Satellite Phone

Submitted: Tuesday, Oct 07, 2003 at 02:37
ThreadID: 7654 Views:2594 Replies:10 FollowUps:15
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We want to travel Australia for about 16 months and have decided that we will buy a sat phone. Having scanned the forum, we found out that the Motorola 9505 iridium seems to be the most reliable.
Can anybody tell us where about in the Adelaide area we can buy such a phone for the suggested price of $ 1995 (or less!).
Two Swiss greenhorns appreciate your answer!
Bea and Max
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Reply By: Member - Wim (Bris) - Tuesday, Oct 07, 2003 at 07:35

Tuesday, Oct 07, 2003 at 07:35
B & M.
Ring Telstra. We purchsed the old model Motorola for a very good price. If calls are only for emergency then base plan is not bad. For most day to day calls when you are near towns ect, CDMA has good range.

Best of lke & happy travelsThis 4WD stuff is addictive,
time consuming & expensive.
AnswerID: 32950

Reply By: Blackie - Tuesday, Oct 07, 2003 at 08:46

Tuesday, Oct 07, 2003 at 08:46
Check the Desert access site
http://www.desertaccess.com.au/
They have 2nd hand HF radios with selcall for sale.
AnswerID: 32955

Reply By: Voxson (Adelaide) - Tuesday, Oct 07, 2003 at 09:15

Tuesday, Oct 07, 2003 at 09:15
I agree with Wim... I also bought a motorola 9500 as a runout for 800 dollars,...._____________________________________________

_____________________________________________
AnswerID: 32956

Reply By: Nav 80 - Tuesday, Oct 07, 2003 at 12:32

Tuesday, Oct 07, 2003 at 12:32
Have you thought about the VKS737 HF radio network. If you are traveling off the main roads it is worth a look at their website.
AnswerID: 32974

Follow Up By: landie - Tuesday, Oct 07, 2003 at 13:39

Tuesday, Oct 07, 2003 at 13:39
I think that is a very sensible idea for anyone travellig for extended periods and in remote areas.

Whilst the initial cost may be more expensive, you get free to air communications and the ability to commuicate with others on a broadcast basis.

In an emergency i'd prefer to rely on HF radio.

Good luck
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Follow Up By: Voxson (Adelaide) - Tuesday, Oct 07, 2003 at 13:47

Tuesday, Oct 07, 2003 at 13:47
why would you rather rely on a hf instead of a sat phone? in an emergency....._____________________________________________

_____________________________________________
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Follow Up By: landie - Tuesday, Oct 07, 2003 at 18:06

Tuesday, Oct 07, 2003 at 18:06
A HF can be used to make a broadcast call, if you are in trouble help may be just around the corner, or over the next sand dune.

In contrast, a call on a telephone line must be to a specific person.

Cheers

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Follow Up By: Slammin - Tuesday, Oct 07, 2003 at 23:31

Tuesday, Oct 07, 2003 at 23:31
Landie that line is very popular but the authorities would be able to broadcast a call for you.
The other thing is if everyones asleep who's listening to the HF? Not me.
I know of heaps of HF radios that will only get turned on in an emergency because it's too much hassle to have on.
Out of all the govt cars out here they have both sat and hf - guess what the hf is never on.
Hf is for affecianado's ,people trying to save call costs, oh and those that reckon it looks and feels outback.
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Follow Up By: landie - Wednesday, Oct 08, 2003 at 06:35

Wednesday, Oct 08, 2003 at 06:35
Slammin

I think you last commnet about HF is borne out of ignorance - no malice intended.

Ideally, I believe that anyone travelling in the remote outback should carry a combination of EPIRB, SatPhone and HF Radio, as under different circumstances each one of these items may save your life.

As for not being turned on, many lives have been saved by the RFDS and they monitor their frequencies 24 hours a day. Most new HF radios are set up to send an alarm to RFDS bases in an emergency.

We can also make phone calls on our HF radio, so we get the best of both worlds at a cost much cheaper than the Satphone.

My preference remains HF, but we carry a Satphone just in case.

