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  • Sat phone hire or buy - any experience / knowledge?

    hi all

    Apologies if this has been covered, but I did a search and nothing turned up.

    In July I'm heading off on a 6 month trip with the wife and kids. From Sydney we will head to the centre, then north, then west, then south then back home...I'm not sure how off the beaten track we will be going to be honest.

    But I plan to do the oodnadatta track early on and if that goes well then we will do more off road stuff (i'm not mechanical at all, hence i have resvervations!!)....

    anyway, as a get out of S**t backup i want to take a sat phone with me, with guaranteed coverage, wherever we go..... I've been given a Qualcomm / Globalstar phone, but from what I've read this service has lots of dead zones, therefore it's pretty useless..?

    So i'm thinking i should hire or buy another system.

    Can anybody recommend a solution? I will only need it for this trip so hiring may be most cost effective. i would only make a call in an emergency so call out costs aren't a concern. However we will give this number out so call in costs are a consideration.

    any recomendations on the best service provider and a good cost effective hire company (NSW) would be appreciated.


    cheers guys


    Gilbo
    07 silver Grande D4D, sahara bull bar, safari snorkel, Magnum winch, TME 3440 radio, Trackabout Safari camper trailer.

  • #2
    One option you may want to investigate, is to buy one second hand.

    Like you I'd read many bad reports on Globalstar coverage, so decided to get an Iridium phone. They would be a motorola 9500, 9505 or 9505a (from oldest to newest). I managed to pick up a 9505a for a decent price.

    The advantage with the 9505's is that you don't need to sign up to a sat phone plan. You can use your GSM sim card in it. I believe you can do this with the 9500 as well, but need a card adapter, as it uses the credit card sized sims, not the usual small sim cards.

    Note: The sim card must be a telstra sim, and must have international roaming enabled. The call costs are horrendous - but for emergencies who cares. To keep costs down for regular use, I use SMS's instead.

    There is a good demand for Iridium phones, so even if you buy one secondhand for your trip, you should be able to sell it without much of a problem after you get back if you decide not to keep it.

    As for coverage, I've only had one time where it was difficult to pick up a signal (in stormy weather). Using the external wired anntena, instead of the usual 'stick' attached to the phone, and a signal was achieved within a few seconds.

    Anyhow, just something to think about. I hope the information was useful.

    John
    Ex 95 and 79 series owner, now FJ Cruiser owner.

    Comment


    • #3
      If you go the Hire route, ARB at Moorebank hire them. We have used them and found them reasonable
      Dirttracker, (Martin)
      Prado GXL '05 Diesel.
      [url="http://picasaweb.google.com/mpnaylor"]http://picasaweb.google.com/mpnaylor[/url]
      [img]http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa48/dirttracker123/DSCF5442-1.jpg[/img]

      Comment


      • #4
        I've used both the GlobalStar and Iridium phones and networks, and the GlobalStar network is SHITHOUSE!

        If you're up the creek without your floaties, you want something that is going to work.

        The Iridium is a hell of a lot better, both with battery life and coverage.

        You can hire then from TechRentals in your local state.

        Cheers,

        Greg

        Comment


        • #5
          Oh yes stay well clear of Globalstar, what a misery that network is.....

          Comment


          • #6
            Globalstar has been taken over by Pivotel and now uses both networks.

            Iridium is the original and by far the better network, it still has black spots in valleys, under trees and under some atmospheric conditions but is heaps better than ALL of its rivals.

            If you are using it for work then you may be entitled to the fed govern rebate. If you are going to hire, call rates are generally tremendously expensive.

            Most sat (GSM, CDMA, 3G compatible) phones hold their usefulness and value, so buying and selling on your return is still a valid option. Some shops may offer a predetermined buy back price.

            Have you seen this write up:
            http://www.exploroz.com/OntheRoad/Commu ... Phone.aspx

            I have used an iridium voice, data, fax, internet service for many years without any problems.

            I travelled for many years without a sat phone or EPIRB using just a HF radio. These are still very good and well proven in the outback. The main advantage is findout the proximity of other travellers and the networking of the radio communities for the dissemination of information.
            "Ooops I just deleted the internet, lucky I was able to recover 99.7% of it out of the bin" :lol:

            Comment


            • #7
              thanks for the advice guys, i'm 100% sure not to touch globalstar (despite having access to a free handset), will do some comparisions on rent V's 2nd hand buy (no 9505A's on ebay currently though!)


              cheers
              07 silver Grande D4D, sahara bull bar, safari snorkel, Magnum winch, TME 3440 radio, Trackabout Safari camper trailer.

              Comment


              • #8
                There is a Motorola 9505 on there ... don't know much about the difference between the 9505A and the 9505 ops:

                http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Motorola-MS1-20- ... dZViewItem

                Cheers
                Chippy

                Comment


                • #9
                  Have you thought of hiring a HF radio, getting onto the vks network also.
                  This will also give you access to the rfds network
                  I had a barrett unit previously and they work quite well. The autotune antenna made it easier though.

                  Cheers

                  Steve
                  Lightforce 240Blitz driving lights, Rear hitch recovery point, GME tx3400 uhf, 64watt Uni-Solar cell, ARB CKMA12 Air compressor. all awaiting new vehicle to be delivered so they can be remounted.

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Re: Sat phone hire or buy - any experience / knowledge?

                    I note that some have commented that you can use a Telstra GSM sim (Next G?) in a Motorola 9505a. I asked about another phone called a Thuraya-SO-2510-Satellite-Phone-Light-Small-Colour-NEW and this is what the dealer said.

                    "Unfortunately no satellite phone will work in this method. If you put a Next G SIM card in any satellite phone (with GSM capability) it will simply default to the GSM network and your reception will be decreased. The only way to connect a satellite phone to be used on the satellite network is to put a satellite compatible SIM card in the device. Thank you."

