I'M FED UP...

[jx2mad]

Mobile phones drive me mad...or should I say that finding the right phone is. All I need is a phone (Telstra) that works on the fringe of city and will work inside our house. Most phones work ok outside, but not inside. I also want one with a decent battery life. Living on the outskirts send batteries flat trying to maintain connection. Also a screen that can be seen in daylight. I don"t surf the net or do facebook etc, just want a basic phone that WORKS. Jim

[isuzutoo-eh]

Want my old Motorola Brick? After the old battery died, I converted it to rechargeable AAA batteries that would last two weeks with regular use. Worked everywhere, I used to carry it on hikes in Wollemi Wilderness, even on Optus's mediocre network it always had reception when no other phone did.

:D


Seriously, don't go for a current model phone. The older phones weren't continuously checking for connection and could be programmed to check less or more frequently as required. Get a new battery from Battery World or similar and you'll have a reliable phone for another few years.

[PhilipA]

Do what the caravanners do and buy a blue tick phone with external antenna hard connection, then set up an antenna on the roof with a wire to a convenient location.

If you get reception ouside, imagine how much better with a high gain antenna up on the roof!
Regards Philip A

[bee utey]

As above, I still have my old Nokia 3310, get one off ebay and a new battery and it will go for years.

[Disco Inferno]

Ditto to above. I couldn't live without my iPhone in a good service area, the functionality is superb BUT for signal strength, dependability, battery life of a week and a ringer you can hear the Nokia 6110 kills the iPhone hands down. It lives in the glove box as a backup knowing it will always work.

[p38arover]

Mobile phones drive me mad...or should I say that finding the right phone is. All I need is a phone (Telstra) that works on the fringe of city and will work inside our house. Most phones work ok outside, but not inside. I also want one with a decent battery life. Living on the outskirts send batteries flat trying to maintain connection. Also a screen that can be seen in daylight. I don"t surf the net or do facebook etc, just want a basic phone that WORKS. Jim

Samsung C5220 Next G. I've used it in some pretty remote locations and it only cost me $69 on a special from Hardly Normal. It has a Telstra NextG Blue Tick. http://www.telstra.com.au/mobile/phones/phone_details.cfm?phone=c5220

[waynep]

Samsung C5220 with Next G SIM is on special at Australia Post right now - ( $69) as a pre-paid kit. I paid $95 at the Telstra shop.
I find this phone works well in marginal areas.
It has a proper connector for an external antenna - most phones these days don't.

[KFACTA]

Mobile phones drive me mad...or should I say that finding the right phone is. All I need is a phone (Telstra) that works on the fringe of city and will work inside our house. Most phones work ok outside, but not inside. I also want one with a decent battery life. Living on the outskirts send batteries flat trying to maintain connection. Also a screen that can be seen in daylight. I don"t surf the net or do facebook etc, just want a basic phone that WORKS. Jim

Nokia E51.... was one of the best phones I have owned as far as signal strength on Telstra NextG. We were out bush when we had the extremely bad weather here in March last year. I had 2-3 Bars service and could call home and let people know we were ok. I was the only one who could make a call and check for more bad weather.