<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>
<p>We are using the "B-Free" mobile scheme. (In 2011 we tried using another provider which picked up the T-Mobile network, however the reception was not as good as B-Free. 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 card with a scratch-off secret number.</p>
<p>This has to be done in less than 13 months otherwise it costs a great deal extra (equivalent to starting from scratch). The phone cannot be used in the last month, but renewal is much cheaper than starting from scratch.</p>
<h3>Adding credit</h3>
<p>If you need to buy more credits for a phone either:</p>
<ul>
<li>go to the Hartlauer shop oppositeUnimarkt/Konsum. Wave the phone and ask for a 'B-free Bon'.</li>
<li>go to postoffice and ask for B.Free 10 euros for each phone.</li>
</ul>
<p>You should be given a aufladecode, (this may require scratching off a panel at lower right back of card)</p>
<ul>
<li>Dial 0800 664290 (if you're lucky someone might have put this in the phone address book possible under the name "Check balance")</li>
<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>
