Satellite phone performance

I've used the Iridium service for about seven or eight years. I started out with a Motorola 9500, and now use a Motorola 9505A.

I've only ever used the service for the occasional social call, and have never experienced any difficulty with connecting to the satellite, call quality or with call drop-outs.

The only "bugbear" I have is with Telstra's call charges - I'm not particularly price-sensitive, but I don't like being "gouged"

George_M

Read these threads from a similar query posted last night.

Will give you all the answers and prices etc

79937, 79167, 79096, 78987, 78932, 78073, 78088, 77648, 77090, 76466

If you are travelling after end September - early October, then GlobalStar (people please no flaming) is going to be an option.
We all know about the current GlobalStar constellation issues, but there is a launch of an extra 6 satellites in the above timeframe with another 18 satellites to be launched after that which will make GlobalStar at least on par with Iridium performance.
Cheers,
Peter.

Hi Terry

We too chose the Iridium network. I was having trouble with the signal and clarity the first time i really needed it (after a breakdown in a remote area), and by chance friends arrived at the same location and she told me to abandon the portable antenna and always use the car roof magnetic antenna - she has hers on with the wire coming in through the door frame and uses the phone successfully while they are driving. Taking her advice i found with the car antenna reception was clear and no drop outs. As our phone was for emergencies (used for the breakdown and for letting family at home know when we were out of Next G range for longer than they expected). On these few occasions, there was no trouble finding satellites.

Motherhen

Definitely Iridium for me. Have witnessed 1st hand a fellow adventure rider (yes, a motorcyclist!) have his Thuraya satphone fail to get reception whilst we were on the Gunbarrel... and he is not a novice with his (work) satphone. Fired up my Iridium & got reception no worries.

If Globalstar throw up some extra satellites things should be different though.

I chose to buy Fastwave's pre-paid 200 plan. Better value IMO because I get 12 months to use 200mins of calls. Plus they have a free web-based SMS messaging service to my Motorola 9505A.

The NSW Ambulance Service has just replaced all its Globalstar satphones with Motorola Satphones on Iridium.

Thuraya will give poor performance in South East Australia because the one satellite is only 20 degrees above the horizon there.

In WA Thuraya is very useable because you're closer to the satellite, but you will have to point the aerial at the correct point in the sky.