I get zero bars in my apartment with Boost. I see there is an Optus cell tower closer to me, but would like to test it out before committing to porting my number.
I looked at a $2 Sim, but it says you need to activate it with initial credit. Can anyone tell me if an unactivated $2 Sim would show reception bars? Or perhaps a better idea.
Thanks very much
If not it really only costs $1 a day to use the Optus Flex plan. https://www.optus.com.au/prepaid/plans/flex It'll give you a gig of usage for 24 hours which is enough to do a Ookla speed test
+1 total cost $2
Or find a mate on Optus/Amaysim/etc/etc
That's some great info right there. Much appreciated
OP, check out this comment, it explains how to activate a $2 Optus PrePaid SIM without having to recharge.
u have friends or family? they with optus, shout them a beer at ur house
or send me ur address I'll test it for ya
Everyone's on Telstra unfortunately. I've checked out the coverage maps and they say I should get coverage, but it's a concrete jungle, so it's 1 bar or more likely none.
Surely you have friends or family on Optus already?
It could be your phone doesn't have the right 3g/4g specs for Telstra network. For example, 4g band 28.
Install "AUS Phone Towers" on your phone and see what towers are near you as allot of the towers support all of the three networks and if the tower has Telstra on it then Optus will also suck, but if Telstra is on another tower then grab a cheap sim from Coles or Woolies that has some data and calls and try it. Currently Woolies has an Optus SIM on special in NSW this week for $15 instead of $40.
Mate, which phone are you using?
I had connected with Boost Customer Support trying to get VoLTE on my number. Apparently, you wont get VoLTE if your phone doesnt have Band 28 (although I dont completely agree with that).
As for your issue:
Telstra uses 4G Bands: B1, B3, B7, B8, B28
Boost uses 4G Bands: B3, B7, B28 (as informed by Boost Technical Support over call)
Check the make/model of you phone and see what 4G Bands it supports. If it supports only one of the 4G Bands, it is likely you may not get indoor coverage.
Thanks for the details. I have a Motorola Nexus 6 (XT1100). It's old but it does have all those bands (B1, B3, B7, B8, B28). Another recent Moto G phone on Aldi also has no signal. I'm pretty sure the concrete walls around my apartment are the issue.
Full list:
(1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 19, 20, 28, 41 - XT1100)
(800 / 850 / 900 / 1700 / 1800 / 1900 / 2100 - XT1100)
The mobile tower closest to me is Optus/Vodafone only. The nearest Telstra tower is ~double the distance. Optus can't be worse, but that $1 sim + $1 day of optus flex sounds like a good idea.
If you are happy to wait for delivery, pick up a cheap Optus data sim from ebay, eg, https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/254335714796?hash=item3b379705ec…
Also, as djoz says above, check your phone has the proper bands.
unactivated sims should enrol on the network.
If not it really only costs $1 a day to use the Optus Flex plan. https://www.optus.com.au/prepaid/plans/flex It'll give you a gig of usage for 24 hours which is enough to do a Ookla speed test