Thread: mobile phones with external antenna points?

We use a Telstra T100 phone when we are camping.
Brand New TELSTRA ZTE T100 Next G Blue Tick - Unlocked | eBay

It is a blue tick phone with an antenna jack on the back. The phone sits in a generic cradle (from Supercheap) and the cable (Patch Lead for Telstra T100) plugs in the back and is connected to a 6.5dB antenna on the bull bar.

I use a bluetooth headset to make calls and if internet access is required we can connect a laptop or smartphone to the T100 via bluetooth.

Most of the ZTE phones still have external antenna port, for this reason its my phone of choice. None of the others offer an external antenna any more. Proximity pads are not much chop. When bush camping I stick an antenna onto of a 5meter pole gives me an extra 25klm range over the horizon from a nextg tower. for modem hookup ect.
ZTE Australia > Products > Mobile Phones

I've used the Telstra country phones for a few years now. They are a direct connection via the phone kit. The initial price is high (unless you go through e-bay), however with the aerial mounted on the bullbar is is fantastic.

The best way of putting it is when the phone is down on 1 bar left, by connecting it to the aerial that jumps it back up the 3 or 4 bars of reception. My phone consistently gets reception where the missus' next g didn't.

I think it's worth it if you spend a lot of time on the fringe areas, otherwise it probably isn't.


Cheers
Chris

The current Telstra NextG phones that have an antenna connection are the Samsung C5220 as said above and the ZTE T95. You can still get the T100 in some shops and Coles had them for $25 each a few weeks ago. They are all prepaid and all blue tick.

Also the Samsung Galaxy S and S2 both have external antenna ports if you remove the battery cover or drill a corresponding hole in the cover from what I've been told.

Patch leads can be effective but are no where near as good as a plug in. Especially if that patch lead is just the pad on a lead type.

Members,

I have a D4 MY11 2.7.

I have an iphone4 which I currently use via blue tooth, because I connect my ipod classic to the car via the cable.

Does this mean that my phone is not getting the benefit of the car's external aerial because it is not physically connected to the car?

Hello, I have a Nokia 8120C in my '93 Disco 1 V8. It's installed with a Nokia car kit for specific to this phone.
Two reasons why I bought it;

1) it has the Telstra blue tick for country range.

2) is has an external antenna port. (not a coupling)

I run a ZCG 61/2 db antenna on the bull bar.

All up about $400 to fit around 3 ish years ago.

It has performed well (touch wood) all around the bush.

If you can be bothered the range os service seems to amtch teh Telstra maps well. (Even out bush, Tibborburra, Broken Hill, NE South Aust etc).


I hope this helps, George.

Telstra have just released a new smart phone with wi-fi and a proper external aerial socket. its called a Telstra Active Touch and sells for about $288.00 in the Telstra dealers that I was in today.
From what I read in several posts last night the socket under the cover on the Samsung Galaxy is only for factory testing and is very easily damaged.
Dave

Originally Posted by Nick S

My iPhone4 uses a Bury cradle that is connected to a 9db antenna on the bull bar. I've had the antenna for years and it just pugs into the cradle wiring, used it with the last 3 phones and it makes a big difference in the bush
Nick

That is what I have with my iPhone 4s too
Works great and I have a Bluetooth Nokia car kit which it works with in the 110 too. In fact I have the same set up in the 90 and the RRC. (BTW the Bluetooth Nokia car kits work great with any Bluetooth phone and can get the really cheap on eBay )
I found a dick smith closing down selling the Areils for $5 each so I bought all they had.