Cheap CDMA handset for occasional bush use ?

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Trevor S - 26 Feb 2004 07:35 GMT

There was a Dick Smith link posted some time ago.

Does anyone have a URL for a cheap CDMA handset I can buy outright ?

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Trevor S

"Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth."
-Albert Einstein

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Charlie Wong - 26 Feb 2004 08:31 GMT

>There was a Dick Smith link posted some time ago.
>
>Does anyone have a URL for a cheap CDMA handset I can buy outright ?

Whatever you do, sign-up with Orange and take advantage of the cheaper
rates.

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Trevor S - 26 Feb 2004 09:15 GMT

>>There was a Dick Smith link posted some time ago.
>>
>>Does anyone have a URL for a cheap CDMA handset I can buy outright ?
>
> Whatever you do, sign-up with Orange and take advantage of the cheaper
> rates.

Thans for the heads up but I thought it was only in mid NSW North Vic for
CDMA on Orange ? I am mostly in North Qld, can I even sigh up for a CDMA
plan from them ? I know they roam to Telstra but does that bring the call
rate back to Telstras?

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Trevor S

"Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth."
-Albert Einstein

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Dave - 26 Feb 2004 11:02 GMT

Nokia 2280 CDMA prepaid $199 from Telstra dealers.

hth

>>>There was a Dick Smith link posted some time ago.
>>>
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> plan from them ? I know they roam to Telstra but does that bring the call
> rate back to Telstras?

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Giles - 28 Feb 2004 04:45 GMT

> Nokia 2280 CDMA prepaid $199 from Telstra dealers.

Yep, recently dropped to $179 at several retailers (eg Dick Smith, Australia
Post)
http://www.dse.com.au/cgi-bin/dse.storefront/en/product/E9775

Kyocera K112 is cheaper still - $149. Don't know much about the quality of
this one.
http://www.dse.com.au/cgi-bin/dse.storefront/en/product/E9776

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Charlie Wong - 26 Feb 2004 16:15 GMT

>Thans for the heads up but I thought it was only in mid NSW North Vic for
>CDMA on Orange ? I am mostly in North Qld, can I even sigh up for a CDMA
>plan from them ? I know they roam to Telstra but does that bring the call
>rate back to Telstras?

You could connect to the Orange Just Go plan at 18¢ per 30 seconds
with 22¢ or 11¢ SMS depending on the plan you choose. No surcharge for
roaming.

If you're really lucky you could get on the Orange VIP Plus at 11¢ per
30 seconds on Orange or 15¢ epr 30 seconds. Slight surcharge (though
I'm guessing that Telstra probably charges Orange more than 15¢ per 30
seconds for using its network). This plan is available if someone
refers you.

See www.orange.net.au You'll need a billing address within an Orange
coverage area to qualify.

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Steve - 02 Mar 2004 00:38 GMT

The more basic Kyocera handsets are pretty reasonably priced and had the
best sensitivity in the recent chice magazine comparison (although it wasn't
very scientific, being based on how far they could walk into a railway
tunnel and make a call).

Telstra sales people have commented that they seem pretty good; but perhaps
they are trying to move them. Kyocera are related to Qualcomm, the US co
that deveopled the CDMA system as I recall.....

I have had CDMA since the trials, coverage has improved markedly, is
generally much better than GSM except for some city in-building locations.
Look for a phone with an external aerial option (sometimes the socket is
hidden under a rubber cover on the back like on my smasung N181), as you get
even better range with a half decent roof mount external aerial. You can
get a patch cord for $5-$10 for almost any phone which allows the ext aerial
without the expense of a full in-car kit.

Trevor S wrote in message ...

>There was a Dick Smith link posted some time ago.
>
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>"Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth."
>-Albert Einstein

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