Sat Phones

Coolbreeze · Post by **Coolbreeze** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 4:32 pm

What kind of Sat phones are you guys using? I've tried the Globalstar and the Motorola Iridium and they blow up at altitude. Any suggestions or systems to have reliable coverage?

Thanks

gapper · Post by **gapper** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 7:18 pm

My experience with globalstars north of "60" is, they are about as useless as tits on a tin rooster. The iridium are more cumbersume but at least they work.

kingeddie · Post by **kingeddie** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 8:40 pm

We have the Gstars in our aircraft any they were fantastic (even worked inside of a tent) . The degradation in service timed almost to the day with the US invasion of Iraq . Apparently a large part of the constelation was assigned to ensure US troop coverage . The system is now brutal at best when in the aircraft at least . Try smoke signals

Dust Devil · Post by **Dust Devil** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 9:28 pm

gapper wrote:My experience with globalstars north of "60" is, they are about as useless as tits on a tin rooster. The iridium are more cumbersume but at least they work.

We had a globalstar in pond inlet. Pretty much a paperweight.

ScudRunner · Post by **ScudRunner** » Sat Feb 10, 2007 11:55 pm

Global Star = New Chock.

Iridium would never loose a call just fade for a bit, thats about it. I heard it has to do with Iridum orbits are Polar while Global star are are laterally.

My experiance is all North of 60 not sure about down south.

Frostbite · Post by **Frostbite** » Sun Feb 11, 2007 7:13 am

Used an Iridium @ 78N sounded better than my cell phone in YYZ.

VSF · Post by **VSF** » Sun Feb 11, 2007 9:11 am

i've used Iridium a whole bunch. up north, on the equator, east and western hemispheres...

seems to be pretty reliable no matter where you are. every so often you'll have trouble connecting, but waiting 2-3 minutes usually solves that problem.

i've also had a call fade out for about 10 seconds, and then come right back.

beyond that, pretty decent sound quality, and signal.

Coolbreeze · Post by **Coolbreeze** » Sun Feb 11, 2007 12:04 pm

All my flying is around the 60. With the Iridium, the person on the other end can not hear me, and I can sometimes hear them. Just to clarify....Are you actually using it in flight? Do you guys have a different mic of something for it?

chipmunk · Post by **chipmunk** » Sun Feb 11, 2007 12:17 pm

We used the Iridium ones, wired directly into Com 3 or Com 4 - it comes across sounding 5x5 most of the time. Always use it in flight, but haven't had any experience using it above about FL140... works great low level though!

Dust Devil · Post by **Dust Devil** » Sun Feb 11, 2007 12:33 pm

Who carries the Iridium phones? Anyone know any dealers in Saskatchewan or Alberta?

VSF · Post by **VSF** » Sun Feb 11, 2007 12:35 pm

yup, we are using it in flight. on a regular basis.
its wired into the intercom.

impress · Post by **impress** » Sun Feb 11, 2007 1:49 pm

iridium all the way, wired into audio panel. with external antenna. Tried direct comparison for a week in the aircraft with G-Star and Iridium, no comparison. G-star could not keep up in flight.

Frostbite · Post by **Frostbite** » Sun Feb 11, 2007 3:06 pm

Coolbreeze wrote:All my flying is around the 60. With the Iridium, the person on the other end can not hear me, and I can sometimes hear them. Just to clarify....Are you actually using it in flight? Do you guys have a different mic of something for it?

If you are trying to use it inflight, use the external earpeice that came with the unit, tuck the mic portion into the earphone of your headset. works ok with the intercoms side tone. Sure would be nice to have the thing wired into to the intercom though.

Coolbreeze · Post by **Coolbreeze** » Sun Feb 11, 2007 8:00 pm

How does it wire into the intercomm? Did you have to buy some adapter? or did it come with it? Any links to find out more about wiring? The dealer I got it from just gave me the phone and wall charger. Is everyone running the 9500 or 9505 handset?

Beaver Driver · Post by **Beaver Driver** » Sun Feb 11, 2007 8:38 pm

I was talking to some globelstar people at a trade show, and asked why their system sucked. She said they had been doing some system upgrades, and now have more Satellites up, with even more coming next year.

Also they have a new, more powerful, phone coming out soon.

I know it could all be sales B.S. Any thoughts?

1000 HP · Post by **1000 HP** » Sun Feb 11, 2007 11:30 pm

Used Globalstar last summer. Felt like chucking it in the lake mostly.. I was flying as far north as 66 degrees. Worked better near Hudson Bay but horrible north of Fort Smith. I felt like Mr. Bean doing weird contortions on the top of the airplane trying to keep the signal

quickflight · Post by **quickflight** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 12:59 pm

We use both. To use as handheld you might aswell use tin cans and string. Ours are aircraft mounted and they work great that way.

impress · Post by **impress** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 5:15 pm

How does it wire into the intercomm? Did you have to buy some adapter? or did it come with it?

9505A wired into a cabinet with audio panel, LSTC for aircraft installation.
not as expensive as you would think though. Find a Avionics shop who has connection with a DAR. Maybe you could get away with Major Mod form and use AC43-13? not too sure, just ask your PMI.

impress · Post by **impress** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 5:18 pm

forgot to answer the question, the way it hooks up to the audio panel is through the headset connection on the phone, then through a remote PTT switch.

klimman123 · Post by **klimman123** » Mon Feb 12, 2007 10:49 pm

I came acrross an service letter from Global Star last spring. It stated they were "downgrading" their service for polar regions. So kinda makes sense that north of 60 that they suck a$$. From my experience they have very unreliable service.

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