Internet & Phones

Internet and Phones

Internet

We have a wireless internet network at the club house. Since we are remote from a telephone exchange, this is a cell-phone based service using Telstra's NextG network. This is a fairly fast network, but not cheap. There's a $2 charge for each time you connect to the internet (which is good value compared with the price charged by most hotels.)

The club internet is intended for normal traffic… emails, correspondence, weather updates and so on. We rely on people to NOT download large files and videos which will blow out our monthly allowance. If you have to download large files, please speak to the duty manager and make arrangements for this. 

Phones

You do need a phone when you are gliding in the bush, even though it may not work too well. If you land out, you cannot rely on your glider's radio to work on the ground. It's very important to radio into base well before you actually land because once on the ground, the coverage is greatly reduced. And then you will need your phone.

In the bush, cell-phone services are usually unreliable. It's not uncommon to see hang glider pilots (who always out-land) entering a text message on their phone, pressing send, and then hurling the phone into the air in the hope that the message will get out while the phone is above the ground! 

The choice of a phone is simple. Most cell-phone services do not work in the bush. Others are just unreliable. If you are coming from overseas, don't expect that your Vodaphone SIM cards will work at all. Optus and Virgin work here and there… on the airfield, but not in Manilla. 3 or Three does not seem to work at all beyond Quirindi and Tamworth.

The only choice is a Telstra NextG phone (and perhaps that is not much of a choice!). Many people who live in Sydney but fly at Lake Keepit have a NextG mobile phone just for the bush. If you are coming from overseas, consider getting a pre-paid NextG mobile (approximately $75). 

Please don't take this as being an endorsement of Telstra! It is a company which has got a lot of people hot under the collar in the bush.