Satellite phone confusion

The use dosnt worry me the main question is does it work.
The mobile is on a $600/m cap and when I am away for a month or two it hardley gets used and the sat phone does.
Then when I dont use the sat phone for 4 months or so its costing me $30/m to have it ints case.

All the best
Eric

Eric, yes it will. See how it's done in the 9500 phone at Doing the Telstra thing :)

Thanks I can put the sim from my mobile directy into the sat phone same size card and all.

I did this and it worked fine but what I want to know is can I get rid of the sat phone plan and only have the mobile plan.

All the best
Eric

If you're not worried about the incoming and outgoing call costs, yes you can. I usually advise people not to have too many calls coming in if possible, so that they don't end up with a hugeTelstra bill.
You keep your normal number BTW, so it's pretty similar to just using your mobile.
I'll be interested in finding out how the Irridium works on CY.

In a word YES
but all the calls made on the Sat phone using the sim will be at Satphone rates.
I believe there is also a charge per minute to you if peple ring your mobile and it comes to .you whilst in the Sat phone, which probably wont be covered in your monthly mobile plan.
It will be charged as are premium type calls 0900 etc

Surely if you get rid of your Sat phone plan you'll no longer be able to make Satellite phone calls?? You'll only be able to make NextG calls.

Graham does that mean I dont need the sat phone plan.
What number does the sat phone get the number on the mobile sim.
The sat phone works very well in the cape.

All the best
Eric

John thats what i am trying to work out.


All the best
Eric

Eric, ditch the sat plan if you're not on a contract. Then use your Telstra SIM from Next G to access the satellite. Call charges are as posted.
Interesting. I thought the canopy would have obscured the satellite in many places on CY?

The Sat phone WON'T work on the terrestrial Next G Network itself regardless of what Sim card is installed.
The Sat phone works on a different frequency than the Next G phone network.

The Next G Sim card identifies your account with Telstra/Iridium for billing purposes and as said above you will be billed for incoming and outgoing calls at the higher Sat rates.
So you don't need a stand alone Sat plan only Global Roaming on the Next G Sim Card enabled.

No Im not on a contract.

I used to have a globalstare pain in the butt thing and never really got coverage in the cape.
The iridium has about 5000% better coverage.

All the best
Eric

Now thats interesting the diference between Footlose answer and Johns answer.

Have either of you done what I am endevouring to do.

All the best
Eric

Eric, what I meant to imply is that you would be using your satphone as a mobile by accessing the satellite instead of the terrestrial network.
From your post I presumed that this is what you were asking about....perhaps not ?

What difference Eric??
I think we both said the same thing and our posts crossed.

Hi both I might not be very cleaver but I can lift heavy things.

But what does this mean
The Sat phone WON'T work on the terrestrial Next G Network itself regardless of what Sim card is installed.


All the best
Eric

Mate, it simply means that your phone will be used as a satellite phone, not as a normal mobile.
Basically it will cost you more for non bush calls that you make around Cairns.
You

You can lift heavy things eh? Hernia country :)

The Sat phone works on a different radio frequency than the Next G network.

The Sat phone cannot talk to the Telstra Next G phone towers/network.
The Sat phone only talks to the Iridium Satellites.

If you HAVE Next G coverage with your Next G phone then don't use the Sim in the Sat phone as it will only access the Sat's at the higher call costs.

If you have NO Next G coverage with your Next G phone then take the Sim out and put it in the Sat phone and you will now have Sat coverage but at the higher call rates both inbound and outbound.

How heavy a thing can you lift?? :-)

Very heavy LOL.

All the best
Eric

So what happens next I suppose I cancel my sat phone plan.

all the best
Eric

If you can write off the sat phone calls on tax, why not ?

Why not test the process for a month to ensure you are happy with the way the call costs pan out??
That way if you don't like what you see you can just put your Sat phone Sim back and keep your accounts the same.

I suggest that as an option as you are in business and need to ensure that your coverage is complete and that you are able to be satisfied with the costs involved.

I have 3 different businesses to write of expenses.

