Sat Phone Deal - Any Good?

Submitted: Wednesday, Apr 25, 2012 at 21:00

Member - Gordon T (NSW)

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Attended the Sydney Caravan and Camping Show on Monday – there were several promoters of sat phones doing business. The best deal seem to come from Campersat (new ISatPhone) (Inmarsat is the provider) with Prepaid $1/minute calls (lasts 2 years) – no monthly fees – GPS inbuilt – send and received TXT – receive emails free – includes: car charger, 240v charger, USB PC charger, wired for handsfree – cost with lower ($429.50) of the two govt subsidies is $528.50 including phone and $99 worth of calls. It is noted that, unless pre-paid before 31 May, the validity of prepaid airtime is being reduced from 2 years to 180 days.

Has any reader experience with this provider and of course I would welcome your feedback on this offer.

As pointed out to me, there is a rush on connections to get in before the prepaid units validity is reduced and with the time being taken by the government to process applications for subsidies, the longer one leaves the decision to connect, the greater the risk that applications cannot be processed before 31 May.
Camperman2

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ThreadID: 95151	Replies: 5
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AnswerID: 484214 Submitted: Wednesday, Apr 25, 2012 at 21:25

vk1dx replied:

We got an Isatphone on prepaid and are quite happy with it. But whether the deal is best for you depends on what and why you want one.

As I have ongoing monthly chemo type treatments and other health complications I needed immediate access to my specialist. We are not interested in talking while out in the bush. The family also does not need to "talk" to Mum and Dad every five minutes. A monthly contract was out as it may not be used at all so any monthly fee was a waste. So prepaid was a must. And when we got ours they were the only ones without monthly fees and a prepaid account.

Our phone sims are not transferable but so what. Mine is turned off most of the time anyway. Even at home. So we did not look at that requirement so I cannot comment there.

We do not mind the lack of "000" access. We are happy to dial the nearest service we want anyway. And if down on fees they will ring us back if needed. I have a printed list of numbers with the phone. Thus anyone can use it and do not have to worry about "Where are the numbers stored". So number access and storage was not addressed.

Best of luck and do not waste time. For your subsidy remember the "mobile phone coverage" that they use is YOUR providers coverage. Not necessarily Telstra. And a short not to remind them that you do not have all Telstra and provider "X"'s coverage will help there.

Phil

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AnswerID: 484221 Submitted: Wednesday, Apr 25, 2012 at 21:56

Motherhen replied:

Lots of fairly recent threads on the subject Camperman. Phil has given you first hand information. We will stick with our phone on Iridium and know any one us can use 000 in an emergency. Both networks have good coverage so that is not a issue, just preparation for knowing what to dial and make sure every member of your party knows what to do.

Motherhen

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AnswerID: 484238 Submitted: Wednesday, Apr 25, 2012 at 23:02

mikehzz replied:

MGL were $699 without the subsidy. They were the cheapest I saw at the show last weekend.

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AnswerID: 484263 Submitted: Thursday, Apr 26, 2012 at 13:10

222 replied:

I just got back from Altrack Adelaide with mine - $725 and $90 odd dollars for the 100 units of time that lasts 2 years

I know its not the cheapest but I prefer to buy locally when I can.

Cheers

Geo

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FollowupID: 759513 Submitted: Thursday, Apr 26, 2012 at 13:11

vk1dx posted:

That looks okay to me.

Phil

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FollowupID: 759621 Submitted: Friday, Apr 27, 2012 at 11:52

Member - Michael P (QLD) posted:

Geo,
As the calls from the Isat pro phone are fairly economical and it is impractical (or impossible) to have connected all the time. If my family need to contact me they e-mail the sat phone, no costs to either. At the end of the day at set up time I turn the sat phone on check for e-mails or text etc. & attend to.

I regularly e-mail my Grandson my location that He pinpoints using Google Earth.
Another Tip I have activated "Bluetooth" which makes it easier to keep the best possible sat connection, I tend to walk around etc.
Hope this is of some help.
Mike

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FollowupID: 759625 Submitted: Friday, Apr 27, 2012 at 12:05

vk1dx posted:

Same here Peter.

Our grandkids followed us on our recent Gulf on Carpentaria trip. They used Oziexplorer and placed markers at the locations we sent back.

That email stuff is the bees knees. We turn ours on a 7:30 each night just for a short while and then off. As said above, not into chatting.

Phil

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AnswerID: 484269 Submitted: Thursday, Apr 26, 2012 at 14:29

Member - Vince M (NSW) replied:

Have used both, but camped at Bendeathra (NSW) my Iridium (old & new explorer) always gets out as long as I can see the sky, our friends that we often travel with have a Isatphone & often can Not get out, yet ours will right next to it & it only seems to happen when we are in a valley, out west its not a problem.
When he approached the dealer about this he was told that it is due to the satellites one is high & the other is low so that's why it struggles to pick up.

They now buys air time from the US & he finds it a lot cheaper. I'm on a package with pivotel & quite happy & because it has a std mobile number if you call in its only charged at a std mobile charge

good luck (Iridium's are about twice the price but I think there worth it)