To find a vehicle test use the pull-down lists below.
On location, hunting for dinosaurs! While waiting for a massive Sauropod to wander across the barren...
Equipment Tests > Satellite Phones
Satellite Phones
In short, satphones are sufficiently different from a normal mobile that someone who hasn't used one before may well not be able to make calls in the stress of an emergency should be situation arise, unless they have practised beforehand. Satphone owners should consider making up a laminated card to keep with the phone should it need to be operated without their assistance, and pre-programming useful numbers into the speeddial.
Beyond voice and text there is data, and it is possible to hook up to the Internet using a satphone. It is expensive, and very slow; anywhere from 2.4kpbs to around 9.6kbps; around 1/50th the speed of modern broadband. Some satphones are dual GSM/satellite, using GSM where available. This will suit people who want just the one unit. Some handsets have GPS facilities, but you'd be better advised to invest in the cheapest bushwalking receiver instead of relying on your satphone to navigate.
Satphone plans take you back to the early days of GSM. There are a limited number of handsets, which are specific to a network. Incoming calls aren't usually charged, but there's usually a flagall, the billing increment is often 20 or 30 seconds, there are activation and cancellation fees and you'll need to buy the handset too. Calling from one satphone network to another is really expensive; some plans are $16/minute!
read on below advertisement
Of course, you don't need to buy as there are many companies who have satphones for hire, and that's a good way to try a few brands for yourself. But be warned, once you've lived with the convenience and security of a satphone you won't be wanting to do without it.
Australian satphone networks
The networks operating in Australia are GlobalStar, Inmarsat, Optus, Telstra, Iridium and Thuraya. Inmarsat is currently repositioning its satellites and are expected to offer more Australian services in early 2009, with a focus on their BGAN data network. This will offer broadband speeds of around 400kpbs, but with a bulky, specialised transceiver. Optus's own network is designed for permanent installations in vehicles or buildings, and they are partnering with Thuraya for the handset market. Telstra's network is a rebadge of Iridium's. GlobalStar are presently experiencing coverage problems and have released a tool to determine the best times to use their system, and they do not cover most of Africa. In short, as of early 2009 the realistic choice for offroader tourers is between Iridium and Thuraya. Iridium has the ability to pass calls between satellites, enabling it to be the only system with truly global coverage and is designed to be failsafe. If you're calling another Iridium phone, your call doesn't even need to go via a basestation, and their handsets are ruggedized. Thuraya has the edge on features and two choices of non-ruggedised handset, but doesn't cover the entire world, notably missing all the Americas, New Zealand and South Africa. Both have minimum costs about the same, and comparing plans is just as difficult as comparing GSM plans.
next page »
Beyond voice and text there is data, and it is possible to hook up to the Internet using a satphone. It is expensive, and very slow; anywhere from 2.4kpbs to around 9.6kbps; around 1/50th the speed of modern broadband. Some satphones are dual GSM/satellite, using GSM where available. This will suit people who want just the one unit. Some handsets have GPS facilities, but you'd be better advised to invest in the cheapest bushwalking receiver instead of relying on your satphone to navigate.
Satphone plans take you back to the early days of GSM. There are a limited number of handsets, which are specific to a network. Incoming calls aren't usually charged, but there's usually a flagall, the billing increment is often 20 or 30 seconds, there are activation and cancellation fees and you'll need to buy the handset too. Calling from one satphone network to another is really expensive; some plans are $16/minute!
read on below advertisement
Of course, you don't need to buy as there are many companies who have satphones for hire, and that's a good way to try a few brands for yourself. But be warned, once you've lived with the convenience and security of a satphone you won't be wanting to do without it.
Australian satphone networks
The networks operating in Australia are GlobalStar, Inmarsat, Optus, Telstra, Iridium and Thuraya. Inmarsat is currently repositioning its satellites and are expected to offer more Australian services in early 2009, with a focus on their BGAN data network. This will offer broadband speeds of around 400kpbs, but with a bulky, specialised transceiver. Optus's own network is designed for permanent installations in vehicles or buildings, and they are partnering with Thuraya for the handset market. Telstra's network is a rebadge of Iridium's. GlobalStar are presently experiencing coverage problems and have released a tool to determine the best times to use their system, and they do not cover most of Africa. In short, as of early 2009 the realistic choice for offroader tourers is between Iridium and Thuraya. Iridium has the ability to pass calls between satellites, enabling it to be the only system with truly global coverage and is designed to be failsafe. If you're calling another Iridium phone, your call doesn't even need to go via a basestation, and their handsets are ruggedized. Thuraya has the edge on features and two choices of non-ruggedised handset, but doesn't cover the entire world, notably missing all the Americas, New Zealand and South Africa. Both have minimum costs about the same, and comparing plans is just as difficult as comparing GSM plans.
next page »
