Jonel

John & Noela Lister will be attending - arrive on 6th - depart Sunday 10th and yes will attend Sat dinner.

To clarfy my original point - Cradles with an antenna connection will provide a passive connection to a Mobile phone in the cradle - better than hand held ( especially better than the phone in the cupholder amongst the coffee thermos cups) The best performnce is when you have a phone that has an antenna connection that makes a metallic connection to the phone )( ie plugs in) - they will work where the passive ones do not. On flat ground there is around 12 - 15 km difference in coverage between a phone in a passive cradle vs one with a plug in antenna. ( yes i did the tests) The unfortunate fact is that the choice of phones with direct antenna connections is limited - Telstra / ZTE are the most common that have the direct antenna connection. so the compromise - is absolute coverage the goal ( with a more simple phone device) or is the smart phone capability with coverage not as good OK for your circumstance? After a recent 14 weeks bout the place ( and a ZTE phone with Cradle and direct antenna connection in the car) there were only a few places where i dug out the antenna and WiFi modem to get internet in because the smart phone (HTC)was not working effectively as a wireless hot spot. There were a number of places where it did not really matter as there was no coverage at all. But you expect that in the more remote places in the bush. of course there are antennas and there are antennas - that is again another topic altogether. If you purchase a "Blue Tick" phone from Telstra you will get access to the momre sensitive handsets (most without a plug in antenna) the question always remains - how important is the absolute max coverage vs the functionality of the phone itself. The Samsung is a very nice device.

The Samsung does nbot have n antenna connection

Hi All We have just travelled the Plenty Highway - as have anoher 3 Kedrons that we caught up with on the way. The road condition was pretty good (based on our expectations) some 30 or so Km of relatively minor corrugated and bull dust segments - but overall pretty good. Jervios Station and GemTree were good campsotes on teh way across. John

Hi All we are about to head to the Plenty in the next week or so - and wondered if there are any who have travelled it in the last few weeks with a road report. new to a Keddy - so any advice appreciated regards John

Hi Best if you first check likely coverage where you are />http://www.telstra.com.au/mobile/networks/coverage/broadband.html is a good start. then RFI have a panel antenna - directional that can be obtained from Telco Antennas - http://www.telcoantennas.com.au/site/ Along with patch cables etc Antenna Height is nearly always a good thing. If i have misread your request please POM me so we can discuss JOhn

Hi Pete Tony's advice is good - the only Next G Phone you can get these days with an external antenna connector is the ZTE ( Telstra Explorer) If you want to use BOTH AT THE SAME TIME - then you will need to make some arrangements for either a second antenna or the splitte - most splitters lose around 3 dBi - so your signal will be degraded to both devices - this can make a difference when you are a way from the Mobile phone Tranmitters. you may have an antenna / car kit on you rcar so your phone could work on this fopr your voice unless you need it in your van. THere was a Netcomm modem ( a 7.2 Mbps ) devie that could handle both Phone ( voice ) connectivity as well as data ( WiFi ) for your PC - this may be an option for you - either to use your SIM from the voice phone with a data pack in the modem or with a separate SIM and voice + Data pack you will need to watch the connectors - the antenna will usually terminate on an TNC connector ( I think) and you will want to get a patch lead that can come from this to your modem / and or phone the phone and data card will most probably be different so you will need one for each - best advice is from stores who install car kits ./ CB radios Your nearest Telstra shop - licensed or Telstra should be able to give you some advice on what they have. if not come back to me and i will e mail you direct ( or phone you if that is better) Regards John