Nera World Phone

Thanks, Mike. Looks like it's quite useless ? Where do I go to sign up ? :)))))))

I wouldn't say it's useless - it's just that it's on a different type of satellite network.

I don't have any experience with Inmarsat.

Mike

Hi There,

TC Comms are the Nera Service Centre for Australia so if you have any problems with "the old clunker" give us a call.

Also, we have the cheapest airtime rates in Oz.

www.tc.com.au
1300 653 332
Phil

Hi Phil, that's great to know. As soon as the beasie arrives I'll start looking into the costs involved.

Thats the one. Dont like the sound of the last bit :((

These days Inmarsat is a LOT cheaper that it used to be. In 1990, I installed an old Inmarsat A system on a Pacific tuna purse-seiner, in the first month they clocked up a US$14000 bill!!
Needless to say, the next time I was on the boat, I had to move the phone, fax and telex terminal into the skippers cabin!!

I'm looking at the Inmarsat regional BGAN system for my next trip. You get a small terminal that looks like a laptop, you flip the lid, aim it at the sat and you get broadband for your laptop PC!! Easy!! I've also got an old Inmarsat M transportable terminal (not Mini M), but it's just a little too expensive to keep connected for the odd occasion I would use it. It's a pity 'cause it's a great system, not as handy as a Globalstar or Iridium of course!

If you want it only for emergency use i.e. only to contact Police or Ambulance then buy an Iridium or Globalstar handset and don't put a SIM card in it - just dial 112.

I know it works with a Motorola 9505 on Iridium.

Mike

I originally had my Satfone through Vodafone and still pay my bills to them despite it being run by another company now. I pay only $10 per month for the connection.

Not sure if you can still do this through Vodafone.

G'day Mike,

I have the 9500 on Iridium so I'm interested in your comment. How do you know 112 works without the SIM? Short of dialing the number and saying this is a test only - would leave them unhappy I'd think.

Kind regards

"How do you know 112 works without the SIM? Short of dialing the number and saying this is a test only"

That's exactly what I did - this call was a valid test of an emergency capability that could potentially save the emergency services tens of thousands of dollars for a search - only if it worked.

I have sat beside a 000 Operator and listened to incoming calls. Believe me, many of the calls have NOTHING to do with emergencies. A test call is no problem for them.

Even testing of EPIRBs is allowed within the first 5 minutes of the hour, as long as it is only for 3 beeps.

Mike

Thanks Mike I will try this myself now - Ok maybe later. Good information and well worth knowing, thank you.

Kind regards