NitroX
|
| (.700 member) |
| 11/05/16 12:38 AM |
|
Wanted advice on a new Sat Phone
|
I need a Sat Phone which works in outback Australia and also preferably other places such as Africa and elsewhere.
Recommendations.
Also which network is best.
Thanks.
Borrowed Claydogs last trip. His would take a SIMM card from his his normal mobile phone and work off the data allowance.
| gryphon |
| (.450 member) |
| 11/05/16 06:32 AM |
|
|
Re: Wanted advice on a new Sat Phone
|
Off to the Matto Grosso for Jaguar?
| Ripp |
| (.577 member) |
| 11/05/16 07:29 AM |
|
Re: Wanted advice on a new Sat Phone
|
I will check with my friend..he just bought one before our trip to Azerbaijan..
thx
Ripp
|
NitroX
|
| (.700 member) |
| 11/05/16 09:39 PM |
|
|
|
Re: Wanted advice on a new Sat Phone
|
JG,
I wish.
It is just an insurance policy for outback trips and when especially long ways away from roads.Ripp,
Thanks.
| Ripp |
| (.577 member) |
| 12/05/16 10:58 PM |
|
Re: Wanted advice on a new Sat Phone
|
John,
Had breakfast with him yesterday morning..he said IRIDIUM is the only way to go--said they use 60+ satelites --said he has used it all over the world, including Australia when he was there last fall..told me its the only way to..IHHO..
any other info let me know
thx
Ripp
| Ripp |
| (.577 member) |
| 14/05/16 09:47 PM |
|
Re: Wanted advice on a new Sat Phone
|
https://www.iridium.com/products/types/Phones
One of these quite possibly saved my life 3 weeks ago..so HIGHLY recommend it..
Ripp
|
NitroX
|
| (.700 member) |
| 15/05/16 02:34 PM |
|
|
|
Re: Wanted advice on a new Sat Phone
|
What features do experienced users consider essential and which features might be desirable?
|
NitroX
|
| (.700 member) |
| 15/05/16 02:35 PM |
|
|
|
Re: Wanted advice on a new Sat Phone
|
Quote:
https://www.iridium.com/products/types/Phones
One of these quite possibly saved my life 3 weeks ago..so HIGHLY recommend it..
Ripp
Yes from your story not yet told publicly, the sort of time a satphone is a well provided "insurance policy".
| Ahmed577 |
| (.333 member) |
| 15/05/16 05:36 PM |
|
Re: Wanted advice on a new Sat Phone
|
Must be waterproof. Must not have lockout codes to get in or out.
|
NitroX
|
| (.700 member) |
| 15/05/16 07:36 PM |
|
|
|
Re: Wanted advice on a new Sat Phone
|
Thanks Colin.
| Claydog |
| (.375 member) |
| 16/05/16 05:35 PM |
|
Re: Wanted advice on a new Sat Phone
|
I got my Iridium off Ebay for $400.00 and like John said just put my I phone SIM card in it and away it goes. Saves my having to sign up to a plan. Has gotten me out of trouble a few times and always gets a reliable signal.
|
NitroX
|
| (.700 member) |
| 17/05/16 02:31 PM |
|
|
|
Re: Wanted advice on a new Sat Phone
|
Claydog,
what was the make and model of your photne again? I know I wrote it in a notebook, have to find which notrebook it was, and need it for other purposes anyway.
Very generous of you to have loaned us some of your equipment.
I wonder if anyone knows about whether a plan has to have some special feature to work that way? I believe you said it worked on the data allowance. I certainly don't want to sign up to a specialist satphone plan. Dead money for at least 11 months of the year for me.
