expoweb/handbook/phone.htm


<html>
<head>
<title>CUCC Expedition Handbook: Mobile Phones</title>
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="../css/main2.css" />
</head>
<body>
<h2 id="tophead">CUCC Expedition Handbook</h2>
<h1>Mobile Phone Use Guide</h1>
<pre><b>
Base camp: 00 43 664 763 0255<br>
Top camp:  00 43 664 582 5229<br>
Cavelink:  00 43 664 871 6782<br> 
</b>
</pre>
<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>
<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>
<li> Commonly used numbers are put at the top of the contact list ("phone book") in each phone 
by prefixing the name with "0 " or "_", e.g. "0 ADD CREDIT", "0 BALANCE", "0 BASE CAMP" etc.
</ul>

<h3>Phones and SIMs in use</h3>
<p>After the 2016 expo we decided that it would be a good idea to 
<a href="http://expo.survex.com/years/2016/rescue_debrief.html">invest in second phone at top camp</a>
which could be used at cave entrances 
in the case of a rescue. This has not yet been done (2019).

<p>For some years (including 2018) we have been using the "B-Free" mobile scheme provided by the A1 company. 
We get reception even inside the Stone Bridge bivvy. 
(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&nbsp;has an annual renewal of the SIM which gets you the phone number and connection (plus some credit).

<p> 
More credit comes either by paying online or in the form of a receipt with a printed code or a card with a scratch-off secret number.</p>

<h3>Robust phone<img src="t/ruggear-p860-explorer-02-th.jpg" align="right" margin="5px"></h3>
 We use "feature phones" with real buttons not smartphones with touch sensitive screens. 
The top camp phone is particularly robust Russian 
<a href="https://www.gsmchoice.com/en/catalogue/ruggear/p860explorer/gallery/">
"RugGear explorer p860"</a> with yellow plastic case and rubber grips, a talk time of 10 hours, and a stand-by time of 18 days. 
It has 2 SIM slots. We only use one. This is the SIM with the number that is already in old-expoers' phone books so don't swap it.
It is charged using a standard microUSB charger.

<p>Bascamp phone is a Nokia phone which requires a unique Nokia charger to which it is <i>permanently connected</i> in the potato hut.

<h3>Cavelink</h3>
<p>New in 2019 is the <a href="cavelink.html">Cavelink system</a> which communicates between topcamp and a station in a cave. The topcamp end has a SIM which means that it can receive and send text messages.
<h3>Annual renewal</h3>
<p>This has to be done in less than 13 months otherwise it costs a more as you
essentially have to start from scratch (~&euro;10 for a new SIM with &euro;5 of
credit). The phone cannot be used in the last month, but renewal is cheaper
than starting from scratch. Also if we fail to renew we have to get a new phone number. This means that every expoer has to update the entires in their own phones. This is unsafe as these phones are the primary means of communication in case of emergency.

<p>You will also need to renew the SIM card in the cavelink system. Either do it online (being very sure that you have the right phone number) or take it out of the cavelink and put it into a phone. Renew as below and then replace the SIM in the cavelink system.


<p>"Renewal" is just a matter of buying another &euro;10 or &euro;20 credit.</p>
<p>We also need to renew the SIM card used in the cavelink GSM system (new in 2019).

<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> ("0 BALANCE" in the contacts list in the phone book).  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>

<h3 id="addcredit">Adding credit</h3>
<p>If you need to buy more credits for a phone the simplest way is to buy it online using a credit card.

<p>The next simplest is to buy  a "B.Free" A1 top-up ("bon") at the Post Office (closes 1200-1400 for lunch) and to use a webpage to credit it to the phone SIM. 

<h4>Adding credit online using credit card</h4>
<p> Go to this page <a href="https://www.a1.net/internet/mobiles-internet/wertkarten-tarife/guthaben-aufladen/s/wertkarte-guthaben">https://www.a1.net/internet/mobiles-internet/wertkarten-tarife/guthaben-aufladen/s/wertkarte-guthaben</a><br>
and select the link "<a href="https://www.onlineaufladen.at/a1-shop/produkt/a1">Online aufladen</a>" in the second row of boxes.
Ther eis a faint "EN" in the top-right corner which will render the page in English for you.

