Satellite Phones - The Orange Mane

Garcia Bronco · 10-15-2008, 07:37 AM

I am sorry to post this on the main board. I need some help if anyone has any experience with these. I am trying to set something up for FEMA and emergency response in disaster situations with helicopters. It's a cool project and basically I am looking for recommendations. Mods please give me a couple of hours.

theAPAOps5 · 10-15-2008, 07:57 AM

When I was at Centennial and we went to New Orleans to help the airport reopen we had a Satellite Phone. I think we used it only a few times as phone service was restored about halfway into our trip.

They are pretty cool but damn are they expensive.

Meck77 · 10-15-2008, 08:02 AM

Used one while floating down the Amazon to check the Pat vs Broncos score during the AFC Championship game. Worked perfectly but as Apa said they are certainly expensive. Can't recall the brand I used though.

dbfan21 · 10-15-2008, 08:40 AM

I bet Tom Hanks wished he had one while stranded on that island after the FedEx plane crashed. That wouldda come in handy!

Just kidding man...I have nothing of value to add to this subject...or any other matter come to think of it...sigh!

Garcia Bronco · 10-15-2008, 09:21 AM

Well, the idea is that when the hurricane hits all power is gone. In essense, no cell towers. So we have to have sat comm to pilots(sat pagers and mounted sat phones in 25 aircraft), then we need sat communications at mobile command for weather, dispatch, and general communications for billing and such.

Apa,

Do you remember if the company was local?

theAPAOps5 · 10-15-2008, 09:22 AM

I don't think it was a local company. I have an email out to Centennial getting all that information for you. Will PM you with details.

Garcia Bronco · 10-15-2008, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ApaOps5

I don't think it was a local company. I have an email out to Centennial getting all that information for you. Will PM you with details.

You are the man. I will hook you with a beer when I see you.

CBF1 · 10-15-2008, 09:44 AM

Iridium is the most popular brand, We have rented them a few times when going on long range fishing trips. Others include: Inmarset, Globalstar, Inteligy and Thrane and Thrame.

Hope this helps.

Garcia Bronco · 10-15-2008, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CBF1

Iridium is the most popular brand, We have rented them a few times when going on long range fishing trips. Others include: Inmarset, Globalstar, Inteligy and Thrane and Thrame.

Hope this helps.

I found the first 3 you mentioned, but not the last. Thanks!

worm · 10-15-2008, 10:32 AM

After Ivan, Katrina, Gustav and the rest of dem b****es....cell lines were jammed but texts always seemed to go through.

In the dark days immediately following Katrina, texting was all you had.

I just saw a satellite pager\service advertised. That might be a cheaper option if you don't need voice and can get by with satellite alphanumeric communication.

loborugger · 10-15-2008, 11:04 AM

Iridium's are pretty good. Inmarsat is also pretty good. However, the Inmarsat is less popular because the phones tend to be larger. An Iridium is about the size of 90s brick phone. However, I get the general impression that the coverage and quality of Inmarsat cant be beat. Could be wrong.

400HZ · 10-15-2008, 12:54 PM

I know how to repair most individual Iridium models, but I don't know anything about the network. They didn't work that well in Iraq. Possibly because I did a poor job of repairing them. Try and get your employer to hook you up with an extra SIM chip if it's an Iridium because they seem to randomly flush their settings every once in a while.

Garcia Bronco · 10-15-2008, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 400HZ

I know how to repair most individual Iridium models, but I don't know anything about the network. They didn't work that well in Iraq. Possibly because I did a poor job of repairing them. Try and get your employer to hook you up with an extra SIM chip if it's an Iridium because they seem to randomly flush their settings every once in a while.

Interesting. So a spare sim to carry with it?

Eldorado · 10-15-2008, 01:24 PM

Sooooo, now the Mane is a technical consultant for FEMA?

Anybody on the gulf coast starting to get that 'Oh ****' feeling again?

theAPAOps5 · 10-15-2008, 01:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orange&blue

Sooooo, now the Mane is a technical consultant for FEMA?

Anybody on the gulf coast starting to get that 'Oh ****' feeling again?

THat would mean it went away in the first place.

Eldorado · 10-15-2008, 01:44 PM

Ahh. Understood.

Garcia Bronco · 10-15-2008, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orange&blue

Sooooo, now the Mane is a technical consultant for FEMA?

Anybody on the gulf coast starting to get that 'Oh ****' feeling again?

. Not exactly.

loborugger · 10-15-2008, 03:01 PM

Ya know, Garcia, with the 'G' owning Iridium, I am surprised you would even have a choice. I would think you would be told to use Iridium.