Thanks for replying. Hope all is well in the Territory.
| EricD |
| (.416 member) |
| 17/05/16 05:14 PM |
|
|
Re: Wanted advice on a new Sat Phone
|
This gives a bit of an overview:
https://www.iridium.com/Download?resourceID=e8cc663d-0697-43cc-a918-9e8b1e3c5603
A few years ago I'd say Inmarsat, which I've previously used throughout Africa, but now I'd probably go for an Iridium. Besides coverage, dust/water/shockproof is important IMO.
| Ripp |
| (.577 member) |
| 01/06/16 02:45 PM |
|
Re: Wanted advice on a new Sat Phone
|
As a companion to a sat phone my friend and I are contemplating getting one of these for the countries that confiscate sat phones..anyone have any experience with one?
http://www.inreachdelorme.com/product-info/inreach-explorer.php
Thank you
Ripp
|
NitroX
|
| (.700 member) |
| 04/05/17 09:43 AM |
|
|
|
Re: Wanted advice on a new Sat Phone
|
Re-opening this topic. Need to organise something.
Thanks for the comments so far.
I don't think I have actually ever used a satphone so have no idea about them. As said did carry Claydogs and know how to turn it on and make a call. But never used it.
I do like the idea of being able to run on a standard card's data allowance. Especially if say a prepaid card with a data allowance worked. No need to=hen to pay for a monthly subscription for an un-necessary satphone when not needed. I did ask about this in a Telstra shop and 1. they probably have no idea about it, and 2. if they do won't tell you. My plans with Telstra all now have a Australia only restriction for both calls and data. And even the Telstra shop tells people to buy an overseas mobile phone instead of using your Aust Telstra mobile account.
So, does anyone have any more recommendations, makes, models etc to have a detailed look at? Thanks .
| CHAPUISARMES |
| (.416 member) |
| 05/05/17 09:26 AM |
|
Re: Wanted advice on a new Sat Phone
|
John, have you looked at the 'Sat Sleeve' it turns your normal mobile phone into a Sat phone. I don't know much more other than it is offered by Optus.
|
NitroX
|
| (.700 member) |
| 05/05/17 03:51 PM |
|
|
|
Re: Wanted advice on a new Sat Phone
|
Yes I had a look at something similar on the Telstra site. It has a wifi function which allows several mobile devices to link to it.
I like the idea but ...
1. The cost on the Telstra site of anything was a minimum of say $1500 to several thousand dollars.
2. If walking in the bush, one would now have to carry the wifi device and a mobile phone, plus gps/uhf radio etc plus all the other stuff. So while versatile adds yet another thing to carry.
Does have some merit if the price was say $500 or less, and like Claydog's can use the normal data allowance instead of needing a sat card.
Will have a look at the Optus site as well. Plus ebay for decent priced stuff.
PS An advantage of such a wifi device, is one could in theory make posts from the bush for a "live" feed of hunts .... ha ha ha, when I am in the bush the last ffffing thing I want to do is make internet posts.
|
NitroX
|
| (.700 member) |
| 05/05/17 03:58 PM |
|
|
|
Re: Wanted advice on a new Sat Phone
|
Optus does not mention Iridium at all.
***
By incorporating optical fibre, wireless and satellite technologies into a single network, Optus can provide 100% coverage across Australia and New Zealand. Optus is the only carrier in Australia to own and operate network infrastructure across these three platforms, giving us a unique network to help keep you in touch.
Plus they mention Thuraya phones as well.
No idea if the different networks each need a separate phone.
***
http://www.optus.com.au/business/broadba...-talk/satsleeve
I see the sleeve clips onto a phone and uses wifi to connect to it.
Has a separate memory card, $15 per month charge. Costs about $900 and $1 per minute within Australia which isn't bad except for the purchase price. $6.50 + per minute cost for use internationally.
The per month cost adds up if only using one or twice every year or two, but paying per month. Assuming IF one does not need to if data allowance works on Iridium phones with a Telstra card. VERSUS whatever the Telstra global roaming charges might be ...
***
Monthly charges can be suspended:
Quote:
Can I suspend my SatSleeve service when I am not travelling or not using it for a while?
Once you have activated your service, you will be charged $15 for that month plus any usage charges and you will continue to pay $15 plus usage charges for each month your service remains activated. If you are no longer travelling outside of coverage areas and therefore do not need to be paying for this service, you may choose to suspend your account. It is free of charge to suspend your account and you will no longer be paying the $15 a month plus usage. It is then also free to resume your account and after resumption you will begin to pay the $15 a month once again. If you are looking to suspend or resume your SatSleeve service, please click here to download the Thuraya Service Form.