<p>The page that links gets you to has fields to <del>type in your phone number and to</del> select which type of credit card you will use. 
<p><ins>In 2019 we could renew the SIM number entirely remotely from a computer. Now it looks like we will get a token and will need physical access to the phone. Which is not easy when the SIM is actually inside the bascamp Cavelink system. .</ins><del>Now be extremely careful: if you make a mistake in the phone number you will be paying for credit to <i>someone else's phone</i> and there is no way to recover from this.</del> Be sure to enter your email address in the box as the only receipt you get will be in an email and you will need that to reclaim the cost from expo.

<p>Then you get a standard credit card payment form and if that all works you will get a message:
<pre>
Vielen Dank! Ihre Bezahlung wurde erfolgreich durchgef&uuml;hrt!
Die Aufladung Ihrer angegebenen Rufnummer wurde erfolgreich durchgef&uuml;hrt! 
</pre>
and then receive an email.
<p>Now double-check that it worked by calling <b>*101#</b> and check that the credit on the phone has increased. The credit update is almost instant.

<h4>Buying a top-up "bon"</h4>
<p>When you buy a top-up "bon" at the post office they'll give you a printed receipt with the code to key in.  See
below for how to use it.</p>
<p>Other options for buying top-ups we've used were:
<ul>
<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 an 'A.1 B-free Bon'.</li>
</ul>
<p>You should be given an "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. If you go to the Post Office there is a separate 
A.1 counter inside the office and you will get a till-receipt.</p>


<h4>Adding credit using a "bon" online </h4>
<p>New in 2019 is the option to renew online using <br>
<a href="https://www.a1.net/internet/mobiles-internet/wertkarten-tarife/guthaben-aufladen/s/wertkarte-guthaben">https://www.a1.net/internet/mobiles-internet/wertkarten-tarife/guthaben-aufladen/s/wertkarte-guthaben</a>.<br>
This web address is in the text message which is sent to your phone when you are hearing the initial spiel before it gets to the audio menu.

<p>On the web page select the box (lower right) which says "Mit Bon aufladen" and has this list
<ul>
<li>Erhältlich: A1 Shops, Post Filialen, Supermärkten, usw.
<li>Direkt am Handy aufladen
<li>Bon: 13-stelliger Zifferncode
<li>Besonders einfach mit der Mein A1 App! 
</ul>
Select "Mehr details.." and you will get to this page<br>
<a href="https://www.a1.net/handys/optionen-services/guthaben-aufladen/bon-kaufen/s/wertkarte-bon-aufladen">https://www.a1.net/handys/optionen-services/guthaben-aufladen/bon-kaufen/s/wertkarte-bon-aufladen</a><br>
In the second section headed "2. Guthaben aufladen" there is a list of options, select the one that says "Online aufladen", it will expand to a line of text and a link which says "<a href="https://eps.a1telekom.at/bfreeBon/">Zur Aufladung &rsaquo;</a>"
<p>This page has fields to type in your phone number and the credit code. Now be extremely careful: if you make a mistake in the phone number you will be paying for credit to <i>someone else's phone</i> and there is no way to recover from this.
<p>If it all works you will get a red tick and "Die Aufladung Ihres B.free Guthaben wird in K&uuml;rze durchgef&uuml;hrt" which means you have been successful.

