iridium satphone/ codan uhf

[furianer]

what is your choice for travelling in isolated regions this days, used to carry a good old codan set around with me, but this little motorola iridium satphones sound like a good alternative. :cool:


Richard

[Jamo]

I've got a globalstar satphone in the car for work (full car kit) so I couldn't justify an HF.

I think it's good to carry and EPIRB as an emergency backup anyway. Both satphone and HF can fail you when you need them.

[p38arover]

I assume you mean Codan HF, not UHF :D

Ron

[dmdigital]

I have a Telstra (Iridium) phone and wouldn't swap it. Works just like a mobile and when you are heavily concussed, in shock, lying next to you wrecked Disco it will still call emergency (112) even when blocked. For some reason I didn't enter the PIN number, just kept pressing 112 :eek:

There is nothing wrong with the HF, but a Satphone is easier to explain the use of to everyone in a travel group, and most people can use a mobile.

I have it on the base plan and hardly use it.

Oh and I too also carry an EPIRB (you need to now get the new frequency one)

[Grizzly_Adams]

I prefer HF as it's a "broadcast" system and anyone within cooee can hear you if you make a distress call. Sat phones are great for private conversations though.

As Jamo said above an EPIRB (for emergency) in remote areas is a good idea, it's no good if you roll you're vehicle in the middle of nowhere and your Sat Phone has got damaged as well as you're HF antenna... :eek:

[furianer]

I have a Telstra (Iridium) phone and wouldn't swap it. Works just like a mobile and when you are heavily concussed, in shock, lying next to you wrecked Disco it will still call emergency (112) even when blocked. For some reason I didn't enter the PIN number, just kept pressing 112 :eek:

There is nothing wrong with the HF, but a Satphone is easier to explain the use of to everyone in a travel group, and most people can use a mobile.

I have it on the base plan and hardly use it.

Oh and I too also carry an EPIRB (you need to now get the new frequency one)

Telstra Iridium, what are the cost of buying and operating one, thanks,
would there be any used ones on the market

What on earth is a EPIRB, maybe I have been living in europe for to long, ;)

Richard

[dmdigital]

Telstra Iridium, what are the cost of buying and operating one, thanks,
would there be any used ones on the market

What on earth is a EPIRB, maybe I have been living in europe for to long, ;)

Richard

Up front cost of Phone is about $1995 (I think) on the basic plan of $30/month. There is also an upfront government rebate for remote regions.

I've got a 5yo phone (older model) and I'm still on my $28.50/month plan with a $1 per 30sec call cost. But it is an emergency phone.

Check out Telstra Country Wide (http://telstra.com/countrywide/default.asp'sn=6&vp=5416)

An EPIRB is an Emergency Beacon e.g. http://www.gme.net.au/epirb/mt410.php. They are a must have for remote travel.

[weeds]

i borrowed a sat phone for my simpson trip, it worked well

[dmdigital]

i borrowed a sat phone for my simpson trip, it worked well

:oops2: forgot to mention that option

Not suitable for me as I need it - just in case - for more than just for one trip a month.

[p38arover]

Oh and I too also carry an EPIRB (you need to now get the new frequency one)

So my old EPIRB is no longer usable? And to think I replaced the batteries 5 years ago! :D

Wait....


Analogue 121.5 MHz distress beacons will no longer be detected from February 2009

Ron

[dmdigital]

I think the original plan was for the old EPIRB's to be phased out by 2008 but its been extended. Good thing as I had to buy a new portable one for the car last year and couldn't get the new frequency ones except in the boating sizes at the time. So I get to (hopefully) not use it for 3 years before needing to change over:)

[1103.9TDI]

We use sat phone every day, here with RAMSI in the Solomon Islands, 95% of the time we'd be very lucky to get through..........thats the reason I chose a Codan NVG, at least the missus can use it, and I don't pay any rental, while we're away.

[camel_landy]

I've got a Nera Worldphone and at $1.75 (US) per minute on a pay-as-you-go tarrif, it's actually cheaper to run than some roaming GSM calls. :D

M

[Bush65]

I have a Codan HF and the new type EPIRB, but have taken an interest in sat phones as to their usefullness for remote travel.

