Satphone bad news/good news
Submitted: Tuesday, Jul 17, 2007 at 16:51
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Member - Fred L (NSW)
We often hear bad news stories but I would like to share this with you. I am just back from an almost 5 week trip with a hired satphone from Endeavour (W'Gong) using Globalstar. Without going into detail other than to say I had reception problems in some
places I received an email from Endeavour today to say that they have cancelled all rental fees ($300 plus) and all call charges for that period. That I would say is GOOD customer service.
Fred
Reply By: Andrew from Vivid Adventures - Tuesday, Jul 17, 2007 at 16:55
Tuesday, Jul 17, 2007 at 16:55
Yeah -
well they should have told you before you left that Globalstar reception is still up shoot
creek without a paddle.
Of course they would know.
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252975
Reply By: Member - John (Vic) - Tuesday, Jul 17, 2007 at 17:16
Tuesday, Jul 17, 2007 at 17:16
Makes you feel good that if you really had needed the phone for an emergency then it would have worked
well as a door stop.
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252981
Follow Up By: Member - Fred L (NSW) - Wednesday, Jul 18, 2007 at 14:35
Wednesday, Jul 18, 2007 at 14:35
Yoy are exactly right. I was out bushwalking by myself E of Alice. If I broke a leg or got bitten by a snake I guess I would still be there.
Fred
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Harry - Wednesday, Jul 18, 2007 at 22:21
Wednesday, Jul 18, 2007 at 22:21
You could kill the snake with it, ----maybe-----and that would save the hassle of getting reception. :>)))
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Reply By: marq - Tuesday, Jul 17, 2007 at 19:14
Tuesday, Jul 17, 2007 at 19:14
TR Telecom - Can't fault them qet. Iridium via 9505A - can use it inside the vehicle with standard antenna.
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Reply By: brummie pete - Tuesday, Jul 17, 2007 at 20:08
Tuesday, Jul 17, 2007 at 20:08
hi Fred ,i have a globalstar phone and have never had any problems apart from waiting sometimes five minutes to get a reception from the sats ,but i must admit when i upgrade my sat phone i am thinking of changing to one of the other carriers due to all the bad press globalstar are getting these days .pete
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Follow Up By: Member - Fred L (NSW) - Wednesday, Jul 18, 2007 at 14:38
Wednesday, Jul 18, 2007 at 14:38
No brumme pete,
mine was serious stuff. At one place I climbed up on top of the highest
hill and tried every which way for 3 hours. No luck. Problem areas were Jervious, E. of Alice, Kings Canyon, near Finke etc - gave up after that.
Cheers
Fred
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514256
Follow Up By: Member - John (Vic) - Wednesday, Jul 18, 2007 at 20:44
Wednesday, Jul 18, 2007 at 20:44
Fred its the way you stand and where you stick your tongue, :-)
Try it on one leg only (not sure whether your phone will work better on the left or right leg, that will depend on how far north you are and stick your tongue out to its full extension (Like Gene Simmonds of Kiss fame) then try and dial and see if that will help with sat reception.
Cheers
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514338
Follow Up By: Member - Fred L (NSW) - Thursday, Jul 19, 2007 at 11:28
Thursday, Jul 19, 2007 at 11:28
damn - I did not try the togue bit. Honestly though, and I can smile now, I held the phone about 10cm from my face till I got 3 bars. Then I kept the phone still and moved my head. By the time I got my mouth in position, with sqinting eyes, the signal had dropped out. I even though that it might have been a filling I had in my back tooth that was causing my grief!
Cheers
Fred
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Follow Up By: Member - John (Vic) - Thursday, Jul 19, 2007 at 15:21
Thursday, Jul 19, 2007 at 15:21
Fred I should not laugh as the issue is serious but I can just picture you being so frustrated as to try doing that. :-)
Maybe speak to your dentist about sat phone reception next time you visit??
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Reply By: Member - Kiwi B - Tuesday, Jul 17, 2007 at 20:39
Tuesday, Jul 17, 2007 at 20:39
Mmmm!!!! 5 months last year in WA and regular drop-outs etc. Wife called to complain and was asked to get me to call them?????. Can't, that's what we're complaining about. Contacted them when I got back to civilization and the nice lady told me that they were bringing a sattelite in for repair and it would be all good by May this year. Perhaps they've been held-up with the repairs???
Did get a few dollars credit from the system but don't think it came near matching the frustration when yer out there and need to talk to people but can't because the service ain't up to it.
Might be all fixed now, May was a while ago.
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Follow Up By: stocky - Tuesday, Jul 17, 2007 at 21:36
Tuesday, Jul 17, 2007 at 21:36
Fix up for Gstar is a bit behind schedule due to delays at the launch facility...any good GSTAR dealer will give you ALL the info on what is happening - its no secret and GSTAR are keeping their customers informed in writing - may be a different story if you are hiring. Customers where offered rebates on plan fees etc - GSTAR Australia have been doing a fair bit considering they are but a small part of the overall GSTAR system.
4 new "current generation" sats launched recently - 4 more due for launch shortly.
2nd Gen sat network up by 2008/2009 from memory.
I have BOTH GSTAR & Telstra - LOVE the GSTAR for voice quality, which is important to me.
I can possibly post links to copies of info if others are interested??
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Reply By: Member - pilbaradisco - Wednesday, Jul 18, 2007 at 12:42
Wednesday, Jul 18, 2007 at 12:42
I have had no problems with Testra Iridium for the last five years. Phone(Motorola 9500) even went under
water for 40 mins and worked after drying out and the spare battery fitted.
Glen.
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Reply By: Member - big bo (NSW) - Wednesday, Jul 18, 2007 at 16:25
Wednesday, Jul 18, 2007 at 16:25
I had a globalstar for the first 2 months of my ouback trip it did'nt work,what a waste and lucky we had no trouble, that was 12 months ago, just recently it kept telling me that it was shutting down, globalstar wanted to charge me $55 to fix it(still under warranty) and then told me that there was nothing wrong with it, told them to stick it and cancel my contract , still arguing over cancellation fees, never again junk like Globalstar. I am buying a HF outfit. Have complained to the ombudsman.
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Follow Up By: stocky - Wednesday, Jul 18, 2007 at 21:42
Wednesday, Jul 18, 2007 at 21:42
What handset? The Telit is JUNK - and always has been!
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Reply By: Axel [ the real one ] - Thursday, Jul 19, 2007 at 11:34
Thursday, Jul 19, 2007 at 11:34
How about telling us all what brand /model ect phone u were using ?
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Follow Up By: Member - Fred L (NSW) - Thursday, Jul 19, 2007 at 12:18
Thursday, Jul 19, 2007 at 12:18
Qualcomm GSP1600 - maybe if it was maroon it would have worked!!!!
cheers
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