Sat. Phone. What to get?
Submitted: Sunday, Mar 08, 2009 at 23:07
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Member - Greg H (NT)
Gidday all,
Seems to be the night for sat. phones, so while your hot your hot.
I want to buy a sat. phone but unsure what to get. The phone would be used for emergency use, to contact people of were we supposed to be and when were going to be there and to throw in the backpack.
What do you suggest?
Thanks in advance.
Cheers
Greg
Reply By: Rossc0 - Sunday, Mar 08, 2009 at 23:28
Sunday, Mar 08, 2009 at 23:28
Iridium.
Lots of used ones arround or go the whole hog and buy the new 9555.
Cheers
Ross
AnswerID:
353003
Reply By: Bob of KAOS - Monday, Mar 09, 2009 at 00:13
Monday, Mar 09, 2009 at 00:13
I've had Globalstar and Iridium.
Unless the situation has changed over the last 3 years - and it may have - Iridium and Globalstar are both suitable for emergency use. I don't know about the third provider.
I've heard some say you may have to wait for a connection. OK even if you wait 30 minutes its not going to make a difference when the emergency response is going to be several hours minimum.
I currently have a 9550a and it works OK - just.
I found Globalstar much better for conversational use.
Go for the cheapest.
Bob
AnswerID:
353007
Follow Up By: Member - Mike DID - Monday, Mar 09, 2009 at 07:45
Monday, Mar 09, 2009 at 07:45
Yes, the Globalstar satellites starting dieing a year ago and replacements won't be up there for another year.
FollowupID:
621198
Follow Up By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Monday, Mar 09, 2009 at 10:37
Monday, Mar 09, 2009 at 10:37
Go for the cheapest.
Get real
You get what you pay for.
Globals**t is exactly that.
IF you search back through the threads you will see that only an Iridium network phone is worth having.
You can buy a s/hand Motorola 9505 or 9505A for under $1000 if you look around and use your Telstra sim card in it when needed.
It must be a plan card(not Prepaid) and must be internationally roamed.
Call costs are about $3 a minute and if you use this method you also pay a fee for INCOMING calls from the mobile network.
If you are on a monthly satellite plan you dont but it will cost about $30 a month not to use it.
Cheers
FollowupID:
621217
Reply By: Member - Dick (Int) - Monday, Mar 09, 2009 at 01:22
Monday, Mar 09, 2009 at 01:22
You need to be on the Iridium Network for reliability. While it is not perfect, it is the best available. We use the Motorola 9505a's and they have always worked
well in remote parts of Australia and in S.E. Asia. Some times the connection is not clear but it is usable. We use them a lot for sending Text Messages and have never had a delivery failure. I don't think the provider has any effect on the service, but we use SatCom Direct.
AnswerID:
353010
Follow Up By: Member - Mike DID - Monday, Mar 09, 2009 at 07:44
Monday, Mar 09, 2009 at 07:44
All operators that use the Motorola 9500/9505/9555 use the same 66 Iridium satellites.
FollowupID:
621197
Reply By: Member - Willie , Sydney. - Monday, Mar 09, 2009 at 08:26
Monday, Mar 09, 2009 at 08:26
I was just reading about the govt subsidy which is about to end -
"The final date for receipt of applications is Friday 3 April 2009 (by post ).
The final validity date for approvals is Friday 15 May 2009
and all phone purchases must be completed by that date."
Willie
AnswerID:
353018
Follow Up By: Member - Andrew (QLD) - Monday, Mar 09, 2009 at 10:30
Monday, Mar 09, 2009 at 10:30
I was reading about this last night...i see it has been extended to June 2013 now.
The information can be found at this link ==>
.../the_satellite_phone_subsidy_scheme
======================================
On 5 March 2009 the Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy announced the enhancement of the Scheme and its extension until June 2013.
======================================
Andrew
FollowupID:
621215
Reply By: Neil & Pauline - Monday, Mar 09, 2009 at 11:15
Monday, Mar 09, 2009 at 11:15
Greg
I had a Globalstar that was OK until their satellites went down. When I complained about no coverage they advised that it would be OK by 2011 or I could go North East of
Alice Springs and should get coverage sometimes. As I was under contract they were insisting that I continue to pay the contract price.
Went to the telecommunications ombudsman and then Globalstar decided to give me a Iridium phone.
All is
well now
Neil
AnswerID:
353044