Alright, Charlton Heston didn't exactly bring these ten statements down from Mount Sinai but there are lots of myths and there is plenty of misinformation about satellite phones. This has inspired San Diego-based All Road Communications to produce this list of the 'Top ten things you need to know about satellite phones' to help educate and inform those who may need to rent or buy one in the near future.
Top ten things you need to know about satellite phones
OK, So San Diego, CA is not strictly speaking an emerging market. But as emerging markets are amongst the highest users of satellite phones we simply couldn't resist reprinting this list. It applies wherever you are in the world...
- Satellite phones work when cell phones and land lines do not: When Hurricane Katrina hit the Southern United States last year the cell phone towers went down and the power went out but satellite phones kept working. Satellite phones do not use cell phone towers to communicate and the satellites are not powered by the power grid.
- Satellite phones can work indoors: By itself a satellite phone will only work where you have clear line of sight to the sky, in other words, outdoors. However, if you install a fixed mast antenna on your roof then your satellite phone will work inside your building. Fixed mast antennas cost as little as US$300. The cable to connect them to your satellite phone costs around US$10 per foot.
- Satellite phones can work in your car: For under US$200 you can buy a car antenna and adaptor for an Iridium satellite phone, which will enable you to use you satellite phone while driving.
- Satellite phones are not that expensive: You can buy a Globalstar satellite phone from a certain company in California for as little as US$749, which is less than some high-end cell phones. In addition, the minutes are cheaper than they used to be, often under US$1 a minute, and far less than international roaming rates charged by most cell phone companies.
- Satellite phones do not all work anywhere on earth: Make sure that the sat phone you get will work where you are going. Sat phones do not all work anywhere as some people think. If you want to be safe get an Iridium phone: this will work anywhere on earth with the only exceptions being Poland, North Korea and Cuba. Also note that some countries in the Middle East, like Syria or Oman, tend to confiscate satellite phones on site, so if you must go there then keep a low profile when using your phone.
- Satellite phones are not waterproof: They are neither rugged nor waterproof, so get one wet at your peril. If you are a fisherman or using your phone on your yacht then get a waterproof hard case. Pelican and Sea Horse both make such cases; they will keep your phone dry and even float if lost overboard.
- Satellite phones are smaller than you think: While bigger than a cell phone, sat phones are getting smaller and lighter but generally they still will not fit in your pocket.
- Satellite phones can be bought or rented: Many people only need a satellite phone once or twice a year: in these cases renting would be the way to go. Companies like that one in San Diego rent satellite phones from as little as US$19.49 per week They also rent accessories like solar panels and pelican cases.
- Satellite phones can receive text messages: You can send SMS to satellite phones. It is free to receive text messages on an Iridium or Globalstar phone but sending SMS from a sat phone usually costs around US$0.50 per message.
- Satellite phones can give you internet access: You can rent or buy data kits for Globalstar and Iridium satellite phones, getting around 2.6kb/s on Globalstar and up to 18kb/s on Iridium. These are the kind of speeds you used to get when the net first came around, so don't expect to be surfing image intensive sites or checking out videos, although for email you should be ok. Switch off images in your browser for a less frustrating experience.
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