sat phones

Submitted: Tuesday, Oct 27, 2009 at 14:24

ThreadID: 73345 Views:3714 Replies:8 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

xr500

what is a good sat network and phone to match purchasing in adelaide and using on the gove peninsula ?
cheers
darren

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Reply By: Member - Trouper (NSW) - Tuesday, Oct 27, 2009 at 16:13

Tuesday, Oct 27, 2009 at 16:13

The only truly reliable system is Iridium by Telstra, If the RFDS and Remote Area Nursing Service uses it, it has to be good.

Regards..............Jeff

AnswerID: 388977

Reply By: George_M - Tuesday, Oct 27, 2009 at 16:15

Tuesday, Oct 27, 2009 at 16:15

I use a Motorola 9505a connected to the Iridium network.

If you do a search of "satellite phones" on this site you'll get a wealth of data on the experiences that people have had with the various networks.

A lot will depend on how you intend to use your sat phone. I use mine only for emergencies and a limited number of short conversations. As a result I use my NextG sim (global roaming has to be activated). Costs a fortune (about $4 per minute, I think) but I only use it irregularly, and do not have to sign up to a separate Iridium satellite plan.

If you will be a regular user of the sat phone then you may be better off with a separate plan, with a lower per/minute rate - just depends on the usage.

The other choices are new v second hand and buy in Oz or buy offshore (the A$ is good at the moment).

Good luck - they are great bits of kit.

George

Come any closer and I'll rip your throat out!

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AnswerID: 388978

Reply By: Member - Fred B (NT) - Tuesday, Oct 27, 2009 at 16:17

Tuesday, Oct 27, 2009 at 16:17

Motorola Iridium 9505A Satellite Phone, that way you can use your Telstra NextG sim card in it, especially if it's only for occassional use. Satelite plans are expensive. I take it you know there is Next G coverage in Nhulunbuy? So it depends where you are going to be on the Gove peninsular.
regards

Fred B
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AnswerID: 388980

Reply By: Member - Mike (SA) - Tuesday, Oct 27, 2009 at 17:46

Tuesday, Oct 27, 2009 at 17:46

The 9505A has the advantage of being able to use SMS (text messgaes) both to and from. That is what we use rather than the chat! Works very well and is relatively cheap.

regards

Mike
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Too little time in the bush!
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AnswerID: 389004

Reply By: BenDiD - Tuesday, Oct 27, 2009 at 18:04

Tuesday, Oct 27, 2009 at 18:04

If you use a Next G sim with global roaming, do you get hit with diversion charges when people call you?

I think at one stage that if you had a Telstra Iridium phone, people who called you were charged the usual rate to call a mobile phone, rather than sat phone charges.

AnswerID: 389007

Follow Up By: George_M - Tuesday, Oct 27, 2009 at 18:28

Tuesday, Oct 27, 2009 at 18:28

Hi Ben

I think that diversion charges apply if someone calls your normal mobile phone, and the sim for that phone is in your Satphone. I think also that international mobile rates apply, but not sure about that one.

What I do is divert my mobile phone to voicemail if I'm going to be out of mobile phone coverage, or if the coverage is patchy. I can then use my Satphone to get messages, and choose which messages to respond to.

A Telstra Iridium phone on an Iridium plan (as opposed to using your NextG sim) charges at much cheaper rates.

George

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Follow Up By: BenDiD - Tuesday, Oct 27, 2009 at 19:37

Tuesday, Oct 27, 2009 at 19:37

Thanks George

Ben

FollowupID: 656733

Reply By: RobAck - Tuesday, Oct 27, 2009 at 18:19

Tuesday, Oct 27, 2009 at 18:19

If you are purchasing in Adelaide go and talk to the Electric Bug team who sell the lot and give better service than Telstra shops by miles.

If you are only planning on using it in Australia then the Thurya system is OK and the plans are cheaper than the Irridium system which is actually run by Pivotel who also manage the Globalstar system as well

Check out the various plans particularly if you only want a satphone. There are dual mode, inclulding GSM not Next G, that can be purchased as well. But the physical size of some of these phones makes them less than convenient to use as your day to day phone.

We operate all over Australia and OS at times so choose the Irridium system for that reason and have not had a problem anywhere in Australia. But you also need to appreciate that satphones don't work as well in the tropics as humidity, rain and cloud cover can dull their performance in talking to the satellites

Regards

RobA

AnswerID: 389009

Follow Up By: Member - John R (QLD) - Tuesday, Oct 27, 2009 at 22:45

Tuesday, Oct 27, 2009 at 22:45

Hi RobA, I know you were checking out the Thuraya phones at one time. Did you decide the Iridium phones were a better go though? The size, weight (and price) of the Thuraya phones looks attractive for carrying.

Cheers, John

FollowupID: 656774

Follow Up By: RobAck - Wednesday, Oct 28, 2009 at 18:35

Wednesday, Oct 28, 2009 at 18:35

John it was an interesting test and only served to support the fact that the more choice the harder it gets.

Thurya wins on size for sure as well as weight. Pretty much comparable to a normal mobile phone. Performance, acquiring and holding satellites I found a touch hit and miss when compared to our Irridiums. One definite donwside was that you could not see the screen in bright sunlight so making it virtually useless. I thought LCD screens had got over this problem years ago but it seems not all of them.

Irridium was faster to acquire and hold satellites and I like the more robust construction as it suits the work we put them to.

So as usual it always depends on what your exact needs are. For us price was not the issue. Performance and reliability are and always will be. So we are sticking with the Irridium and looking to upgrade to the new spec phones in about a year when we wear the current lot out

Regards

RobA

FollowupID: 656840

Follow Up By: Member - John R (QLD) - Wednesday, Oct 28, 2009 at 22:28

Wednesday, Oct 28, 2009 at 22:28

Thanks, RobA, yes always seems to be a trade off. Pity the new Motorola sat phone is much more expensive than the Thuraya. Hard to see why.

Cheers, John

FollowupID: 656883

Reply By: Krakka - Tuesday, Oct 27, 2009 at 19:55

Tuesday, Oct 27, 2009 at 19:55

xr500, check out TR Telecom if you are interested in a plan using the Iridium network. Very well priced and great to deal with. You always speak to a human as soon as they answer the phone when you ring them.
We have had great service with them.

Krakka

AnswerID: 389023

Reply By: slammin - Wednesday, Oct 28, 2009 at 13:59

Wednesday, Oct 28, 2009 at 13:59

I've got the 9500 Motorola. I'm out on the NE Arnhem Coast and it works fine.

Just did 10,000k road trip across Australia worked everytime. FWIW An external aerial works much better in a moving vehicle.

It also works with global roaming Telstra sim card and can receive sms but not send sms (older model phone).

The calls are exxy but way cheaper than a plan. Also you can dial 112 or 000 without a sim card.

AnswerID: 389107

Follow Up By: Krakka - Wednesday, Oct 28, 2009 at 21:51

Wednesday, Oct 28, 2009 at 21:51

"The calls are exxy but way cheaper than a plan." Only $30.00 month for a plan, includes $10.00 month in calls @ 99c per 30 seconds. Minimum contract on plan is 4 months and you can suspend your account @ $15.00 month when not in use.
Don't sound too expensive to me!

Krakka

FollowupID: 656876