Sat Phone - Are they really necessary?

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

Hi folks,

In April this year, the wife, kids and I are going to a trip from our place on the central coast for "half a loop" of Australia over a 10 week period. We're wondering if paying the huge amount of money that they're asking for sat phones are really worth it these days -especially with the traffic that's around these days.

The most remote place we'll be travelling to would be Wolfe Creek - maybe Chamber's Pillar. 80% of the time we'll be on sealed roads. We are travelling the Oodanadatta Track, Tanami Road and part of the Gibb River Road (only the first 200 ks or so). We might also get upto Lawn Hill depending on the time we have left.

Second hand phones are really expensive. Hiring them will cost us around $600 and then we have to pay for a SIM. Pre-Paid is the only way we'll go because we'll only need it for 3 months. But it's still going to add about another $250 onto that for network access - even if we don't use it. Credit only last for a month too before you have to top it up again.

For the price of hiring, I'd almost consider buying a second hand one for around that $1000 mark. But then you run the risk of buying a hunk of crud that someone mistreated. And do you want to rely on a second hand phone if they are that important?

I was even considering buying a HF Radio, but they're even more expensive.

So, what do you think? Worth the $1000? My inlaws have been travelling for years and have never used one. They have a HF radio, but short of using to relieve boredom, it's never been used for an emergency.

Thanks

Stu.

[K & M McF Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close K & M McF]

Get a Spot device if you are that concerned. On the roads you mention at that time there should not be too trouble with lack of cars I would think.

[Crocodilian Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close Crocodilian]

I have one. I used it once, but it was worth it for that once -- broken down on a track off the Savannah Way between Boroloola and Roper Bar. We had plenty of water and were otherwise OK, and someone would have come along, eventually. As it happened, we got help in three hours.

Having something that will get you help in a remote location can just be convenient-- or it can save your life.

The economical solution is a Personal locator beacon, or SPOT device.

These things are a complete waste of money -- unless of course something bad happens. In which case it'll be the best money you ever spent.

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

What do you want it for? For remote communications, or as a safety device in case of emergency (lost, stranded, crash)?

For me, I simply carry a GPS enabled personal locator beacon. Why? Because you can register them and your journey, they're pretty fail safe, there accurate, their foolproof to operate and, once activated, you are guaranteed of a response. My logic is that if I were incapacitated in a crash or other incident, I should be able to either operate myself or get anyone else (even a very young child) to activate for me.

SPOT is good but expensive in that you have to pay on-going monitoring cost. PLBs are once off payment to purchase, then simply battery life replacement.

Of course, you cannot make calls or send messages from a PLB (it is not a communication device) and you can't track your trip (like SPOT).

Whatever you decide, make sure you have more than one option... in an emergency, you can bet that any single point of failure will fail.

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

A Sat phone enables you to communicate at all levels from friendly chat to emergency communications. I have access to one from my 4WD club or a friend has one (spouse works outback in nursing) one of which we always take with us on trips. I believe is the premium choice and provides the maximum flexibility answer. Renting one is costly so look at how often.how long you need one. There are prepaid options also

SPOT and EPIRB etc are all excellent choices but they only have one level of communication being Emergency (yes SPOT has other options but you have to prefix the message whilst you have internet coverage and the HELP ME function asks those on your contact list for help, but gives them no indication of what the issue actually is from broken down to broken leg etc, ie you dive an auto and you break down on an isolated track in the Simpson, how do you let somebody know you need a flatbed?

My Scout Group has a SPOT Messenger because it makes snese for Scouts hiking in forests etc with occasional Leader monitoring, it is peace of mind for Parents etc as they can let you know all is ok, track them on a map, ask for help or go SOS.

The other option from SPOT is an SMS interface (called Spot connect) device (iphone and androind apps) that enables you to SMS to anybody you like but I don't think has the other SPOT Messenger functions.

A HF radio I guess aligns to the Sat Phone value but on a different cost model.

