Isat pro sat phone... useles or not ?

Whle I was sitting here I thought I would try and anwser my own question.
Their site clearly states 911/112 calls can only be made within the US, and a phone call to them has confirmed this.
I think alot of people are going to purchase the handsets and have no idea about this oversight of the phone/network.
I suppose you could have a list of emergency numbers on hand but there is nothing better than being knowing you only need to dial 112, and besides it's free.
MM

Hiya Mike
What RFDS number(s) did you put in?? I tried to find a 'central' number for RFDS but got the run-around coz there seems to be a bit of a district only policy.
Is there a main number- or did you enter all the numbers??
What other non-personnal numbers would you suggest??
Cheers
J&D

J&D Hi,
The RFDS entered number is a RFDS sat phone calling number for their area of my next trip. No I am not going to advertise it here.
Non personal numbers = local police stations, shire councils, local medical centres, mechanical services etc... I have put the possible contacts I may need for the trip in. When I come home I can delete.
Regards
Mike.

Over on aust 4wd there has been a follow up stating the issue is with other countries and commercial customers also.
Would be interesting to test the "fit for purpose".
About 6 years ago iridium pulled the pin on 112 in Aust. but there was such a kick up it was changed almost overnight.
Maybe if enough people pester the people who need to be pestered things may change.
MM

I bought one a couple of weeks ago and wasn't warned. The supplier told me this morning that they are negotiating with Inmarsat and they hope they will have "a solution" in the next few months.

I also found you can't ring the Isatphone from my Telstra pre-paid mobile because it is an international call.

Meanwhile for emergency contacts I have downloaded a list of police stations and RFDS, and the Hema maps have quite a few useful local numbers in the backblocks. Ambulance contacts are harder to come by. I guess none of the landline numbers are 24hr though.

At least I have HF radio as well and VKS network is great in an emergency.

If all else fails I have someone lined up to ring if I get desperate.

Cheers, Gado

Phil/MM,
Why would you want to phone 112 in Australia?
000 is the Emergency number within Australia.That is the only number to call for an emergency. Unless you call "say" the local police station direct.
Mike.

If you dial 000 and your phone doesn't have a signal from your service provider, you won't get through. Dialling 112 is meant to be picked up by any mobile service provider. I wouldn't have thought that this was an issue with a satellite phone. 000 should be the first thing you call in any emergency. Some providers may divert calls made by dialling 911 to 000 because of the pervasive influence of US TV.

Michael and Hilux (unknown name again)

I really do not care what the "other" number is. I would expect 000 to work. I am not a regular mobile phone user. My old mobile phone is as flat as a tack and as far as I care it can go in the rubbish bin, but the "boss" wants me to have it. The inmarsat is purely for emergencies in the bush and for that I would expect 000 to work. I don't care about outside Australia.

Sorry if I misled anyone. I would have figured that anyone with an ounce of common sense would know what I was on about and ignore my mistake.

Phil

Muffin man (unknown name)

I think that we shall be fine. That's why I keep everything in hard copy also. Never trust anyone.

It is straight forward case of not doing what it is supposed to do as told and written by the supplier's representative.

Phil

Michael,
Because for some unknown reason there are blocks on some sat networks on 000. However if you dial 112 you will be diverted to 000, no problems.
Unlike our freinds at Immarsat who have a block on 112 unless you're in the USA.
MM

Phil,
If you have an emergency dial 0061000 AND you will be connected to an emergency call centre within Australia.As you know that within Australia you need the prefix 0061 so as your call is not diverted elsewhere within the sat coverage area.
Personally I would rather spend a little time researching the area that I am travelling to, pre programme the possible numbers that I may,if I have a problem.Can then call the relevant service direct. Calling 000 from the middle of The Great Victoria Desert via a satellite May get me connected to a emergency centre in Hobart. That would not be the phone or the phone service provided fault either.

Mike.

