satellite phones

Submitted: Wednesday, Apr 02, 2008 at 22:33

ThreadID: 56219 Views:3698 Replies:5 FollowUps:6

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Handheld Satellite Phone Solutions for Travellers

The aim of this article is to provide a simple overview of the current satphone environment in Australia - assisting recreational, outback travellers make informed decisions when considering the

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wanting to purchase a satellite phone. My family and I are planning a trip across australia and i am wanting to buy a new satellite phone. I do not want to join a plan eg. telstra, i want to preferably purchase a brand new one outright. If any one could please let me know where i can purchase them from and any feed back about certain brands and their reliability and pricing

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Reply By: Member - lyndon K (SA) - Wednesday, Apr 02, 2008 at 22:36

Wednesday, Apr 02, 2008 at 22:36

What about HF? Much more fun than Sat & once purchased you can get years of use out of it with next to no cost.

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Reply By: Smudger - Wednesday, Apr 02, 2008 at 23:51

Wednesday, Apr 02, 2008 at 23:51

Do a search on this website for Motorola 9500, 9505 and 9505A Iridium satphones. A second hand unit will cost around $1,000+ depending on the model, then use your regular Telstra SIM card when you don't have normal mobile reception, must have International Roam enabled. I've tested our 9500 in remore spots all over (latest was out on the Hay Plain a couple of days ago) and have never not been connected. Know of a bloke who used his in the Himalayas with his normal Telstra SIM card. The call rate is high, but we only use our a couple of times a year, mainly have it for emergencies. Like you, can't see why I should pay a plan for something I use very infrequently.

AnswerID: 296278

Follow Up By: Motherhen - Thursday, Apr 03, 2008 at 00:40

Thursday, Apr 03, 2008 at 00:40

Smudger, I couldn't get international roaming on a pre paid Telstra phone, so we still would need to be on a 'plan'. Does this mean that you don't need to pay the monthly fee for the satellite service at all? Just the cost of the calls?

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Follow Up By: Smudger - Thursday, Apr 03, 2008 at 18:46

Thursday, Apr 03, 2008 at 18:46

Motherhen
Correct, you can't get International Roam on pre-paid.
Just to expand my earlier reply; To take advantage of the Motorola Iridium 9500 series satphone option, you must have a Telstra mobile plan, because Telstra operates on the Iridium satellite network. So my wife has her mobile phone with whoever she chooses, but my day-to-day mobile phone has to be with Telstra, so that when I need to use the satphone I have an Iridium SIM card.
So ultimately, yes you need to have a Plan with Telstra, but it it can be the cheapest non-pre paid contract available. No need to have a dedicated satphone contract as well.

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Follow Up By: John R (SA) - Thursday, Apr 03, 2008 at 20:19

Thursday, Apr 03, 2008 at 20:19

Can I stick a NextG sim in for the same result?

When my first NextG went off for repairs, I was lent a regular digital phone, stuck my sim card in and it happily worked on the digital network

I've not asked telstra if I can get global roaming on a NextG, but if that's possible, then do you reckon (or does anyone know?!) if I can do the same?

(I know it would not access the NextG network . . . it might be a case of pulling the card out of the nextg phone and sticking it in the sat phone when required.)

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Follow Up By: Smudger - Thursday, Apr 03, 2008 at 23:56

Thursday, Apr 03, 2008 at 23:56

I'm on NextG and used my card from middle of nowhere a week ago, no probs.

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Reply By: Member - Footloose - Thursday, Apr 03, 2008 at 00:13

Thursday, Apr 03, 2008 at 00:13

If it's a s/h one you want, check Ebay but be aware that new batteries are expensive. Make sure you buy one with a charger, AC and DC, and possibly an external aerial arrangement. Buy

AnswerID: 296282

Follow Up By: Member - Footloose - Thursday, Apr 03, 2008 at 00:16

Thursday, Apr 03, 2008 at 00:16

Oopsies...buy from an Australian seller with a decent feedback rating. You can get caught.
Keep an eye on the Trader section here, they sometimes appear for sale.

FollowupID: 562333

Reply By: KiwiAngler - Thursday, Apr 03, 2008 at 20:59

Thursday, Apr 03, 2008 at 20:59

I have found this company good to deal with and have purchased 2 second hand motorola sat phones from them

Landwide 2nd hand sat phones

They also sell new phones but I have not checked that side of their business out.

AnswerID: 296470

Reply By: Nix - Thursday, Apr 03, 2008 at 23:09

Thursday, Apr 03, 2008 at 23:09

Hi,

the best way to have access to a satellite phone with no montly cost is with iridium and a telstra sim.

I use a motorala 9505. You can use either a telstra gsm or next g sim, as long as they have global roaming enabled.

I even have a telstra nextg data service (must be with mobilenet, not bigpond) and use it.

Calls are expensive at around $2 per 30 seconds, but for emergencies are ok.

AnswerID: 296515