FastSRT8

Thank you thank you Scott.

I will read through those comments.

Now to find a Canadian retailer to sell me the Imarsat unit. The only have the older model (roadpost.ca). I guess I can purchase the unit from the USA and just by the SIM card and airtime from Canada.

Does it matter where I but the SIM card and prepaid time? Since satellite service is global, would it matter if I bough the SIM and airtime in the US versus Canada?

Error 601

I didn't say "go away" I said much of the spectrum will be refarmed for terrestrial purposes and the existing platforms will be shaken up in that.

This is not abstract thinking, GlobalStar has proposed terrestrial LTE on both their 1.6GHz and 2.4GHz spectrum and is currently before the FCC advocating for expanding Wi-Fi into their 2.4GHz spectrum.

To say that this isn't going to happen is like saying that 850MHz AMPS wouldn't be refarmed. There is still 850MHz cellular service but it is being employed in a much more profitable manner. Dish has already tried to buy spectrum from Inmarsat. Who themselves contemplated terrestrial use of their European spectrum for inflight internet.

Error 601

No, just that the hardware you buy today might not have a long useful life ahead of it. Although I suspect GlobalStar will probably completely go away.

ScottC

Refarming the spectrum currently used by a satellite provider IS the same is "going away". You can't take away their assigned and in-use spectrum and keep them in business at the same time.

What you bring up is currently unused spectrum, which doesn't apply to any of the discussion of equipment we're having here. Sure, some currently unused spectrum might end up in terrestrial LTE, but the systems in use today will not change. The investments made in the equipment are staggering - think every single jet that uses Inmarsat, every cruise ship, small boat with an iSATPHone etc... Nobody will take away the Iridium spectrum and turn it into LTE until the Iridium network gives up and shuts down. And with the launch of Iridium NEXT, they too are not going away.

Don't try and scare people into thinking their investment in a satellite phone is worthless because of theoretical future scenarios. The two systems I recommended (Iridium and Inmarsat) are going to be around for a long time. And you'll notice that I did not recommend Globalstar.

ScottC

I've purchased equipment and minutes/sim cards abroad without any issues.

FastSRT8

Were you able to reload the SIM card over the internet as well? If so, I may look for a retailer in Oregon where its tax free.

FastSRT8

Iridium seems to have a 'local' US number in Arizona where users can call and split the cost of connecting with the satellite phone holder to keep calling in costs low. There is also an online website to send text messages.

Does this exist for Inmarsat?

This would be a huge consideration for my purchase.

Error 601

Of course you can't operate a terrestrial network while concurrently bombarding the same frequency from space. But that also isn't what I said. I said "much of the spectrum will be refarmed for terrestrial purposes"

Also not true.

That is ridiculous, they already are changing.

This is not theoretical and I still didn't say they're going away.

Large contiguous blocks of spectrum are very valuable. Look at the evolution in capacity of the 850mhz band from the FDMA analog days to the present. The same spectrum being used in much the same way today on either WCDMA/HSPA or LTE yields enormous capacity on the same spectrum that once accommodated only a handful of concurrent calls. But, if you go into the Verizon store and try to activate your old StarTAC 7797 you're going to be out of luck.

The same efficiencies can be realized with satellite phones, except there isn't the same demand to be unlocked. It just allows, as GlobalStar proposes to consolidate their MSS traffic. The concession that permits Dish to refarm their newly acquired spectrum is seen to have quadrupled their $3B investment. I don't believe for a second that the Iridium and Inmarsat spectrum is sacrosanct. And again Inmarsat both contemplated terrestrial use of their spectrum, negotiated with Dish and rebanded themselves to accommodate LightSquared.

Every satellite platform has at some point been modernized, refarmed and rebanded what would make MSS different?

I would not as an individual invest in this type of hardware today. That is my opinion and I have explained why. There is no reconciling the amount of spectrum these companies possess with their subscriber bases. What do you recall Phil Falcone's intentions for Inmarsat were?

ScottC

Yeah, go through these people:

http://oodalink.satcollect.com/

FastSRT8

Error,

Are you saying in your opinion, satellite phone services may be reduced for their valuable bandwidths and as such reliability as what we see it today will be negatively impacted?

What are these terrestrial bands you are referring to? Additional cellphone bands I am assuing?

But the single advantage of a satellite based phone over the tradional cellphone is the global anywhere coverage. How does a terrestrial service compete with this?

Error 601

All I am saying is changes to the utilization of the spectrum in question will likely make obsolete much of the subscriber hardware in use today. I as an individual wouldn't invest in it.

It isn't a matter of satellite and terrestrial being in competition, unless you're roaming somewhere ridiculously expensive they aren't. It is a question of just how much spectrum should be allocated to the satellite based service and reaching that point might require hardware changes.

FastSRT8

Ah I get your point.

But then this arguement pretty much applied to all forms of electronic devices.... tape vs CD vs MP3, etc

ScottC

But realistically, how long does a prosumer product like a satellite phone last for? 5 years? Maybe 7? The chance of either Inmarsat or Iridium being out of service in those periods is tiny - hence my trying to put the OP's mind at ease that an investment now will last long enough to get good use out of it.

GadgetFreak

Is it still possible to rent one to try it out where you will be traveling? My wife and I rented one (Iridium) for a trip to Africa. It was fairly reasonably priced as I recall. It might be a goo way to test one.

FastSRT8

Thank you and to all those helping me with this seemingly 'easy' decision!

Those that think buying one is easy, wait til you have to pull the trigger.

I spent some time speaking with a retailer on the phone. It was informative. What he recommended is I wait and try the Iridium GO. He says since pretty much everyone has a smartphone.. and I do, the GO may be what I need.

The go also allows you to use it stand along IF your smartphone happens to be toast. Obviously paired with a smartphone is best but the GO alone is good too.

UGH the decision becomes harder.