Sat Phones

Can anyone tell me why the 9500 is not a preferred model?

The vendor selling one maintains he was using it last month, so it in his eyes it still works.

Thanks

bill

9500 can't text.
It's a pretty old model now.

I would never buy something like that if I couldnt test it first. I would also be very careful you dont get scammed on Gumtree. Lot of it goes on. You pay, nothing turns up
If you are talking about the 9500 IT DOESNT DO TEXTS regardless of what the seller says.
Did you read the link i posted and the same comments by other posters They are correct.
As for calls If you are going to use a Telstra Postpaid sim out of a cellular phone as I and others have done Calls will cost you $4 a minute BOTH WAYS IN and OUT.
That is using it on the Telstra Iridium network.
I think with an account on Pivotel or some other provider Calls are cheaper and the caller pays when ringing you but NOT on the above.
You are getting priorities mixed up here You say you are wanting it to go off the beaten track yet you are happy to buy the cheapest, oldest available.
I had a 9505A because my life and my family lives are worth a bit more than the cheapest thing around A genuine battery for a 9500 or a 9505A is $145 on Ebay . Several 9505A , for $495 which isnt bad I paid over $1000 when I bought mine and got my money back 2 years later
I would much sooner pay an extra $100 or so on Ebay and have some assurance with Ebays Money back guarantee and know I will get the thing than a maybe scammer with absolutely no come backs on Gumtree. Have already reported a scammer on there to the police for fake SD cards
Here is the one I would buy
9505A
Or this one Has a new battery2nd 9505A
You really need a car charger as well and they are about $49 on Ebay.

Thanks for all the advice and comments.
I have seen the light and will not be getting the 9500 from Gumtree!

I have found another solution, which essentially pairs with your Smartphone giving texts, location points and a tracking map. Its listed on Sat Phones at a competitive price and a Google search gives lots of info.

Sounds good. Called iReach 2-way Satellite Communicator. It used the Iridium satellite. Costs are comparable to a Satellite Phone plan.

bill

Bill

I did a blog on what we do for communications on our Satphone - take a read if you have a moment, it may work for you...

Satphones - Don't get hung-up on costs

Good luck whichever way you go, Baz - The Landy

Your decision but for that money you could buy a 9505A and Get the $10 a month plan or just use your sim out of your cell phone and actually talk on it as well as send texts. Breadcrumbs will only be good till you get the bill for looking at them.
The Landy's idea may work for him but if you are just using it for occasional use it would be expensive.
When I had mine I just put my normal Cellular sim (On a plan and roamed) on it when out of range of cell service. However it is expensive to call at $4 a minute and also that rate if someone calls you as Telstra charge you a "diversion to satellite" rate. Our family knew not to call us unless a dire emergency.
For Two years use it cost me a total of $8 for two short calls. SMS are a lot cheaper so may work for you. If you go on the $10 casual plan calls are cheaper. It is NOT a prepaid however,
Look through Satphones

Hi Tom

For sure it may not work for all, but what I was highlighting is that for a nominal daily cost, less than the cost of a can of VB, I get to communicate on my sat phone almost limitlessly. Mind you I have a need to remain in communication with others.

Is that expensive?

A benefit of using any piece of equipment regularly, whether it s a winch on the front of the vehicle or sat phone hidden away in the glovebox is that you know it will work when you need it most. The old adage, out of sight, out of mind comes to the fore...

The question is whether a can of VB a day, or the cost of a litre of fuel a day expensive? Because that is what it costs me for virtually unlimited use of my satphone.

And I'm not trying to convince all and sundry that this is the way to go, but simply put the 'cost' of an invaluable communication device into perspective.

Cheers, Baz - The Landy

Baz

All good advice but I think the point of the cheaper option, using your analogy, is that you are not paying for a can of VB that you, more often than not, don't get to drink :)

It all adds up. Cheapest option works for me (and others) at moment - will change when circumstances change.

Cheers
Greg

Hi Greg

Sticking with the beer analogy!

I guess your comment of not paying for a can of VB that you don't get to drink is true to some extent, on the other hand having outlaid the cost of a device that you (generally) don't use, although acknowledging it does serve a purpose, is a bit like paying for a few cartons of VB that you only look at while sitting around the camp fire... ;)

For sure, I've always highlighted it isn't for all, but offered as food for thought...

Now, where is that can of VB,

Cheers, Baz...

"is a bit like paying for a few cartons of VB that you only look at while sitting around the camp fire... ;)"

Not really - I can use it ("take a VB") anytime I like - I am not obliged to sit and look. There is no restriction on use on the cheaper plans. I am just not paying for beer I am not drinking, you are. Simple.

The "cans" are however more expensive on the cheaper plans so need to pick the best option for your personal circumstance (have I said this before:). Applies to many things not just sat phones, so these days, its almost common sense.

Cheers
Greg

What you havent grasped Landy is that you seem to be travelling extensively and others arent.

Yours will get a lot more use than theirs and so the cost per unit is less.

Not all of us "Have" to have access to others all the time and in fact may prefer not to,
We certainly didnt.

You are paying several hundred a year just to have it plus calls. When I got mine I paid nearly $1k for it and required it for emergency calls ONLY, for a period of an extended trip around the country,

Then I sold it for what I paid for it. So Cost was ZERO

Usage cost was $8 for one test call and one other one when I was late to book in at a motel when I had forgotten the little time zone out on the Nullabor.

Thats ALL I bought it for. For the few times I was out of Cellular coverage and "May" get into strife

So cost to me for 2 years "Use" was $8 or 5 Cans of XXXX.

Your method suits you but not me and mine cost a damn sight less than yours.

Others may have a different usage pattern to both of us and so can work out for themselves which is best.

I wasnt interested in how much a day it cost me to have it because I knew at the end it wouldnt cost me anything and it didnt in the end.

As with many things in this forum, there is not necessarily a right or wrong answer, but hopefully a contribution of thoughts and ideas that others can read, review and ponder on...

So can I simply suggest that one wears the cap that fits best...


Cheers, Baz - The Landy

As a footnote: I can only wish I was travelling extensively!

Still cant talk on it a Spot may be as good and cheaper.

Ive said all I have to say.

You started off wanting to buy a cheap Satfone nad now are onto something else entirely.

WIll leave you to it.