<h4>Adding credit using a "bon" with an automated phone call</h4>
<ul>
<li>Dial <b>0800 664290</b> (if you're lucky someone might have put this in the phone address book 
possibly under the name "0 ADD CREDIT" or "_ ADD CREDIT") and make a voice call to this number</li>
<li>Listen to the entire initial spiel and during this you will get a popup saying that you have received a text message. Press 'exit' to get 
rid of this before you can do the next bit.
<li>listen to the audio menu and Press 2 (to select phone keyboard credit entering)</li>
<li>Then type in the number on the scratch panel (or till-receipt) followed by #</li>
<li>Listen to the number read back to you (in German), and <b>Press 2 to confirm</b> code is correct.</li>
<li>Press "No"  (red key) twice to end the call.</li>
<li>Check the balance on the phone has been increased by voice-calling (which is not actually a voice call) <b>*101#</b> (or "0 BALANCE")
<li>This is all confirmed as working correctly in July 2019.
</ul>


</ul>
<hr />
</body>
</html>
last 2011-08-20 17:14:27 +01:00
[svn r5797] All this bloody mess now validates as XHTML 1.0 Strict. What's more, some of the obviously out of date bits have been updated, or at least notes written to warn people that the information is out of date. I couldn't be arsed to do the surveying guide as well. I've just spent about eight hours doing this, I need food! 2004-04-22 19:13:46 +01:00			`<html>`
[svn r4366] Added mobile phone page to handbook 2002-08-03 19:20:06 +01:00			`<head>`
[svn r5797] All this bloody mess now validates as XHTML 1.0 Strict. What's more, some of the obviously out of date bits have been updated, or at least notes written to warn people that the information is out of date. I couldn't be arsed to do the surveying guide as well. I've just spent about eight hours doing this, I need food! 2004-04-22 19:13:46 +01:00			`<title>CUCC Expedition Handbook: Mobile Phones</title>`
Move expo website manual into expo handbook Major update of main handbook page Fix missing stylesheets 2013-06-20 04:06:44 +01:00			`<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="../css/main2.css" />`
[svn r4366] Added mobile phone page to handbook 2002-08-03 19:20:06 +01:00			`</head>`
			`<body>`
Move expo website manual into expo handbook Major update of main handbook page Fix missing stylesheets 2013-06-20 04:06:44 +01:00			`<h2 id="tophead">CUCC Expedition Handbook</h2>`
			`<h1>Mobile Phone Use Guide</h1>`
Phone numbers for basecamp and topcamp 2018-07-11 17:52:25 +01:00			`<pre><b>`
			`Base camp: 00 43 664 763 0255<br>`
New phone credit renewal process now much easier 2019-07-09 18:38:56 +01:00			`Top camp: 00 43 664 582 5229<br>`
			`Cavelink: 00 43 664 871 6782<br>`
Phone numbers for basecamp and topcamp 2018-07-11 17:52:25 +01:00			`</b>`
			`</pre>`
extra fares, timetables and Amazon delivery details 2018-07-24 21:22:30 +01:00			`<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>`
New phone credit renewal process now much easier 2019-07-09 18:38:56 +01:00			`<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>`
			`<li> Commonly used numbers are put at the top of the contact list ("phone book") in each phone`
			`by prefixing the name with "0 " or "_", e.g. "0 ADD CREDIT", "0 BALANCE", "0 BASE CAMP" etc.`
			`</ul>`

			`<h3>Phones and SIMs in use</h3>`
more pictures 2018-07-28 16:23:06 +01:00			`<p>After the 2016 expo we decided that it would be a good idea to`
			`<a href="http://expo.survex.com/years/2016/rescue_debrief.html">invest in second phone at top camp</a>`
			`which could be used at cave entrances`
phones update 2019-07-08 16:47:51 +01:00			`in the case of a rescue. This has not yet been done (2019).`
New phone credit renewal process now much easier 2019-07-09 18:38:56 +01:00
confirmed working. 20 euro credit done just now 2018-07-13 11:40:00 +01:00			`<p>For some years (including 2018) we have been using the "B-Free" mobile scheme provided by the A1 company.`
extra fares, timetables and Amazon delivery details 2018-07-24 21:22:30 +01:00			`We get reception even inside the Stone Bridge bivvy.`
confirmed working. 20 euro credit done just now 2018-07-13 11:40:00 +01:00			`(In 2011 we tried using another provider which picked up the T-Mobile network,`
			`however the reception was not as good as B-Free.)`
New phone credit renewal process now much easier 2019-07-09 18:38:56 +01:00			`<p>B-Free has an annual renewal of the SIM which gets you the phone number and connection (plus some credit).`