Phil, do you think 0061000 is a free number and that it can be called even if all credit is used? Seems reasonable and logical to use the prefix as all numbers need a prefix on these phones.
I think someone may have been premature in judging other nationals as"Damned narrow minded yanks" . Seems like the typical user error so many of us are guilty of in this digital age, especially yours truly.
These inmarsat units still look like a useful backup device especially if the government subsidy comes through.

Mike, have you tried 0061000? I very much doubt that it will work at all. Might be wrong, but most 1300 /13/1800 numbers won't work from overseas or a sat phone. A leading 0 is an internal routing number.

I think Inmarsat has to set up a deal with Aus before 0061000 or 112 etc would work. These are more than just phone numbers, I believe there has to be commercial arrangements between Inmarsat and the Aussie network before this can happen.

Cheers, Gado

Boobook,
No.
0061 is the Australian prefix the 000 is the emergency number. When calling any Aust # the prefix must be used.
Nothing to do with 1300/13/1800 numers.
Mike.

so is someone with an inmarsat going to try 0061-000 and see what happens?

Guys

I am the wrong person to be asking anything about mobile or satelite access to emergency numbers. I do not use a mobile. Its in the bedside table flat as a tack.

Please if you have nay queries about emergency calls on the phone contact Inmarsat.

Sorry but I am in the dark.

Yes; common sense told me back a while that 0061000 may be the right number. But if 000 is the more common one then that is the number that should work.

Phil

YIPPEE, just got my subsidy approval- I'll get an inmarsat anyway. I'm sure I can call someone in my address book and ask them to call 000 if necessary. I could even sms or email my coordinates to someone and tell them to give it to emergency services on 000. Frankly, this won't happen to me. It'll look good in the glove box and make the wife happy!

Member - Michael P (QLD) posted:
Boobook,
No.
0061 is the Australian prefix the 000 is the emergency number. When calling any Aust # the prefix must be used.
Nothing to do with 1300/13/1800 numers.
Mike.

Yes I know that! Doh!
What I am saying is that most special numbers LIKE 000, 1300 etc can not be called from overseas, and as a result I believe it is possible that dialing 0061 000 will not work.

I have it on good authority that the IsatPhone is a "truly international" phone and you can't get emergency in Australia through 000 or 112, even if you dial 0061 first.

I've written to ACMA saying I think phones should not be sold in Australia unless they can access the country's emergency number. At the very least, buyers should be given a prominent warning.

Cheers, Gado

You don't have to dial in 0061.

Just hold down the zero until it changes to a plus (+) sign and then enter 61 and the number you want.

If you are dialling a fixed line number, like someone's house phone, drop the zero from the area code and just use the remaining digit and the phone number.

For example:

+61891234567 (assuming the area code is 08).

Gone Bush, that might work from your phone but not for dialling emergency from Inmarsat.

The problem is not the dialling it's that there is no link between Inmarsat network and the Australian emergency network for these calls.

They have to set up for somebody in Aus to pay Inmarsat for the free calls, and the phone supplier may also have to upgrade the software in their phones to bypass the keypad lock for emergency calls etc.

Cheers, Gado

Just received a reply after writing to Emergency Services, Australian Communication & Media Authority (20 Jun 11). They acknowledge the problem and here's part of the reply;

quote
As things currently stand, satellite providers that use an international gateway to access the telephone network in Australia are not required to give Triple Zero access. This is an historic arrangement to protect the emergency call service from interference that may originate from overseas; but, having regard to the increasing number of satellite handset users, it may no longer meet community expectations.

Please be assured that the ACMA is currently working to address this issue.
end quote

So something may happen eventually, but it seems the providers are feeling a bit more urgency than the regulators.

Cheers, Gado

Well hopefully the sales chap is correct.
But you'll note I made a call to them when this first surfaced and there didn't seem to be a quick fix.
Who knows that now this is out in the open they may pull the finger out and in the meantime Immarsat should pay for any emegency calls or give people free access until fixed.
Muffin Man

Gee that's nice of them.
The point of being able to dial emergency in an emergency is to be able to do it quickly and ensure you get help asap. Imagine being in an emergency situation trying to decide the best number to call.
Muffin Man

As an alternative, you could always get a personal EPIRB. Don't have to worry about dialling any number then. Trouble is, it won't inform the authorities just what sort of help you need, just that you're in trouble. The Spot GPS Messenger would be worth a look.

