Thread: Remote Travel Emergency Communication

Originally Posted by goingbush

....

if you fall down a mineshaft I doubt any of the above will be of much use.

(All will soon be obsolete with SpaceX starlink.)

And the 'hyperloop' .. if you can't get back out the mineshaft!


(or is it just a standard paved tunnel now .. by the time he gets to build one, it'll just be a normal ground level road automagically paid for as you drive your Tesla )

I am looking at getting a secondhand iridium 9505a and I am wondering what sort of plan I can get that doesn't cost an arm and a leg.
I only intend to use the phone for emergencies and not interested in using it for normal everyday phone calls.
What sort of deals are out there?

I pay Telstra $80/mth for access to the satellite network. I never use it, but it’s there if I never need to.

I had a bit of a look (Google) and saw that Testras cheapest satlite option is $45 a month and Optus can be accessed for $15 a month.
I am hoping that i can use the iridium phone with an optus sim, Is this doable?

Originally Posted by trout1105

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I am hoping that i can use the iridium phone with an optus sim, Is this doable?

No(but not sure what's possible)


I've been looking into satphone comms too over the years, and so far(what I've researched) .. the differing networks are not interoperable.

That is, if you go with a Irridium system to start with, then you can't use that hardware to access Thuraya, or Inmarsat.

Haven't found(or really looked hard enough) if a multi network device exists.
It's not like a mobile system. Or even a navigation system, even tho the premise is similar.

I've really only read up on the big two's networks, Telstra = Irridium, Optus = Thuraya.
Irridium is low orbit(LEO), and technically low latency(less delay). Thuraya is geostationary and hence higher altitude sat network so latency and hence delay time is going to be longer.

Note I have zero personal use experience .. just reading up on which system is better for my intended use at some point in the future.

Also(so far), I've also found that Irridium has had some satellite issues and so there can be network outages near the equator. Don't say exactly where(what latitudes) but I'd say far north Aus could be affected.
if satellite coverage isn't there with LEOs, then obviously drop outs will happen.

So with the above No answer tho .. I have no idea if the device could be hacked or modded to access the Thuraya network, which is what you'd need to do.
One issue I'm now looking at, is that geo stationary systems need more open sky to work reliably.
eg. say you're in some canyon or gorge and clear sky is only a narrow slit between the rocks, your signal is degraded. So with that, I'm looking more at whatever access device is used(more likely a sleeve) .. that while it'll be in car fixed, it also needs to be mobile, which the Optus sat sleeve is.

Arthur

Just to clarify a few things to your point a few posts up
Sat phone lives in water proof case fully charged in centre console

If truck catches on fire I’m grabbing it as I exit

We do multi day lightweight walks up to 5 days away from vehicle
Park vehicle about 5hrs OFF the PDR

I sure as hell take the sat on those walks

PLB offers no extra benefit
If I felt the need to have an EPIRB I would just grab the one from the boat and change the “float plan” online before leaving

S

Originally Posted by trout1105

I am looking at getting a secondhand iridium 9505a and I am wondering what sort of plan I can get that doesn't cost an arm and a leg.
I only intend to use the phone for emergencies and not interested in using it for normal everyday phone calls.
What sort of deals are out there?

You can use the simcard from your ordinary Telstra Post paid mobile in Iridium 95**, so dont need a Satphone plan, Calls are expensive both incoming (caller pays) and outgoing . Sat phone uses your ordinary Telstra Post paid number . Telstra wont tell you about this loophole. I have an unwanted Iridium 9555 if yr interested ( Prepaid Telstra sim wont work)

I dumped my Telstra Postpaid plan ( and stupidly forgot I used the sim in my Iridium) so got onto Thuraya $15.00 plan which is cheaper than the cheapest Telstra Post Paid plans anyway. (but had to buy a Thuraya phone)

IMO For emergency situation you are better off with a Thuraya XT Lite than a Sat sleeve . The phone is cheaper than a sat sleeve , The phone is more robust than a smartphone, you only need to carry the phone itself , rather than carry your smart phone plus a sat sleeve , and you only need to manage one battery.
And Millennials wont know how to use it due to the ancient user interface.