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Follow Up By: Slammin - Wednesday, Oct 08, 2003 at 10:24

Wednesday, Oct 08, 2003 at 10:24
Re read the last sentence c a r e f u l l y and then point out the ignorance landie. Aren't you the one saving on call costs. I feel I may have touched a nerve about being "outback" - My point there is how many vehicles have you seen accessorised with everything and all for show.

I do notice that you don't comment on my first point.

For someone here shortterm I would recommend a sat and epirb and if they then want to cover all bases get radio's as well but I fail to see where you would prefer HF over sat in an emergency. This thread started about sat not hf so you must realise that based on your information you are advising potentially novice travelers to get a HF setup instead of a sat.
When a car rolls - which is the most common accident here in the outback is the hf going to work? not likely the aerials going to be bleep e and the batteries lying on the road split. Just like the ambulance here a month ago, the private vehicle 3 months ago etc etc etc - but did the nurse use the hf NOPE the sat. The hf wouldn't of worked anyway!
Whereas the satphone is pretty robust is usually packed away and doesn't rely on the car to work. Hf for emergency?

Landie one last point you said you carry a satphone just in case I think you meant to say you carry a satphone just in case of emergency.

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Follow Up By: landie - Wednesday, Oct 08, 2003 at 13:30

Wednesday, Oct 08, 2003 at 13:30
Slammin

In terms of your first comment, there appeared to be little point in me pointing out the obvious. For the authoirties to make a broadcast call they would do so on HF in the outback.

I'm not advising anyone to do anything, I'm sure sensibly minded people are able to make sensible choices, when presented with all the alternatives. If they can't do that they should stay away from remote areas in Australia.

I've simply stated my preference. It is important to remember that HF has been an efficient means of communication for a long time, it can't be switched off. One of the reason there were so many Iridium handsets around at a very cheap price was becuase the system was "turned off" and they were as useless as you know what...

Mind you, I'm not suggesting it wil happen again, but history says it has already happened once.

However, you make a very valid point about accidents and cars rolling over. I am in agreement with you and that is why I also pointed out that a combination of Satphone, HF and EPIRB is the way to go for remote outback travel. Murphy's law suggests that when something goes wrong, it all goes wrong, so it is wise to cover as many contingenices as you can afford to.

HF is not an accessorie to be worn, and I'm yet to meet anyone that has one for that purpose, usually these types don't get past the supermarket car park. I have found that a HF radio has been a great way to commuicate with many like minded people in the outback.

Clearly you have never enjoyed the comraderie ever present in the VKS-737 HF network.

All the best in your travels and certainly rest assured you haven't touched any "raw" nerve here.

Good luck
Landie

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Follow Up By: Slammin - Wednesday, Oct 08, 2003 at 22:20

Wednesday, Oct 08, 2003 at 22:20
Landie as usual in these discussions it ends up that we agree. ROFL!!
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Reply By: Baron from Skycomm - Tuesday, Oct 07, 2003 at 15:02

Tuesday, Oct 07, 2003 at 15:02
Hi, Give us a call and we can outline the pro's & con's of what is out there and how it would work for you. (07) 5596 3451. Regards, Baron.Skycomm
AnswerID: 32999

Follow Up By: Bonz (Vic) - Wednesday, Oct 08, 2003 at 22:20

Wednesday, Oct 08, 2003 at 22:20
Great offer Baron, this is what this sites all about.Laterally Literal
Seriously Cerebral
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Reply By: Phil G - Tuesday, Oct 07, 2003 at 21:50

Tuesday, Oct 07, 2003 at 21:50
I think people don't realise that you can also make telephone calls with HF radio. I signed up with Reids Radiodata (Bushtelephone) and was able to phone the wife every day on my last desert trip. Well worth the $115 per year.

Its a little harder for them to contact you though (maybe an advantage!!!), but Reids will Sellcall you, so they do provide that service.