10-15-2008, 07:37 AM	#1
Garcia Bronco Hokie since 1993 Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 45,987 Adopt-a-Bronco: Tom Jackson	Satellite Phones I am sorry to post this on the main board. I need some help if anyone has any experience with these. I am trying to set something up for FEMA and emergency response in disaster situations with helicopters. It's a cool project and basically I am looking for recommendations. Mods please give me a couple of hours.

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10-15-2008, 07:57 AM	#2
theAPAOps5 A new beginning! Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Denver Posts: 26,057 Adopt-a-Bronco: Watermock - RIP	When I was at Centennial and we went to New Orleans to help the airport reopen we had a Satellite Phone. I think we used it only a few times as phone service was restored about halfway into our trip. They are pretty cool but damn are they expensive.

10-15-2008, 08:02 AM	#3
Meck77 Ring of Famer Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 16,308	Used one while floating down the Amazon to check the Pat vs Broncos score during the AFC Championship game. Worked perfectly but as Apa said they are certainly expensive. Can't recall the brand I used though.

10-15-2008, 08:40 AM	#4
dbfan21 Broncos Fan in Florida Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Florida Posts: 2,182 Adopt-a-Bronco: Pat Bowlen	I bet Tom Hanks wished he had one while stranded on that island after the FedEx plane crashed. That wouldda come in handy! Just kidding man...I have nothing of value to add to this subject...or any other matter come to think of it...sigh!

10-15-2008, 09:21 AM	#5
Garcia Bronco Hokie since 1993 Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 45,987 Adopt-a-Bronco: Tom Jackson	Well, the idea is that when the hurricane hits all power is gone. In essense, no cell towers. So we have to have sat comm to pilots(sat pagers and mounted sat phones in 25 aircraft), then we need sat communications at mobile command for weather, dispatch, and general communications for billing and such. Apa, Do you remember if the company was local?

10-15-2008, 09:22 AM	#6
theAPAOps5 A new beginning! Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Denver Posts: 26,057 Adopt-a-Bronco: Watermock - RIP	I don't think it was a local company. I have an email out to Centennial getting all that information for you. Will PM you with details.

10-15-2008, 09:44 AM	#8
CBF1 Ring of Famer No avatar is the new avatar Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: SoCal Posts: 14,907 Adopt-a-Bronco: Jack Del rio	Iridium is the most popular brand, We have rented them a few times when going on long range fishing trips. Others include: Inmarset, Globalstar, Inteligy and Thrane and Thrame. Hope this helps.

10-15-2008, 10:32 AM	#10
worm Great moments are born... ...from great opportunity Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 3,947 Adopt-a-Bronco: #20	After Ivan, Katrina, Gustav and the rest of dem b****es....cell lines were jammed but texts always seemed to go through. In the dark days immediately following Katrina, texting was all you had. I just saw a satellite pager\service advertised. That might be a cheaper option if you don't need voice and can get by with satellite alphanumeric communication.

10-15-2008, 11:04 AM	#11
loborugger lost in the ether Did we finally get a FB??? Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: The 'cuse Posts: 5,783 Adopt-a-Bronco: Peyton Hillis	Iridium's are pretty good. Inmarsat is also pretty good. However, the Inmarsat is less popular because the phones tend to be larger. An Iridium is about the size of 90s brick phone. However, I get the general impression that the coverage and quality of Inmarsat cant be beat. Could be wrong.

10-15-2008, 12:54 PM	#12
400HZ Ring of Famer Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 4,342 Adopt-a-Bronco: Ed Hochuli	I know how to repair most individual Iridium models, but I don't know anything about the network. They didn't work that well in Iraq. Possibly because I did a poor job of repairing them. Try and get your employer to hook you up with an extra SIM chip if it's an Iridium because they seem to randomly flush their settings every once in a while.

10-15-2008, 01:24 PM	#14
Eldorado Formerly orange&blue Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 1,779 Adopt-a-Bronco: Ayers	Sooooo, now the Mane is a technical consultant for FEMA? Anybody on the gulf coast starting to get that 'Oh ****' feeling again?

10-15-2008, 01:44 PM	#16
Eldorado Formerly orange&blue Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 1,779 Adopt-a-Bronco: Ayers	Ahh. Understood.

10-15-2008, 03:01 PM	#18
loborugger lost in the ether Did we finally get a FB??? Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: The 'cuse Posts: 5,783 Adopt-a-Bronco: Peyton Hillis	Ya know, Garcia, with the 'G' owning Iridium, I am surprised you would even have a choice. I would think you would be told to use Iridium.