The ideal would be to have HF, sat phone and EPIRB.

To avoid the high costs of sat phones, one option for occasional use, if you have a telstra GSM mobile phone, is to buy a Motorala sat phone. Then if you take the sim card from the gsm phone and fit it to the motorala, you can call out and it will be charged as a normal call from the gsm mobile. AFAIK, others wont be able to call you.

Regarding cost of sat phone calls. I heard of one person who had 4 calls from his wife, while he was on the Canning. Their phone bill was over $300 for the 4 calls, because their home phone account was with another provider.

As others have said, there are places/times when you can't get through with sat phones. And the advantages of HF being broadcast should be considered.

[JDNSW]

While satellite surveillance on 121.5 is being phased out, it is worth noting that these beacons predate satellite surveillance anyway - this frequency is the aviation emergency frequency, and all commercial airliners, required to carry two VHF receivers, have one tuned to this unless it is being used for something else. So your chances of being detected are pretty good, although finding you will not be as easy as if a satellite pinpoints the location. So they are not totally useless.

John

[Tusker]

Its hard to beat VKS 737 in the bush - weather reports, reporting skeds etc. HF will be around for a lot longer methinks.

Satphones are the only way to go really for incoming calls. There is a messaging system on VKS 737, but obviously its not as instantaneous or private.

In an emergency? Either will help get out of trouble. Although with a satphone, you need a good list of phone numbers with you to make your own arrangements.

Regards
Max P

[Jamo]

Although with a satphone, you need a good list of phone numbers with you to make your own arrangements.

Regards
Max P

When I was down one rim on the Mereenie Loop Road, I rang 013 (globalstar still uses 013) and asked for the dealer in Alice. No list required!:)

[dmdigital]

I've got a Nera Worldphone and at $1.75 (US) per minute on a pay-as-you-go tarrif, it's actually cheaper to run than some roaming GSM calls. :D

M

Good bit of kit the Nera, bloody expensive in Australia though. Last time I priced one the Codan NGT radio was even a lot cheaper. But then the Nera will work just about anywhere in the world with a view of the sky.

[furianer]

i borrowed a sat phone for my simpson trip, it worked well

Kelvin, where did you borrow that satphone from, would like to hire one for around 7weeks.
What are the rental costs around brisbane

thanks

Richard

[weeds]

Kelvin, where did you borrow that satphone from, would like to hire one for around 7weeks.
What are the rental costs around brisbane

thanks

Richard

rentals were way too expensive for me, i was about to buy a EPIRB probably still will

[furianer]

Thanks Kelvin, maybe i have to track down one of those old codan units again, pitty i sold mine:( . Any places in brisbane you can recomend for hf radios.

How much are the EPIRBs,

thanks,

Richard

[weeds]

i have dropped in on these guys a couple of times at short notice, i'm guessing you could find somewhere a bit better priced, they always have everything in stock and very helpfull

http://www.commex.net.au/

epirb
http://www.gme.net.au/epirb/mt400.php

http://www.outbacker.com.au/epirbs-143.php?PHPSESSID=6a83a54a4ea0f2f294b696e19f4c8f96

[Will]

We have been using a Motorola 9500 for some years now. Purchased second hand from a rental firm. The phone had been used for a maximum of 2.85 hours in its life according to the memory.

We have no plan at all.

Our mobile is with Telstra and is registered for Global Roming so can be used anywhere in the world.

On our trips across the Simpson and in fact anywhere we do not have reception we simply remove the sim card, place in Sat Phone and away we go. Reception whenever we want it.

Call costs are billed on our normal combined home phone account and show up as Sat calls.

It's a great way to travel and the cheapest option I know so that you have all emergencies covered. Can be a bit expensive if your normal number receives lots of SMS and other message bank calls. We simply let our friends know that we will be out in the bush for the next few week and please do not call us, we will call you.

Hope this helps.

[furianer]

thanks Will, sounds quite simple, do telstra prepaid simcards work in a 9500 Motorolla iridium phone as well.

regards

Richard

[Will]

Don't think so - reason is that you are unable to get Global Roaming with pre paid.

[cartm58]

Unlike some recent tourists in Tasmania you dont use a ERIP because your stuck in the mud down some forestry 4wd track