Satelite phone - running costs ?

[ribrage]

Im thinking of buying a satelite phone and wanted to hear from others using them , what are the actual running costs , do you pay for incoming calls in anyway like with mobiles abroad ?

I know i can look on line and find figures, but just like my mobile bill says £40 a month , i use it in numerous countries and wind up with a £200 bill instead, its the un published charges or costs im interested in.

How much do you use it in reality, was it a worth while purchase ?

 

[Jeannius]

Bought my Motorola 9500 Iridium phone 2nd hand on ebay for about 200 GBP, over 10 years ago. Planned on selling it after doing the ARC but decided to keep it 'just in case'. Ended up going around the world and have used it extensively.

Costs about US$1.20 per minute to make calls. No fixed monthly charge, just buy time in 500 minute chunks. Nothing to receive calls or texts. Link it to my pc and get all weather info and emails while out of mobile phone coverage.

One of the best boat purchases I've made (AIS is the other big success) unlike the considerably more expensive SSB which is hardly ever switched on.

 

[temptress]

Free incoming calls - are you sure?

...

Costs about US$1.20 per minute to make calls. No fixed monthly charge, just buy time in 500 minute chunks. Nothing to receive calls or texts. .

I have been looking at this recently and can't find anyone offering 'free' incoming calls. As far as I can see I get charged the same to receive a call as to make it! Free or even reduced costs incoming would make me buy a Irridum tomorrow.

Who provides your Irridum service?

 

[ribrage]

Bought my Motorola 9500 Iridium phone 2nd hand on ebay for about 200 GBP, over 10 years ago. Planned on selling it after doing the ARC but decided to keep it 'just in case'. Ended up going around the world and have used it extensively.

Costs about US$1.20 per minute to make calls. No fixed monthly charge, just buy time in 500 minute chunks. Nothing to receive calls or texts. Link it to my pc and get all weather info and emails while out of mobile phone coverage.

One of the best boat purchases I've made (AIS is the other big success) unlike the considerably more expensive SSB which is hardly ever switched on.

I have been looking on ebay at the options and taking advice on networks, interesting that you get free incoming calls , the other reply here says not free incoming ??

Any defeinitive answers ??

 

[phantomlady]

Definitely no charge for incoming calls on Iridium. The caller pays a fortune though!
Receive texts for free too - with no cost to texter if they send over the internet via the Iridium website.
We have bought two Motorola phones on Ebay. Buy airtime as needed.
Wouldn't go anywhere offshore without our satphone now!

 

[Jeannius]

I have been looking at this recently and can't find anyone offering 'free' incoming calls. As far as I can see I get charged the same to receive a call as to make it! Free or even reduced costs incoming would make me buy a Irridum tomorrow.

Who provides your Irridum service?

I get mine from XSat http://americas.xsatglobal.com/index.php . American company. Definitely no incoming charge to me.

 

[ribrage]

Thanks for that , ill start trawling ebay

 

[Yangosat]

Ribrage,
I am trade, so am keeping this very generic. Anyone wanting further information can PM me. The website is currently under development, and should be live at the end of the month, Rules prohibit me stating it yet, as I cant link back to the forum and YBW as courtesy requires.

There should be no costs for calling you on an Iridium or any other satellite voice system. Calls should always be charged with the originator (the caller). Check out if your provider can supply a 2-stage dialling access, this means you call a number in the US, then enter a code and Iridium number to call. Its a lot cheaper than direct dialling from most landline providers.
A great gadget for those with iPhones/ipads is the Satway app. It will send an sms to an Iridium OR Inmarsat OR Thuraya absolutely free of charge to sender and receiver. If you want very cheap calls between one person onshore and yourself, then both should have an Iridium. Calls Iridium>Iridium are always set at a much lower rate than to a landline.

Call costs will vary depending on where you are calling, and if you are on pay-as-you-go. 500 minute world card for Iridium shouldnt cost more than about 650-700 US$.

If you are just staying on East side of Atlantic/Med, then you could also look at Thuraya. They have a great new iPhone satsleeve, which turns your iPhone into a satellite phone for when required.

Use will depend on if you do any data over a unit. If you are not using compression software to manage the data flow, you will use more airtime units than you need to. Voice is voice, so you tend to pay for what you use, although do check what initial call costs are charged, eg 30 seconds or 1 minute, and the increments after that, eg 30 seconds or 20 seconds.
hope that helps
Cheers
Ewan