			`<p>`
			`More credit comes either by paying online or in the form of a receipt with a printed code or a card with a scratch-off secret number.</p>`

phones update 2018-07-24 19:59:30 +01:00			`<h3>Robust phone<img src="t/ruggear-p860-explorer-02-th.jpg" align="right" margin="5px"></h3>`
			`We use "feature phones" with real buttons not smartphones with touch sensitive screens.`
			`The top camp phone is particularly robust Russian`
			`<a href="https://www.gsmchoice.com/en/catalogue/ruggear/p860explorer/gallery/">`
			`"RugGear explorer p860"</a> with yellow plastic case and rubber grips, a talk time of 10 hours, and a stand-by time of 18 days.`
New phone credit renewal process now much easier 2019-07-09 18:38:56 +01:00			`It has 2 SIM slots. We only use one. This is the SIM with the number that is already in old-expoers' phone books so don't swap it.`
phones update 2019-07-08 16:47:51 +01:00			`It is charged using a standard microUSB charger.`
New phone credit renewal process now much easier 2019-07-09 18:38:56 +01:00
			`<p>Bascamp phone is a Nokia phone which requires a unique Nokia charger to which it is <i>permanently connected</i> in the potato hut.`

Linking the cavelink page intot he handbook 2019-07-10 14:59:10 +01:00			`<h3>Cavelink</h3>`
			`<p>New in 2019 is the <a href="cavelink.html">Cavelink system</a> which communicates between topcamp and a station in a cave. The topcamp end has a SIM which means that it can receive and send text messages.`
Move expo website manual into expo handbook Major update of main handbook page Fix missing stylesheets 2013-06-20 04:06:44 +01:00			`<h3>Annual renewal</h3>`
Update phone info 2018-06-18 03:30:49 +01:00			`<p>This has to be done in less than 13 months otherwise it costs a more as you`
New phone credit renewal process now much easier 2019-07-09 18:38:56 +01:00			`essentially have to start from scratch (~€10 for a new SIM with €5 of`
Update phone info 2018-06-18 03:30:49 +01:00			`credit). The phone cannot be used in the last month, but renewal is cheaper`
New phone credit renewal process now much easier 2019-07-09 18:38:56 +01:00			`than starting from scratch. Also if we fail to renew we have to get a new phone number. This means that every expoer has to update the entires in their own phones. This is unsafe as these phones are the primary means of communication in case of emergency.`

			`<p>You will also need to renew the SIM card in the cavelink system. Either do it online (being very sure that you have the right phone number) or take it out of the cavelink and put it into a phone. Renew as below and then replace the SIM in the cavelink system.`


			`<p>"Renewal" is just a matter of buying another €10 or €20 credit.</p>`
			`<p>We also need to renew the SIM card used in the cavelink GSM system (new in 2019).`

Update phone info 2018-06-18 03:30:49 +01:00			`<h3>Checking credit</h3>`
			`<p>The simplest way (which doesn't require understanding a number read out to`
phones update 2018-07-24 19:59:30 +01:00			`you in German) is to dial <b>*101#</b> ("0 BALANCE" in the contacts list in the phone book). This doesn't actually make a`
Update phone info 2018-06-18 03:30:49 +01:00			`call but results in you getting an SMS-like message containing the balance`
			`details. There's no charge for this.</p>`
New phone credit renewal process now much easier 2019-07-09 18:38:56 +01:00
Phones - add credit reminder 2020-01-08 22:34:10 +00:00			`<h3 id="addcredit">Adding credit</h3>`
New phone credit renewal process now much easier 2019-07-09 18:38:56 +01:00			`<p>If you need to buy more credits for a phone the simplest way is to buy it online using a credit card.`

