Sat Phone and UHF

[Sunshine Member Find all posts View Profile Close Sunshine]

I bought an Iridium phone, second hand 9555 model for about $300 off ebay and just take the SIM card out of my mobile phone which I have with Telstra. I have used the phone for 3 years now and have never had a problem using is up in the Gulf, in Central Australia and where ever we go. When I get the usual bill for my mobile phone from Telstra each month, you can see the times I have used the Sat phone as it is a call that probably cost $2 or $3 each where everything else is a matter of a few cents.
You don't have to spend large amount of dollars to get a Sat phone and to use it. If your Mobile phone with Telstra has no reception; take the Sim card out and put it in the Sat phone and use that; works every time. We use it to call the family to let them know where we are and that we are fine: there for an emergency too.

D4D above says the same thing..

[Sunshine Member Find all posts View Profile Close Sunshine]

I bought an Iridium phone, second hand 9555 model for about $300 off ebay and just take the SIM card out of my mobile phone which I have with Telstra. I have used the phone for 3 years now and have never had a problem using is up in the Gulf, in Central Australia and where ever we go. When I get the usual bill for my mobile phone from Telstra each month, you can see the times I have used the Sat phone as it is a call that probably cost $2 or $3 each where everything else is a matter of a few cents.
You don't have to spend large amount of dollars to get a Sat phone and to use it. If your Mobile phone with Telstra has no reception; take the Sim card out and put it in the Sat phone and use that; works every time. We use it to call the family to let them know where we are and that we are fine: there for an emergency too.

D4D above says the same thing.

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

Thats interesting, the sim card out of my Telstra phone will not work in the sat phone that is also with telstra, its an Iridium phone 9505A.

Cheers Andrew

[Mark from Brisbane Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Mark from Brisbane]

Thats interesting, the sim card out of my Telstra phone will not work in the sat phone that is also with telstra, its an Iridium phone 9505A.

Cheers Andrew

I too have a 9505A....I have an I-Phone so the SIM card is different BUT my wife has an old fashioned phone so I tried this using hers...won't work (perhaps the newer model 9555 might be the go). The 9505 is however an old model phone (think mine is about 4 or 5 years old, was second hand when I bought it).

As far as air time goes I have found an Iridium Supplier in Victoria that lets me sign up for a casual plan (minimum is 4 months)......$35.00 a month including 10 minutes air time, and then when I return we cancel the plan, it's then charged at $20 a month for the balance of the plan....so say 1 x $35 and 3 x $20...less than $100 per annum to be safe.

If I was going for longer than a month it's $35 a month (each month that you are using it)...calls after the included are about $2 a minute, NOT for talking with the Grandies BUT bloody great to have the backup if I was stuck in the middle of the Simmo!!

Like my American Express Card "wouldn't leave home without one"

[AJ120 Out of control poster! Find all posts View Profile Close AJ120]

I pay $30 a month for my plan, I want permanent access with the phone, we have National parks 30k form our door that I consider to be some of the most remote places in Australia (Sunset, Ngarkat) as you can drive around for days and not see anyone. If we want to go for a day trip or a weekend we know we have the phone if things go bad.

I subsidise my phone by hiring it out to others, just got it back a few weeks ago and the hire for that one trip covered my entire years plan and a few sheckles in the bank to spare.

Cheers Andrew

[vscorsa Member Find all posts View Profile Close vscorsa]

Hi Sunshine,

Is your Sim card the smaller style which fits an Iphone or the large style?

For the others trying their SIM cards you need international roaming activated for it to work, this process is free with telstra.\

Cheers

I bought an Iridium phone, second hand 9555 model for about $300 off ebay and just take the SIM card out of my mobile phone which I have with Telstra. I have used the phone for 3 years now and have never had a problem using is up in the Gulf, in Central Australia and where ever we go. When I get the usual bill for my mobile phone from Telstra each month, you can see the times I have used the Sat phone as it is a call that probably cost $2 or $3 each where everything else is a matter of a few cents.
You don't have to spend large amount of dollars to get a Sat phone and to use it. If your Mobile phone with Telstra has no reception; take the Sim card out and put it in the Sat phone and use that; works every time. We use it to call the family to let them know where we are and that we are fine: there for an emergency too.

