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

Hi Paul,

On the Optus network is Amaysim. They have a 90day user period - and Customer Support is in Australia!!! I have their pre-paid Unlimited - Unlimited calls to landlines, mobiles, 13 and 18 numbers, texts and 4Gb data for $39.90/month to tether phone to computer. Not on Optus 4G yet but possibly in future.

See here for their other cheaper options (Some 20% off till 2 June):

https://www.amaysim.com.au/

Bob

Originally Posted by Sleepy

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

Nps

I would be interested to hear how that phone goes in real life, it is certainly an interesting idea as a plan B / short term / specific purpose phone.

About 6 months ago I toyed with the idea of getting something similar, but it as going to be $350 to get it here which was more than I wanted to spend at the time.

Turf that phone & get one capable of 850mhz. I live in a semi rural area and compared to my old man on optus, the telstra coverage is FAR superior.

2100mhz is still in use but mostly for high speed data in set areas with larger populations to cope with it. No 900mhz on 4G yet but there is talk of it.

GSM (the old network) is 900 & 1800 & still in use but coverage does not reach anywhere near as good 3G or 4G which were rolled out to take over CDMA & provide the coverage while also allowing data services.

Initially the coverage when CDMA got shut down (mostly in regional areas) was pretty average but now its just as good if not better while providing even faster data transfer than ever before.

to sum it up..... turf that phone an get one that can run on 850/2100

Thanks Bob. Sorry wont be turfing it Chang , I just bought the thing. It's a bit of a gamble but only need it for a phone in case I break down. ( ie: when i run!) I am training for a marathon so can be 20km from home and would hate to twist my ankle or get an injury .....I used to carry a few coins but try and find a public phone these days!!!! This thing is no heavier than a few coins + i can use it for music/radio too. I have the iPhone for daily use but is much heavier

No problems on coverage, I am in Melbourne and not planning to do a Cliffy!!!

Originally Posted by Sleepy

Thanks Bob. Sorry wont be turfing it Chang , I just bought the thing. It's a bit of a gamble but only need it for a phone in case I break down. ( ie: when i run!) I am training for a marathon so can be 20km from home and would hate to twist my ankle or get an injury .....I used to carry a few coins but try and find a public phone these days!!!! This thing is no heavier than a few coins + i can use it for music/radio too. I have the iPhone for daily use but is much heavier

No problems on coverage, I am in Melbourne and not planning to do a Cliffy!!!

Melbourne......... no probs with the phone in that case. i had it in my head you were in a regional area also for some reason. Only benefit if you were to get an 850Mhz model in your case would be as a backup if you were traveling in regional/rural areas while on holidays or work etc.

Anyway as it is, you could jam a sim from any of the major carriers in & would not have a problem in melbourne on 2G/3G or 4G (if your phone worked on 4G)

Originally Posted by chang

you could jam a sim from any of the major carriers

Chang, You seem to know a bit about this. This is why I originally asked.

I would prefer not to go Optus (long story) but will if I have to (for the 900Mhz) but you seem confident that it will work on any network even though Aldi (through Telstra) asked for 850Mhz compatible phone - which this isn't. Where am I not understanding?

Originally Posted by Sleepy

Chang, You seem to know a bit about this. This is why I originally asked.

I would prefer not to go Optus (long story) but will if I have to (for the 900Mhz) but you seem confident that it will work on any network even though Aldi (through Telstra) asked for 850Mhz compatible phone - which this isn't. Where am I not understanding?

well your phone will operate automatically on the frequencies you listed so that basically the best coverage & provision of services can be maintained at all times.

If its a backup phone for when your running i wouldnt worry about the names of 3G/4G NextG or whatever as all of them support voice calls just as good as each other in melbourne. Its all about faster data & networking services which you wont need.

Telstra 3G nextg is 850/2100mhz but in a highly populated city, 2100mhz alone will work on your phone. Telstra says you should have an 850/2100 compatable phone, that way you get the best coverage at all times like when your traveling etc

best bet would be to choose a carrier that runs on the most freqencies your phone is capable, which i think vodafone will suit. that way you know for sure you will always be covered. i dont know how many times people used to say that they got no service in the street, "but the neighbour gets full bars" etc etc

Thanks Chang, finally a straight answer. Two tim tams for you