Satphone Reliability

Submitted: Wednesday, Jul 08, 2009 at 17:25

ThreadID: 70498 Views:3201 Replies:6 FollowUps:8

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Member - Trouper (NSW)

Couple of weeks back I had a need to call the NRMA/RACQ on their 13 number, using my Iridium motorola 9505a satphone. I was on the Donohue Hwy 150 clicks from Boullia QLD, I kept getting a recorded message from Telstra "service not connected,check No. and dial again". So I did and got the same message. I then tried 000 and got the same message, only by dialling 112 did I get the assistance required. Was this a glitch in the normally reliable Iridium system?? or have others had this problem.
Telstra say that you can dial direct all 13 and 000 numbers. I even tried +61 131111 and +61 2 `131111but no nothing worked.

Regards............ Trouper

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Reply By: Lex M (Brisbane) - Wednesday, Jul 08, 2009 at 18:11

Reply By: Robert HL (SEQ)(aka zuksctr) - Wednesday, Jul 08, 2009 at 18:50

Wednesday, Jul 08, 2009 at 18:50

Trouper,I had the same thing almost, a couple of months back when i got us into a bit of a situation even though i was not connected on a plan but had it just for emergencies,dialled 112 got answer straight away, they told me when i hung up to call 000 to give them the details also.I could not get 000 to work so called 112 again & it all worked out ok after that.The wife & i both tried both no's on our out of service mobiles & they did not work either,though telstra & other co. say they will.

Cheers,

Bob.

AnswerID: 373650

Follow Up By: Lex M (Brisbane) - Wednesday, Jul 08, 2009 at 19:07

Wednesday, Jul 08, 2009 at 19:07

I would think that as the satphone call by satelite is same as an international call that you would be unable to call 13 or 1800 or 000 numbers, as you can't call them from oversea.

Colud be wrong though, don't have a satphone.

FollowupID: 640777

Follow Up By: George_M - Wednesday, Jul 08, 2009 at 19:25

Wednesday, Jul 08, 2009 at 19:25

Now I'm confused, Bob.

I thought that a call to 112 from a GSM/Next G/Iridium service was automatically translated to 000 (in Australia), and answered by a Telstra 000 operator.

An "out of service area" GSM/Next G mobile can only connect to 112 (not 000) if you are in range of some other carrier's network.

George

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FollowupID: 640784

Follow Up By: Robert HL (SEQ)(aka zuksctr) - Wednesday, Jul 08, 2009 at 21:10

Wednesday, Jul 08, 2009 at 21:10

George,when i called 112 i was in nth qld & the call went through to melb. emergency centre.when called it again as was directed by them, it went emergncy centre in brisbane.t he telstra gsm & ng was out of range on my next g phone & it did not work.On the wifes phone she had vodafone it too was out of range (of course) it did not work either,when they tell you, you can use these no's for emergencies when there is no signal is crap.
Incidently my next g sim is international roam configured & it won't work in the sat phone, but the sim that came with the phone which is not enabled to anything at all will work in an emergency.

Cheers,

Bob.

FollowupID: 640809

Follow Up By: Trekkie (Member - WA) - Wednesday, Jul 08, 2009 at 22:45

Wednesday, Jul 08, 2009 at 22:45

I dont think any Mobile service provider (GSM 3G Satellite or anything else) has ever said 000 or 112 will work "always" or "anywhere"

Its simple - IF there is a signal then you might be able to make a call - IF THERE IS NO SIGNAL THEN NO CALL

The ACMA site is good - everyone who drive in remote areas and takes a mobile phone should look at it

ACMA