The Hand Unit
The digital Mobile phone used on the water is a second hand Seimens M35 with a Telstra digital Prepaid chip. This unit is compact and robust, it is also reasonably impact and water resistant.
The Digital handpiece used on the land is an older Nokia 6150, which also has a very efficient hands-free in-car unit in the tow vehicle.
The System
The digital system utilised is the standard mobile telephone system that commercially overtook the anologue system in Australia. The account is through telstra.
The huge market penetration and commercial acceptance of this system has led to a wide variety of equipment, handsets and plans being available from competing telcos and manufacturers.
The Coverage
The Digital system spread as far as the economics of the time dictated, and tended to service areas that financially supported its growth.
Gippsland Telstra Digital Coverage Map
North East Tasmania Telstra Digital Coverage Map
Usefull areas for the hand held are dark green on both maps
The Hand Unit
CDMA does not enjoy the popularity of the digital system and thus the range of product offerings, including handpieces is limited.
The CDMA unit is a Nokia 6385 that came with a plan from a Telstra shop. This model was chosen as it could utilise the pre-existing in-car unit.
The System
The CDMA system built apon much of the infrastructure of the digital system but pushed out further with government support to less economically viable areas.
The Coverage
Gippsland Telstra CDMA Coverage Map
North East Tasmania Telstra CDMA Coverage Map
Usefull areas for the hand held are dark Tan on both maps
The Hand Unit
Initially Telstra offered 2 hand units for access to the Iridium satellite phone system. One retailed for around $1200 dollars and the other for around $2000. The cheaper version has now been dropped from offer.
A request was put in to Telstra for a loan of a handset as sponsorship but this was not granted.
The System
The Iridium system is based around Low Earth Orbit satellites (LEO's)and offer complete coverage of Australian mainland and coastal waters.Difficulties with LEO systems are based around vertical obstructions to the signal pathway such as utilising the phone from inside a crevice or steep valley where the handset is not able to contact one of the LEO's.
The Coverage
Coverage is complete for the Bass Strait area.
The Hand Unit
Is a water resistant handheld set by uniden . details
The System
There is no real system, just a collection of individuals who utilise the free airwaves to communicate. There are however local protocols as this was the local communications used before the introduction of the mobile phone systems. Flinders island is generally monitored on channel 1 and around tomahawk and n/e tas on channel 2 (check before you go)
The Coverage
Coverage is generally line of sight and depends on the strength of the transmitter and reciever. ( and of course whether they frequency is being monitored.)The Hand Unit
The unit used is an icom IC-M2A
The System
The VHF radio system is the standard for marine radio communications and all pro boats must monitor channel 16 (emergency channel )at all possible times.The Coverage
coverage on VHF is line of sight, tip of arial to tip of arial.
The Hand Unit
No HF radio is carried.
The System
The HF radio system reaches far beyond the horizon and is potentially the best sytem to have for for treking. The disadvantage is that the sets are expensivea nd generally bulky.
The Coverage
HF is the universal commercial communications at sea frequencies. It also requires a licence from the AMC.| home | contents | mission | route | trek description | equipment | ski mods | involvement | sponsorship | bass trek history |
