Cheapest Satphone/GPS Emergency option?

[Paul (SA)]

I was looking at some options for Satphones or emergency GPS indicators for our more remote trips. I would never use a Satphone unless in an emergency so the current phones and monthly plans seem a little exorbitant just for that purpose.

Was also looking at the Spot system, but again you have to subscribe to a monthly plan which is expensive if you only do 1 maybe 2 trips a year.

Does anyone know of an option to buy a cheap handset or hardware and then only pay when I use it. Or only subscribe to a plan with no lock in contact that u can cancel anytime?

[Bird]

if its for once or twice a year, hire a sat phone.

[time]

Have a look at Pivotel - Globalstar option - $500 phone, $15 per month plan with $2/min calls, no contract, thus you can "connect" for the month/months you need it and disconnect when home.

Another option to consider, I use my HF radio for radio telephone calls and SMSing, $20 per year for 200 mins per month with the HF Radio Club.

[tk421]

Do you need the phone service? Spot Gen 3 messenger has basic service plans for USD169 per year - which give you emergency requests, check in options (i'm ok and I'm here) and help me alerts (I need help but its not life threatening) - do you need anything more?

If its only going to be used in an emergency why not just buy a GPS PLB for a couple of hundred bucks and register it with AMSA for free? Just change or replace the battery every 7 years or so. Personally I'd prefer an aussie registered product that goes direct to AMSA rather than Spot which goes to  IERCC in Houston, who then have to call AMSA to notify them of an issue and get the search started in Australia. Just seems like extra delays to me.

[Ratbag]

Gidday Paul

Was also looking at the Spot system, but again you have to subscribe to a monthly plan which is expensive if you only do 1 maybe 2 trips a year.

I have a Spot Messenger Generation 3. Cost me about AUD$180, plus a tracking plan that's about US$170 p.a.
Cheap insurance, IMHO. It only has to save my bacon once ...  .

It also allows my contacts who are linked via my account to watch my progress, and they can raise  the alarm if they can't raise me, and something looks wrong.

It's like having the full RACV (or whatever) cover. It costs a few bob, but not really exorbitant.

[achjimmy]

I run an epirb, if you choose an epirb get the one with GPS chip.

[Juzzman]

I bought a Iridium 9505A earlier this year for an extended trip as an emergency phone only.
Bought off evil bay from USA, all up inc postage was $410.
I have a Telstra Sim on a monthly $10 plan with global roaming switched on.
Have tested it and it works a treat, It costs an arm and a leg to make or receive calls, but as its for emergencies only,  I don't care!!

Lots of info on this site about doing it this way, its how I found out about it.

 

[Patr80l]

There is another thread that discusses this at length.
To clarify what Jazzman and I have done:
- Telstra Mobile Satellite uses Iridium.
- You can put your Telstra GSM SIM into an Iridium handset.  It needs to be post-paid and have international roaming activated.
- Iridium phones are like old an Nokia to use (but with a bigger antenna)
- The calls appear on your usual Telstra account (as "TMS") and are $2 per 30 seconds (NB You also pay this for incoming calls) but there are no other costs. 
- You don't need to subscribe or go through any log-in process.   Just insert the SIM, and turn the phone on.   It wiil acquire a signal and register on the sat network.   You can then make and receive calls.
- Calls to and from the satphone are via your normal 04 number.   
- Of course any 000 calls are free.
I use the SIM from my iPhone while Jazzman opened a separate account so he has the ongoing cost of $10 per month.   I bought a second hand Iridium 9555 for about $800 on eBay.   Iridium are about to put up new satellites but there will be backwards compatibility.

[feisty]

I bought a Iridium 9505A earlier this year for an extended trip as an emergency phone only.
Bought off evil bay from USA, all up inc postage was $410.
I have a Telstra Sim on a monthly $10 plan with global roaming switched on.
Have tested it and it works a treat, It costs an arm and a leg to make or receive calls, but as its for emergencies only,  I don't care!!

Lots of info on this site about doing it this way, its how I found out about it.

 

As they said. .. 

[rossow]

so the 9595a and 9555 will both work on my iphone 5 sim card if I enable international roaming?

[feisty]

Yep!  As long as it is telstra. The 9505a will also work and  sell on ebay for about $275  and low as $138

[Patr80l]

so the 9595a and 9555 will both work on my iphone 5 sim card if I enable international roaming?

You will need to get an adapter so a nano SIM fits in the mini SIM slot ($1 on eBay or $10 at a phone kiosk in a shopping centre)

eg http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/SIM-Card-Adapter-Kit-4-in-1-Nano-Micro-Standard-Size-Converter-Tray-for-iPhone-/121136219513?pt=AU_MobilePhoneAccessories&hash=item1c34480579

[rossow]

Anyone is Brisbane that has a Sat phone or an iridium sim that works able to help out?

I Bought a "as new in box" 9505a but cant get it to connect to the satellites with my international roaming enabled telstra sim.

I only get a "Searching Check Signal" screen.
Only 1 hit on google for this message points to a busted phone
I would love to be able to test the SIM / Phone in a working scenario before I go any further.

[Patr80l]

I assume you have a clear view of the sky?  Are you using a post-paid SIM?
Sometimes it takes a little while to lock on.    Also, the phone finding a signal is not the same as registering on the network.   In theory you should be able to make a 000 call without a SIM (but don't test this!).
I can't remember if https://www.iridium.com/TestYourSatellitePhone/Overview.aspx works without a valid SIM.

