Thread: Can someone explain 3G phone frequencies/bands to me?

I know that Telstra Next G is 850/2100MHz while Optus 3/4g is 900/1800/2100MHz

Looks like I may have to go with Optus then.

Just by way of explanation I bought this tiny little 3G phone for when I go running.

Modu T Cell Mobile Smart Phone Touchscreen 3G GSM Unlocked Camerafy Sportify | eBay

It only weighs 62 grams (about a third of an iphone weight - supposedly the lightest 3G phone in the world!).

It is really just for emergencies, so weight was the prime reason for getting it.

The seller assures me it will work in Aus.......so we'll see.

Try these links:

2G, 3G, Next-G, 4G - What's the difference?
http://whirlpool.net.au/wiki/mobile_phone_frequencies

Not only are there multiple frequencies but some frequencies are specific to a carrier, and others are shared. What a cluster...

The trouble is you do not actually know where a specific frequency is in use in a specific area (except for Telstra NextG - country).

So unless you were going for Optus and staying with Optus for the life of the phone, I would get a phone with 850

As an aside: I find the talk time and standby time figures on the phone you are looking at pretty hard to believe given the size of the battery, but it is feature packed given the size (or lack of it).

During 2012 Vodaphone rolled out an 850MHZ network in an attempt to win back customers:

850MHz network ready devices - Vodafone Australia

Reasonable explanation of frequencies here:

http://whirlpool.net.au/wiki/mobile_phone_frequencies

Aldi have a new phone service on "part of the Telstra network" whatever that means - obviously not the Telstra 4G network though.

Bob

Thanks for that link featherweight

Yes I have read a few articles that suggest it will be less than advertised. It's a very small battery

I only need it to last long enough for me to go for a run ( 4 or 5 hours max) and will only get urgent use calls.

I tried running with an iPhone but they get bloody heavy after an hour or so.

Thanks bob yes aldi only use "selected areas of 3G ". Not LTE. That was the deal I liked because they give you 1 year to use their credit.

Great article FW. Thanks. So basically I have bought a phone that will only work on 3G ... Which is fine.