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• Telstra Next G has 'enormous problems': Coonan

Telstra Next G has 'enormous problems': Coonan

By Jo Best on 19 November 2007

Topics: wireless, telstra, next g, mobile, coonan, cdma, minister

• Telstra 'Country Phone' to woo bush to Next G

• Telstra Next G audited as CDMA closure looms

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  popbubble commented on 28/07/2008 10:56 Report abuse

  I live in metro Melbourne and was talked into going onto the NextG network (with Motorola V6MAXX) in August 07, because I was told that the old network (NOT CDMA) was outdated. Little did I know that this was an outright LIE and they were trying to suck me into a plan that had data that I would never use. I have had nothing but trouble with the network. The so called NextG hotspots caused my phone to not work (messages failing or taking DAYS to send, calls failing constantly) - in an emergency this is DANGEROUS. So I took it into be fixed and they told me my phone was not compatible with the network (why the sold it to me as a NextG phone is still a mystery)...and the server had to be upgraded. Fine, done. Still had issues, so took it back in and they changed the network to something weird (2.5g?) meaning I couldn't get the NextG internet stuff at proper speed, even though I didn't use it. All was 'ok' for a while.
  
  This past few months have yielded the same issue. SMS taking days, calls failing. Then my sim card just crapped it. After less than a year. I had my old sim for 4 years!! Went to Telstra shop, was treated terribly and was told that it was my fault that the network settings had been changed back to 'automatic' and NextG. I asked if they could fix the problem and she said they would send the phone away, and give it back. No new phone, no compensation, nothing. The first few messages worked, then one took a few hours to send. I'm guessing nothing will change.
  
  
  Any advice on how to get out of contract with 1 year to go would be appreciated. I am paying for a service that I am not getting, at all.

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  Happy 3 Customer commented on 23/07/2008 22:08 Report abuse

  haha
  "leave telstra alone"
  i love witty people.
  
  anyways,
  
  the thing i hate about telstra the most is the fact that EVERY OTHER PHONE CARRIER HAS CAP'S NOW AND TELSTRA STICK TO THE OUT OF DATE PLANS WHICH ARE PROVEN TO BE 5x MORE COSTLY THAN ANY OTHER PHONE CARRIER'S CAPS!!!!
  
  
  i just feel that people who are dumb enough NOT to shop around deserve to get caught and pay the extra money.
  
  i dont get the best coverage on 3, but when im not in 3g mode, i get to use telstras cdma coverage and when im highway driving, it works pretty good considering im on a 49 cap and i get 300 bucks work of calls + 200 free minutes of sumthing. to get that value with telstra id have to spend 300 a month in calls and txt alone. is this not the most ridiculous thing or what?!!

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  Swerv commented on 13/06/2008 20:54 Report abuse

  I live less than 2km from the next g tower, Telstra very kindly supplied me with an external aerial as the coverage was no where near as good as CDMA. Then they sent me a bill......an hour on the phone on hold and dealing with automated answering was terrible. But.... they kindly waivered the bill. I now can stand at my front window with this 6 inch aerial loosely swinging from the hole in the back of the phone. reception is still poor, dropping calls, missing calls etc. Bring back CDMA..... NextG is crap.

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  criss crocker commented on 08/06/2008 08:55 Report abuse

  leave telstra alone

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  seasidegirl commented on 11/02/2008 01:53 Report abuse

  Ian wrote "But seriously people, with such a vast country, why do we always hold these unrealistic coverage standards" Are you serious ? These are not unrealistic coverage standards! $$ss is the answer.... Telstra bleed all of us including my $15 on a late payment (pensioner) bill - great! Telstra takes our money, so we deserve the coverage-Simple! One of Telstra's REps couldn't even manage to find a suitable phone for my area.. The Samsung ($20plan) is not userfriendly for Texting and i refuse to leave my ($10mth) plan and be bullied into the $30+plan. Nokia is my preferred, but am not prepared to be on a $100 plan-Crazy, i rarely use it, but when i do, it has to work! Make it happen soon Telstra - Waiting Waiting....

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  bigmama2 commented on 30/01/2008 20:03 Report abuse

  We changed to the LG TU550 phone in Dec 07 when we believed the CDMA network was about to be disbanded. What a mistake!! The coverage where we are is total crap and the phones often just go straight to message bank if you are indoors. They often just drop out and we are continually missing calls because you can't hear the phone ring for about 20 seconds. Bought the in car kit and large aerial for one of our trucks but this didn't improve anything. Complained constantly to telstra and the only reaction they eventually gave was to get a Nokia phone (at our expense) as the LG TU550 obviously wasn't designed for our area. This phone was recommended for use in regional/rural areas and is a total dissappointment

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  Tracey Mc commented on 21/01/2008 19:09 Report abuse

  I purchased a motorola phone from a telstra shop on a two year contract and it continually drops out, I've even had to stop and use a phone box to ring my kids. My contract does end until April 08. When sold this phone on contract I was not told it would not be compatable with their network for the term of my contract. So they have advised me my options are to pay out my contract of $120 or purchase a new compatable phone with them and enter into another 2 year contract. I have been with Telstra mobile for 10 years, never again. There should be somewhwre we can take this further or at least they could do is void the contract. SO P***** O**!!!

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  Brenton M commented on 11/01/2008 12:24 Report abuse

  Was Happy with CDMA but had to change--was told LGTU550was best [and dearer ] reception now NO good and battery goes flat in 10 hours looking for a signal My wifes Nokia is better [and cheaper ] BUT reception is STILL no way near as good as CDMA she had

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  seasidegirl commented on 10/01/2008 23:29 Report abuse

  Me thinks i will give the LGTU500 a big miss... thank u...
  Looks like the Telstra 165 Ugly phone 4 Regional is the only option as i don't have the $1300-$1400 for the Nokia..It's all a big money grabbing scheme.... My mums elderly friend was just sold a CDMA phone on a $20plan...... WHAT THE ? how could this be ?

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  OLDTRACK123 commented on 09/01/2008 21:57 Report abuse

  In august I was assured if you get cdma now you will get definatly get ng & sold a telstra phone on a $20 phone plan not a $10 member plan as on cdma,Got home ,no signal on phone back to Telsta SHOP after much arguing they agreed to cancel contract but would not reonnect to cdma After MORE ARGUING TOLD ME I SHOULD GET A LG TU500 on $40 phone plan[my $10cdma member plan had to be replaced with A$40 PHONE PLAN TO GETTHE EQUIV RECEPTION] Idecided to by lg 500 outright -$299-7goon a$20 member . Went on hols to 2 popular camp spots in nth nsw with good cdma reception -little to no reception- telsta maps showed hand held coverage at both ,contacted telstra black spot centre & was told to get an externai areial ..so much for better or even
  like for like coverage.
  After many week now have lg tu550 which I am assured will be ok, as yet I have notbeen able to test it out but heres hoping.
  Even if mine is now ok I believe Testra should be compelled to do what they claimed ,LIKE FOR LIKE or better coverage for all cdma users no matter where it is. THEY PLAY ON AREA COVERED BY NG BEING GREATER THAN CDMA THIS IS TRUE, BECAUSE THEY CONCENTRATED ON COVERING HIGHWAYS & MAIN RDS.