Newsgroup: it.tlc.gestori
Titolo: using satellite phones


groups.yahoo.com
.
interesting... this is so obvious that I couldn't imagine it! :)
--
Andrea de Florence, 
www.windworld.org
 Staff
- Prepaid sim cards of the "Entire World" -> 
www.prepaidgsm.tk
- ISCF online: 
www.iscf.info
 ; UMTS in Italy -> 
www.mondo3.com

 understand a lot of things :P
Andrea,
I have sent you some information via e-mail at your @
andreadeflorence.tk
address.
--
Donald Newcomb
DRNewcomb (at) attglobal (dot) net
Remove 'NOT' from address to  reply

address.
can u forward me at andtrap (at) 
smn.sm
, too? Thanks
--
Andrea de Florence, 
www.windworld.org
 Staff
- Il mondo delle Prepagate GSM mondiali -> 
www.prepaidgsm.tk
- Ferma Wind e il cartello sul roaming int.le! -> 
www.wind-roaming.tk
- Tifa Florentia Viola e segui i veri tifosi di ISCF -> 
www.iscf.info
 

can u forward me at andtrap (at) 
smn.sm
, too? Thanks
Let us know! :^)
-- 
D I E G O

 Let us know! :^)
If this is of general interest, I'll just post it:
There are 5 mobile voice satellite operators:
1. INMRSAT: 
www.inmarsat.com
 Oldest service. 4 geostationary satellites
cover all earth except poles. terminals as small as a briefcase. Data rates
up to 56 kbps. Terminal must be set up and pointed at satellite.
2. Iridium: 
www.iridium.com
 Small handsets. Global coverage, including
poles. OK voice quality, slow data speed.
3. Globalstar: 
www.globalstar.com
 Small handsets. Good CDMA voice quality.
Satellites cover all globe except poles. System is dependent on regional
groundstations. Each groundstation is an independent operator. When you go
to a different region you may have to pay expensive roaming rates. No
coverage in some areas (e.g. S. Pacific, S. Indian Ocean). Some regional
operators (e.g. Elsacom [IT]) roam with some GSM operators.
4. Thuraya: 
www.thuraya.com
  Small handsets. One big satellite over horn of
Africa. Covers Europe, N. Africa, Mid-East & India.  Roams some GSM
operators. A good choice as long as you are in coverage area.
5. ACeS: Check GSMWorld under "Satellite" for websites. One big satellite.
Similar to Thuraya but can't use same handsets. Covers East Asia & India.
Good choice in that area.


There are 5 mobile voice satellite operators:
Thank u very much for the post and... for the mail too :) But we need
to know direct experiences! Did you use a satellite phone? Let me know
:P
--
Andrea de Florence, 
www.windworld.org
 Staff


 to know direct experiences! Did you use a satellite phone? Let me know
My personal experience is with INMARSAT and Iridium. I use the
INMARSAT units on ships and I own a personal Iridium handset. I have
no personal experience with Globalstar, Thuraya or ACeS.
I've used INMARSAT for 17 years or so; beginning with INMARSAT A and
later B, C and Mini-M. The A & B units all large with big stabalized,
mast-mounted antennas. I've "played with" a Nera Saturn-B in a
suitcase with wheels and a flat-pannel antenna. I've seen small "B"
units (briefcase size) with folding flat-panel antennas. All the A & B
units have to be set up and pointed at the satellite. The C and Mini-M
have smaller antennas, I'm not sure if they are directional or not.
I have a Kyocera Iridium phone. This is adequate in most cases. Sound
quality is OK. The new Motorola 9505 is much better, if you have about
US$1500 to spend. You must have a very clear view of the sky. You must
be out in the open. If the satellite moves behind any obstruction you
can lose signal. Since Iridium gives me service almost everywhere,
I've had no reason to try out other systems.
You can probably get more first-hand experiences on the satphone list
on 
groups.yahoo.com
 or on the Mobile Satellite Users Assn website
(
www.msua.org
).


(
www.msua.org
).
thanks a lot..... but if you have to tell me more, i stay tuned :P
--
Andrea de Florence, 
www.windworld.org
 Staff


 ok, i understood... but do u have a sim card in your kyocera phone?
Yes. The Iridium system is strongly modeled after GSM. You have a
GSM-type SIM. The GSM "hash" codes (e.g. *21#) work with Iridium. The
original Iridium system had roaming agreements with GSM systems.
However, when the system came out of bankrupcy, it was stripped down
to focus strictly on satellite communications. All the roaming
agreements turned to dust.
You can put your Iridium SIM in a GSM phone and vice versa; but even
though the SIMs function in the phones, they are look like any other
SIM from a non-roaming carrier. You can't make calls with the SIMs.
Iridium has no "112" emergency number, so you can't even make an
emergency call on Iridium without an active Iridium SIM.
Thuraya, ACeS and GlobalStar support some roaming with some GSM
operators. In the case of GlobalStar it depends on exactly  which
regional ground station you are using. I have heard for instance, that
some GSM SIMs will roam on GlobalStar in Italy but not in Spain. Spain
is covered by a different ground station.
