Satphone and NextG SIM card
Submitted: Sunday, Jul 22, 2007 at 08:48
ThreadID:
47965
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bindaree
I have just read thread 47956.
Likewise, my Motorola 9505A works with a GSM SIM card with global roaming set. However, with the move to NextG, I wonder if anyone has any experience with using a NextG SIM card in their satphone.
Many thanks
Dick
Reply By: Grungle - Sunday, Jul 22, 2007 at 09:33
Sunday, Jul 22, 2007 at 09:33
Hi Dick,
Your satphone will not be compatible unfortunately due to the 100MHz difference between GSM and NextG. Also I am yet to hear of a Satphone being released that is NextG capable. I doubt we will see these until next year.
Heres hoping though.
Regards
David
AnswerID:
253806
Follow Up By: Muddy doe (SA) - Sunday, Jul 22, 2007 at 18:27
Sunday, Jul 22, 2007 at 18:27
He is talking about the billing arrangements, not one of those combined sat/gsm phones.
In a normal Iridium sat phone you can use a Telstra GSM SIM card to get service and make calls. You must have the International Roaming option turned on in your Telstra Account.
What this means is that you don't have to subscribe to an Iridium plan. You just take the sim out of your normal Telstra GSM phone and put it in the Iridium sat phone.
Costs bucketloads to actually make a call but when you weigh up how many times you actually use it as opposed to paying 30 or 40 bucks a month to Iridium then you might just be in front over a full year.
The question is whether a Telstra NextG USIM would do the same thing.
Cheers
Muddy
FollowupID:
514938
Reply By: lifeisgood - Sunday, Jul 22, 2007 at 10:00
Sunday, Jul 22, 2007 at 10:00
mmm Looks like I will be sticking to GSM for a few years yet then. I was tempted to change to G3 because of claimed better country coverage. however having bought the 9505A just this year I planned to drop the sat plan after 12 mths and just use the mobile sim. I had wondered about the same conversion as Dick.
AnswerID:
253809
Reply By: Nick R (VIC) - Sunday, Jul 22, 2007 at 13:29
Sunday, Jul 22, 2007 at 13:29
I'm trying to understand,
If hypothetically I had the use of a sat phone that accepted my NextG sim I could use a sat phone and it would be billed to me?
I think I understand....
NickR
AnswerID:
253837
Follow Up By: Muddy doe (SA) - Sunday, Jul 22, 2007 at 18:29
Sunday, Jul 22, 2007 at 18:29
It's all about the billing arrangements Nick.
In a normal Iridium sat phone you can use a Telstra GSM SIM card to get service and make calls. You must have the International Roaming option turned on in your Telstra Account.
What this means is that you don't have to subscribe to an Iridium plan. You just take the sim out of your normal Telstra GSM phone and put it in the Iridium sat phone.
Costs bucketloads to actually make a call but when you weigh up how many times you actually use it as opposed to paying 30 or 40 bucks a month to Iridium then you might just be in front over a full year.
The question is whether a Telstra NextG USIM would do the same thing.
Cheers
Muddy
FollowupID:
514939
Reply By: Member - Mike DID - Sunday, Jul 22, 2007 at 14:16
Sunday, Jul 22, 2007 at 14:16
Telstra has set up a billing arrangement with Iridium, so if you put any GSM SIM card with International Roaming in a Motorola 9500 or 9505 Satphone it will be recognised.
Calls will appear on your Mobile Phone Bill - but about $4 per minute for outgoing and incoming calls. Pretty good, seeing you pay NO monthly fee for satellite access.
I don't know if it works with a Next G SIM card, but I see no reason why not.
AnswerID:
253846
Reply By: Dean - Monday, Jul 23, 2007 at 10:37
Monday, Jul 23, 2007 at 10:37
I had a long discussion with Telstra regading this recently. According to them they will more than likeky allow this to happen one day in the future, about the same time gsm will be phased out.
Dean
AnswerID:
253990