Phones, Satellites And Understanding

Satellite phones work best when they are used outdoors as they are recommended to be used. The phone to satellite line of sight needs to be clear. Most people would also agree that standing outdoor to use a sat phone is not the most comfortable setting to chat, especially if the elements are not cooperative. Sat phones are also pricey and are not generally recommended for casual conversation. However, being able to use the phone inside is possible.

The inside sat phone option is available with a terminal, if you don't mind the extra cost. Generally this option will start out at around two grand and work its way up to the $7000 range. A fancy stationary terminal that attaches to a vehicle usually costs even more, as much as 18 to 25 thousand. The up side of this extra cost, is that these terminals will also let you send and receive data transmissions.

When we understand the distance of some 20,000 miles above the earth, it might seem strange that phone calls or internet service is possible at all. The Geosynchronous satellites never stray from their orbital pattern to stay in sync with the earth, to make these services possible over a vast area of service coverage. Because of this distance, there are issues like the annoying echos that are experienced with satellite calls as well as the frustrating delays.

As with cell phones and carriers, there is a difference in sat phones and their use of the satellites. The Inmarsat and Thuraya satellite phones use the Geosynchronous satellites and its rotations in sync with the earth to enable their systems to work in this 20,000 mile range. Thuraya phones however, have an extra option of both satellite and GSM phone service. If you really don't want to chat with the delay issue you will want to use the Iridium phone. This is because of the LEO or lower satellites that are being used. They only require a 500 mile signal trip, compared with the other 20,000 mile distances.

If you are wondering why a sat phone is such a big deal, you likely don't need one. There are a great many parts of the world that have easy access to cell towers and terrestrial land lines. Obviously if you live and work with this availability then you definitely don't need to fork over the big bucks for a sat phone. The reason that people need a sat phone is because there are no other options for them. Different satellite phones will have coverage for different area's, though Inmarsat and Iridium phones cover most of the world. It would definitely make sense to be sure that the phone you are considering covers the area where you want to use it. For instance if you are in the North Pole you will not want to get a Inmarsat sat phone.