Iridium Go

Ahh.
I see now.
The unit comes with a sim card, I only saw that when I went on the buy it section.
It wasn't obvious to me originally.
William

It has its own sim card because that card registers it on the Iridium network. It uses WIFI to the phone to pick up updates and your contacts so it knows who to dial on the Satellites network

If you google it there is a very good instruction PDF from Telstra on how to set it up and how it works.

It apparently needs its own sim to work but maybe would work with a spare Telstra postpaid one Only way to find out would be to try it but after looking at its setup probably need one of its own.

Another similar device you could check out is the "Optus Thuraya SatSleeve +" and the "SatSleeve Hotspot"... seem to be much the same...
cheers

Thanks everyone, I am specifically interested in the Iridium one as I want to use it in the Victorian High country as well as further north. I also read that the Go is compatible with the next generation Iridium network scheduled for 2017 release.

I have Iridium Go ( with its own SIM and number) And WiFi linked to my iPhone 6S. Via Telstra. System works very well, but expensive to use. Overall though a good alternative to full cost of buying a full Sat phone.
Please realise like any Sat phone it has to see the satellite and the Iridium ones are not geo stationary and you may have to wait for it to pass over your location. Like all they only work well in open spaces.

Thanks Andrew.


I really just want to use it as an alternative to my old 9505. That works ok but the texts are very clunky and I the main appeal of the Go is that I can mount it to the vehicle and have it in postion to make and receive calls when driving. That is a with hard with the phone.


So is the SIM a normal Telstra mobile SIM or a specific Satellite provider one ( like Pivotel etc)?

It's a normal Telstra SIM. If you do get one ask for a spare SIM as I had a bit of trouble with mine initially.

Does this mean that the phone only serves as the interface, so you could swap the sim out of the phone into the unit (with appropriate caddy if required)?

On the surface that should work if the Telstra Sim works in the Iridium Go Warren.

The downside of that though is
1)The SIM adfapters tend to be dodgy and fragile at times, take quite a few with you.
2)In my experience, when you put your normal phone number SIM into the Sat phone while out of coverage, you get a whole lot of texts and missed calls. At $1.50 a pop, and you often can't tell if it is a loved one with an issue or a telesales call until you get them all and sometimes call the number. You can get the $10 plan for as short as a month, so no one will call that number and you can stop it after the trip
3)The benefit of the Go to me is that you can set it up in your car and leave it on at no cost. Then calls are easy to make / receive.. That advantage goes away if you swap sims and a normal cheaper Sat phone may achieve the same thing ( ignoring data)