Take a Telstra 4 g internet dongle with you , you can run the dongle up the mast to get the best coverage. Phone signal varies , north of Keppel you have island head creek , had nothing at Percy,s until st bees keswick had internet at line reef but no phone.

hi there, i would suggest getting a Telstra wifi dongle as well. this is because you will find that the transmit power of your phone is a lot less than a dongle, so tethering might not work so well with your phone up the mast. and it means you have a backup internet connection (and the dongle is a lot less expensive if it happens to fall to its death)...

i have a telstra 4G usb dongle but that needs to be plugged into the lappy. the thing was $279. a rort.
Problem is i dont really wanna go on some plan as im already on a pretty fatplan with telstra for my phone.
I will look into these ones you guys are talking about though. They probably have come down in price since i bought mine in 2011.

Yep, buy one and use your current sim/plan

Sectorsteve said..

Bushdog said..
Yep, buy one and use your current sim/plan

really?

As long as it uses the same size simcard as your phone and you have to keep changing the card between the two.

sirgallivant said..
This is a Telstra pre paid Wi-Fi and l use it everywhere l go. Worked on the east coast, no worries, btwn Mooloolabah and Sydney. Got a spare battery charging at the nav. table while the unit is up the mast powering my phone and tablet if l need it.
It is not as cheap as the land based ones but much cheaper than satellite phone.
Was 40GB data for $140 last time God for two years and you can reload it on the run.
Btw Steve, l can't tell if you never ask.

oi you , get yourself ready, we are leaving soon!

You get little to no mobile coverage in the Cumberland group and not much coverage out to sea.

The latest and greatest legal device is a Cel-fi go. I will be fitting one to my boat before I head north. They boost both 3 & 4G ( phone and data) I will have the external antenna mounted on my second set of spreaders. Currently I have an Ericsson W35 which did get me range at the Percy Islands. According to all reports the Cel-fi should out do the W35 which is old technology now. The biggest drawback is the cost at over $1,000.00 but if you are relying in phone and data for work as I do, it's a small cost, may even be a tax deduction.
cel-fi.com/oceania/

I use the same dongle as sirgallivant. It takes an aerial which allowss you to keep it inside and charging. We got usable reception on Deal Island. Normally 20Gb for $140 but there are specials at 40Gb for $140.

I've just bought an optus dongle on special at Coles. $39 including 4Gb. A bit cheaper to run at $130 for 25Gb, the 4g is good and it provides a backup. Telstra has the overall best coverage but there is the odd spot where optus reception better. Oh, a this one has a 6 hour battery.

Cheers

Bristle

WindWaterSailAU said..
Telstra 4GX MF910V wifi modem $10 at Woolworths at the moment
www.ozbargain.com.au/node/308086

Takes an external antenna
www.ztemobiles.com.au/MF910V.htm

I use one of these in my caravan with an external antenna up a 5 mt mast. The modem it self doesn't receive any better then your device with a sim in it, but when you add the external antenna you can connect via wifi with you iPad and reception is improved.