Colin

And what happens if the stored number is a wrong number (white pages is never wrong - yeah right) or the station is only manned one day a week (7 days till the message on the answering machine is read).

We considered a SPOT and EPIRB. The problem is that these devices are not any good for immediate first aid assistance. They are purely just 'one way' devices. The authorities will just assume the worst and send everyone. Whereas a little first aid guidance through a satellite phone, or HF, will help getting us to the next available medical facility.

We are eagerly awaiting Inmarsat's response.

Phil

The RFDS has several landline numbers for emergency use that can access medical advice and whatever else is needed (organise evacuation etc). For numbers and areas covered see their web site. They also can do this through HF radio.

Of the state ambulance services I have heard back from, only WA has a landline number that can get 24/7 help. The email from WA Operations Manager for St Johns Ambulance says:
"St John Ambulance [WA] has a direct non – urgent line being 08 9334 1234. Other than 000 or its derivatives this would be the best option. While answered further down the queue than a 000 call it will still be responded to promptly."

SA, Qld and NT responded to me but could not offer an alternative number to call for emergency ambulance.

By the way Phil is right - if you set off a personal EPIRB, the centre at AMSA in Canberra first tries to confirm whether it's a genuine emergency and what the problem is, by ringing its registered owner or contact person. If they have your satphone number, and you have your phone with you, they can ring you and follow up, otherwise they will send someone by ground or air to assess the situation before deciding what is needed. Medical help may be delayed - they have plenty of false alarms etc.

Cheers, Gado

Gabo

That may be the best idea until the problem is resolved. Put your sat phone number in the SPOT/EPIRB. But thats another $300-600. I can wait but I wonder how long others can wait.

Phil

[/quote]
By the way Phil is right - if you set off a personal EPIRB, the centre at AMSA in Canberra first tries to confirm whether it's a genuine emergency and what the problem is, by ringing its registered owner or contact person. If they have your satphone number, and you have your phone with you, they can ring you and follow up, otherwise they will send someone by ground or air to assess the situation before deciding what is needed. Medical help may be delayed - they have plenty of false alarms etc.

from email to RFDS WA

In regards to your question regarding contacting the RFDS via Satellite Phone, the correct number to contact RFDS Western Operations is;



- 08 9417 6389 (or 61 8 9417 6389)



Please bear in mind that this will put you in contact with RFDS Western Operations, Operations Centre which is manned 24 x 7, 365 days a year. Your call will be answered as quickly as possible as that is our ‘Emergency’ number, however how fast it is answered would be determined by the amount of activity at that time. Being RFDS Western Operations we look after the state of Western Australia, so if you are travelling outside of this area I suggest that you review the contact numbers at;



http://www.flyingdoctor.org.au/Emergency-Numbers/



Which will give you the numbers for the other states.

Thanks

Stored.

But having a prepaid I only have limited time. I hope that when I need them that they can call me back.

Phil

vk1dx, he confirmed in an emergency they could call back a satellite phone if necessary.

Brett

Thanks for that I will add it to the standby emergency instructions in the car.

However:
Picture my granddaughter has the phone in her hand and she is asking for help. She hasn't the faintest idea what the number is or even the "return" number. She is panicking. All she should have to do is dial 000 and she has help. Stuff the money. She wouldn't know anything about that.

That's why a domestic land line 000 is a simple number to remember and free.

Kind of a duty of care and OH&s thing.

We shall see what eventuates. If it doesn't work out we will try to return the phone and put my HF Ham gear in the car. At l;east it is free and it works especially with 1500 Watts (no typo) available if I need it.

Catchya

Phil

I can't imagine hf radio is simpler than satphone by any stretch- and in an accident the aerial must be kinda susceptible to damage methinks.

True The phone is simple but if the phone won't do the job that I want, which it will not at the moment, then HF is the alternative.

