Iridium vs Inmarsat... Which way to go?

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

Hi all,

I am in the process of researching (including a forum search, but nothing was this specific) to purchase a sat phone (will get the 85% rebate) and keep leaning towards a 9555.

I don't mind paying a bit more for the handset, the Isat Pro being a fair bit cheaper, if when the phone is NEEDED that i get a signal. Iridium seem to get better feedback regarding signals. Also when the rebate comes into the equation, the actual price difference between the phones is really neither here or there.

Ongoing costs is the other factor. I can get a prepaid $100 for 100 minutes on the Isat Pro which has a 2 year life, but this is going to be reduced to 180 days in the near future. For 180 days life i would then get $60 for 50 minutes. Being that the phone will only be for emergencies only, that is the type of credit that would suit. Again, will the Isat have a signal???
I believe Iridium do have prepaid, but don't know their details, but am lead to believe they are not as good as Inmarsat. Another option i have seen is to get a prepaid Telstra 3g (or it may need to be a post paid plan) with roaming activated to go into the Iridium. If this option actually works, it could be the way to go.

Now that we are living hours from anywhere and with two little passengers, i don't want to risk getting stuck again. We broke down driving into the job... bloody corrugations

I appreciate your thoughts and comments
John

[wooley Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close wooley]

I'm also interested in this.

I'd be going with telstra though so I suppose I'd have to go an iridium, they look to be good phones though from what I have read.

Out of interest, where are you living that you're eligible for the 85%?

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

Pipalyatjara on the APY lands.... a freaking long way from anywhere

[wooley Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close wooley]

Pipalyatjara on the APY lands.... a freaking long way from anywhere

that really is.

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

9555 from eBay, a post paid Telstra SIM with global roaming enabled and you're good to go with no ongoing costs..

[vscorsa Member Find all posts View Profile Close vscorsa]

With the telstra SIM card, does it need to be the old larger style card or do the new smaller type that fit in the Iphone 4 work?

[prado4x4 Member Find all posts View Profile Close prado4x4]

With the telstra SIM card, does it need to be the old larger style card or do the new smaller type that fit in the Iphone 4 work?

The older/larger style sims is what the sat phone uses. There are adapters you can get (small piece of plastic really) that you place the small iPhone style sim into, (which are the size/shape of the larger sim cards). When installed in the phone, the contacts line up, etc.

I've done this with my old 9500 sat phone.

John

[pinko351 Member Find all posts View Profile Close pinko351]

I resently brought an Isat Pro for use on a central oz trip. I had no problems with service, phone locked on quickly and all reports from receivers of calls commented on the clear transition. Now I did little to no research and had to go by the salesman recommendation as my wife insisted we get one for the trip. I payed full price $650 with $50 credit. To be honest, there are cheaper ways but for $650 I now have a easy to use reliable device for that rainy day and a happy wife. Priceless

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

The older/larger style sims is what the sat phone uses. There are adapters you can get (small piece of plastic really) that you place the small iPhone style sim into, (which are the size/shape of the larger sim cards). When installed in the phone, the contacts line up, etc.

I've done this with my old 9500 sat phone.

John

9500 takes credit card sized SIM I believe
9505 and 9555 takes the small SIM not the newer micro SIM

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

We have the 9505 and can't fault it really. It worked everytime I used it oin my recent Madigans trip, which was once or twice a day to call Trish.

Cheers Andrew

[Richoson Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Richoson]

We have rented sat phones in the past for our remote trips they worked fine everywhere we went and the feeling of safety is priceless. We even travelled with a six week old baby we were that confident in our prep and backup.

By the posts on this thread it is now cheaper to buy than rent and that will be what we do next, I like the idea of the dual phone with sat and GSM capabilities that will be what we do.

See ya on the tracks, Richo.


Sent from Richos iPhone using Tapatalk

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

I like the idea of the dual phone with sat and GSM capabilities that will be what we do.

The phone doesn't do both networks, the SIM does. You still need a GSM and sat phone...

[vscorsa Member Find all posts View Profile Close vscorsa]

Thanks for the info, the next step is working out whether overseas purchase is worth the risk.

Cheers

Dave

The older/larger style sims is what the sat phone uses. There are adapters you can get (small piece of plastic really) that you place the small iPhone style sim into, (which are the size/shape of the larger sim cards). When installed in the phone, the contacts line up, etc.

I've done this with my old 9500 sat phone.

John

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

The phone doesn't do both networks, the SIM does. You still need a GSM and sat phone...

Ahhh but there are ones that do both grasshopper
http://www.satellitephone.com.au/telitsat550.htm
And another player being Thuraya which has a satellite only phone and a dual sat/gsm model http://www.thurayaphones.com.au/

All i want is something to 'touch base' or at worst the emergency scenario. Will bite the bullet soon but still interested in others experiences and comments

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

Not many GSM features on those phones. No need to reinvent the wheel, the wheel works. If it was me I'd stick with Iridium.
http://www.campingaustralia.org/showthread.php?t=157