SMS on sat phones

Submitted: Tuesday, Jun 08, 2010 at 08:16
ThreadID: 79167 Views:3306 Replies:3 FollowUps:10
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I have hired a sat phone and even our local telstra shop is unclear what an sms will cost to send. I am using my 3g sim card from my mobile. So $3.77 a minute is that paid on both ends? if I call from phone? Is it cheaper for home to ring me? See you all in the desert!
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Reply By: Mike DiD - Tuesday, Jun 08, 2010 at 08:44

Tuesday, Jun 08, 2010 at 08:44
This post has been read by the moderation team and has been moderated due to a breach of The Trolling Rule .

Forum Moderation Team
AnswerID: 420020

Reply By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Tuesday, Jun 08, 2010 at 09:22

Tuesday, Jun 08, 2010 at 09:22
Read threads 78932 and 79096 This has been thrashed to death over the last two weeks and those two threads will tell you ALL you need to know about how they work with sim cards.

A telstra shop wouldnt have a clue.

Mike and I have replied to these queries so often I think we should get a "sticky" made for it.
Be aware of what I posted about SMS from non Telstra providors


AnswerID: 420026

Follow Up By: Carlin - Tuesday, Jun 08, 2010 at 09:23

Tuesday, Jun 08, 2010 at 09:23
Thanks I will.
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Reply By: Torza - Tuesday, Jun 08, 2010 at 10:46

Tuesday, Jun 08, 2010 at 10:46
Where did you hire your sat phone from and was the cost reasonable. We too went into the Telstra shop to try and make sense out of sat phones and got NO SENSE from them - no one knows and all they want to do is sell one for $2,700.

I had been told by a traveller we met in Kingfisher last year that as a diabetic I am eligible for a rebate if we purchased rather than hired but again no knowledge.

We are in Victoria so where should we look to hire one?
AnswerID: 420038

Follow Up By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Tuesday, Jun 08, 2010 at 13:24

Tuesday, Jun 08, 2010 at 13:24
As i said above read the two threads.

U may be eligible but the normal requirement is that you be OUT OF ALL PHONE CONTACT for at least 120 days a year.

The other thought is if you get really sick in the back of beyond will even the satfone get help in time.

Unless you are in extremely remote parts like far far north Kimberley it would be pretty hard to do as all the little communities and mines usually have towers also only use Telstra

New Motorola satfones are priced under $2000 now as far as I know and were never $2700. Was offered a new 9555 in Broome last hear for $2495.

Have a read its all there costs hiring call charges the lot.


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Follow Up By: Torza - Tuesday, Jun 08, 2010 at 14:01

Tuesday, Jun 08, 2010 at 14:01
Thanks. I did get on the thread and went back to the original and it is now clearer than mud. Unless we do the Canning Stock Route I think I will opt for a good UHF (which we already have) as well as a NOKIA N95 on our current Telstra Plan which has international roaming anyway.

I might have drank too much champagne at lunch on my last day at work before retiring today but what needed to be moderated? New to all this
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Follow Up By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Tuesday, Jun 08, 2010 at 14:34

Tuesday, Jun 08, 2010 at 14:34
UHF is not the way to go as its only good for up to 20k A N95 is only good if there are towers to get a signal from

An HF is what you need as an alternative to a Satfone

Dont worry about the Moderation it had nothing to do with us.

Uses

Clellular phone Only good where it gets reception from network towers

UHF short range radio for up to about 20k or more if you are up high and there is someone within range

HF Long distance radio communication Middle of Simpson to a base station.

Can wake up operator and has RFDS emergency ability No good for close range.

Can cost up to $3600 for a new Codan

Satfone Works anywhere you can see the sky basically.

Iridium The only network to be on for the reasons explained in other posts.

Make of phone Motorola 9505 9505A or 9555.

The two earlier models can be had for under $1000 on Fleabay.

Mine cost $950 with all the gear.

Use your N95 sim card in it and away you go.

You could as I also said buy a $10 a month casual plan for 12 months with call costs of $3.77 a minute both in and out.
OR dont buy any plan and just use the N95 sim when you need it.

Vodafone and Optus cant send you SMS messages but you can send SMS to them

Out of all phone contact means exactly that NO LANDLINE NO CELL PHONE reception for at least 120 days a year Thats 4 months a year.

In our 13 month trip right around I didnt come anywhere near 20 days out of contact.

Rental costs can be up to $17 or more A DAY

Hope that answers the questions

Cant put it any plainer than that

Suggest you wait a day and read it when the champers has worn off LOL.








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Follow Up By: Indigo Jones (QLD) - Tuesday, Jun 08, 2010 at 22:32

Tuesday, Jun 08, 2010 at 22:32
Inmarsat is as good and if not better than Iridium. I am upgrading to an Isatphone Pro next week.

Inmarsat has 100% worldwide coverage and is not as expensive to use as Iridium. My current plan is a yearly fee of $25 and calls are $2.25 per minute, and i don't pay for incoming calls only outgoing calls are charged and there is no monthly fee.

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FollowupID: 690276

Follow Up By: Member - Graham H (QLD) - Tuesday, Jun 08, 2010 at 22:57

Tuesday, Jun 08, 2010 at 22:57
Iridium also has worldwide coverage with its 70 something satellites.

How much does an Inmarsat phone cost.

A lot more than an s/hand Motorola I bet.

Most people only want them as an emergency phone on a trip around the country so would suggest whilst it is no doubt an excellent phone it is an overkill for what is required.

Cheers
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Follow Up By: Indigo Jones (QLD) - Tuesday, Jun 08, 2010 at 23:39

Tuesday, Jun 08, 2010 at 23:39
You can pick up a 2nd hand ex Telstra Thrane & Thrane unit for between $300 - $500 these days, sure it's a bit bulkier than a motorola.

I got my Isatphonepro for $1299 outright with 12v and 240v chargers, so i wouldn't say it's overkill when you take into consideration warranty and accessories ability to use voicemail/text/email and GPS location data and of course the bluetooth component.

The only drawback is a rod or dome antenna if you want to cradle mount it in a vehicle, they are $700 each plus the wiring harness.

I guess one could say it's like the waeco v. engel or cruiser v patrol argument, to each, their own.
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Follow Up By: Realtime Platform Satellite Phone Hire & Sales - Wednesday, Jun 09, 2010 at 16:12

Wednesday, Jun 09, 2010 at 16:12
We hire as well as sell a complete range of Sat phone s, and can say that we have had no issues with the Iridium Satellite Phone which is by far the most reliable phone on the market to date - our special currently is well below $2,000.00!!. The Iridium 9555 also has various cradle options which include GPS tracking, panic button, as well as handsfree capabilities. The new Inmarsat iSatphone Pro is most certainly a contender for the Iridium 9555, both in price and reliability, and certainly worth considering. Torza if youre still looking for a satphone to hire, please feel free to give us a call and Ill be happy to assist.
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