NextG / CDMA coverage?

[Outlaw]

Okay people, quick question please :D

Who's switched over to NextG in areas where you can only use CDMA and how good is it?

I've got 3 phones that are finished there contracts and thinking would be good to swap over ;)

Cheers in advance

[waynep]

I don't have the answer but the coverage maps for NextG are on the Telstra website.

[stikman]

Hey Josh,
Eve's dad went from CDMA to NextG. He is between Coffs and Grafton and does not get GSM coverage. He seems fairly happy with it. If you want specifics let me know and i can ask him.

[Outlaw]

Thanks Stikman they're the specifics i'm after.... who can't get gsm coverage but IS getting NextG.

Coverage maps aren't accurate enough... the gsm maps for Optus tell me i can get reception in a few places on the Sunshine Coast where i know for a fact i don't.

[Gidget]

Don't do it :o
I am in Bundaberg Queensland & my cdma phone got wet, yet again (joys of being a plumber) & they could only get me Next G replacments....
Well after they talked me into it, I left the shop...
Next day I had returned as the phone didn't get coverage 10 minutes out of town :( they then talked me into a $400 car kit ohhh & a $100 arial
Now I get coverage 10 minutes out of town :D
Just don't drive any further or your screwed.......:mad:
I would hold out as long as possible, they told me after I was a bit cranky (it's not their business that suffers) that as they turn the power down to cdma they turn it up to Next G......:angrylock::angrylock:

Hope I helped :eek:


If you do change over you will most likely be able to sell your cdma handsets on Ebay to cranky customers like me.......

[SheldonA]

I've switched over. Found that coverage is nowhere as good as CDMA but I knew this would be the case.... Believe that by the end of the year when CDMA is phased out completely that the coverage will be the same by then..... who knows.....

Have been a little dissapointed in the coverage but then it has its benefits of work not being able to get a hold of me :D

Have been more annoyed with the new phone itself than anything. Apparently nokia dont make a NextG compatabile phone yet so all my chargers lying around at different locations are no good to me. Also all the NextG compatible phones are the flip open types which makes it tough to answer one handed and too narrow to put under my earmuffs to have hands free :(

[SheldonA]

Yeah agree with Gidget as well..... hold out as long as possible... like him I had no choice...

[GuyG]

Instead of renewing contract why not just get a replacement handset and swap esn's with carrier, ie new or 2nd hand handset. Outlaw, if theres nothing wrong with your current handsets and you still have coverage why change?

Cheers Guy

[BigJon]

I got my Nokia CDMA phone screen replaced and the Telstra mob couldn't understand why. Comments as above show that I made the right decision. When Nokia release a NextG nadset, I will consider changing, but I am concerned that it will be a ridiculous flip / slide piece of junk. What ever happened to simple phones with few moving parts that actually work?!:twisted:

[harry]

i'm in the same boat, got a telstra cdma and they want to shut it down, i keep getting calls from then wanting to upgrade me to nextg, but i want a nokia and not a flip phone, in fact i would be quite happy if its only function was as a phone, don't need a camera, computer, or that other rubbish, just a telephone, please nokia help?
and make it more user friendly than my current cdma nokia [digital was better before we needed cdma]

[rovercare]

Same deal, had the first nokia CDMA, brilliant but a ****ing brick, updated to the little one, brilliant again, missus uses that now, then updated to flippy crap nokia CDMA, service deteriated, now I have a 3G and its marginal compared to the CDMA, better in spots and worse in others:confused:

But caped deal and paying out the old plan, why not:D

[amtravic1]

I have been on the next G for a while now and the service is improving all the time. I was initailly very unhappy with it but the last few months have had a big increase in coverage.

ian

[p38arover]

Same deal, had the first nokia CDMA, brilliant but a ****ing brick, updated to the little one, brilliant again, missus uses that now, then updated to flippy crap nokia CDMA, service deteriated, now I have a 3G and its marginal compared to the CDMA, better in spots and worse in others:confused:

If I could get a Telstra Nokia 6385 CDMA at a reasonable price I would. My car kit is set up for a Nokia. I suppose Telstra wouldn't connect it.

I had a 6385 with Orange (now 3) but they closed their CDMA service a while back and Telstra wouldn't connect the Orange phone even with the unlock codes from Orange.

Ron

[noddy]

:D :D :D

The NextG network uses exactly the same towers and in most cases the same CDMA transmitting antennas. They are running off the same frequency as CDMA.

