Sat Phone
Submitted: Tuesday, Nov 04, 2008 at 21:29
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Member - Dunworkin (WA)
Hi All, for those who are interested in aquiring a Sat phone for their outback travels, after much research into what is on the market at the moment we decided to trade the old Qalcom/Globalstar in on a new Iridium.
A few of you may remember my posts on the problems we have had with our Globalstar phone and after no interest from Globalstar/Pivotel in our predicament we cancelled our contract with them and went elsewhere.
The only problem we can see at the moment with the Iridium is that anyone calling us will be charged International rates, however there is a way around that as
well.
We looked at a Thuraya but decided against that one as there seems to be a few teething problems with it, but I think it will be a good phone when those problems have been solved.
If I can help anyone who is looking at getting a Sat phone please email or MM me.
Cheers
D
Reply By: Trekkie (Member - WA) - Tuesday, Nov 04, 2008 at 22:32
Tuesday, Nov 04, 2008 at 22:32
What handset di you get?
Cost?
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Dunworkin (WA) - Tuesday, Nov 04, 2008 at 23:03
Tuesday, Nov 04, 2008 at 23:03
Hi Trekkie, We got the 9505A, we were lucky that we were able to get it for the price before the drop of the Aussie $,
We paid $1695, but that was with the Qalcom trade in, (was $1995) now they are up above $2250.
Cheers
D
FollowupID:
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Reply By: Member - Mike DID - Wednesday, Nov 05, 2008 at 07:57
Wednesday, Nov 05, 2008 at 07:57
If you're thinking of getting a Thuraya, remember that it only works with ONE satellite fixed in the sky, 15 degrees above the horizon.
If you have an emergency in a valley where the satellite is not visible, you will NEVER get out.
If you have an Iridium in a very deep valley, you will get contact within the next hour, especially if text messaging.
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Follow Up By: Member - Dunworkin (WA) - Wednesday, Nov 05, 2008 at 13:54
Wednesday, Nov 05, 2008 at 13:54
Hi Mike DID,
That was the reason that we didn't get the Thuraya, heavan knows we have had enough trouble not being able to get a signal when so badly needed so we weren't going to risk having those problems again. Other than that the Thuraya looked like a good option.
Cheers
D
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - John R (QLD) - Wednesday, Nov 05, 2008 at 23:19
Wednesday, Nov 05, 2008 at 23:19
One adjustment, Mike, the satellite may be fixed, but its direction and angle above the horizon varies with your position around Oz. Whilst 3D maths is a bit challenging, looking at a globe suggests about 50 degrees or more above the horizon from the
Kimberley. I would agree though that the Iridium network is probably the better option for Victoria/Tas and adjacent areas. Horses for courses, as usual?
Cheers, John
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Reply By: Member - Mike DID - Wednesday, Nov 05, 2008 at 08:00
Wednesday, Nov 05, 2008 at 08:00
If you use a Telstra SIM card (with International Roaming) in an Iridium phone, you pay no monthly satellite charges and people who call you only pay standard charges to a Mobile.
You pay about $3 a minute for outgoing and INCOMING calls.
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: traveller2 - Wednesday, Nov 05, 2008 at 08:27
Wednesday, Nov 05, 2008 at 08:27
Mike
The Telstra SIM can be either GSM or Next G, just as long as it is enabled for international roaming.
I have a 9500 which works with both on Iridium.
I also investigated getting a prepaid Sim (saves pulling the one out of the existing Next G phone) which costs $30 initially but an additional $30 credit keeps it alive for or 6 months or $60 which keeps it alive for 12 months.
Still much cheaper than $360 for 12 months on a plan especially if only used for emergencies or the odd call.
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Follow Up By: MrBitchi (QLD) - Wednesday, Nov 05, 2008 at 08:33
Wednesday, Nov 05, 2008 at 08:33
Traveller2, can you confirm that the pre-paid Telstra NextG card DOES work in the Iridum handset? Have you tried it? I have read on this
forum that it only works with a post-paid sim??
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Follow Up By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Wednesday, Nov 05, 2008 at 09:20
Wednesday, Nov 05, 2008 at 09:20
I have tried a Prepaid internationally roamed Telstra sim in my 9505A and
IT DOES NOT WORK
Gives an invalid card notice
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Follow Up By: MrBitchi (QLD) - Wednesday, Nov 05, 2008 at 09:38
Wednesday, Nov 05, 2008 at 09:38
Thanks Graham. That's what I thought.
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Follow Up By: traveller2 - Wednesday, Nov 05, 2008 at 10:57
Wednesday, Nov 05, 2008 at 10:57
A normal Next G SIM works for bothway calls in my 9500, I've tried it several times as does the wifes GSM SIM.
I emailed Telstra re the prepaid and was assured that as prepaid Next G sims now come preactivated for international roaming that they would work also.
Haven't bought one yet to try though.;-))
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Follow Up By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Wednesday, Nov 05, 2008 at 11:14
Wednesday, Nov 05, 2008 at 11:14
To Traveller 2 Did u not read my post.
I have tried the following
Next G Sim works both ways can speak and send SMS both ways.
My wifes INTERNATIONALLY ROAMED PREPAID TELSTRA SIM DOES NOT WORK IN 9505A
Gives an INVALID ACCOUNT or CARD notice on screen.
Cant retry it a sim not here at the moment
The 9505A CAN send TEXT TO it and presumably talk to it in when its in a normal mobile
THE 9505A can TEXT to both Voafone and Optus but neither could send a TEXT to it.
I tried this several times and didnt get any of them from either network.
Didnt get them when I reinserted the Sim into my mobile either.
Had to use friends to send to me as I dont have those network cards but am assured the messages were sent but not received.
Will get them to try a voice call later and see what happens
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Follow Up By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Wednesday, Nov 05, 2008 at 11:19
Wednesday, Nov 05, 2008 at 11:19
Interestingly when I was researching buying a Motorola I rang Telstra re using a sim in the phone and they would not confirm or deny that it would work.
The official line was that no it wouldn't but that is not to say it may if you try it but we wont guarantee anything.
Therefore I am very surprised that you got an answer saying that it would.
Obviously Telstra can block certain
services on different types of Sims and it seems that the prepaid one has in fact been blocked from satellite access.
Mine certainly has as per previous posts
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Follow Up By: Member - Dunworkin (WA) - Wednesday, Nov 05, 2008 at 13:59
Wednesday, Nov 05, 2008 at 13:59
Hi again Mike DID, we intend looking into that in the future, we are now set up to give it a try.
Cheers
D
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Follow Up By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Wednesday, Nov 05, 2008 at 14:44
Wednesday, Nov 05, 2008 at 14:44
TO Dunworkin Look on Ebay for a Motorola
I got
mine with all the gear for $950
Only had 54 mins use in its life
I know of one that is a year old but is packed away in a container until mid January
If you can wait that long it would be that price as
well.
Cheers
Graham
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Follow Up By: Member - Dunworkin (WA) - Wednesday, Nov 05, 2008 at 14:50
Wednesday, Nov 05, 2008 at 14:50
Thanks for that Graham H, will check out ebay.
Cheers
D
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