D4D above says the same thing.

[Sunshine Member Find all posts View Profile Close Sunshine]

I don't know if my Sim card is the smaller or what it is but it is about 2cm long and 1cm wide and it slots straight into the Sat phone. I use it in my HTC Wildfire Mobile and it fits the Sat phone also. Someone told me that you can use the SIM in both so I tried it first a couple of years ago and have been using it ever since; no need to pay for any extra plans or anything like that.

Also forgot to mention that the phone number doesn't change so you don't have to tell everybody about a different phone number; one for the mobile and a different one for the Sat phone. They do have to put in the full international phone code though to get you. ie +61 + the mobile number less the 0.

[gumboot Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close gumboot]

That was cracking price Brian, they seem to be a good $600+ now on ebay.
Cheers
Robert

I bought an Iridium phone, second hand 9555 model for about $300 off ebay and just take the SIM card out of my mobile phone which I have with Telstra. I have used the phone for 3 years now and have never had a problem using is up in the Gulf, in Central Australia and where ever we go. When I get the usual bill for my mobile phone from Telstra each month, you can see the times I have used the Sat phone as it is a call that probably cost $2 or $3 each where everything else is a matter of a few cents.
You don't have to spend large amount of dollars to get a Sat phone and to use it. If your Mobile phone with Telstra has no reception; take the Sim card out and put it in the Sat phone and use that; works every time. We use it to call the family to let them know where we are and that we are fine: there for an emergency too.

D4D above says the same thing..

[vscorsa Member Find all posts View Profile Close vscorsa]

Thanks for the info, yes that is the larger of the style SIM cards. The new style are about half that size and are used in a lot of the newer model phones. If I go down the iridium path then I am going to have to get pre-paid telstra or something similar with the larger sized card.

Cheers

I don't know if my Sim card is the smaller or what it is but it is about 2cm long and 1cm wide and it slots straight into the Sat phone. I use it in my HTC Wildfire Mobile and it fits the Sat phone also. Someone told me that you can use the SIM in both so I tried it first a couple of years ago and have been using it ever since; no need to pay for any extra plans or anything like that.

Also forgot to mention that the phone number doesn't change so you don't have to tell everybody about a different phone number; one for the mobile and a different one for the Sat phone. They do have to put in the full international phone code though to get you. ie +61 + the mobile number less the 0.

[Sunshine Member Find all posts View Profile Close Sunshine]

Yes the price was good. I watched second hand Sat phones for about 3/4 months on eBay and the same people seemed to be bidding for each 2nd hand phone that came up. Over time each person won an auction and got their phone and I seemed to jag mine as there were hardly any other bidders so got it cheaply. It came with all the gear, chargers etc and also a padded carry bag to protect it and a new new battery. Can't complain about what I got......

Just looked at past sales on eBay and they have been going for between $500 and $600. I got mine about 2 to 3years ago.

[Dreamer Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dreamer]

With the 50% Government subsidy you can get a new Iridium 9555 for $650.

[photoprado Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close photoprado]

Thanks for the info, yes that is the larger of the style SIM cards. The new style are about half that size and are used in a lot of the newer model phones. If I go down the iridium path then I am going to have to get pre-paid telstra or something similar with the larger sized card.

Cheers

Easier to just get a SIM adapter. It's a normal sim sized card that the mini sim fits into. The electronics and contact positions are the same.

[photoprado Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close photoprado]

With the 50% Government subsidy you can get a new Iridium 9555 for $650.

Yes, but don't you also have to get it on a Telstra monthly plan over 2 years? Unless you need it for a business that can expense the costs, it's far cheaper to buy a second hand phone outright and just pay for what you use.