As for broken antennas; I would carry spares. As no doubt any responsible 4WD UHF CB user should be doing right now. You would have to be a mug to go out into the bush without a spare. Just a few bucks. Even use a wire fence if bneeded. And I tried it out on a ham contest once. It worked with a screwdriver stuck into wet earth and the other conductor clamped to the fence. That is the nature of the hobby adaptable with many options.

Phil

We just bought a number of these and are sending them back and exchanging them for Iridium 9555's for this reason. They are for emergency purposes for us and they cannot ring, 112, 911 or 000 in Australia.

When all else fails and and you need emergency assistance in Aust you dial 000. Some one unfarmiliar with the phone would not be able to contact emergency services in Aus on this phone.

They have some great features but are toast for our needs, gooone!

Regards


Jas

We will give them a couple of more weeks. We really need the prepay plan because we wont use it for anything else and a monthly plan and associated fee is a total waste of money.

Phil

...and that's where it's up to Phil, our "distribution partner" in Australia says they're working on it.

Same here.

Phil

Do they have prepaid?

We only want it for emergencies so a "committed" monthly fee is wasted money. No other calls at all. Don't even take my mobile.

Phil

Nope Has to be on a plan Plenty of discussion previously on here about it so wont wear fingers out again

Yeah 000 works fine anywhere on the Iridium network.

You would think after the Global bleep debacle people would have learned to do some research before handing over their hard won $$

Thanks Snoopy.

Unfortunately no good for us.

John

As you as your "tongue in cheek" comment is concerned: Yes we did do our homework. We are not idiots. We were promised, emphatically and in writing, that '000' would be accessible. And from what I can tell so were the other buyers.

What's this about a Global. That must have been a while ago as its only recently that we started looking at satellite phones.

Phil

This post has been read by the moderation team and has been moderated due to a breach of The Foul Language Rule .

Forum Moderation Team

Hi John

Again. I DID do my research. Apart from a stupid plan of about $400 prepaid valid only for 12 months, the search was unable to answer the question. The problem with searching archives is that things can change over years. One response was from 2001. Now how can that be useful today more than 10 years later.

Industry is the best place in the first instance. Another example is checking road statuses. Go to the official sites. Then if you cannot find it come here. I found this site's status reports wrong when we went to Cape York and a recent trip to Lake Eyre.

All that aside Snoopyone answered my query. As I would have done myself. Archival material is useless for this.

From an alalyst's point of view I am also quite frustrated with the search function on this forum. But that's my work coming into it. And I do not want to go there.

We checked Global and they could not promise both 000 access and prepaid. They emntioned somehting about the future but thats no good to us.

Phil

Well Phil all you can do is hassle them and keep it in the public arena on sites like this. It sounds like like they may be on the job and hopefully sites like this will help.
MM

I need and icon showing all fingers and toes are crossed.

Cheers

Pre paid in the outback, no way, not with any satellite carrier. What happens if your credit runs out, how do you recharge ?
Muffin Man

Hi Muffin Man,

Pre-paid comes with it's risks, like anything in life, and knowing them up front I'm happy to go with that. I can quickly determine how much credit I have left by making a quick call. I just need to be mindful and make sure I retain enough credit on the phone to ensure that doesn't happen. Through AST I got a sat phone and 250 minutes of talk time for under $1000.

The other options that I was able to research meant buying a phone for $1300 or more and then committing to a 2 yr plan at $50/month - $1200 for two years. So my 'up front cost' would have been $2500 plus activation fees and still very limited talk time.

I simply couldn't afford that. So it came down to a simple decision - sat phone or no sat phone! I'm happy to accept the responsibility and understand that is up to me to ensure there is sufficient credit on my phone to get me through in an emergency.

There are 2 other options with Iridium.

1)Use your Normal Telstra SIM and only put it in when you want to make a call.
Total cost if you only use it for emegencies ( 000), $0 over 2 years.
2)Get a second post paid Telstra SIM on a $10 per month plan and only activiate it while you are away. There are no contracts on this.

Fair enough Wander On.
MM