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Satellite phones in deep gorges
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Satellite phones in deep gorges 17 years 6 months ago #18776

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I am looking to rent a satellite phone for a forthcoming trip in the Himalaya (for emergency use only). The rental company have been asking me if I would need a Thuraya phone or an Iridium phone - apparently Thuraya works best in gorges with E-W orientation (their sat is over equator) and Iridium in N-S (their sat is over the poles).

Does anybody have any experience with these things and any useful advice.

Greatly appreciated - Ian

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Re:Satellite phones in deep gorges 17 years 6 months ago #18778

Four years ago we rented the Iridium phone for a trip to Nepal. We had very poor reception most of the time and even in Katmandu were only able to get a signil for 40 to 50 seconds. On our only multi day trip (do to the Moaist) to the Seti Kola we were never able to make a contact.

The worst part was the cost. For several months after returing home I kept getting billings from different Sat. compinies for using their sat's to transfer the calls and \"tax\" billings from contries that had something to do with the signal passing thru their space? Didn't pay any of them.

Also when using it in poor countrys you get quit a bit of looks, not always friendly and the cost of one if you it get ripped off would suck.

Don't know about the Thuraya but this was our experience.

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Re:Satellite phones in deep gorges 17 years 6 months ago #18779

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Thanks Terry that is really useful info. Sounds like the Iridium is a non-starter. Has anybody tried the Thuraya or anything else for that matter?

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Re:Satellite phones in deep gorges 17 years 6 months ago #18780

Hey Ian, where in the Himalaya range are you going? We will be in Bhutan from Jan 5th thur the 18th.

Terry

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Re:Satellite phones in deep gorges 17 years 6 months ago #18781

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Terry - we will be running the Karnali and are out there between Nov. 10-24 - have a great time in Bhutan.

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Re:Satellite phones in deep gorges 17 years 6 months ago #18791

Your dealer is incorrect, Ian. All satellite phones have antennas that need to \"talk to\" a satellite, so if there is any kind of obstruction (a gorge, trees, mountains, skyscrapers), any brand of satellite phone will not work. Iridium phones are the only phones that will work anywhere in the world because its phones operate from the only truly global satellite constellation. Thuraya is a regional player only.

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Re:Satellite phones in deep gorges 17 years 6 months ago #18793

Hi Ian,

I work for Thuraya Satellite Telecoms and would be happy to assist or advise you further. Just for your information, you can visit the below link which is an independent website for the climbing community and as you will no doubt see, the preferred sat solution in this region is the Thuraya network.

You can also find other dealers at this link: www.mounteverest.net/news.php?id=16237

Not sure where you are located but I could direct you to our a full list of dealers.


Kind Regards,


Harvey Ellis
[mail address protected from spambots with javascript]
+971 503490646

Also for your info:
www.thuraya.com/content/thuraya-on-top-of-the-everest.html

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Re:Satellite phones in deep gorges 17 years 6 months ago #18999

I would suggest jumping on some of the sat phone boards out there. A friend of mine had an Iridium phone but it was getting terrible reception. They were supposed to fix it with a new satellite but I don't know if it got sorted out this summer.

Cheers,

David H. Johnston

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