Buying a Sat phone

Submitted: Wednesday, Jan 16, 2008 at 15:09

ThreadID: 53552 Views:2478 Replies:3 FollowUps:13

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Leroy

Hi,
I'm thinking about buying a sat phone. Just wondering what's the best way to go about it?
Are there are any special deals going on at the moment like government subsidies or the like?
Should I consider buying one outright and use the sim out of my GSM phone?
What are good second hand ones? I have a Motorola 9500 here at work that seems to be ok. It's a bit large though.
It will only be used for emergencies and I'm only interested in an Iridium

Leroy

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Reply By: Member - Mike DID - Wednesday, Jan 16, 2008 at 16:25

Wednesday, Jan 16, 2008 at 16:25

If you're only using it for emergencies, then a Telstra SIM card is the only way to do it without paying $30 a month for Satphone capability.

For Iridium you only have a choice between the Motorola 9500 and 9505.
The 9505 is smaller than the 9500.
The 9500 can receive SMS but not send SMS, 9505 does both.

AnswerID: 281954

Follow Up By: Leroy - Wednesday, Jan 16, 2008 at 16:27

Wednesday, Jan 16, 2008 at 16:27

Why can't you send SMS with the 9500?

Leroy

FollowupID: 546372

Follow Up By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Wednesday, Jan 16, 2008 at 19:58

Wednesday, Jan 16, 2008 at 19:58

The 9505 and 9505a use a standard sim card and the 9500 uses a credit card sized one.
So if u buy a $2 Vodafone starter pack and sellotape your telstra Sim in it it will fit in a 9500 or so Im told

FollowupID: 546442

Follow Up By: Leroy - Friday, Jan 18, 2008 at 16:14

Friday, Jan 18, 2008 at 16:14

OK i confirmed that the 9500 can recieve SMS but there was no option to reply only call the number that sent the SMS.

Can someone pls tell me what the difference is between the 9500 and the 9500a?

Leroy

FollowupID: 546780

Follow Up By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Friday, Jan 18, 2008 at 18:21

Friday, Jan 18, 2008 at 18:21

There is no 9500A there is 9500 a 9505 and a 9505A

The later models obviously have more capability than the original version.

FollowupID: 546804

Follow Up By: Member - Mike DID - Friday, Jan 18, 2008 at 19:25

Friday, Jan 18, 2008 at 19:25

The 9505 is smaller than the 9500.
The 9500 can receive SMS but not send SMS, 9505 and 9505a does both.
The 9505a supports encryption for US Defence Dept.

FollowupID: 546825

Follow Up By: Leroy - Friday, Jan 18, 2008 at 20:36

Friday, Jan 18, 2008 at 20:36

ok thanks guys, I meant the 9505 and 9505a. So they then they are basically the same then appart from this encryption?

Leroy

FollowupID: 546847

Follow Up By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Friday, Jan 18, 2008 at 21:15

Friday, Jan 18, 2008 at 21:15

More or less and if you arent a US military person you wont need it.
Go to the Motorola site and look around. It will probably give u the specs of each model

FollowupID: 546869

Reply By: Member - JohnR (Vic)&Kath - Wednesday, Jan 16, 2008 at 16:38

Wednesday, Jan 16, 2008 at 16:38

Leroy, have been doing the same research so have a look to the Subsidy scheme

You could also search Google - links inserted

AnswerID: 281959

Follow Up By: Motherhen - Wednesday, Jan 16, 2008 at 18:29

Wednesday, Jan 16, 2008 at 18:29

Hi John

The Scheme provides support to people who live or work in areas beyond CDMA, 3G or GSM terrestrial mobile coverage

- Is the first condition. Unless we can prove that driving around the outback is work!

Motherhen

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FollowupID: 546414

Follow Up By: Member - JohnR (Vic)&Kath - Wednesday, Jan 16, 2008 at 18:55

Wednesday, Jan 16, 2008 at 18:55

Mutha, Mutha, I thought your Jim was a consultant. I know members who have been able to provide reason why and got the subsidy and I know where they live too ;-))

FollowupID: 546431

Follow Up By: Leroy - Wednesday, Jan 16, 2008 at 19:00

Wednesday, Jan 16, 2008 at 19:00

Thanks John. After reading you link I won't be eligible, even though I work in areas with no mobile phone coverage I'm not away from home for more than 120 days/year.

Leroy

FollowupID: 546432

Follow Up By: Member - JohnR (Vic)&Kath - Wednesday, Jan 16, 2008 at 22:14

Wednesday, Jan 16, 2008 at 22:14

Leroy, perhaps with a family member as well in a partnership? Think they must have tightened upa bit on the applications.

FollowupID: 546478

Reply By: Member - Kim M (VIC) - Wednesday, Jan 16, 2008 at 20:32

Wednesday, Jan 16, 2008 at 20:32

Leroy

From my experience, I would only purchase the 9505. Expensive gadget to have if you only use it every couple of years.

The Federal Government subsidy is not for the occasional user. If your not a property owner in a remote area, you'll need to tell a fair story to convince them your eligible.

I tried for a 3 month trip into a remote area, and they knocked me back.

Regards

Kim

AnswerID: 281985

Follow Up By: Member - Mick O (VIC) - Wednesday, Jan 16, 2008 at 21:29

Wednesday, Jan 16, 2008 at 21:29

I applied using the 12 month round australia tour as my reason. Listed all the remote areas I was headed and a rough itinerary and got the subsidy. Then wasted the bloody thing on a Globalstar unit!!!!

Don't touch globalstar with a barge pole.

Mick