The only explanation for a difference in coverage may be due to the sensitivity of the actual handset and the configuration versus the CDMA setup (ie: external antenna 3dB, 5dB etc versus handheld etc etc). You could also get some 'cell breathing' due to the number of simultaneous users on the network, but that would be seen more in terms of data speed rather than voice coverage.

Telstra had the same problem when they replaced the analogue network (AMPS) with CDMA....suddenly analogue coverage appeared out of nowhere. You cannot compare the performance of a 3watt bag-phone with a handheld CDMA putting out 0.2watt (Whack an external antenna on the CDMA and it will match the old bag-phone).

99% of the time your problem will be with the actual handset.

The early Nokia CDMAs were appalling, took Nokia years to get the handset approved for performance as they refused to use the Qualcomm chipset.

NextG will be as good, if not better in terms of coverage (especially in metro).

Trust me!:angel:

[Gidget]

:D :D :D

The NextG network uses exactly the same towers and in most cases the same CDMA transmitting antennas. They are running off the same frequency as CDMA.


Telstra had the same problem when they replaced the analogue network (AMPS) with CDMA....suddenly analogue coverage appeared out of nowhere. You cannot compare the performance of a 3watt bag-phone with a handheld CDMA putting out 0.2watt (Whack an external antenna on the CDMA and it will match the old bag-phone).

99% of the time your problem will be with the actual handset.

NextG will be as good, if not better in terms of coverage (especially in metro).

Trust me!:angel:


Your correct, but as posted already, the govt won't let them turn Next G up, unless they turn the cdma down, so it will be better once the cdma is turned off...
My problem is why the hell do you lot in metro need better coverage :confused::confused:
Cdma was to replace analogue for the bush... so if metro has great coverage with both, digital & next G,,, what they hell are the rest of us going to use :mad:
It seams that Telsta's claim to cover 90% of the population is correct shame this 90% live in only 10% of the country.
So to hell with the other 10% of people that actually cover around 90% of the country.

They shafted us when they turned analogue off, they screwed us around when cdma came on & then told us it was the ducks nuts...... a few years later they shaft us again with Next G....
In my controlled rage at the telstra shop I said
& you lot will come up with another scam to suck money out of us in another few years....
His reply was "yes we are already working on G4.......
I muttered a few words & walked out.....
It's a shame none of the other networks offer anything better.... cause I would have jumped ship along time ago..

I understand we can't have it everywhere (nor do we want it everywhere) but geez, we pay our bills to...... I am going to hide now, this subject gets under my skin every time.

:soapbox:Rant over,, the wife is stuffing me back in my box

[noddy]

Gidget

CDMA is FAR superior to AMPS in terms of coverage. When CDMA first came on, it was touch and go with AMPS, but CDMA is now a monster of a network (2nd largest in the world, just behind ChinaMobile and how many people do they have to support the network build?)

98% of the pop are covered with CDMA, and that equates to a massive land area. You are never going to cover 100% of the landmass with terrestrial networks and nor would it make sense to try. Going from 96% (GSM and AMPS) pop coverage to 98% meant a tripling in the actual landarea of the network. It becomes a case of massively diminishing returns.

NextG is better in the city because of additional capacity as a result of roaming. CDMA is flakey in metro.

Don't get me wrong, I love CDMA to death and will hang onto the end (just because of the cost in changing), but NextG is better again (coils versus leaf:p ).

[Captain_Rightfoot]

Gidget

CDMA is FAR superior to AMPS in terms of coverage. When CDMA first came on, it was touch and go with AMPS, but CDMA is now a monster of a network (2nd largest in the world, just behind ChinaMobile and how many people do they have to support the network build?)

98% of the pop are covered with CDMA, and that equates to a massive land area. You are never going to cover 100% of the landmass with terrestrial networks and nor would it make sense to try. Going from 96% (GSM and AMPS) pop coverage to 98% meant a tripling in the actual landarea of the network. It becomes a case of massively diminishing returns.

NextG is better in the city because of additional capacity as a result of roaming. CDMA is flakey in metro.

Don't get me wrong, I love CDMA to death and will hang onto the end (just because of the cost in changing), but NextG is better again (coils versus leaf:p ).
So, I'm going on my trip around in June and I currently have a CDMA phone. Would you hang onto it or try and switch?

[Disco300Tdi]

Hang on to it Captain as CDMA isn't being outed untill 2/08

Korong Vale is an area of CDMA only (No GSM coverage for approx 8k out of town.