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

Buy a 9555 local from gumtree or eBay, pickup it up and try it. You'll need a Telstra post-paid SIM with global roaming enabled. Once your trip is complete sell it on eBay or gumtree for what you paid for it.

[Heath74 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Heath74]

I bought an Inmarsat pro, with subsidy, http://www.satellitephonesonline.com.au/subsidy
A couple of years ago. With out boring you with the story, best $400 I have ever spent. Plus I still have it for weekend trips etc.

[vxcruiser08 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close vxcruiser08]

Do I think it's worth it? Yes. After a break down on one of the vehicles (jeep of course) in our group last year near birdsville it would have been a god send. So I bought one and I don't wish to ever tow a jeep through a 1/4 of the Simpson again.

The problem with spot is it's only one way communication. I'd rather be able to talk. What if you didn't know how to handle a situation and all you could do was transmit not receive? I've found it has come in handy for many situations.

I purchased a thuraya XT off gumtree for $400. Look around and scoop up a bargain. Signed up to pivotel for $16 month no contracts and $25 connection fee.

[wsp Member Find all posts View Profile Close wsp]

Not sure how true it is but I read that you can use your sim from your Telstra 3G phone as long as you set it up for global roaming. I rang Telstra and asked and got a half arsed answer. It would make it more cost affective as you just swap the sim between phones when needed. I'm sure someone will be able to confirm if this is true.

Wayne

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

Not sure how true it is but I read that you can use your sim from your Telstra 3G phone as long as you set it up for global roaming.

Yes this is correct

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

Well I have a sat phone and a HF, maybe that is overkill but if either of them save my life only once then it will be money well spent.

Also don't just assume someone will come past, one of the likely scenarios for needing communications is due to roads being cut off. We've come pretty close a couple of times to being stranded in the middle of nowhere due to rain, luckily we've made it outreach time.

Cheers Andrew

[wsp Member Find all posts View Profile Close wsp]

Cheers D4D time to sus out flea bay

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

Hi all,

Sorry for the slow reply. Mad week so far!

This is some great info - thank you. So much more to think about now. I wanted to get one for the safety aspect, but I was wondering if it was really required for the trip we're doing. We're towing a very well stocked van with over 300L of water and food. If we broke down on 90% of the tracks we're on, we'd be passed by cars frequently and could get help. The issue I was having was if one of us got - say - bit by a snake, or broke a leg. Having the phone would be a life saver. SPOT sounds good, but I'd prefer something I could talk back on (if I need to call the RFDS for instance).

I think I'll look at the eBay idea and buy one second hand and sell it when we get back. I had a look on Telstra's site when I first saw the suggestion about using a pre-paid and using global roaming, but I can't immediately find any info on this. so I'll drop a call into Telstra tomorrow and see what they say.

I've also seen the subsidy deal. I'm not sure we qualify, but my inlaws may. I might be able to get them to buy it and I'll pay them for it. That'd be idea as that way we can keep the phone for good, but not pay a heap for it.

Thanks again folks. Prado Point to the rescue once again!

Stu

[wsp Member Find all posts View Profile Close wsp]

Hi Stu

When I spoke to Telstra about the 3G sim idea the bloke said you might not get 100% coverage. But if you had the proper sat sim you would. In my opinion if you went the 3G sim way Telstra don't make very much money from you ( only global roaming charges ) But with the sat sim you either go on a plan big $$$ or prepaid also big $$$ so what way are they going to tell you?

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

I had a look on Telstra's site when I first saw the suggestion about using a pre-paid and using global roaming, but I can't immediately find any info on this. so I'll drop a call into Telstra tomorrow and see what they say.

You won't find anything on the Telstra site about this or will the Telstra reps know anything about it.

When I spoke to Telstra about the 3G sim idea the bloke said you might not get 100% coverage. But if you had the proper sat sim you would.

See above, he's talking crap. The SIM will lock on the Iridium network and give the same coverage as a dedicated Telstra/Iridium SIM.