Turn iPhone into a satphone

[mikehzz]

This device looks pretty nifty..

This Case Turns Your iPhone Into A Satellite Phone | Gizmodo Australia (http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2013/03/this-case-turns-your-iphone-into-a-satellite-phone/)

[sheerluck]

Nifty but not exactly a budget option at $500.

[loanrangie]

Nifty but not exactly a budget option at $500.

Have you priced sat phones ?

[Disco Muppet]

Have you priced sat phones ?

Exactly.
Add to this an iPhone is ten times more user friendly than a satphone.

[sheerluck]

Have you priced sat phones ?

Yes. Cheapest I found was around $800. So buying an iPhone plus the attachment would cost more than a dedicated sat phone, but if you already have the iPhone on contract, then clearly it works out cheaper.

I was just attempting to say that $500 is not "cheap", but there doesn't appear to much in the way of bargains when it comes to sat comms.

[Disco Muppet]

I was just attempting to say that $500 is not "cheap", but there doesn't appear to much in the way of bargains when it comes to sat comms.

Maybe not.
But when you're way out in the boondocks and in a life threatening situation, I doubt the cost is the main thing on your mind.
If I were doing serious remote travel, I'd invest in as many options as I could, i.e HF, sat comms, EPIRB, etc.

[sheerluck]

Maybe not.
But when you're way out in the boondocks and in a life threatening situation, I doubt the cost is the main thing on your mind.
If I were doing serious remote travel, I'd invest in as many options as I could, i.e HF, sat comms, EPIRB, etc.

Can you add 2 yoghurt pots and 1500km of string to that list too? :D

[Disco Muppet]

Can you add 2 yoghurt pots and 1500km of string to that list too? :D


Wouldn't tin cans offer better acoustic qualities?
Flare gun, reeeeeeeeally loud horn.
Actually, how about an EFTPOS machine, when you want to be found simply swipe the plastic and wait for the credit card bill to arrive.
Those bastards will find you anywhere to get their money :D

[mikehzz]

A blanket, matches and some sticks works well providing everyone knows smoke signals?

[sheerluck]

Wouldn't tin cans offer better acoustic qualities?
Flare gun, reeeeeeeeally loud horn.
Actually, how about an EFTPOS machine, when you want to be found simply swipe the plastic and wait for the credit card bill to arrive.
Those bastards will find you anywhere to get their money :D

Or get yourself on the mailing list for the Jehovah's Witnesses. They.....will.....find......you

[Tombie]

We have a Satphone for work.

It's now left in the draw in the office as they are ****ing useless!

[Tombie]

**** my duck....

How did we ever ever survive without all this high tech to keep us safe?

What a load of horse ****...

[Disco Muppet]

**** my duck....


I'd rather not if it's all the same.
Not really my thing :angel:

[TerryO]

We have a Satphone for work.

It's now left in the draw in the office as they are ****ing useless!


Why as you say are they useless?

[Tombie]

It's been our (several of us have them) experience that when we've needed them they either:

Can't see any birds
Can't maintain signal even if they can
Massive latency
Drop outs
Or it's stormy and they just can't handle it.

The number of failed calls far outweighs the number of successful ones.

I know if you go to the trouble of the external antenna, etc you can do a lot better.

We just switched to timing & notifications. (Going to xyx, will check in at 123).

After all, if you suffer a heart attack, stroke or bleeding out. When you're remote its likely you're dead anyway.

[Utemad]

I know if you go to the trouble of the external antenna, etc you can do a lot better.

Not in my experience. The car kits are no better for reception. Still have drop outs and dead spots even in open areas.

Car kits are good to be able to leave the phone set up so you don't have to prep the phone if you are expecting a call.

They are also good if it is rainy, windy or hot etc outside as you can stay in the car. Although you can get magnetic roof antennas too to do that much cheaper. Your phone probably comes with one. Ours do.

In our cars you can't actually drive and use the sat phone either. As the caller can't hear you when in motion. Same thing in all our cars so I assume it is normal.

Our work just bought a couple of those Spot transmitter devices so the office can track us without call ins. Especially since I usually forget to call in.
Haven't properly used them yet though so no idea how good they are.

[JDNSW]

**** my duck....

How did we ever ever survive without all this high tech to keep us safe?

What a load of horse ****...

I have to agree. I drove all over Australia starting fifty years ago, including two years in the middle of the Simpson Desert, without any of this equipment. Some of the time had an outpost radio, but mostly nothing. (Not to mention extensive coastal cruising with no radio)

And today is far more civilised than it was then - a lot more people travelling about too.

Today, if I was going into a really remote area (not many of these left in Australia), I would carry an epirb, but that is it. Just make sure someone knows where you are going, stick to your plan, and the risk is insignificant compared to other risks most of us take daily.

John

[mikehzz]

I was having a chuckle on another site the other day after the subject of emergency comms came up for travelling on the tar up the centre. A few said that they wanted to be totally self sufficient and so carry HF radio AND satphone AND epirb....They must have a different definition of self sufficient than I do. :)

[stallie]

I would certainly buy an iridium version of this.

I've used Iridiums (Iridia?) all over the world - on ground and in flight - and certainly had no significant problems. The odd call drop out or not connecting but 30 seconds later all good. For travelling, at $1 per minute, its cheaper than roaming especially in some out of the way countries I might find myself in at short notice.

I took a satphone on our Gregory / Kimberley trip last year where we were by ourselves with a 1,3 and 5 year old child. Would have done the same without it - but had access to one with yearly credit expiring soon so silly not to take it. Still didn't use it.

[turps]

Maybe not.
But when you're way out in the boondocks and in a life threatening situation, I doubt the cost is the main thing on your mind.
If I were doing serious remote travel, I'd invest in as many options as I could, i.e HF, sat comms, EPIRB, etc.

You don't need any of that expensive stuff. Just a deck of cards and a bottle of water.
Deck of cards to play solitaire. Someone will tell you to put the 7 on the 8 quick smart.
Water to drink so you need a wee. As guaranteed as soon as you pull it out for a wiz. A car will drive by.

[Rok_Dr]

Getting back to the original post it looks like a neat idea, particularly when they get a data plan. Still as it is model specific you may have to chuck it as well when you get a new phone down the track. Planned obsolescence :mad::mad:

From the map Thuraya have really increased their global coverage compared to when I used them in Niger in 2008. Pity coverage over South Africa is not complete, but then they have a pretty good mobile network there.

I have to give a thumbs up for sat phones. No better or worse than a normal mobile, but streets ahead of an Hf radio in summer and poor reception.

Cheers

Steve

[Bushy049]

Had a few sat phones through work over the years never thought much of them, had far more success with the hf radio and radtell just always seemed to work when needed, but you gotta have a good understanding of frequencies day night ext. Did always wonder how the missus would go with it in an emergency

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[Bushy049]

Back on topic though cool little device the Android version is available too, could save your life or someone else's

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