320093568)

    I agree with the poster who made the comment about Beta tapes working in a VHS.

    The sim card will provive service in your gsm phone, but you need a next g sim AND a next g sim card to take advantage of the network.

    The sim card can communicate on the gsm frequencies, but it wont talk to HSDPA networks (next g) if there is no equipment it can use to do so!

    the next g towers are a completely new infrastructure.

    Wrong advice Anonymous -- 15/01/08

    Maaatteeee,

    Who on earth told you to put a NextG sim in your GSM phone ?

    No wonder why it doesn't work, that's like somebody saying, hmmmm I wonder if my old Beta tapes will work in my VHS...

    No coverage Anonymous -- 15/01/08

    No coverage west of Nabiac, on NSW mid-north coast. It pretty much dies all the way west of there until you get closer to Gloucester. I have a property about 10km west of Nabiac and it is up high on a hill too. Handset is a Telstra ZTE F150 on NextG provided by Telstra.

    TAS: Frankford Rd - Franklin Rivulet w/ Blue tick Anonymous -- 16/01/08

    Travelling the Frankford Rd from N->NW is patchy with a 165 Blue tick phone. Reception is very weak or lost completely at the Franklin Rivulet

    Otherwise, have seen several new towers appearing alongside highways and I've heard that dual network towers will have transmission power increased for NextG when CDMA is disabled (not sure if that's true though!)

    I figure the west coast of Tas will be sparsely covered as CDMA wasn't great beyond population centres there, previously.

    NextGen/CDMA at half power. Anonymous -- 27/01/08

    I was under the impression that co-located CDMA/NextG mobile phone base stations had a problem with interference to each other. As a result both ran at half power, into the same antennas, because of intermodulation products.
    After closure of CDMA, the NextGen would be run at full power. This would improve the service.
    Only where a NextGen base was new was it run at full power.

    Next G 'Next to useless' at Brooms Head NSW Anonymous -- 30/01/08

    Recent holiday at Brooms Head (near Yamba in northern NSW) had no Next G reception although the phone came in handy as a paper weight! While reception has never been great in this location, I never had any problems with my old Nokia CDMA once I found the right spot. As an experiment we placed Optus, Vodaphone and Next G handsets side by side and tried various locations around the area. Both Optus and Vodaphone consistently obtained a signal as opposed to my LG TU500 which didn't work anywhere.

    You sound like a perfect candidate Sick of half hearted complaints -- 30/01/08 (in reply to #320094551)

    Call 1800 888 888 and tell the people who can do something about it.

    At least it works in South Korea... Bonzo Dog -- 31/01/08

    My Telstra GSM wouldn't work there but the wife's NextG phone worked fine!

    Next G handsets Anonymous -- 11/02/08

    Currently using a Samsung A501. I bought this when NextG first became available, upon strong recommendation from Telstra dealer. The phone (and network coverage) have proved serviceable, although reception clarity is not as good as CDMA (around Broome WA).
    My gripe is with Telstra's initial failure to provide information regarding the suitability of handsets for different locations. My husband and son both have the TU550 handset from LG, and they receive much better coverage than the Samsung. I would have liked to have known which handsets were recommended for rural and regional use BEFORE I signed the two-year mobile account contract, rather than 12 months after.

    NEXT G RECEPTION Anonymous -- 14/02/08

    I love the reception for the Next G network, this is better than a normal 3G service. The call quality is superior than any other network.

    A very good idea Telstra have invented and I will stick with Telstra because of this excellent network.

    next g in qld Anonymous -- 21/02/08

    if u follow the coast u will get next g some of the way above gympie they will tell u it is working at half power this is bull if this wcdma is not cdma why is it needed to be turned up and cdma turned off for this to work i live in a town(big) and 68% of it has no service in nextg and full service in cdma .they want to know everything about u

    Improved Reception Peter Sykes -- 23/02/08

    I live in the Sth highlands of NSW. I have had the latest GSM phone and have never been able to get reception at our home.
    You can get it if you go outside and stand on the corner of the verandah with you left foot pointing to the east, your righ foot pointing to Mecca and your ....hips pointing west.
    Similarly I have driven from Mittagong to my home in Berrima for the past 8 yrs and there have been 3 black spots over the journey that are guaranteed to have drop outs.
    I recently got a trial 3G Nokia phone to see if the reception was better.
    When I first got it the same problems happened. No difference despite what I had been promised by Telstra at all levels.
    I then found a product that takes 30 seconds to set up, does not interfere with tower signals, but gives the most amaxing improvement. I tried one for home with the 3G phone at home and went from 2 bars to 6 immediately.
    You can have it set up in your office at home and recieve and make calls at full ssignal strength.
    I tried one for the car and drove from Mittagong to my home 4 times without a single drop out and the signal stregnth was constantly 6 bars.
    This product is really amazing.
    Is anyone interested in something like this becasue we need to make sure Telstra makes it available to people who are getting less signal from the 3G than they had with CDMA?
    I would be very interested in hearing from you.

    Improved Reception Russell -- 01/03/08 (in reply to #320096126)

    "I then found a product that takes 30 seconds to set up, does not interfere with tower signals, but gives the most amaxing improvement. I tried one for home with the 3G phone at home and went from 2 bars to 6 immediately."

    What is this magical device you refer to!

    Next G Wakool NSW Anonymous -- 06/04/08

    The Next G service is crap in the Wakool area. For those who have never been to Wakool there is a CDMA/Next G only tower in town which is supposed to reach a 50km radius of the tower...
    The signal from the tower doesn't even reach a 5km radius in most places. People are buying the "blue ticked" mobiles but i have a non blue tick phone and mine works amazing. Always have coverage when others have none at all...

    The telstra guy said that he thinks the tower is dead because its not reaching it's 50km raidus....

    nextg carinda nsw warren jimmieson -- 16/05/08

    i have been going to a property at carinda for years using a cdma phone, and was always able to ring home at st marys in sydney, and also ring my wifes gsm phone,but she could not call me on the gsm.i now have a lg tu500 next g phone and the reception on that is as good ,if not better than the cdma, it is the first time since switching to next g, that my wife has been able to ring me using her gsm phone, she was amazed, and so was i ,so as far as i am concerned that is a huge plus for telstra, i still get black spots using the putty road between windsor and singleton, but from there on its plain sailing, no worries,i will spend a small amount of money on a magnetic aerial and patch lead and that i know will fix that small problem, cheers

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