Renting a satellite phone

Personally, and having done many remote traveling, and having also done the GRR, I would not bother. The Gibb is like a highway compared to to what it may have been years ago., I suggest that on the roads that you will be travelling that time to f theyear there will be a car along every 10 minutes. For two weeks, and with common sense preparation you will be fine, save yourself several hundred dollars.
Sorry not answering your original question. Now putting on my hardhat for the responses...
CJ

Go to member Sat Phone Sales http://www.exploroz.com/Customers/Sat_Phone_Sales.aspx

Cheaper to buy than rent these days. These guys have all the answers, they gave me great service.

While I agree with the sentiments that you really don't need one for where you are going, if you do choose to hire I found these guys excellent when I hired one for Cape York last year:
http://www.satellitehire.com.au/

They can organise pick up and drop off, probably at Broome or Kunnunnurra, their service is excellent and I highly recommend them.

As has been mentioned, maybe consider buying a second hand one. And yes they work on post-paid (plan) with Telstra. We have a $10 per month plan and it all works fine with our sat phone. We've only had to use it once in about the six years we've had it, but we were glad we had it. We also carry a SPOT Personal Tracker with us as a backup, as well as our normal phones and CB. We have broken down previously and if there are people around they will stop and do whatever they can to help, we had road trains pulling up to make sure we were ok! so I'm sure you'll be fine.

We purchased an InReach satellite communicator for our travels in outback SA and across the Simpson Desert. Not as costly as a Sat Phone, but allows for messages to be sent AND received.
Thought it was better than devices that are only for use in life - threatening situations .. being delayed from expected arrival times due to a flat tyre or a flooded track can be notified to family easily.
We had family and friends following our progress on a map .. way points can be updated from as little as every 10 mins (good if hiking in rough terrain), to every 4 hours ( suitable for general driving on designated roads,) and other frequencies, as seem appropriate.
Can send normal SMS messages if desired, although, not photos.
We have lent it to friends at the moment, and they are about to head south from Gregory National Park in the N.T. into far more remote tracks .. hopefully there will be no emergency, but if there is, they can notify us, or in a life - threatening event, push the red button and notify the appropriate rescue authority.
Our last bill was $24.
Should emphasize that we wanted a device that allowed for an acknowledgement of a sent message .. gives great reassurance!

Hi Ania, we're probably a bit late in seeing your post now, but if you haven't left already we can offer you a great deal on a Sat Phone.

For the Kimberley's we'd normally recommend a Thuraya XT Lite. These normally retail for $799, but for anyone purchasing and connecting, as an Exploroz member, before the end of August we're offering these at $729. (We have a limited number at this price)

Pop it on a $15 per month plan with no lock in contract, outbound calls are just 99c / min, inbound calls are free and the caller pays just the cost of calling an ordinary Australian mobile number.

For areas, like central Australia we reckon the Globalstar GSP1600 is great. Same no lock in contract plans at $20 per month. The GSP1600's are normally $499 but we can provide refurbished units (6 month warranty) at $325, or demo units (retail packaging, presenting like new, and new phone warranty) for $375

Again these prices are only until the end of August, and we have limited stock at this price.

To get these great prices just navigate to our website www.satphonesales.com.au , register, pop the item in your cart and use the following promo codes:

For the XT Lite explorozxtlaug, and for the GSP1600's explorozgspaug

Enjoy your trip and stay safe on the way.

Kevin