Sat phones

No Fixed Address · Veteran Member

Sat phones

geoffg · Member

Hi Ron we bought a Thuraya sat phone $799
We went this way as Thuraya has the best phone plans, we are on a casual plan $15pm no lock in contract.
We intend using the sat phone the way you intend too.

Cheers geoff Gray

macka17 · Guru

Don't know about the Sat Systems nowadays.
but there were Hire plans and others.
One of them was a handset. with mixed plan.
You dial the number. Wherever.
the system tries the call on Normal mobile lines. If good. you pay their costing for a mobile call per min.

No go. They sw automatically and call on Sat line. with corresponding costs.

I know a few that used them yrs ago
and the running costs were very nice compared to only Sat call costing.

you also just use the handset as a normal Mobile when in normal ranges.
No need for separate handsets to suit.

Check on net or with indiv, company's and see if they still exist.
This was 20 (ish, Probably more.) yrs ago

For emergency's only. I'd be looking more at the "spot" and similar systems.
Gives immediate position, and fixed messages.
Some have instant texting in there too.

Me.
I just take my EPIRB Thing from boat.
it has a message on rego papers and info on self/boat/motor
that if signal over land.
it's still me if out of metro areas as I go caravanning.
and PLEASE come.
A lot of us boaties do that.
Multiple usages of a $450 item.
Which hopefully always dates out b4 needing any use.
If going that way.
Some (more exxy) have built in GPS and VHF radios.
for when you see/hear rescue plane.etc.
You can guide them in by sound. Talking as you go.

It's bloody amazing nowadays ain't it. Technology.
Only thing is. It's also VERY hard to get away from everything.

First thing I always did when going offshore.
was turn everything to do with comm's off.
Just me, boat, and cat..

Purrrrfect.

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

We have a 10 year old Qualcomm that is on a Globalstar when we go bush for longer periods.
It is not the most popular phone, but we chose it because it used a normal Australian mobile phone number which meant that friends did not even know they were calling a sat 'phone. Their costs are the same as calling any other mobile and incoming costs for us were free. Great for staying in touch with the family.
We also have a car kit with external antennae and an answering hand piece in the back of the camper.

Cheers,
Peter

macka17 · Guru

That's probably the one I was thinking of Pete.
Std Sat calls, you normally pay for both ways.

villatranquilla · Guru

we have an Iridum - initially on a $30 / month plan but after the 2 yr contract was up cancelled it as we discovered we could use my Telstra sim card in it (must have global roaming enabled) and it worked fine. Will only use it for emergencies as its expensive but in an emergency cost wont matter.

fiddlestix · Member

As a total novice and watching with interest how much would you expect to pay per month on a pre paid plan and what are call costs incoming and outgoing im in the market for one my self. Just had a quick look there is so many different phones available.

TheHeaths · Guru

Like Peter and Margaret, we have the Qualcomm phone with Globalstar.

The access is $20 per month, and outgoing calls are $1 per minute or part thereof. No charge for incoming calls to us, caller pays their normal mobile call charge.

Has proved worthwhile for us to use, even if we don't use it much. Gives us both a bit of peace of mind, and security when driving in areas with no mobile coverage if we have accident. I carry it in our back pack if we are walking anywhere during our trips. The system is via orbiting satellites, so is not available 100% of the time, but is available, at worst, for about 80% of the time. The coverage reduces as you get further north, but we have never been without it for more than about 5 minutes, as satellites are constantly coming and going into view. I considered this coverage to be better than those that use fixed satellites, as they are more affected by where you are standing, eg they may not give coverage if you are in a valley. No service can give you 100% coverage ALL of the time for various reasons.

They were available via Sat Phone Sales, who are one of the advertisers on the banner line at the top of this page. I am uncertain if they are still available, but if they are, price wise, they are also better, costing about $500 for refurbished unit (ex rental). This is what I bought, and you wouldn't know it was used. The only draw back for the fashion conscious is that they are not as compact a unit, looking a bit dated. That said, the sound quality is very good, being better than the mobile often is in remote areas.

Hope that helps.

Peter_n_Margaret · Guru

The Qualcomm 'phone is old and large, but available second hand at very reasonable prices if you search around.

Cheers,
Peter

No Fixed Address · Veteran Member

Looks like we will go with Thuraya and a $15 a month plan, in bound calls and txt are free. Out bound txt 50 cents and calls at 99 cents a minute and 000 is free. New phones are around $780, naturally I'll try for used or refurbished one first. Again many thanks for every ones thoughts.

macka17 · Guru

Hey.

Check on the Optus "Thuyara" Sat sleeve plan. $15 casual
Could be viable. I didn't go INTO it. just looked at advert but?.
And you use YOUR phone handset..