                    Any truth in this? I am thinking of purchasing and I need some straight and knowledgeable (read - you have ine and use this method) advice.
                    Dirttracker, (Martin)
                    Prado GXL '05 Diesel.
                    [url="http://picasaweb.google.com/mpnaylor"]http://picasaweb.google.com/mpnaylor[/url]
                    [img]http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa48/dirttracker123/DSCF5442-1.jpg[/img]

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Re: Sat phone hire or buy - any experience / knowledge?

                      I have some good info on Sat phone rental but its in a PDF file. How can I display it on here?
                      2008 Charcoal GXL V6
                      [b]Suspension[/b] >< OME springs and shockers
                      [b]Tyres[/b] >< Pirelli Scorpian ATR
                      [b]Chassis[/b] >< ARB Deluxe Bullbar><Tow bar
                      [b]GPS[/b] >< AVIC HD3>< Ncom G351 running ozi
                      [b]UHF[/b] >< GME3440
                      [b]Accessories[/b] ARB Dual battery system><Rear Camera><Safari Snorkel>
                      [b]Brake Controller[/b] Hayman Reece

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: Sat phone hire or buy - any experience / knowledge?

                        Originally posted by dirttracker
                        I note that some have commented that you can use a Telstra GSM sim (Next G?) in a Motorola 9505a. I asked about another phone called a Thuraya-SO-2510-Satellite-Phone-Light-Small-Colour-NEW and this is what the dealer said.

                        "Unfortunately no satellite phone will work in this method. If you put a Next G SIM card in any satellite phone (with GSM capability) it will simply default to the GSM network and your reception will be decreased. The only way to connect a satellite phone to be used on the satellite network is to put a satellite compatible SIM card in the device. Thank you."

                        Any truth in this? I am thinking of purchasing and I need some straight and knowledgeable (read - you have ine and use this method) advice.
                        It was my comment last year on using Telstra GSM sim cars in the Motorola 9505a phone earlier in this thread. I can't comment on if this works in the Thuraya phones, but I can confirm that sat coms definitely works with the motorola sat phones (Whilst I have a 9505a, the original 9500 and 9505 phones also support it).

                        I have used this regularly in areas that have no mobile phone coverage (so it definitely can't have picked up a GSM or NextG signal). To my knowledge the motorola sat phones can't even use regular mobile phone bands at all, only the satellite. So there's no way it could switch to using the GSM network.

                        Now he may have been talking about the Thuraya phones (and their associated network / sats). Maybe these phones do have the capability to switch between NextG and Sat coms as he said - I have no idea. Remember the Motorola sat phones, and Thuraya sat phones use different sat networks entirely. Nothing shared with regards to the sats.

                        A bit more info for you. The sim card used in the motorola phones (which connect via the Iridium sat network) can be GSM or NextG (have tested both), but must be telstra cards, must be on a plan (not prepaid), and must have international roaming enabled.

                        I hope the info helps.

                        John
                        Ex 95 and 79 series owner, now FJ Cruiser owner.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: Sat phone hire or buy - any experience / knowledge?

                          Thanks John,
                          This is the information that I need.
                          Dirttracker, (Martin)
                          Prado GXL '05 Diesel.
                          [url="http://picasaweb.google.com/mpnaylor"]http://picasaweb.google.com/mpnaylor[/url]
                          [img]http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa48/dirttracker123/DSCF5442-1.jpg[/img]

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: Sat phone hire or buy - any experience / knowledge?

                            I was looking at a couple of iridium phones in the Trader section of ExplorOZ recently. From memory, they were going for a bit over $1500

                            HTH

                            Good info about the NextG SIM. Do you know what SMS would cost on a Sat Phone using the Telstra SIM?

                            Michael
                            2008 D4D M6 GXL [MT ATZ-P3][Whitey's Ironman 45710FE/45682FE+KTFR101H/Dob487][extended Roadsafe links][Polyairs][DBA T3/T2][amts diffdrop & recovery points][Tin175's stone guards][Bushskins BashPlate][ARB Sahara][IPF 900s][Snorkel][WindCheetah][MaxTrax][IC-440][Parrot Asteroid][ARB Fridge][Lifestyle 2nd Row Fridge Mount][ARB Compressor][Thumper][SandGrabbers][Cargo Barrier][Tigerz Awning][MCC Rear Bar]

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: Sat phone hire or buy - any experience / knowledge?

                              Also:

                              Code:
                              6.7 If you use a Telstra Mobile (GSM) SIM card in a satellite service handset/device your 
                              service coverage: 
                              (a) in Australia will be limited to the coverage of Telstra’s GSM mobile network; and 
                              (b) outside Australia will be limited to the coverage of Telstra’s GSM mobile network 
                              and international roaming service.
                              This is from http://www.telstra.com.au/customerterms ... ilesat.pdf Page 22.

                              Can anyone confirm if you get satelite coverage outside GSM networks when using the GSM/NextG sim in a sat phone? (useless if it doesn't)

                              Michael
                              2008 D4D M6 GXL [MT ATZ-P3][Whitey's Ironman 45710FE/45682FE+KTFR101H/Dob487][extended Roadsafe links][Polyairs][DBA T3/T2][amts diffdrop & recovery points][Tin175's stone guards][Bushskins BashPlate][ARB Sahara][IPF 900s][Snorkel][WindCheetah][MaxTrax][IC-440][Parrot Asteroid][ARB Fridge][Lifestyle 2nd Row Fridge Mount][ARB Compressor][Thumper][SandGrabbers][Cargo Barrier][Tigerz Awning][MCC Rear Bar]

                              Comment

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