Globalstar Satellite Phones

Like Boobook I have not used Globalstar. We have an Iridium phone into which we place a Telstra SIM which is on a post paid plan and also International Roaming enabled. This is used for up to 8 months per year for emergency calls only , so far we have not required its use but testing shows that there is no requirement to dial any special (overseas) phone numbers, just the normal Aussie phone numbers work.

We use normal Telstra mobile and also Telstra internet for all non emergent communications.

Enjoy your travels
Regards
Athol

Hi Athol,

I'm interested.

Is this a standard Telstra SIM & Post Pay plan as used in regular urban cell phones?

Do you use the same SIM in a cell phone when home?

Do you know what the call charges are when used in the Iridium?

Allan, it's your normal everyday SIM from a Telstra next G phone. If you have international roaming enabled it will slot in the Iridium phone ( the mini size about 1cm x 1.5cm - or you can get adapters on ebay for a dollar or two).

You cat take it out of your telstra phone, put it in your iridium and hey presto. You can make and receive satellite calls on the same ( normal mobile) number. Actually it is just like roaming overseas in country "iridium".

Calls are $4.00 per min to make or receive. callers are charged the same as if it was in your phone. SMS is $1.50 from memory.

The problem is you will get lots of unwanted calls ( salesmen, etc etc) which will cost you a fortune.

The solution is to go to a Telstra shop and get a second number on a $10 casual plan. It is the same call cost and you can have it for as little as a month.

I last used Globalstar between 2003 and 2008 - it was absolutely useless. Really struggled to get connected. Sold the phone and promised myself never to use Globalstar again.

Allan
Yes it is the same sim as the normal GSM phone used around town, we do have a normal phone that we use the sim in when not travelling. The only dis advantage to having a dedicated sat phone sim is that Telstra charge double the normal sat phone rates for all calls.

As we use an unlisted number we have not received any unwanted calls, the only calls we have received are text messages from Telstra so there has been no extra charges above the monthly access fee ($20.00 because we do not have any other Telstra post paid service)

Enjoy your travels
Regards
Athol

Boobook, Athol,

Thanks guys, seems more sensible than having my $36 per month Satellite plan that is not even switched on for most of the year.

I will put a second vote for the InmarSat phones. I have had one for a few years now and no issues at all. Prepaid and phone calls out are $2 per minute but calls in are $10 per min for the caller. I suppose that might stop some of those salesmen. I just get my friends to text me and then I can get back to them when I turn the phone on at the end of the day. You can also send free SMS text through their website for friends at home.

Cheers

Serendipity