HF, Sat Phone and CDMA?

I use a Globalstar sat phone with data cable.

It is like being at home except more expensive.

yep we are with globalstar also and guess what just the same as being home but more expensive we treat our sat phone as an emergancy only if we have too make a $1000'00 call who cares
e-mails use the telstra mini max works on the cdma network very good

both about $30.00 @ month plus conection fees

CDMA is a waste of time & money.

I believe that Telstra is shutting down the CDMA network and replacing it with G3. That would make an investment in CDMA short-lived. " target="EOF" class="lbg">Site Link

Have just been reading the "Australian 4WD Monthly, Discover New South Wales Edition" and on page 25 it described possibilities for remote area communication. You could get a satellite phone or HF radio, but the other option in this article is a Motorola 9500, 9505 or later model 9505A mobile phone.

According to this article, you need a Telstra GSM mobile plan with international roaming enabled and all you need to do is put the SIM card from the Telstra mobile into the Motorola phone and you will have coverage.

This is because the Motorola phone models (9500, 9505, 9505A) are the only ones currently built to operate on the Iridium satellite network, the smae network that Telstra GSM mobiles use.

Don't know how this works but could be worth a look. :)

Had a reply from motorola they advised cannot use one sim card between sat phone and normal handset,must have seperate cards and contracts for each.

There are only three phones that will work with Iridium satellites - Motorola 9500(can't send SMS), 9505 or 9505a. These phones will NOT work on any terrestrial network.

There are several network you access using the Iridium satellites.
- You can sign up as an Iridium Network using and you will get a SIM card and number that is valid only for the Iridium Network - you dial an International Number form within Australia.
- Telstra have an arrangement with the Iridium operator for Telstra GSM SIM cards with International Roaming to be recognised and charge dto your Mobile Phone Bill. You pay abt $2.30 per minute for INCOMING and outgoing calls within Australia. Sending an SMS costs about a dollar and incoming SMS are not charged.
- SIM cards from other Australian phone networks will NOT work in Iridium phones.

Even if you have NO SIM card in an Iridium Phone, you can still call 112 and get through to an Australian "000" Operator.

Mike

From your criteria, you've pretty much ruled out HF. But I like HF. You may find an argument for having both Sat Phone and HF.

#1 I joined the Bushphone network so I can telephone the family (or anyone else) through the HF while I'm away. ($115/yr) Great thing about this sort of phone is that its hard to be called - so you don't get bothered by work phoning you!!
#2 I joined the VKS-737 4wd network, so I can get advice and help if the need were to arise. I can find out local weather, conditions etc ($70/yr)
#3 I can listen to ABC radio on HF to find out how the rest of the world is suffering and who lost the football
#4 Friends on HF can selcall me and chat at no cost

HF has its downsides: It can be difficult to learn. Transmissions can be difficult if theres a lot of "noise". It needs a good installation and a good aerial, and it needs a healthy 12Volts. Phone calls can be hard for the user at the other end.

Email and Internet are possible with HF but are painfully slow and are just getting developed.