Iridium - Motorola 9500 sources

Oh dear that takes you to the American string Association

www.asta.net .au

lets see if that works

forget the hyper link it is going to the wrong place but
www.asta.net.au
iswhere to have a look

I have a Motorola 9500. Bought it 4 years ago off an EO Member.

I am with Telstra /Iridium and have never had an issue with satellite access, or the phone. Sometimes there is a bit of an echo when talking but that must have to do with atmospherics or alike. Have used the phone all over Australia and in Africa too.

Cheers

Willem
Can you use the SIM card from your GSM phone with Global roaming or is it a seperate system ?

TasG

Used to but not any more as the system has changed. I believe you may have to upgrade to a newer phone to operate on the 3G network. Might have to check out Telstra site.

The Sim card capability isn't really much help as you are charged Global Roaming rates and that could end up being just as expensive as using the Satphone. I limit my call to 4 mins max...about $10. Its amazing how much you can say in 4 mins...lol

Cheers

Thanks Willem
I am looking at buying a sat phone but find it hard to decide which way to go, but the Iridium 9505 is shaping up as the one. Also the lower price range.
What I was told was that if you get global roaming on your GSM phone, then you can insert the SIM card in your Sat phone and pay Sat rates but it saves you having to get another account and number, because it is all billed to the original Mobile number.
Maybe I habve got it wrong LOL would be just like me.

If you have a Telstra GSM Simcard with Global Roaming, it will be recognised in a Motorola 9500 or 9505.

You will be charged about $3 a minute for outgoing and for incoming calls. Expensive, but you don't have to pay any monthly fees this way.

People just dial or SMS your normal Mobile number, but warn them there will be long delay and silent periods before the call connects. You don't pay for incoming SMS calls.

One thing good about Telstra Iridium Motorola 9500 and 9505 is that you can have 101 message bank on it. I haven't checked the cost for message retrieval but it is handy to be able to check every few days when out in the desert to see if you are needed somewhere else...lol
Cheers