A telco shop in Bendigo was spruking that CDMA was being pulled very soon, (no doubt to increase sales), a few friends changed over to NextG and had no reception at all. They went back with their old CDMA phones in hand and wanted to be reconnected back to the CDMA....

Surprise surprise Telstras' policy is that they are not connecting any more phones to CDMA.

[BMKal]

We have both CDMA and NextG at a gold mine out of Kalgoorlie where GSM coverage is very poor.

So far, CDMA is providing better coverage. We have car kits in company cars, with same / similar aerials and still get better coverage out of CDMA.

I had not heard that NextG is using same transmitting gear as CDMA, and that CDMA will be "turned down" and NextG "turned up" as NextG is phased in - hopefully this will be the case as we are not impressed with NextG so far. In fact, I was told by local Telstra dealer that NextG is operating on same frequency / using same equipment as GSM ?????

The thing that really annoys me is that Tesltra recently were quite happy to take my money for a new Kyocera CDMA telephone AND car kit - but will offer no refund / discount when I am forced to change to NextG.

If it wasn't for the fact that no other network has the same coverage as Telstra in the country (especially in WA) I would be seriously considering changing to another provider when I can no longer use my CDMA.

[Captain_Rightfoot]

Hang on to it Captain as CDMA isn't being outed untill 2/08

Sounds as though I might as well. It's a bit beaten up, but it should make it through! :)

[Gidget]

what about AULRO network :D

If everyone sticks a arial on their house, how far will we get ;);)

Least I can see the funny side, as I sit in my office, with my next G phone, 5 minutes from the center of Bundy with not enough signal to get a phone call.........well nearly the funny side :cool:

[BigJon]

It seams that Telsta's claim to cover 90% of the population is correct shame this 90% live in only 10% of the country.
So to hell with the other 10% of people that actually cover around 90% of the country.

Living where I do, I get regional telly. SCB (Southern Central Broadcasting?) have an ad running at the moment about their potential market for television advertising. The map they show seems to cover about 2/3 of Australias land mass, with an audience of 420 000 people:eek: .

When it comes to having neighbours, Australia is very roomy:D .

[noddy]

Captain -- we travelled around Oz with a CDMA and satphone. The CDMA (in-vehicle with a 5db antenna) was brillant. You will be surprised where you can make calls.

If you will be back before Feb '08 hang onto your CDMA. Otherwise it may be better going over to NextG. Keep all your antennas as you will able to use them.

NextG is running off 850Mhz, same as CDMA and is actually just an evolution of CDMA. Completely different technology to GSM.

Hope it helps.

[Captain_Rightfoot]

Captain -- we travelled around Oz with a CDMA and satphone. The CDMA (in-vehicle with a 5db antenna) was brillant. You will be surprised where you can make calls.

If you will be back before Feb '08 hang onto your CDMA. Otherwise it may be better going over to NextG. Keep all your antennas as you will able to use them.

NextG is running off 850Mhz, same as CDMA and is actually just an evolution of CDMA. Completely different technology to GSM.

Hope it helps.
I don't have a ext antenna, and I didn't realise they would be re-useable. If they are I will definitely get a ext antenna :)

[gruntfuttock]

Bugger, I just wrote a page reply, clicked the chech spelling button and the whole lot dissapeared.
Must the the Toyo fans getting into the site :(:mad::mad:

[noddy]

Definitely get an external antenna....there really is no comparision between handheld and external antenna.

Back in 1999 Telstra conducted a range of tests between in vehicle handheld vs external antenna and the difference was something like 6 times the dB loss when handheld, mainly due to the car shell.

The fisherman on the NSW south coast were getting CDMA coverage something like 100km out to sea with a good set-up (admittedly you get some signal bouncing off the water), but with handheld you would be struggling to get 15km.

Depending on the country/terrain you are driving in you might want to consider your type of antenna. There are some great mag-based antennas which are a cost-effective alternative to the full hands-free car kit.

The only thing with the Defender is finding somewhere to mount the mag....aluminimum body is not great:D

[gruntfuttock]

I have just switched to Next G and I am 100% happy. I bought a CDMA and the phone was nothing but a lemon. The calls would drop out if I talked any longer than 3 minutes. The phone would just freeze up, The callers would tell me that all of a sudden the phone would start breaking up. It would never call out if it was not 100% charged. If I went inside a building the signal would just drop out. etc etc etc. It went back to be fixed. Nothing wrong with it was the answer i got. Returned it and put a little bit of nail polish on one screw they would have to pull out, and guess what? It was still there when they returned it! I put up with it for a few months now I have Next G and all I can say is that it is great. I can actually talk to people!!

