Telstra Mobile Broadband Coverage - Whitsundays

[UFO]

I have looked at the Telstra coverage map and It looks like that many of the good anchorages are not covered - even on the Eastern side of the islands.


Although I have been told the coverage map is not that accurate at a micro level.



Sadly even when away I need to have internet for my business on at least a couple of days, so if anyone has first hand experience of the Telstra network and good anchorages where it works it it would be appreciated if you could give me the low down.

[Wotname]

Are you using this site
https://www.telstra.com.au/regional-...ional-coverage
If so, in the map options, ensure you tick Map View = Detailed and External antenna.

Coverage seems good to seaward IMO

[UFO]

Originally Posted by Wotname

Are you using this site
https://www.telstra.com.au/regional-...ional-coverage
If so, in the map options, ensure you tick Map View = Detailed and External antenna.

Coverage seems good to seaward IMO

I have checked that, but have been told that its not that accurate on a small scale - EG - Individual bays, hence me asking for any first hand experience

[RaymondR]

You may find that the best way to get an idea of where you will have reception is to find out where the cell towers are and lay out sight lines on a chart. On my way N this year I noticed that I had coverage for text messages in more of the anchorages.

[ben373]

It will be patchy and slow unless you are near Airlie or Hammo.

[iancwebb]

good reception in Stonehaven on moorings, ok reception in refuge(nara), ok reception in macona, none in northern bays ie butterfly, not really sure of southern islands

ian

[Hickers]

Ian Webb is spot on, just to add to that, no reception at Whitehaven or Chance Bay either. CID has good reception. So Western bays usually ok, northern and eastern nothing.

[Reefmagnet]

Set up your phone for as a wifi portable hotspot. Place in ziplock bag. Tie bag to halyard. Haul to top of mast. Connect laptop to hotspot. Reception greatly improved.


Northern most islands on the western side and around Hammo and Shute Harbour is your best bet. You'll have no problem with Internet if you only need it every couple of days.

[Screw Loose]

Depending on how long you’ll be away and how much connection time/data you’ll need, a Netgear Nighthawk M1 with aerial might be worth considering. I’ve found them useful hauled up the mast or with aerial. if hauled up, they have a good battery capacity and won’t die after a couple of hours use.

[Nikki S]

I need internet for work also - use a Remote Desktop connection, so need consistent connection that doesn’t drop out much. Spent months in Whitsundays 2016 & 17. Have Optus and Telstra 3G/4G modems and hoist them up mast when signal is weak. Managed to get good coverage everywhere on the west, north, south sides of the main islands, plus butterfly bay, Mays, turtle, burning pt, even south side of Thomas island I think, in Nara as long you don’t go too far down (we’d anchor near refuge in order to get coverage). But once you get around the east side to Whitehaven etc it’s pretty much gone.

[clownfishsydney]

As others have said, no coverage at all on northern side of Hook Island (although we occasionally got emails/SMS at Butterfly Bay) or eastern side of Whitsunday (unless you walk to the lookout at Whitehaven), good on western side of Hook, Hayman and Whitsunday Islands. Reasonable on southern bays of Hook. Good on Long, South Molle, Hamilton and Shaw. Good in the bays on mainland. Hauling up mast does not seem to improve coverage in the places where you cannot get it, even though we have used this method over 70 km off mainland at Lady Musgrave Island.