Satphones - Government Phone Subsidy Scheme

Hi Drew,

I haven't yet applied for the subsidy, but I will soon be...how successful I will be I have no idea. I am applying as I will be operating tag a long tours in remote areas in the near future. The business is already up and running, but no tours set up yet. It looks like you have done a fair bit of research already, and it was good to read your costs after the subsidy. Funny that Telstra plan still costs you more after subsidy than globalstar, but then I believe the Motorola to be the much better phone than the globalstar offerings. I know of at least one person here who received the subsidy, but he lives in a regional area of SA.

Cheers and I will watch this thread with interest.

Glenn

Have applied for, and received notification of subsidy, this week. In fact the supplier had rung a day or two before, to organize the sale!!

Live south of Winton, and close to 200 clicks from edge of nearest CDMA reception. Understand if you plan to, or do travel away from phone coverage, there's little drama in receiving the subsidy. Know that Willem received subsidy, but he bought a 2nd hand unit.

Plan to get Telstra unit, the Motorola 9500?, when we make the purchase.

Worth a try for you blokes,

Hooroo...

Gday Drew,
My form is in the post now. Im 50/50 between satphone/HF. Ive submitted my form with an honest assessment of my time away, im not away 3 days a week or 4 months a year.
Im more curious than anything to see what happens.
Dean

Hi all,

Two things.

I applied based on 3 - 4 months of the year out of range of Terrestrial mobile coverage (CDMA/GSM) and as I get 10 weeks of leave a year plus days off I figured I could prove at least that if I had to.

I told them I provide medical support for tour groups and required it for emergency contact, which I do. About to do the Canning with a group of bikes leaving Wednesday.

I got knocked back. Not enough time away and subsidy directed at those living outside of coverage areas. They are clamping down apparently - too many fraudulent applications.

I bought a second hand 9500 for about $900 - be patient they come up. I tried the GSM sim card thing and released the results on the forums here. Not bad for emergency use at $3 a minute but you pay that to receive calls too.

I have now got a TR Telecom (Ringwood VIC ph. 03 98711200 or www.trtelecom.com) account which is $30 per month and same call charge as Telstra. No included calls but I can suspend the account to $15 a month when not in use. Activate and deactivate as often as I like (in business hrs) and no contract.

Bugger Telstra. They can go and take a long walk of a short pier...

You can send sms's to Iridium phones free from the iridium website too for those unaware of the service. 9500's can't send SMS but can receive them.

Only 3 sleeps to go - Port Augusta Wednesday night....

Dave

Ebay Satphone

If DrewT was a member I would have PM'd him.

Guess now he has to compete with the rest of you.

Dave