As for the Nokia phones, well I had one in Switzerland, in the end the shop gave me another phone of a differnt brand as they got sick of me returning the phone all the time. I gave them 10 out of 10 for service.

[Richard]

ive just received my first bill, be warned, they throw on next months charges on your first bill as a bit of a surprise. so my $49 cap plan thats meant to give me $250 worth of calls is actually costing me $318...yay!! also be careful of getting on the internet, needed to do it to check the address of the local land rover dealership, done through yellowpages, cost me $15!!


good coverage, ive noticed that once you hit the hang up button on my phone it takes a couple of seconds to actually hang up.

[Disco300Tdi]

ive just received my first bill, be warned, they throw on next months charges on your first bill as a bit of a surprise. so my $49 cap plan thats meant to give me $250 worth of calls is actually costing me $318...yay!! also be careful of getting on the internet, needed to do it to check the address of the local land rover dealership, done through yellowpages, cost me $15!!


good coverage, ive noticed that once you hit the hang up button on my phone it takes a couple of seconds to actually hang up.

Thats normal on any plan....

You always paid a month ahead

[p38arover]

I went to Telstra to day to see about getting a Next-G phone.

Absolutely not worth it to me. I'm on an old railways staff plan and I currently pay $5.50 per month for my Telstra mobile GSM connection and get that in calls. I'm not on a fixed term contract and I own my phone outright (it's my daughter's old phone).

My calls charges are very low in comparison to the rates shown on Telstra's website.

I don't appear to pay a connection fee and the per 30 sec block charge is less than what I'd pay if I was on the $350 per month spend plan (it appears to be 15 cents/30 sec or part thereof). My SMS messages are also a lot lower than stated on Telstra's website.

If I change to Next-G I'll lose that plan. My monthly mobile phone bill is about $9.

The people at the Telstra shop wonder how I got such a good plan.

Why would I change?

Ron

[lrocol]

The Telstra new NextG Network is in fact CDMA technology or more correctly Wideband CDMA (WCDMA), surprise!!!! It only has a carrier frequency shift from the existing 900Mhz carrier to 850Mhz carrier but as a result of the upgrade in bandwidth and technology requires a new phone to access. GSM (Global System for Mobiles) is not a technology but a generic term used when talking about any mobile phone system.
Where does this leave us as users?
As the carrier frequency is lower, then theoretically it should (and in most cases does) have greater coverage (and bandwidth for data) than the existing CDMA. Areas do suffer from less coverage but this should only be the case until all base stations are upgraded to 850Mhz. I personally have a Samsung A701 and find it good around town and on most Qld country roads better than my old Digital handset. The WCDMA 850 coverage will only get better as Telstra upgrades the country coverage supplying WLL (wireless local loop for fixed mobile services to farmers/graziers). No I am not a Telstra employee but I used to be.

[rick130]

currently have two Kyocera CDMA phones complete with car kits which we have repaired to see out the CDMA system, as the Next G coverage is still very marginal in these parts.

One of the local couriers had a Next G phone but went back to his CDMA phone two weeks ago as he had no reception from Murrurundi to just north of Scone, bacically a 30km stretch of the New England Highway.
Not good enough ATM.

We are with Southern Cross Telco on our CDMA service, but it seems Telstra is holding out on them regarding sub leasing the Next G system, at least so far.

[gruntfuttock]

currently have two Kyocera CDMA phones.


You poor bugger, I HAD one of them, and like I said it was nothing but a lemon. Never worked from day one!!

[Dinty]

G'day All, I don't own one and will never buy one ever grumpy old so and so, but really I dont give a stuff about them, but I do wish I had the money (in fines) for all the turkeys that i see using them and sending text messages whilst out walking, I reckon I could afford to use a Limo :D anyway rant over cheers Dennis:wasntme:

[Outlaw]

hmmm so anymore real world views on the ACTUAL quality of the NextG network?

Looking about 50/50 so far ;)

[Outlaw]

Okay POLL added above for an easier view

[crump]

I drowned my faithfull old CDMA LG 800W of 10 years ownership recently and did the get a new Next G phone deal and have found that coverage is nowhere near as good in rural areas.It seems the new network is much more sensitive to signal, it says you have it but you dont.Messages will come thru at a location but when you go to retrieve them, you have no service.Just got back from SW Queensland and it was well and truly hopeless.Country is as flat as a pancake and could only get signal in most centres ie St George, Cunnamulla,Thargomindah within 5kms of town centres.I also find that the signal at home fluctuates constantly,( i can see the phone tower from my roof) it has full service and then it has none.

