Satellite Phone Hire in Brissy?

[DRMat]

I've been googling around and checking out hire websites and they all want to charge $800+ to hire one for 2 months which is a bit excessive for something i hope to never even turn on.

Does anyone know of any reasonably priced hire places?

Failing that if I buy a sat phone handset off ebay and keep it charged without a sim card in it can I still ring the emergency 112 number from it?

[Megathumper]

Originally Posted by DRMat

Failing that if I buy a sat phone handset off ebay and keep it charged without a sim card in it can I still ring the emergency 112 number from it?

I did part of that, bought a Motorola 9500 off ebay but put it on the Pivotel Irdium plan at $35pm, $200 connection fee. I am not keen to fork out $35pm ($10 included Sat calls) but the whole point is to have it in case of emergency... If you have an emergency then the cost argument becomes somewhat irrelevant.

You can buy a Globalstar type Sat phone cheaper (Ebay $300?) but you then have to use the Pivotel Globalstar network. Same sort of monthly plan cost but the difference seems to be that Iridium comes up on-line almost immediately, whereas Globalstar can take many minutes to come on-line (apparently up to 30mins) so it was clear choice for me, if I have a problem that requires a Sat Phone I am probably going appreciate being able to summon help sooner rather than later.

[Dr AT]

I bought a motorolla outright new without any plans 3 years ago , I just put my normal telstra next g whateveritis card in when I go on trips and it works fine for ALL calls / recieving sms updates from home etc. You need to have global roaming enabled on the sim card and apparently calls can be very expensive per minute if telecom works out what's going on. You'd have to check out with telstra how expensive per minute and decide if it's cheaper for you to be on a plan (I doubt it)

[Dusty Rhodes]

Hi there.....I'm sure I've seen a Sat phone 4 hire sign at this place as it's in my adv black book ...

http://www.kyle.com.au/

[enookway]

All these mobs hire out sat phones, but their rates and minimum hire period vary quite a bit. Freight costs and bonds are also wildly different. Pays to shop around.

http://www.satellitehire.com.au/pricing.htm
http://www.epirbhire.com.au/sat.htm
http://www.satcomhire.com.au/
http://www.satellitephonehire.com.au/satphone.html
http://www.rentasatphone.com.au/
http://www.ascs.com.au/10%20rental.html
http://ascs.blue-onion.com.au/pricing.php
http://www.epirbhire.com.au/prices.htm
http://www.aus2way.com.au/

Aus2Way in Melbourne were the cheapest over a short duration (less than a week). Just confirm they have sent it a few days before you go

[Nine90]

Originally Posted by DRMat

I've been googling around and checking out hire websites and they all want to charge $800+ to hire one for 2 months which is a bit excessive for something i hope to never even turn on.

Does anyone know of any reasonably priced hire places?

Failing that if I buy a sat phone handset off ebay and keep it charged without a sim card in it can I still ring the emergency 112 number from it?

If you think you'll use one again I'd suggest you consider buying one.

I bought a Thuraya phone 2 years ao with a $200 sim card. I was told that the Sim card was only valid for a year but its still valid 2yrs later.

Phone and sim card was around $1000 all up and now I have it with me when I'm out on the bike, out in the 4x4 and even take it overseas when we're going to remote destinations. Best $1000 insurance policy you can buy.

I dealt with Jackie at this place and she was very helpful.

http://www.satellitephones.com.au/

A good option if you can see yourself needing a Sat phone again in the future.

[OzRob]

Originally Posted by Nine90

If you think you'll use one again I'd suggest you consider buying one.

I bought a Thuraya phone 2 years ao with a $200 sim card. I was told that the Sim card was only valid for a year but its still valid 2yrs later.

Phone and sim card was around $1000 all up and now I have it with me when I'm out on the bike, out in the 4x4 and even take it overseas when we're going to remote destinations. Best $1000 insurance policy you can buy.

I dealt with Jackie at this place and she was very helpful.

http://www.satellitephones.com.au/

A good option if you can see yourself needing a Sat phone again in the future.

Jackie will be selling the new Inmarsat phone late this month $900,
Has pre pay sim which has a two year expiry.
I have pre ordered one and I am eligible for the 85% government subsidy so it will cost me around $135…very cheap insurance.

[DRMat]

Originally Posted by OzRob

Jackie will be selling the new Inmarsat phone late this month $900,
Has pre pay sim which has a two year expiry.
I have pre ordered one and I am eligible for the 85% government subsidy so it will cost me around $135…very cheap insurance.

So before the end of July? Its already late July in my books.

That sounds like a pretty good price compared to how much it costs to rent one for 2 months.

[podge NT]

Originally Posted by DRMat

So before the end of July? Its already late July in my books.

That sounds like a pretty good price compared to how much it costs to rent one for 2 months.

The only reliable sat phone I have come across is the Iridium.With rebate about $1000 I have mine on $30/month plan had it for 6 years and cant fault it.

[OzRob]

Originally Posted by DRMat

So before the end of July? Its already late July in my books.

That sounds like a pretty good price compared to how much it costs to rent one for 2 months.

Inmarsat does not yet have approval from the ACA...so they are hoping that the phone should have approval by the end of July...

[DRMat]

Originally Posted by OzRob

Inmarsat does not yet have approval from the ACA...so they are hoping that the phone should have approval by the end of July...

Spoke to them today and she said they're not going to be available for sale till Dec. :(

Looks like its back to trying to find an iridium handset for cheap.

[hattah79]

Are there any inmates willing to hire their sat phones out to other inmates ?