[Paul (SA)]

It's sort of ironic you need working comms gear to use a boat off shore, but heading into the remote outback - just as isolated, it's largely unregulated in this way.

[xcvator]

I assume you have a clear view of the sky?  Are you using a post-paid SIM?
Sometimes it takes a little while to lock on.    Also, the phone finding a signal is not the same as registering on the network.   In theory you should be able to make a 000 call without a SIM (but don't test this!).
I can't remember if https://www.iridium.com/TestYourSatellitePhone/Overview.aspx works without a valid SIM.

Any reason it needs to be a post paid sim and not prepaid as they automatically have global roaming ?

[Patr80l]

Any reason it needs to be a post paid sim and not prepaid as they automatically have global roaming ?

Yes.

Post paid works, pre paid doesn't.

Why? Ask Telstra.

[jr]

If its for emergencies, get an EPIRB.
They are more reliable and robust than phone, also give GPS position if you get the right one. Simple,to use and activate in a hurry.

If its a real emergency, stuffing around swapping SIM cards, adapters and phoning people is fraught with problems. The use of next G sim cards isnt Telstra approved (but it works on some models and not on others).
I broke the antenna on a 9505 in the past when trying to get signal and then had nothing. Two days onto the Simpson.

Now I carry both, but if pushed would be a EPIRB as primary.

[rossow]

Yep it is a post paid sim
And no it is not my only source of emergency response. I also have a PLB.
hoping someon in Bris could help out. If you have a phone that works and I could verify my sim works. Or if you have a working sim and could test my phone out. Either or both would be fantastic!

[Patr80l]

Yep it is a post paid sim
And no it is not my only source of emergency response. I also have a PLB.
hoping someon in Bris could help out. If you have a phone that works and I could verify my sim works. Or if you have a working sim and could test my phone out. Either or both would be fantastic!

Sounds like a good idea. Sorry but I'm in Melbourne.
It's not true that Telstra don't support GSM in TMS, it's just that none of their sales people know about it.
See https://www.telstra.com.au/content/dam/tcom/personal/consumer-advice/pdf/consumer/mobilesat.pdf

[theins]

I probably did not get the cheapest option, with a 9555 from Telstra. In my view this is insurance necessary when travelling and I just bit the bullet.  At least I know of it all works.
Given that you can very quickly out of mobile range when going out and about I always have the phone with me when we travel.

you can't put a price tag on being able to get help in an emergency.....

my 2 cents worth

[S.W]

Sounds like a good idea. Sorry but I'm in Melbourne.
It's not true that Telstra don't support GSM in TMS, it's just that none of their sales people know about it.
See https://www.telstra.com.au/content/dam/tcom/personal/consumer-advice/pdf/consumer/mobilesat.pdf

I'm considering the Iridium phone using a Telstra SIM with International roaming enabled, the only thing I'm uneasy about is this section of the Telstra document:

7.7
If you use a Telstra Mobile (GSM) SIM card in a satellite service handset/device your
service coverage:
(a)
in
Australia will be limited to the coverage of Telstra’s GSM mobile network; and
(b)
outside Australia will be limited to the coverage of Telstra’s GSM mobile network
and international roaming service.

Can anyone shed any light on what this means, as there are multiple people on here saying that they've made satellite calls using Telstra SIMs when outside the gsm network?

[HKB Electronics]

Your looking for something that may save your life but you want the cheapest option!

If your really going remote then never rely on one form of communication as a lifeline,
as per Murphy's law the day you really need it is the day it won't work. When I'm going
remote we take a Sat phone, handy if nothing else works. A HF radio, general source of
assistance if required, send and receive messages, biggest advantage is there maybe
someone in the area listening in at scheds who can come and give assistance if required.
EPIRB for when and if the s&*t really hits the fan and a spot so family can track us.

Over the top, not if it saves your life.

[Patr80l]

I'm considering the Iridium phone using a Telstra SIM with International roaming enabled, the only thing I'm uneasy about is this section of the Telstra document:

7.7
If you use a Telstra Mobile (GSM) SIM card in a satellite service handset/device your
service coverage:
(a)
in
Australia will be limited to the coverage of Telstra’s GSM mobile network; and
(b)
outside Australia will be limited to the coverage of Telstra’s GSM mobile network
and international roaming service.

Can anyone shed any light on what this means, as there are multiple people on here saying that they've made satellite calls using Telstra SIMs when outside the gsm network?

I read that too.
In short; it's wrong and if you were within the GSM network you wouldn't need the satphone!
I have tried my satphone with the GSM SIM both within a GSM serviced area and without.   Makes no difference.   I cant see how the satellite would be able to tell anyway.   
A word of warning, using the GSM SIM in your Iridium when overseas is very expensive so that might be the time to get a pre-paid satphone SIM from another provider.

If you're in Melbourne I don't mind if you want to come around and put your GSM SIM into my Iridium to prove it for yourself.   

[Patr80l]

Your looking for something that may save your life but you want the cheapest option!

If your really going remote then never rely on one form of communication as a lifeline,
as per Murphy's law the day you really need it is the day it won't work. When I'm going
remote we take a Sat phone, handy if nothing else works. A HF radio, general source of
assistance if required, send and receive messages, biggest advantage is there maybe
someone in the area listening in at scheds who can come and give assistance if required.
EPIRB for when and if the s&*t really hits the fan and a spot so family can track us.

Over the top, not if it saves your life.

Agree, although I have staphone & HF but don't have an EPIRB.   
ps There is one huge advantage the sat phone has over the HF.   You'll discover it when your car catches fire.