[Xtreme]

I have Next G and had excellent coverage during our recent Tassie trip.
Others members with Optus only had coverage in Hobart, Launceston & Devonport.

[BMKal]

You poor bugger, I HAD one of them, and like I said it was nothing but a lemon. Never worked from day one!!

I've got two of them as well, or at least I've got one and the War Department has the other. Car kits in both the Prado and the D2. Have never had a problem with them. The PTT feature is excellent - saves a lot of money on phone calls.

[rick130]

You poor bugger, I HAD one of them, and like I said it was nothing but a lemon. Never worked from day one!!

only ever had Qualcomm/Kyocera since the analogue network was turned off, and they've all been fine, although the original Qualcomm was the most rugged of the bunch.
Qualcomm developed the technology, made sense to use their phones, just ask anyone who tried to use the original CDMA Nokia's. ;)

[RobHay]

What!!!!! :eek: I have only just managed to find the G spot:) ....now they want me to start looking for the next G....:mad: Think I will give it all way and remain celibrate :twisted:

[Richard]

Thats normal on any plan....

You always paid a month ahead

yeah but it wasnt explained to me, this is my first mobile plan in which i am paying for, so it was a bloody shock to get the bill.

[abaddonxi]

I've got a Samsung SCH-411 CDMA phone sitting around if anyone wants it, doesn't have a charger, and no idea if it works, but happy to give it to the first PM.

Cheers
Simon

[Disco300Tdi]

I've got a Samsung SCH-411 CDMA phone sitting around if anyone wants it, doesn't have a charger, and no idea if it works, but happy to give it to the first PM.

Cheers
Simon

Would be good for a paper wieght Simon

Which carrier connects to CDMA now, Telstra doesnt anymore...:confused:

[abaddonxi]

Would be good for a paper wieght Simon

Which carrier connects to CDMA now, Telstra doesnt anymore...:confused:

Sure, I know, but someone might have just dropped their old fave and need a new screen or a working keypad.

Cheers
Simon

[1103.9TDI]

Written under the influence of three quarters of an 1150ml bottle of Bundy, disregard, thanks.............

[Pedro_The_Swift]

hmm, I thought that was the point,,
he wanted to know specifically about 3G.
and there is always option 4:D

[Outlaw]

Hehe just read your original post Gerry and quite impressed with that much bundy in the system.

NextG by Telstra is the only network that can offer this particular service as it replaces the CDMA network which was put in place to help in regional areas that can not get normal GSM networks (like optus, vodafone etc.) 3G is a slightly different network again and also doesn't have the range of NextG.

So basically only interested really in the comments (and poll scores) of those actually using NextG before i go and lock in 3 or 4 of my company phones onto a 2yr contract with them.

[Outlaw]

well have gone and switched over our 3 mobiles to Next G so will see how it pans out up the sunshine coast where we usually hit black spots everywhere :D

Oh but one great start... found a blackspot on the gateway :mad:

Got a i-Mate JasJam for myself and a Samsung a701 for the old man... now to find some gps software to stick on the jasjam :cool:

Thanks for the survey people... good to see not everyone's against it.

[blitz]

Well all I laughed my guts out when I hit the dont have a clue option and found out most of us did as well.

CDMA G3 doesn't matter a bugger in the NT we dont have the population so it will always be crud up here.

Sat phones bloody expensive but I will probably get one if my rural work load picks up any further, and that is only for emergencies. I actually like being out of phone range - no bugger can humbug me, but then my lovely lady tells me regularly I am a grummpy, antisocial person who should have been born a couple of centuries ago and been a pirate.;)

I want the sat phone to get cheaper so the rural people have a real option but I will believe that just like all the promises the pollies are making now an election is in the air.

Blythe

[solmanic]

also be careful of getting on the internet, needed to do it to check the address of the local land rover dealership, done through yellowpages, cost me $15!!

Well I have just purchased a 3G phone but will keep my 2G SIM until I am forced to switch. I generally use wireless networking for any internet access - there is always some fool who has an open network or public hotspots. Until 3G HSPDA is offered as a properly capped broadband plan (like any home service) for realistic money I don't think I will use a mobile for internet access this way.