Using GSM SIM in Satellite Phone

Hi Rod I'm not replying because I have an answer - I was hoping to see an answer!

FWIW I have just bought a 2nd hand sat phone and don't intend to get a SIM card for it. I only carry it strictly for emergency use, the Telstra Iridium network will let you make 000 calls regardless of account .

We had some work colleagues who as ridiculous as it sounds ran out of fuel at night between Papunya and Yendumu, they used the Globalstar without SIM and rang 000 who then called us up at home to relay the approx location and difficulty.

I think Willlem has a $30/month plan with $10 worth of calls but I don't know what the contract term is. I think he is off out of internet range in the Flinders for a month.

It would be nice to be able to have the one SIM card and then be billed the higher amount accordingly but I suspect from what I have read that the capability is available in the phones but Telstra do not offer it here.

Regards,

Slammin.

Hi Rod,

I have a Vodafone sim and a $15.00 / month globalstar package.

I use the sim in my normal flip phone and keep the satphone 'Telit' in the glove box just in case. I do a charge up and test every month on the battery just in case too. I have had it for 6 years now and have only had to replace the battery pack once about 2 years ago.

The call cost is quite high on sat calls but well worth it if needed.

Regards Derek.

Hi Rod,
This answer is from practical use and experience,

The SIM from my standard Nokia GSM mobile phone will work in my Motorola Iridium 9500 Satellite phone.
The only special preparation needed for the SIM is to make certain it is enabled for International Roaming.
Note: The call costs charged for using the SIM in the satellite phone will be higher than either the normal GSM service or the dedicated Satellite phone SIM. (The SIM Telstra give you for a dedicated Iridium service is exactly the same as the GSM SIM they give the person signing up beside you for GSM service)

Telstra staff mostly don't know whether this will work or are programmed to believe this will not work to up sell you to a 2 year Iridium contract at a minimum of $30/month.

Only other thing you'll need to know is the SIM is actually delivered new in a credit card size and this is what's needed to fit my Motorola 9500. To fit the Nokia GSM the centre piece is "broken out" of the original credit card sized SIM. I went to Dick Smith (I think) and bought an adaptor card to make the "broken out" SIM large enough to fit the Satellite phone.

Geoff.

Rod,
Telstra seem to be a bit lost on this one too
But the GSM SIM does work OK in certain sat phones and not in others
New Motorolas apparantly have this ability removed whereas older versions are OK
Telstra did say to me that it will work but may not work 100% everywhere or as reliably as the proper card. Some customers trying it were without service for a day or 2.
Ive only tested it with my 9505 and it works OK
It does not use the GSM network at all, I believe, just sattelites so cost is up and all the problems with aerials and direct sight of sky etc apply
It simply uses the GSM card for ID and billing
Cheers
JR

A Telstra GSM sim with international roaming enabled works ok in my 9500 Motorola Satphone, call costs are approximately double the normal satphone cost and you pay for incoming as well as outgoing calls.
Peter