sat phones

[trekkn]

hi myswager's

we are looking at purchasing a sat phone and have found a website dedicated to selling sat phones but there are a few options and vary a little in price
does any one have any opinion's or recomendations?

i used to use a whirlpool sat phone in my ute in the outback but that was a few yrs ago and it was hard wired into the cab

i would prefer a portable type sat phone with a car kit and external aerial


http://www.satellitephonesales.com.au

[TOPNDR]

I have an Iridium, 5055a I think, purchased through a Federal Govt rebate scheme (which stil exists).  It has an attached, rotatable antenna, which can be swapped for a magnetic mounted rooftop antenna. 

The phone has not let me down, save one time in heavily wooded forest, where we couldn't get a good enough signal to make a call.  I've heard folk on the global star network complain about lack of service.  As I understand it, Globalstar have only one satellite servicing Aus, as opposed to several satellites for the Iridium network.

[SUPA105]

+1 for the Iridium network, we bought a Motorola 9505 second hand use our telstra Next G sim card, needs to be post paid with Global Roaming & International calling enabled, not the cheapest way to make calls but for Emergency use only suits our needs.


Cheers

[areyonga]

There as several threads on here which talk about different options that members have purchased.  I bought the IsatPhone Pro with prepaid as I only want it for emergencies and didnt want to go on a plan.  My option was $690+GST for the new phone and $60 for prepaid vouchers whic last for 2 years if not used and you can top up vouchers over the phone.  I bought mine from ElectroTech in Sydney and I think they are a bit cheaper now because of the Aus $

Wil

[Hal Harvey]

From a bit of research I've done lately, it appears that the two popular choices today are either an Iridium setup, which will cost you at least $30/month and will work anywhere in the world; or the Isatphone Pro, which works on Inmarsat as opposed to Iridium, and is maybe more limited re travel outside Australia, but the two-year pre-paid vouchers deal can work out a lot cheaper.

I had Globalstar up until two years ago, and it had depreciated to the point where it virtually didn't work. I then changed to Iridium which has been faultless. I do tend to use it a fair bit when really remote (kids/business) so that works for me, but if it was really emergency-only the Inmarsat deal may be better value for money.

[TrackTrailerTourer]

Through TR Telecom you can suspend your account for $15 per month, and you only have to have a max contract term of 3 months, compared to 24 months with the big T.

[trekkn]

thanks for your replies im swaying towards the iridium setup as we are planning a big trip  through our beautiful country and the wife and kids like to stay in contact with the extended family

[GeoffA]

+1 for the Iridium network, we bought a Motorola 9505 second hand use our telstra Next G sim card, needs to be post paid with Global Roaming & International calling enabled, not the cheapest way to make calls but for Emergency use only suits our needs.


Cheers

Same here...........