How Can I Protect My Satellite Phone From Being Damaged?

Hi. My name is John Whitley and I’m the founder of RentASatPhone.com.au,  Australia’s number one satellite communications Rental store.

In this article I want to answer two of the most common questions I get from anyone looking into satellite phones in Australia, “How can I protect my satellite phone from being damaged?” and “Can I insure my satellite phone?”

As far as protecting your investment, well, the number one choice for thousands of Australians is a Pelican case.

A Pelican case is a shockproof, dustproof, waterproof case for your satellite phone and other accessories. Once the lid is shut it offers outstanding protection.

It’s common for us to see satellite phones come back that haven’t been protected by a Pelican case. These phones have been placed, for example, on the passenger seat of a vehicle that has had to stop suddenly.

You can easily imagine the sight of the phone going through the air, hitting the dashboard and landing THUMP! on the floor.

Well, that’s just one reason for you to invest in a Pelican case. Others include the incredible amount of red dust we encounter in Australia. Keeping that out of anything electronic has to be a great idea.

If you’re using your satellite phone anywhere near water then protecting it against everything from incidental splashes to the “Oops, it’s gone overboard” scenario is another smart move.

At RentASatPhone.com.au we cater for all Pelican products and can offer a complete range of cases to suit your needs.

Go to http://www.rentasatphone.com.au/Pricing/Accessories/Pelican-Case-accessories and have a look at some of the ways we can help you protect your investment.

As for insurance, as far as I know there are no companies that will insure your satellite phone on its own. This is because the usual use and location for satellite phones don’t make them a worthwhile insurance prospect. It is well worth discussing this with your business or personal home insurance company, however, as they will often insure it within those policies.

I trust you found this information useful. If you’d like to know anything more about satellite phones and how to keep them functioning for years to come, please contact us.

We’ll be happy to help you.

See our website for more free advice and to learn all you need to know about satellite phones.

Visit www.RentASatPhone.com.au or call us on 1300 851 591.

How Can I get Satellite Phone Coverage When I Am Offshore and Out at Sea?

Hi. My name is John Whitley and I’m the founder of RentASatPhone.com.au,  Australia’s number one online rental satellite communications store.

In this article I want to answer one of the most common questions I get from anyone looking into satellite phones in Australia, “How can I get satellite phone coverage when I am offshore and out at sea”?

Great question. The answer is that not all satellite networks can be used more than 200NM off the coast of Australia. The real answer is get a satellite phone network that has worldwide coverage. In our opinion that is the Iridium network.

The Iridium network is the world’s only truly global satellite phone network and has been servicing the maritime industry for over twelve years. Whether it is an 18ft sailing yacht or a full blown tanker, Iridium is the one they trust.

Another maritime question I’ve received is, “I have a 30ft yacht and am travelling down the coast of Australia and I want to download my weather maps daily and use the satellite phone in emergencies. How can I do that from the comfort of my cabin?”

We have two simple answers.

Firstly, the Iridium 9555 or the Iridium 9505a will do the trick. But with the slow demise of the 9505a let’s concentrate our review on the latest hardware from Iridium - the 9555 handset.

The best and cheapest way to get telephone communications out at sea is by using an Iridium 9555 handset directly off the back of your boat or vessel. Simply turn it on, pull the aerial up and within 20secs you can be talking to Mum.

The second answer is how to do that when you’re under cover.

It’s done by buying a fixed mount, heavy duty, magnetic mount antenna at around A$250. The antenna is mounted above, on deck, and the satellite phone used below deck by attaching the antenna to it with an extension cable. A 2m-4m cable is enough for most vessels.

And that’s as simple as it gets. Just attach the extension cable to your phone and dial away.

This set-up can be improved by adding one more accessory to give you safety and protection for your satellite phone: a car cradle kit. This allows the satellite phone to stay in the cradle and still be connected. It’s all about finding the right gear to suit your budget and your trip.

Another satellite phone issue when offshore is downloading data, such as weather maps and emails. This is where the new Iridium 9555 stands out and is in a class of it own.

Thank you Iridium and Motorola for coming into the 21st century by supplying a mini-USB cable as standard that connects your phone directly to your laptop.

Connect your phone to your laptop using the mini-USB cable. Dial your phone. It will connect you with the internet so you can download away. Now, although this is not lightning speed, the reality is it’s the cheapest way to solve the problem of getting internet and email capabilities when offshore.

I trust you found this information useful. If you’d like to know anything more about satellite phones and internet equipment please contact us.

We’ll be happy to help you.

See our website for more free advice and to learn all you need to know about satellite mobile phones.

Visit www.RentASatPhone.com.au or call us on 1300 851 591.

Can I Use My Satellite Phone in my Car or Office?

Hi. My name is John Whitley and I’m the founder of RentASatPhone.com.au,  Australia’s number one satellite communications Rental store.

In this article I want to answer one of the most common questions I get from anyone looking into satellite phones in Australia, “Can I use my satellite phone in my car or office”?

At the time of writing, the two networks available in Australia are Thuraya and Iridium. Both options have limitations for mobile satellite phone use while in transit or within buildings.

First let’s understand why. Satellite communications is exactly that: it uses satellites to receive and then distribute the call. That means the satellite phone must have direct line of sight to the sky via either the phone’s aerial or an extension of it.

So, looking at our options, once again we look at the Thuraya satellite phones first.

Both phones are usable while you have direct line of sight to the sky. If that’s interrupted in any way, however, from such things as heavy foliage, tree cover, cliff edges or electrical interference, then you may have difficulty in connecting.

At present Thuraya do not offer a mobile aerial that simply attaches to the satellite phone so as you can use it in a moving vehicle, be it a car or truck or even a train.

This makes their car kit attachment, at an extra average cost of $1,600 plus installation, an expensive extra.

So far we haven’t seen an in-office adapter either which allows indoor use of the satellite network. Hopefully, demand will make these options available soon.

Let’s see what Iridium have to offer.

The Iridium 9555 comes with a number of accessories that allow use in moving vehicles of any type. A standard and included small magnetic-mounted antenna attaches to the phone. You place it through your window and onto your roof, instantly giving you mobile satellite communications in your vehicle.

They also offer a car kit, a bit cheaper than Thuraya’s at closer to $,1350, which offers the security of permanent installation.

We have successfully supplied Iridium’s satellite telephones for cars, trucks, trains, ships, yachts and planes and many other modes of transport.

There are a host of external aerials and extension cables available for all sorts of situations. We can help you find the right one.

I trust you found this information useful. If you’d like to know anything more about satellite phones and how you can use one wherever you go, please contact us.

We’ll be happy to help you.

See our website for more free advice and to learn all you need to know about satellite phones.

Visit www.RentASatPhone.com.au or call us on 1300 851 591.