			`<p>The next simplest is to buy a "B.Free" A1 top-up ("bon") at the Post Office (closes 1200-1400 for lunch) and to use a webpage to credit it to the phone SIM.`

			`<h4>Adding credit online using credit card</h4>`
			`<p> Go to this page <a href="https://www.a1.net/internet/mobiles-internet/wertkarten-tarife/guthaben-aufladen/s/wertkarte-guthaben">https://www.a1.net/internet/mobiles-internet/wertkarten-tarife/guthaben-aufladen/s/wertkarte-guthaben</a><br>`
			`and select the link "<a href="https://www.onlineaufladen.at/a1-shop/produkt/a1">Online aufladen</a>" in the second row of boxes.`
phone renew update 2021-05-03 01:56:11 +01:00			`Ther eis a faint "EN" in the top-right corner which will render the page in English for you.`
New phone credit renewal process now much easier 2019-07-09 18:38:56 +01:00
phone renew update 2021-05-03 01:56:11 +01:00			`<p>The page that links gets you to has fields to <del>type in your phone number and to</del> select which type of credit card you will use.`
			<p><ins>In 2019 we could renew the SIM number entirely remotely from a computer. Now it looks like we will get a token and will need physical access to the phone. Which is not easy when the SIM is actually inside the bascamp Cavelink system. .</ins><del>Now be extremely careful: if you make a mistake in the phone number you will be paying for credit to <i>someone else's phone</i> and there is no way to recover from this.</del> Be sure to enter your email address in the box as the only receipt you get will be in an email and you will need that to reclaim the cost from expo.
New phone credit renewal process now much easier 2019-07-09 18:38:56 +01:00
			`<p>Then you get a standard credit card payment form and if that all works you will get a message:`
			`<pre>`
u-umlaut to ü in utf-8 pages 2020-06-11 14:16:44 +01:00			`Vielen Dank! Ihre Bezahlung wurde erfolgreich durchgeführt!`
			`Die Aufladung Ihrer angegebenen Rufnummer wurde erfolgreich durchgeführt!`
New phone credit renewal process now much easier 2019-07-09 18:38:56 +01:00			`</pre>`
			`and then receive an email.`
			`<p>Now double-check that it worked by calling <b>*101#</b> and check that the credit on the phone has increased. The credit update is almost instant.`

			`<h4>Buying a top-up "bon"</h4>`
			`<p>When you buy a top-up "bon" at the post office they'll give you a printed receipt with the code to key in. See`
Update phone info 2018-06-18 03:30:49 +01:00			`below for how to use it.</p>`
New phone credit renewal process now much easier 2019-07-09 18:38:56 +01:00			`<p>Other options for buying top-ups we've used were:`
Move expo website manual into expo handbook Major update of main handbook page Fix missing stylesheets 2013-06-20 04:06:44 +01:00			`<ul>`
Update phone info 2018-06-18 03:30:49 +01:00			`<li>go to the Hartlauer shop (on right of road to railway station, not far`
New phone credit renewal process now much easier 2019-07-09 18:38:56 +01:00			`beyond the post office). Wave the phone and ask for an 'A.1 B-free Bon'.</li>`
Move expo website manual into expo handbook Major update of main handbook page Fix missing stylesheets 2013-06-20 04:06:44 +01:00			`</ul>`
phones update 2018-07-24 19:59:30 +01:00			`<p>You should be given an "aufladecode", which may require scratching off a panel at lower right back of card)`
New phone credit renewal process now much easier 2019-07-09 18:38:56 +01:00			`or just a long "till-receipt" strip with AUFLADEWERT: EUR 20.00 at the top. If you go to the Post Office there is a separate`
			`A.1 counter inside the office and you will get a till-receipt.</p>`



			`<h4>Adding credit using a "bon" online </h4>`
			`<p>New in 2019 is the option to renew online using <br>`
			`<a href="https://www.a1.net/internet/mobiles-internet/wertkarten-tarife/guthaben-aufladen/s/wertkarte-guthaben">https://www.a1.net/internet/mobiles-internet/wertkarten-tarife/guthaben-aufladen/s/wertkarte-guthaben</a>.<br>`
			`This web address is in the text message which is sent to your phone when you are hearing the initial spiel before it gets to the audio menu.`

