Satphones in the Simpson Desert.

Submitted: Friday, Aug 18, 2017 at 13:08
ThreadID: 135419 Views:3871 Replies:6 FollowUps:4
This Thread has been Archived
Friend of mine just completed a trip into the Simpson Desert.
While away the had an INMARSAT Satphone with them to cover their needs etc.
They visited the Geocentre as well as a few other places.
While in the Desert proper, they found the phone had no coverage....
Just wondering if this has happened to anyone else?
Robert
105 Cruiser with a Mk2 Canning Tvan pushing.
VK3PPC Amateur.
VZU641 Outpost unassigned HF.

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Position  Send Message

Back Expand Un-Read 0 Moderator

Reply By: Member - Michael P (QLD) - Friday, Aug 18, 2017 at 14:30

Friday, Aug 18, 2017 at 14:30
Robert Hi, Having used My Inmarsat Pro. in most parts of Oz including The Simpson on numerous occasions, I would think that there would be a fault with Your Friends phone.
There is only one other reason that I can think of ??
I tried to use mine a few weeks back at Finke to no avail & thought that there was a fault. Yep there was! put the number in wrong.
Mike.
AnswerID: 613164

Reply By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Friday, Aug 18, 2017 at 15:29

Friday, Aug 18, 2017 at 15:29
.
Robert, Did the phone work anywhere else?
Cheers
Allan

Member
My Profile  My Blog  My Position  Send Message

AnswerID: 613169

Follow Up By: Member - 105Tvan - Friday, Aug 18, 2017 at 18:17

Friday, Aug 18, 2017 at 18:17
I took the person at face value with what they told me.
Not sure whether they just chucked the phone back in the box and said nasty things or not.
I'll ask in the next few days.

Cheers.73's
Robert
Robert
105 Cruiser with a Mk2 Canning Tvan pushing.
VK3PPC Amateur.
VZU641 Outpost unassigned HF.

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Position  Send Message

1
FollowupID: 883559

Reply By: wombat100 - Friday, Aug 18, 2017 at 16:23

Friday, Aug 18, 2017 at 16:23
have had no issues with the INMARSAT SatPhone all over Oz- including Simpson, Anne Beadell, Canning, Cape York etc !!
AnswerID: 613172

Reply By: Member - 105Tvan - Friday, Aug 18, 2017 at 18:19

Friday, Aug 18, 2017 at 18:19
Thanks for the feedback folks.
Robert
105 Cruiser with a Mk2 Canning Tvan pushing.
VK3PPC Amateur.
VZU641 Outpost unassigned HF.

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Position  Send Message

AnswerID: 613175

Reply By: Sigmund - Saturday, Aug 19, 2017 at 04:43

Saturday, Aug 19, 2017 at 04:43
Yes. The phone was faulty.
It had worked poorly before a firmware update and then not at all.
AnswerID: 613180

Follow Up By: Michael H9 - Saturday, Aug 19, 2017 at 05:38

Saturday, Aug 19, 2017 at 05:38
A timely reminder to test your gear and your ability to use it before you get remote? I remember my first attempt to use my isatphone pro, it took me 45 minutes of stuffing around to get a call out. Lucky it was a test and wasn't an emergency.
0
FollowupID: 883563

Reply By: Member - Howard (ACT) - Tuesday, Aug 29, 2017 at 17:02

Tuesday, Aug 29, 2017 at 17:02
sounds like the firmware update was not done correctly/diddnt work correctly
I know there was a recent upgrade considered mandatory for those who had much earlier versions loaded and recommended for those who had more recent versions on the isatphone pro and mandatory on the newer model hanset
I has an issue earlier this year when I did a test prior to a trip and had to update to get things going.
I had only ever previously had 1 update done since buying the isatphone pro when they first came out
unfortunately my annual trip for the simpson desert bike race came to an abrupt end last week when I suffered a heart attack and instead of a week in the desert at the end of september I will be recovering from open heart surgery.
cheers
howard
Resigned to Retirement

Member
My Profile  Send Message

AnswerID: 613376

Follow Up By: Member - Andrew & Jen - Tuesday, Aug 29, 2017 at 17:18

Tuesday, Aug 29, 2017 at 17:18
Yikes! Not the best place to have an incident like that
All the best for a speedy recovery
And yes, I agree with your analysis
Cheers
A & J
0
FollowupID: 883833

Follow Up By: Bob Y. - Qld - Tuesday, Aug 29, 2017 at 18:48

Tuesday, Aug 29, 2017 at 18:48
Not good news, Howard.

Take it steady for a while & you'll be back in the desert next year.

Bob

Seen it all, Done it all.
Can't remember most of it.

Lifetime Member
My Profile  My Blog  My Position  Send Message

0
FollowupID: 883840

Sponsored Links