Its all food for thought

All the best
Eric

To clarify things
The Motorola 9500,9505 can only talk to Iridium satellites.
If you use the Telstra sim card it still talks only to the satellites and charges your sim at satellite rates.
If someone calls your mobile and your sim is in the satellite phone it will switch thru to it and they get caherged the normal charge to the mobile number and you get charged the difference between that and the satellite rate.
When making outgoing calls you are charged at top dollar sat rates which probaly will be extra to your monthly allowance on your cap mobile plan. Only Ericcson phones on the global Sh**t network can talk to both systems and as you said arent worth having.
No good asking Telstra what to do as they wont guarantee compatibility even tho if you read thru the posts u will see it does work.
And i suppose you do cancel your sat plan AFTER TRYING THE SIM IN THE 9505 TO MAKE SURE IT DOES WORK

Thanks graham I have put the sim from the mobile in the sat and rang my home number and it worked fine.
Does that mean my sat phone with the mobile sim in it will have my mobile number and then loses the sat number.

All the best
Eric

Yes.

You can confirm this by leaving your Next G sim in the satphone, and then calling your Next G number from another telephone. The call will go through to the device which has your Next G sim installed.

George_M

Eric,

as stated it does work,i have put my swmbo's GSM card with international roaming enabled in my 9500 and it works perfectly,ring her GSM number and sat phone rings.i only use it for trips so minimal use,even at $3.80 odd per minute.saves having 2 contracts/only using 1 once a year.cheers Paul

Thanks big Woody thats what I wanted to hear.
So now I call telstra and cancel my sat phone plan. Yes.

All the best
Eric

Exactly what I said but I didnt know the prices

Thanks Graham Im not real smart but can lift heavy things.
It takes a while to sink in.

All the best
Eric

Errrr.....say again.....:)) :))....silverback

Big Woody,

Do you have any idea if the satellite phone rates vary depending upon what NextG plan you are on? I wouldn't think this would alter the rates, but just thought it's a possibility.

Just out of interest, what NextG plan are you on?

Thanks,
Peter

As stated above up to $3.80 a minute What rate your MOBILE PLAN is, is immaterial as the calls are charged from IRIDIUM via Telstra to your acct regardless of what type it is.
Be aware also that when someone calls your mobile when the sim is in the sat phone, they pay normal to mobile rates and YOU pay the diversion FROM MOBILE TO SAT.
In other words best keep it for emergencies only or get your mates to text you and then you ring them on the mobile.
Its cheaper that way.

PS. I cant lift heavy things but I use google a lot.

That's what I thought; thanks for the confirmation.

Thanks to all I mucked about with it last night and it all worked fine.

All the best
Eric

Does this also work with a non-telstra sim? SWMBO has an Optus account with international roaming...

Nope must be Telstra for account purposes and Optus doesn't work anywhere outback.

Bugga :-( HATE dealing with that mob...

Well Dave cancelled my sat phone thing today and got a new sim linked to my mobile and got the new number.
I also got me international roam so I cant go wrong now rite.

All the best
Eric

P.S. . 9500 can ONLY receive SMS, 9505 can send and receive SMS.
.

Does any one know if this works with optus on global roaming as well.
cheers.

Yes we do and NO IT WONT as its a Telstra service

Answer was already posted above

Telstra is the only Australian mobile phone company that has set up a billing arrangement with Iridium, so that it's costomers can access the Iridium network using a mobile phone simcard.
.

Just to stir this 'pot' up again ;-)

I have a Telstra contract phone set up for International roaming and for about 3 years now I have simply removed the Telstra sim card popped it into my Motorola 9505 using Iridium network sat phone and away I go.

Well last week I decided to buy a next g PRE-PAID to replace my now defunct cdma 'spare' phone.

I took the opportunity to set this Telstra pre-paid up for International Roaming also - so that if the Telstra CONTRACT phone ever went walk about I could put the PRE-PAID sim card into the sat phone etc etc.

Well I tried the PRE-PAID sim card couple of nights ago and got the message 'access restricted " so I put my CONTRACT sim card in no problems.

Contacted Telstra and got this message form good old "Mary" from the ??help desk:

quote
Thank you for your email dated 16/4/08 regarding Telstra Mobile Satellite.

We apologize for the inconvenience. Please be advised that Telstra Mobile Satellite (TMS)
is positioned as Telstra's supplement network. It will provide coverage where there is no
Next G/GSM/CDMA network coverage and is subject to satellite service coverage limitations.

Please be informed that TMS is not available on a Prepaid service.

Please do not hesitate to contact us on +61 439 125 109 or via www.telstra.com if you
require further information or assistance.

Thank you.

Yours sincerely,
Mary
Telstra Representative
end quote

So my question is aimed at the ppl using telstra PRE-PAID sim cards in their sat phones - what am I doing wrong??