Phil
AnswerID: 33056

Reply By: Slammin - Tuesday, Oct 07, 2003 at 23:37

Tuesday, Oct 07, 2003 at 23:37
hi hope you enjoy your trip, a point I would make is that you don't have to have a sim card to make an emergency call, well not on the ones I've used anyway, they appear to be like my mobile which is the same. When it turns on without the sim card it gives you the option of making an eergency call.
People I work with were stuck with a holed tank out remote, made the emerg. call as above to the authorites who called us on their behalf with no problems or hassles.

AnswerID: 33074

Reply By: Viola - Wednesday, Oct 08, 2003 at 09:52

Wednesday, Oct 08, 2003 at 09:52
We have a Kyocera satellite phone and get our e-mail and faxes every day
We also carry a KTI EPIRB and take it with us walking and canoing
We consider an EPIRB a necessity
Gowings sell KTI EPIRB Mini Satellite Alert unit with the built in strobe for $305.95 and quote from their website
"Gowings takes it position in the community very seriously and for that reason we sell this product at cost to make it more accessible to those who need it".
That price is $60 to $80 under other outlets

www.gowings.com.au then Secure Shopping > Outdoor Adventure > Outdoor Equipment > Then NEXT PAGE and the EPIRB will magically appear in front of your eyes.
AnswerID: 33100

Follow Up By: wazza - Wednesday, Oct 08, 2003 at 10:32

Wednesday, Oct 08, 2003 at 10:32
Or $280 here:

http://www.theaviatorstore.com.au/prod2337.htm

Or here:

http://www.mapsdownunder.com.au/cgi-bin/mapshop/MG-EPIRB-RB3.html
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Follow Up By: wazza - Wednesday, Oct 08, 2003 at 10:34

Wednesday, Oct 08, 2003 at 10:34
That is without the strobe. As Viola says, $306 is pretty good price with strobe.
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Follow Up By: ExplorOz Team - David - Wednesday, Oct 08, 2003 at 16:31

Wednesday, Oct 08, 2003 at 16:31
Or $294 with 5% member money discount brings it to $279.30 for members from our own Adventure Shophere and know that you are supporting the business that brings this site you.Regards
ExplorOz Team - David
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Always working, not enough travelling ;-)
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Follow Up By: Viola - Wednesday, Oct 08, 2003 at 19:36

Wednesday, Oct 08, 2003 at 19:36
$319 is the price quoted on your website for the KTI strobe unit and not $294 as you have indicated.
The strobe unit at Gowings is only $305.95 as previously indicated
A strobe unit is the preferred and recommended unit
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Follow Up By: ExplorOz Team - David - Wednesday, Oct 08, 2003 at 20:58

Wednesday, Oct 08, 2003 at 20:58
Ok then $319.00 with member money discount for the strobe unit gives you a price of $303.05 and you are still supporting the site that brings this forum and all the benifits to you.Regards
ExplorOz Team - David
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Always working, not enough travelling ;-)
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Reply By: Blackie - Wednesday, Oct 08, 2003 at 19:21

Wednesday, Oct 08, 2003 at 19:21
If you intend getting lost after Feb. 2009 be aware that your 121.5/243 MHZ EPIRB will no longer be monitored......... the 406MHZ model is the way to go. The cost will need to come down a fair wack by then.
AnswerID: 33160

Follow Up By: Bonz (Vic) - Wednesday, Oct 08, 2003 at 22:26

Wednesday, Oct 08, 2003 at 22:26
Good point Blackie, maybe just in case they should leave a trail of breadcrumbs so they can follow it back home j/kLaterally Literal
Seriously Cerebral
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Reply By: Graeme- Tuesday, Oct 14, 2003 at 16:04

Tuesday, Oct 14, 2003 at 16:04
Bea & Max,

We used to hire a phone for short trips, until I rang one day to Marlec Industries at Artarmon in Sydney who had traded several sat phones from the Forestry Commission. I bought one for $850, which was about 3 years ago, and now use it regularly. The cost through Optus is $45/month and $1.98/min. Worth giving Peter a ring on 02 9436-1234, as he may have some more.
If you buy a new one , be careful, the phones appear reasonable until you add handsfree, external aerial etc, and you need to do this as the handheld unit will not work while you are driving along.
Hopr this helps,

Graeme
AnswerID: 33751

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