Satphones

My boss needs to send out bush in the Pilbara for about three weeks. We need to keep in touch for OH & S reasons but he will allow me use of the phone for my own use. I was wondering if anyone could recommend a good phone that would let send and receive emails by connecting to my laptop.
I / we have no previous experience with Satphones and I found the information on the Internet to be overwhelming.
I can't think of a better place to ask for assistance.
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Reply By: mike39 - Friday, Jun 24, 2011 at 11:06

Friday, Jun 24, 2011 at 11:06
Check out the Inmarsat, we have been using ours voice, email and text.
Very impressed by its performance.
mike
AnswerID: 458328

Reply By: muffin man - Friday, Jun 24, 2011 at 11:44

Friday, Jun 24, 2011 at 11:44
You can send and reply to emails using Iridium. Iridium also have this weird feature that allows you to call 000/112.
Might be the odd post where Immarsat do not have this feature.
MM
AnswerID: 458332

Follow Up By: Member - Michael P (QLD) - Friday, Jun 24, 2011 at 12:53

Friday, Jun 24, 2011 at 12:53
MM,
If you were in a remote location eg. middle of The Great Victoria Desert which call centre would your 000/112 call go to from your Iridium sat. phone go to?
Mike.
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FollowupID: 731799

Follow Up By: snoopyone - Friday, Jun 24, 2011 at 16:05

Friday, Jun 24, 2011 at 16:05
Who cares as long as it does and you can give coordinates of where you are.
Emergency call centres are centralised anyway so as long as they can help you it doesnt really matter.

The Iridium calls do go to an Australian centre if thats what you mean.
0
FollowupID: 731812

Follow Up By: Member - Michael P (QLD) - Friday, Jun 24, 2011 at 16:43

Friday, Jun 24, 2011 at 16:43
Emergency call centres are centralised to the local area. If you were in a remote location of SA try giving your location to a call centre in say Cairns FNQ.You may care.
Emergency Call centres have been plagued by problems for years with various cost saving measures eg. switching calls to adjoining centres when on overloaded.
The problems of Emergency Call Centres was demonstrated all too well at the recent flood enquiry here in QLD.
Mike.
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FollowupID: 731815

Follow Up By: snoopyone - Friday, Jun 24, 2011 at 16:55

Friday, Jun 24, 2011 at 16:55
Had same problems in New Zealand
I used to work in Telecom and had local 000 access. We knew where the people were and could help if needed.
After 1989 when we all got the chop they had 1 access point in each island and after 11pm only 1 for the whole country.

Some of the services who answered didnt even know which island the town was on.
However better to get someonre on Iridium than no one on the other system.

Cheers
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FollowupID: 731818

Follow Up By: Motherhen - Friday, Jun 24, 2011 at 18:30

Friday, Jun 24, 2011 at 18:30
Extract from http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/pc=PC_1695

"Satellite phones use different technology to mobile phones. All Australian satellite operators provide access to Triple Zero (000). However if your provider operates via another country, you will not be able to access Triple Zero (000). Check with your provider if you are unsure whether you can contact Triple Zero (000) from your satellite telephone service."

You will need to provide the operator with as much information about the location of the emergency, including the town/suburb and state.

Motherhen




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FollowupID: 731823

Follow Up By: Member - Boobook - Saturday, Jun 25, 2011 at 14:43

Saturday, Jun 25, 2011 at 14:43
Mike the 000 assistance is not localised. Even if you call 000 from a land line, the first thing you are asked is what state are you in. The 000 call center is Australia wide as per snoopyone's post. You are then put through to the localstate fire ploice ambulance etc as appropriate.

2)You can be approximately located by the Iridium Satellite service.There are 7 locating zones in Australia roughly equating to each state plus NT, with 2 zones for WA, dividing it roughly in a line from Carnarvon to the Surveyor Generals Corner, and a single one for Tas and Vic inc Bass Straight.

If you use an Iridium resale service such as TRtecom etc etc etc this information is not passed on. But if you use a Telstra SIM then Telstra know this and even use it so you can dial a local number without the area code. Eg if you are in Victoria somewhere, you can call a Melbourne land line without the 03 area code and it knows to call locally.
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FollowupID: 731880

Follow Up By: Member - Michael P (QLD) - Saturday, Jun 25, 2011 at 16:03

Saturday, Jun 25, 2011 at 16:03
Boobook,
Thanks for the info.
The only time that I have called 000 about 4 years ago was simply asked "which service do you require".
All the foregoing & previous threads I am more than comfortable with being able to call the service I may require. RFDS etc are entered in speed dial, most calls I am likely to need to make are pre programmed. Okay next trip I may have to change a few numbers, then I get a certain amount of satisfaction planning a trip.
Thanks
Mike.
0
FollowupID: 731893

Reply By: Simon C - Friday, Jun 24, 2011 at 12:29

Friday, Jun 24, 2011 at 12:29
Bluesbus

I have used these guys a couple of times....got the iridium 9555. Same reason as you need one.
Worked a treat, and our service guys kept in touch via e-mail, text, and voice calls. Just watch the charges mate....can be OUCH....!!!!!!!!!!

RENT A SAT PHONE
Telephone Enquiries
Toll Free 1300 851 591
International +61 (0) 400 997 561
Satellite phone 0061 400 997 561

Office / Postal Address
28 Churchill Avenue
Subiaco WA 6008

AnswerID: 458334

Follow Up By: Member - Krakka - Friday, Jun 24, 2011 at 14:28

Friday, Jun 24, 2011 at 14:28
The cost of calls has nothing to do with the phone itself, all to do with who you choose as your carrier. TR Telecom are very good.

Cheers
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FollowupID: 731804

Follow Up By: Simon C - Friday, Jun 24, 2011 at 22:12

Friday, Jun 24, 2011 at 22:12
Krakka

I know the phone has nothing to do with call cost......but even TR Telocom on a casual plan is $1.97 per min for voice calls.. Can be a "OUCH" if you are not prepared, or made a wear of the call charges. If you use it like a plan phone....it is going to hurt. This guys appears not to have used a sat phone before....so it is just information mate. The comapany I have used is only a few cents dearer, and over a 3 week period on a casula arrangement...we spent over $700.00 in calls, texts and data. We were prepared as it is a safety thing, but some people may appreciate the heads up info,
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FollowupID: 731848

Follow Up By: Member - Krakka - Saturday, Jun 25, 2011 at 13:43

Saturday, Jun 25, 2011 at 13:43
Simon,

No probs, I gathered you had used a sat phone. My follow up was more directed to Bluesbus as he had no experience with sat phones. Just making him aware to check with carriers apart from the big T.

Cheers
0
FollowupID: 731877

Reply By: Bigfish - Friday, Jun 24, 2011 at 16:30

Friday, Jun 24, 2011 at 16:30
Currently have 3 iridium. Have had for many years. Am with telstra. Dont even think about getting anything else. The cost of calls is not an issue. Sat fones are generally carried in remote areas as a safety device. Iridium leaves the competition dead.
cheers
AnswerID: 458347

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