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< title > CUCC Expedition Handbook: Mobile Phones< / title >
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< h2 id = "tophead" > CUCC Expedition Handbook< / h2 >
< h1 > Mobile Phone Use Guide< / h1 >
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< pre > < b >
Base camp: 00 43 664 763 0255< br >
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Top camp: 00 43 664 582 5229 - pending. Arriving Staudnwirt 16th July 2018.
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< p > After many years of using complicated radio systems of varying degrees of complication and reliability, we have finally settled on a foolproof method for communicating callouts from top camp to base camp: mobile phones. Cheap Austrian pay-as-you-go mobiles have sufficiently good reception on the plateau for sending SMS messages, and even occasionally for conversation.< / p >
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< p > For some years (including 2018) we have been using the "B-Free" mobile scheme provided by the A1 company.
(In 2011 we tried using another provider which picked up the T-Mobile network,
however the reception was not as good as B-Free.)
< p > B-Free has an annual renewal of the SIM which gets you the phone number and connection (plus some credit). More credit comes in the form of a receipt with a printed code or a card with a scratch-off secret number.< / p >
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< h3 > Annual renewal< / h3 >
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< p > This has to be done in less than 13 months otherwise it costs a more as you
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essentially have to start from scratch (~€ 10 for a new SIM with & euro5 of
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credit). The phone cannot be used in the last month, but renewal is cheaper
than starting from scratch.< / p >
< h3 > Checking credit< / h3 >
< p > The simplest way (which doesn't require understanding a number read out to
you in German) is to dial < b > *101#< / b > . This doesn't actually make a
call but results in you getting an SMS-like message containing the balance
details. There's no charge for this.< / p >
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< h3 > Adding credit< / h3 >
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< p > If you need to buy more credits for a phone the simplest way is to buy
a "B.Free" A1 top-up at the Post Office (closes 1200-1400 forlunch).
We used to be able to get this form the supermarket, but no longer (2018).
They'll give you a printed receipt with the code to key in. See
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below for how to use it.< / p >
< p > (Other options we've used were:
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< ul >
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< li > go to the Hartlauer shop (on right of road to railway station, not far
beyond the post office). Wave the phone and ask for a 'B-free Bon'.< / li >
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< / ul >
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< p > You should be given a aufladecode, which may require scratching off a panel at lower right back of card)
or just a long "till-receipt" strip with AUFLADEWERT: EUR 20.00 at the top. < / p >
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< ul >
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< li > Dial < b > 0800 664290< / b > (if you're lucky someone might have put this in the phone address book possible under the name "Check balance")< / li >
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< li > Listen to an audio menu and Press 2 (to select something)< / li >
< li > Then type in number on the scratch panel, followed by #< / li >
< li > Listen to the number read back to you, and press 2 to confirm code is correct.< / li >
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< li > Press No (red key) twice to end the call.< / li >
< li > This is all confirmed as working correctly in 2018.
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< h3 > Tips and Tricks< / h3 >
< ul >
< li > If you're in an area where reception is poor and you need to go to a
particular spot to check messages, try dialling the balance request
number (< b > *101#< / b > ) once there - this usually seems to trigger delivery of any
pending SMS messages.< / li >
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