SATELLITE PHONE COVERAGE

Need you ask??

Yes David we are, is that significant, i thought all the sat phones used the same satellites?
Regards from Col.

There have been a few threads on this but Globalstar is absolute crap. We sell both Globalstar and Iridium sat phones but hire only Iridium. Globalstar will have a complete overhaul soon including name change as their name is sinonomous with terrible service, dropouts etc.

Iridium we have not have any problems with and have all our hire phones hired out for probably 95% of the time.

Some people have had success with sending theirs back and getting refunds. I would suggest you do the same.

Regards
David

Sorry should have said 2 seperate systems on seperate satellites. Go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Globalstar for more info.

Regards
David

Thanks David, that info was fantastic, we have a tellit phone, are we able to take out a plan with say Telstra or similar and then we would get coverage?
Thanks again.
Regards from Col

Hi Col,

As far as I know you 'should' be able to change plans and keep the exisiting handset BUT we have not done this for someone as of yet so am not 100% sure. Will find out tomorrow for you though.

Regards
David

Colin. There is only one, 100% reliable satphone.
This uses a "geostationary" satellite some 35000km. above the Pacific ocean. Not the low orbit, sometimes not in view, the others use.
I put the specifications of our 'phone on the forum (in answer to a request), so you could look it up.
It is a Westinghouse unit, access through Optus, available through Network Communications.
furph

As it has been said before Globalstar only good for door stops ,& I have one,& I have not paid for it for over 6mths & I have taken by complaints to the Government as I received the Allowance

Hi Grungle, can you give me an idea of the costs for both holding and useing a sat phone that uses the Iridium system ? I understand that there is an 'access' cost as well as the per minute cost.

Thanks

Hi Colin J,

We have been told that you cannot use your Telit sat phone on the Iridium network as it is incompatible. Whether that is just Telstra saying that to sell handsets, I am not sure. If you were here in Mackay I would get you to come in and try a Iridium SIM card from our hire phone in your Globalstar (do you have GSM or CDMA version of the sat phone?) to see if it works. Otherwise you would have to get a new Iridium compatible handset (9505A) to use plus sign up on one of their plans.

Try finding a store near where you are that will try an Iridium SIM card in your phone to find out for sure

Hi Kiwi Kia,

If you go to this site -> Telstra Satellite Plan Pricing you can see the costs of plans, call rates, etc. We sell a lot on $30 plans private customers which is the majority and the rest on the $50 plan for companies due to the $20 worth of free calls. The plans are just like mobile phone plans but with higher call charges.

There is a Govt. rebate of between $900 and $1200 if you are in a non-mobile area for 120 days or more a year (not consecutive, work, living or playing).

Regards
David

Thanks David.

Any idea when globalstar are upgrading their network? I agree it is totally useless..i can make a phone call on my mates iridium with my globalstar next to us looking completely impotent with little or no service..infuriating..i really should stop paying the access fee and just use it as a paper weight