			`<p>On the web page select the box (lower right) which says "Mit Bon aufladen" and has this list`
			`<ul>`
			`<li>Erhältlich: A1 Shops, Post Filialen, Supermärkten, usw.`
			`<li>Direkt am Handy aufladen`
			`<li>Bon: 13-stelliger Zifferncode`
			`<li>Besonders einfach mit der Mein A1 App!`
			`</ul>`
			`Select "Mehr details.." and you will get to this page<br>`
			`<a href="https://www.a1.net/handys/optionen-services/guthaben-aufladen/bon-kaufen/s/wertkarte-bon-aufladen">https://www.a1.net/handys/optionen-services/guthaben-aufladen/bon-kaufen/s/wertkarte-bon-aufladen</a><br>`
			`In the second section headed "2. Guthaben aufladen" there is a list of options, select the one that says "Online aufladen", it will expand to a line of text and a link which says "<a href="https://eps.a1telekom.at/bfreeBon/">Zur Aufladung &rsaquo;</a>"`
			`<p>This page has fields to type in your phone number and the credit code. Now be extremely careful: if you make a mistake in the phone number you will be paying for credit to <i>someone else's phone</i> and there is no way to recover from this.`
u-umlaut to ü in utf-8 pages 2020-06-11 14:16:44 +01:00			`<p>If it all works you will get a red tick and "Die Aufladung Ihres B.free Guthaben wird in Kürze durchgeführt" which means you have been successful.`
New phone credit renewal process now much easier 2019-07-09 18:38:56 +01:00
			`<h4>Adding credit using a "bon" with an automated phone call</h4>`
Move expo website manual into expo handbook Major update of main handbook page Fix missing stylesheets 2013-06-20 04:06:44 +01:00			`<ul>`
phones update 2018-07-24 19:59:30 +01:00			`<li>Dial <b>0800 664290</b> (if you're lucky someone might have put this in the phone address book`
New phone credit renewal process now much easier 2019-07-09 18:38:56 +01:00			`possibly under the name "0 ADD CREDIT" or "_ ADD CREDIT") and make a voice call to this number</li>`
			`<li>Listen to the entire initial spiel and during this you will get a popup saying that you have received a text message. Press 'exit' to get`
			`rid of this before you can do the next bit.`
			`<li>listen to the audio menu and Press 2 (to select phone keyboard credit entering)</li>`
			`<li>Then type in the number on the scratch panel (or till-receipt) followed by #</li>`
			`<li>Listen to the number read back to you (in German), and <b>Press 2 to confirm</b> code is correct.</li>`
phones update 2018-07-24 19:59:30 +01:00			`<li>Press "No" (red key) twice to end the call.</li>`
New phone credit renewal process now much easier 2019-07-09 18:38:56 +01:00			`<li>Check the balance on the phone has been increased by voice-calling (which is not actually a voice call) <b>*101#</b> (or "0 BALANCE")`
			`<li>This is all confirmed as working correctly in July 2019.`
Move expo website manual into expo handbook Major update of main handbook page Fix missing stylesheets 2013-06-20 04:06:44 +01:00			`</ul>`
New phone credit renewal process now much easier 2019-07-09 18:38:56 +01:00
phones update 2018-07-24 19:59:30 +01:00
Update phone info 2018-06-18 03:30:49 +01:00			`</ul>`
[svn r5797] All this bloody mess now validates as XHTML 1.0 Strict. What's more, some of the obviously out of date bits have been updated, or at least notes written to warn people that the information is out of date. I couldn't be arsed to do the surveying guide as well. I've just spent about eight hours doing this, I need food! 2004-04-22 19:13:46 +01:00			`<hr />`
[svn r4366] Added mobile phone page to handbook 2002-08-03 19:20:06 +01:00			`</body>`
			`</html>`