Sat Phones – New Issue

Hi Footloose,
"Basically anyone who is relying on their advertised level of service needs their head read"

Well Footloose, maybe we do need our heads read but before you start berating some-one you should find out some facts first.

1 We bought the Sat phone about 3years ago to go on the CSR, we had no experience of 4x4, Exploreoz or anyone that we knew at the time who had knowledge in the area of Sat phones that we could get help from so the only way we could do it was check out the stores and I guess that the Globalstar salesman was the better of them all.

2 We paid for the phone in full, meaning no rebates for our phone and have since paid a monthly account (which I believe is the norm no matter what phone you have). We haven't won lotto so it wouldn't be practical to throw it in the bin and it is not something that you can just run down to Coles or Woollies and pick up another one on special.

3 This particular incident is the first time that we have had any trouble with the phone. Due to taking note of threads on this forum I rang Globalstar before we left and they did reassure us that it may be intermittent but there would not be long delays before getting a signal. Because of the fact that we had had no previous problems I accepted that information but was not really reassured. I guess you would say we need our heads read again.

If we had a crystal ball life would be so much easier.

So there you have it Footloose, there are some of the reasons that we own a Globalstar.

Dunworkin, it wasn't a personal attack. In fact I was reinforcing what the original poster intimated.
That you chose to feel that I had attacked you personally is puzzling but since you feel that I have done so, so be it.
I happen to have access to a great deal of tecnical information, and other large groups of users of their service. (including several Govt groups). In fact, some very private Globalstar phone numbers are in a file here. (and they didn't like me having those I can tell you.)
This is on top of my personal experiences with one in remote areas.
I have made this information availiable to anyone who bothered to read it on this website a few times.

Imagine the posters frustration and possible guilt, having a satphone and unable to use it in the situation.


There are alternative sat services who are reliable.
Vehicle mount stystems do come up cheaply on Ebay from time to time.
You don't have to buy an expensive handheld one if you know what you're doing.

Therefore I have no hesitation in re iterating. Anyone who relies on their advertised level of service needs their head read.

And if my comments causes one traveller to think twice about their emergency comms, thehn I don't give a damm who I upset.

Footloose, I take on board what you say about your knowledge of communications, if we had that knowledge we probably wouldn't have bought a Globalstar in the first place, we have learnt a lot since our decision to buy that phone but hindsight is a wonderful thing.

I had taken notice of your previous comments about the phone and that is why I contacted Globalstar in the first place, we took a punt on it as we had had no previous trouble but that has also been in the south of WA with the exception of the CSR.

Cheers

D

Apologies Willem & Footloose, new issue for me actually - I dont follow Sat phone discussions as I am a HF user. However, there is nothing like a real life event to highlight issues and that's what I thought was important here. i.e. 'knowledge is wisdom'.

It comes into the sat phone vs HF debate I guess, but I once had a problem with our HF when we were very remote so I didnt think it was fair to start on that tack.

Welcome back anyway. Missed your posts last month or 2.

JD

No worries mate

Like all things technical elctronic gadgets can stuff up at the worst moment possible.

I have used my old 6924 Codan in anger on three occasions in 30 years and each time I managed to reach a station. But the old 25watt isn't all that reliable especially in the late afternoon and early evening. Still it is good to have both forms of communication.

Cheers

Sorry JD, I read as much on here as I can manage. A very footloose character is want to say, "Any fool can make their own mistakes, a wise man learns from the mistakes of others." Which is what I try and do. I guess I probably have a bit more time than most :)
Re HF and satphones. Yes as is well known I'm a HF person and have been for over 40 years. But sat phones have their uses.
I try and rarely blow my own trumpet in here, because I feel that I'm in the comapny of people who often have vast experience in matters I know nothing of. So I'd rather learn from them, and possibly help out where I can.

However when it comes to safety and communications in the bush, I make an exception. I blow a bloody loud trumpet :))

Charlie

If you need a Satphone just to ring the rellies then that would be OK.

If you need a Satphone for emergencies then the GCR, Tanami and GRR are not as remote as you might think and it would not warrant the expense of hiring one. There is normally a fair deal of traffic on those roads so help would not be far away in the event of a breakdown.

I would hire a HF radio instead.

Cheers

Thanks Willem, Yes this is also something I will look into when the time comes, although I have a lot to learn regarding HF radio's as I know absolutely nothing about them.

Charlie.