Indigo Telecom Aust Satellite Phones ????.

Sorry I forgot & a HELL of a lot cheaper

Bought mine for $123.75 an Inmarsat Pro Phone on the 85% subsidy rate. Got GPS and all the bits and bobs. Calls $1.00 pm to land lanes, $1.20 to mobiles, $0.50 for Txt and emails free via their website. This is a pre paid plan where credit lasts for two years.

There are no monthly fees I dealt with www.toxictech.com.au - good service. I have no connection commercail or otherwise etc.

John

What number do you call for emergencies?.

I understand with the Inmarsat you can't call 000 or 112.

Thats the reason we want a reliable Sat/ Phone that can call 000 ect.

And what's the price that someone phoning them have to pay...... $7 + per minute?

No you can't call 000 with Inmarsat. That's no biggie cos they just put you through to the local emergency service anyway (and good luck telling them that the nearest intersection is 50km away!). You just carry RFDS and police station numbers with you.

And yes, calling into an iSatPhone Pro can cost $20 a minute or so from a Telstra landline so you just send a text asking to be called back.

Users report regular drop-outs with Iridium; not with Inmarsat.

Ditto.

Just remember Indigo uses the Thuraya satellite system, based on a geostationary satellite above the equator near Singapore. As you get further away from that point, the satellite is closer to the horizon, and this can create problems is SE Australia in particular (ie it doesn't take much of a hill, etc to block the signal).

Cheers, John

I was told by ACMA that it comes down to the coverage by YOUR provider. They do not expect you to cancel a contract, with penalties, and change suppliers. They commented about the bad coverage by Vodafone and to mention our supplier in my application.

This is what I was told and that is how I worded my application and got the subsidy.

Nev

I just rang ACMA again to check that the policy has not changed (1800 674 058) and the bloke said "we use all coverage maps". They do not just go by Telstra.

Phil

Nev

Just before you respond: If you just ask them which coverage map do they use then yes, you will get the answer that it's Telstra's coverage map. If you just accepted that answer and told us that the only map they use without regard to who we are with, then you are doing us and the department an injustice. Try again and ask if they take into account the coverage of the provider that people may have a contract with. You will get a yes to that one also.

You either did not report all the conversation or you just opted out when you got an answer that showed that I was wrong.

Phil

Phil

Sorry if my post has upset you (and nowhere did I say you were wrong). I was quite interested in the information you shared with us.

I originally phoned the department to find out how detailed I had to be when providing the places where I would be without GSM coverage, and then asked how they determined my eligibility. I was advised they used the Telstra map.

As you say, it gets back to the specific question asked as to what the answer is.

I phoned again today, asking if I was on Vodaphone, whether they used the Vodaphone coverage map to determine eligibility. While I did not get a specific response to this question, was advised that they "generally" used the Telstra map, and I was then asked where I planned to travel. For my trip to the Kimberleys, so long as the 180 days was exceeded, the department did not closely scrutinise the application, so long as travel was to remote areas. At the end of the day, we are filling out a declaration about the information in our application. I got the impression from this phone call that the department was quite understanding of the needs of the travelling public.

I am sure your hint about putting down who your contracted provider is if its not Telstra is a help to both applicants and the department.

Who did you buy your phone through, and on what sort of plan?

Nev

Hi Nev

I wasn't upset. Quite used to getting challenged. Especially with the parking. Driving a 100 series and being able to walk shot distances without appearing to have a disability get stares. But thats my lot so it does not upset me.

You are spot on when asking them about the coverage. I specifically said something like "Do you ONLY use Telstra coverage maps" And he said that they use others as well. Yet if you were to ask "Do you use Vodafone maps?" he would also be correct in saying"Yes". But note that he is NOT saying that they do not use Telstra! Mate you get used to it living in Canberra and married to a wife in the legal game as well. Aaaaaahhhhh

We got it about 18 months back from Safecity Services Pty Ltd.

Also do not hold your breath about them getting "000" to work. Lets face it we are a small market so why spend a bunch just keeping us happy. I wouildn't. It's like expecting Vodafone to ever have the same coverage as Telstra. In a pigs eye!

They really do not care where you go as long as they can tick the correct boxes for your lack of coverage where you go.

I better go and cook dinner while the cricket break is on.

Catchya

Phil