6 week Sat phone hire

Hi all - I'm wondering if anybody has hired a sat phone in Adelaide recently and how much they now cost and any other experiences they want to share.

What's the best for emergency use/caling home when in the back of beyond.

Cheers
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Reply By: aussiedingo. (River Rina) - Monday, Apr 23, 2012 at 17:45

Monday, Apr 23, 2012 at 17:45
Hello 222, please read the hire & rental section in our classifieds section here, regards
"the only thing constant in my life is change"




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AnswerID: 483925

Reply By: Les - PK Ranger - Monday, Apr 23, 2012 at 17:47

Monday, Apr 23, 2012 at 17:47
Not a recent hire, but got one from Terracom once.

Was competitive back then, and (while we didn't have to use it for emergency) it worked fine in the middle of the Strzelecki Desert when I tried it one night.

I am pretty sure they all work fine with clear line of sight to the heavens, ie no tree canopy overhead etc.

I expect nowadays you might have a bit more competition in Satphone hire, so shop around.
AnswerID: 483927

Reply By: Member - Boobook - Monday, Apr 23, 2012 at 18:49

Monday, Apr 23, 2012 at 18:49
1)Buy a second hand 9505 on ebay for about $700, use it for six weeks and sell in on ebay for about $700.

2)Go to Tesltra and get a $10 per month, non contract plan for 2 months then cancel it.

That's a total cost of $20 for 2 months plus ebay transaction costs if you don't make a call.

AnswerID: 483933

Follow Up By: 222 - Monday, Apr 23, 2012 at 19:25

Monday, Apr 23, 2012 at 19:25
that's a great solution - but - doesn't everybody selling a 9505 know people are doing this and actually sell them for a lot more that $700???

Thanks for the replies
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Follow Up By: 222 - Monday, Apr 23, 2012 at 20:00

Monday, Apr 23, 2012 at 20:00
Ther's an Iridium 9555 on ebay - would that do?

They say you can put in a normal SIM:


You can use your normal Telstra SIM card (non micro sim sized) in the phone, ensuring you have international roaming enabled on that SIM, and the calls are charged at about $4 per minute. So use the SIM in your normal mobile phone when in range, or in the Sat phone when you are out of mobile range. (The alternative is to have a 12 month Satellite plan, for $35 a month and then get charge $1-$2 a minute per call) so you only pay for what you use if you put your Telstra SIM in.

I have a Samsung 3G flip out phone about 4 years old good for fringe reception - would that have a non-micro sim sized) card that I can stick in this sat phone?

Sorry to be so dumb on phone technology - 'fraid it leaves me cold...

Geo
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Follow Up By: Member - Boobook - Tuesday, Apr 24, 2012 at 06:25

Tuesday, Apr 24, 2012 at 06:25
A 9555 is even better, it is a later model, but I doubt that you will get it for around $700. Maybe $1100 to $1200. If you get it for $700 you can sell it to me. for that price.

All Iridium / Motorola phones will take a Telstra Postpaid SIM with international roaming enabled. ( though the old 9500 must be the credit card size SIM). You can use your normal Telstra SIM but you will find that people call you and you are up for $4.00 per minute to see who is calling you. Best to go to Telstra, and sign up for a non contract $10 plan and have international roaming enabled. That way you have a new number than you only tell to people you want to call you on the road. If you use a Telstra SIM you pay $4.00 for calls you make or reveive, it is like international roaming. People calling you pay a normal mobile charge.

An Alternative is to get a plan with someone like TR telecom. it is about $35 per month but you get half of that as a credit for calls. Outgoing calls are about $1.50 a min, and incoming calls are free. The big catch here is like almost all satellite plans other than the one above, callers pay $10 to $20 per minuite to call you.

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FollowupID: 759238

Reply By: Member - nick b - Monday, Apr 23, 2012 at 22:39

Monday, Apr 23, 2012 at 22:39
I had a flyer given to me at the Adelaide show for Alltrac....re sat phones ..http://www.alltrac4wd.com.au/isatphonepro.php.
Cheers Nick b

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Follow Up By: 222 - Tuesday, Apr 24, 2012 at 10:17

Tuesday, Apr 24, 2012 at 10:17
Thanks very much nick and boobook

I've emailed Alltrac for a price on hire and I'll try for that 9555 if they are too dear

Geo
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