Satellite phone hire/buy

[MickL Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close MickL]

We are about to head off on a solo outback trip, nothing "serious" none the less remote areas. We have been thinking of getting a satellite phone for the trip just for that added safety factor.

So... whos got one?...hired one?...borrowed one?...

What are your thoughts or experience?

How much to buy? how much to hire?

Are they a reliable form of communication?

Who hires out in Adelaide?

Mick

[dustie Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dustie]

Re: Satellite phone hire/buy

How much to buy?
Are they a reliable form of communication?
Mick

If you decide to buy, there is a "little known" secret that you can get a rebate from the govt. I believe its from the Australian Communication Authority. You just need to say your're travelling to remote areas and mention the travel itinerary.
You maybe able to get the phone for about $300-400 instead of the big $$'s. Then get on a $10 plan with Telstra.

From what I've heard they are the best form of communication, all you need is a clear view of the sky (similar to the GPS).

Hope this helps..

[Jim Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jim]

Hi Mick,
recently purchased a New Motorola 9505A Iridium Handset and full kit off Ebay ( Approx AUS$1450 plus shipping and Insurance from USA). Tried bidding on Ebay for 2nd hand Sat Phones, but they sold for the same amount or more than the new one :!:

Works on the Iridium network with my Telstra Next G sim card (also worked with my GSM sim). No plan and no up front costs. Calls charged to my mobile phone account, last time we used it costs were $2.04 for 30 sec - expensive but invaluable in an emergency ... just be sure to fully explain the concept of emergency to your partner - e.g. a 6.5 minute phone call to talk to your mother about where she is shopping = $23.28 :shock:

We figured that we would have needed to hire one a couple of times over the next two or three years, so it will (almost) pay for itself. It's also great back up comms in the boat.

Cheers ,

Jim

[Del & Kt Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Del & Kt]

Be aware that if you go down the Globalstar network path you are going to have times when the satelites are all below the horizon and hence making your phone usless.

We are just in the process of changing all our work sat phones over to the Iridum network for more reliable coverage. If you only want it for emergencies have you thought about using an EPIRB. Cheaper option however you do not get the two way communiction.

[gwatts21 Member Find all posts View Profile Close gwatts21]

Mick,
Australian Satellite Service on Port Rd Hindmarsh hire them out as well as doing a lot of commercial installations in 4wds. , Can't remember the rates but can find out for you if you want as I do work for them occasionally.

Regards

Gary

[Signature035 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Signature035]

No experience with it, but the new 'Spot - Personal Tracker' looks interesting.
Kind of a cross between and EPIRB and a comms device.

Would be really interested if anyone has had a play with it. There is an upfront registration, plus a yearly membership fee.

http://www.gpsoz.com.au/spot/index.htm

[MickL Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close MickL]

Thanks for the responses so far guys.

Australian Satellite Service on Port Rd Hindmarsh

Thanks Garry, I have contacted them via their website.




Mick

[plucker Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close plucker]

Be carefull with the Epirb thing. They are fantastic and all but are in the process of changing from analogue to digital. The prices are very different for the 2. I think the Govt is fastracking the digital one which should make the analogue one obselete soon. - dont know when but soon.

Digital ones have the ability to be more accurate and have name and location registered with it. You will be saved heaps quicker.
They do cost lots more though.

[Guest Close Guest]

Electric bug also do Sat phones.

[choccoloco Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close choccoloco]

No experience with it, but the new 'Spot - Personal Tracker' looks interesting.
Kind of a cross between and EPIRB and a comms device.

Would be really interested if anyone has had a play with it. There is an upfront registration, plus a yearly membership fee.

http://www.gpsoz.com.au/spot/index.htm

Sorry I don't normally like to cross reference other forums.

In our ADV community, quite a few use them. Here's a link to the australian purchasing side. http://www.mylivetracks.com/buy.shtml
And here's a guy that does some serious riding http://jasonjonas.org/spot/tripViewer.do?id=198

If your interesting in the questioning & slight debate here's the thread http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=343078

[choccoloco Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close choccoloco]

I should add, that I'm about to buy one, just waiting on a few more questions to be answered by SPOT, for the price, piece of mind whether I'm on my bike or in the Prado.

[plucker Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close plucker]

Re the epirb thingy, the powers to be have decided that November is the cut off time for epirbs to go digital. The advantage of the digital one is that it is registered to your name and can track the location to within 5km.

The digital one is around the mid to late $400 price range. :shock:

[pomp Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close pomp]

Re the epirb thingy, the powers to be have decided that November is the cut off time for epirbs to go digital. The advantage of the digital one is that it is registered to your name and can track the location to within 5km.

The digital one is around the mid to late $400 price range. :shock:

5km doesnt sound that accurate Plucker, sounds like my GPS

[plucker Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close plucker]

5 KM is better than the analogue one which is really inaccurate. 5KM is also spontaneous.
With the digital one the search crews might find that missing boat, but now with analogue they look roughly for 3 days and give up. In my part of the world the analogue one takes 4 hours to go through Canberra before the distress signal is sent.

Good thing that they introduced the digital one which should be just about right to start saving all the boaties who have used ethanol fuel. Ethanol eats plastics, rubber, and fibreglass, which is what a lot of boats - even new ones have fuel lines and fuel tanks made of.

:shock: Go figure!!! :shock:

[pomp Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close pomp]

Bit like hydrochloric acid....it will eat through plastic yet comes in a plastic container :shock: My brain hurts just thinking about it