Burner phone for 911 backup

[vagrant]

I purchased a new Starlink Mini today for $300. Looks like the $10/month plan is now gone. Thus, in addition to the current higher cost/data options for roaming, they now have a $5/month U.S.D. "standby mode" which is capped around 500 kbps up/down, but the data is unlimited.

I'm fine with 500 kbps as one can make phone calls, email and send text messages using the Starlink "WiFi" to make calls, etc. As for browsing heavily scripted, image, or video web pages...not so much. I'm figuring various Android and iPhone apps may choke as well.

I'm fine with that $5 500kbps cost and speed. From time to time I will bump it to the $50/50Gbps month plan as needed. Natural disasters here are nothing like what KevinC sees, but I will enjoy it when I'm in deep somewhere enjoying my hobbies, or at least having a failover connection at home.

 

[mmckenna]

I purchased a new Starlink Mini today for $300. Looks like the $10/month plan is now gone. Thus, in addition to the current higher cost/data options for roaming, they now have a $5/month U.S.D. "standby mode" which is capped around 500 kbps up/down, but the data is unlimited.

I'm fine with 500 kbps as one can make phone calls, email and send text messages using the Starlink "WiFi" to make calls, etc. As for browsing heavily scripted, image, or video web pages...not so much. I'm figuring various Android and iPhone apps may choke as well.

I'm fine with that $5 500kbps cost and speed. From time to time I will bump it to the $50/50Gbps month plan as needed. Natural disasters here are nothing like what KevinC sees, but I will enjoy it when I'm in deep somewhere enjoying my hobbies, or at least having a failover connection at home.

One of our network architects has that and uses it heavily with a higher bandwidth plan when traveling.
I've got an Iridium satellite phone at work for emergencies, but considering it's now 15+ years old and the 10 minute/month plan is $80, I'm looking at switching over.

 

[vagrant]

@mmckenna - I plan on keeping the $8 Garmin Iridium plan as well. I clip that on to the belt as I venture beyond the vehicle and the button press is simple for others with me at times.

Starlink is looking to offering satellite cellular service on their own, but that’s several years away. Additionally, the Starlink Mini dish can stay outdoors while I am in a structure, or vehicle, and still route packets/phone calls. We both know cellular satellite will not do that. Also, that access will be shared for others with me and their devices.

My hobbies have increased my middle of nowhere travels of late and the current sale on the mini was what I was waiting for. It also opens the door to get some work done while not at home and enjoy the outdoors. A win-win kind of thing.

 

[KK6HRW]

T-Mobile has now announced ‘free text to 911 sevice via satellite for all’. Link is below:

https://www.t-mobile.com/news/network/t-mobile-text-to-911-available-for-everyone

 

[tweiss3]

The asterisk noted "with compatible phone" leaves many still out in the dark. It also doesn't fix the issue that the phones will not use the satellite texting feature when a site is "live" even if it doesn't have a connection to the network.

 

[KevinC]

The asterisk noted "with compatible phone" leaves many still out in the dark. It also doesn't fix the issue that the phones will not use the satellite texting feature when a site is "live" even if it doesn't have a connection to the network.

Thank you for paying attention. That was our issue, full bars but couldn’t make a phone call, text or browse the internet. And no “SOS” since the phone thought it had service. It was a very unusual situation, but it happened none the less.

 

[jeepsandradios]

For those interested the mini is now on sale for $229 each. I picked up my 4th unit this week.

 

[AK9R]

Looked at Starlink's website this morning. Saw no mention of the "standby" plan. Do they still not mention that as an option until you sign up for a regular plan?

 

[jeepsandradios]

Im not sure. I just checked my app and it still shows roam-10g plan for $10 a month per device on my billing page.

 

[madscanner]

It is disappointing that no carrier is offering dirt cheap "vanlife special" plans -- think ~$5/month or less for service consisting exclusively of SMS, voice, and possibly e-mail. This would be perfect for people interested in backup phones that live inside their glove boxes, not to mention actual people living in extreme financial distress.

The voice portion could even be provided in the form of VoIP, to circumvent PSTN fees and taxes on both the subscribers' and carriers' behalves.

 

[mmckenna]

It is disappointing that no carrier is offering dirt cheap "vanlife special" plans -- think ~$5/month or less for service consisting exclusively of SMS, voice, and possibly e-mail. This would be perfect for people interested in backup phones that live inside their glove boxes, not to mention actual people living in extreme financial distress.

Lifeline service fills this role. It's not going to be $5/month, but it is discounted to the point that most can afford it.

The voice portion could even be provided in the form of VoIP, to circumvent PSTN fees and taxes on both the subscribers' and carriers' behalves.

VoIP doesn't get to ignore FCC Tariff regulations or taxes. Yes, people circumvent the rules, but carriers cannot.

 

[madscanner]

Lifeline service fills this role. It's not going to be $5/month, but it is discounted to the point that most can afford it.

I once looked into converting a relative's legacy copper PSTN line over to lifeline service on the logic the line would never be used except for dialing 911 during cellular outages. Suffice it to say, she was vastly overqualified for the service. I would assume the same limitations apply to the cellular lifeline program.

 

[vagrant]

Looked at Starlink's website this morning. Saw no mention of the "standby" plan. Do they still not mention that as an option until you sign up for a regular plan?

After one signs up, there is an option in the settings to switch to the $5 standby plan. That takes effect once the current plan ends. I think it was prorated and cost me $36 before it switched me over. I did this all via the Starlink app.

On the vehicle I use a mount that has four magnets which hold it firmly on the roof. I use additional straps to the base as well, but it didn’t budge at 65 MPH, nor on poorly maintained bumpy roads. I could aim the dish when destinated, but throughput was fine flat.

I just have it flat on the roof with a rubber cover. Works fine and is low profile inline with my roof rack. For power I purchased a three head option via Amazon. While the vehicle power port works fine, or a battery AC/DC device, I initially tested using a Craftsman 5Ah tool battery connected to a Craftsman AC adapter. It ran fine for over three hours and would have gone more, but I switched it over to try other power sources. It pulls around 25 watts.

The 500kbps data rate is fine for me not only for phone/data/text, but for low throughput on a tablet PC for amateur radio stuff. It is easy to switch over to the 50GB plan using the Starlink app and back again.

It will be a few years before Amazon comes out with their ”LEO” service and devices that will compete.

 

[KK6HRW]

The asterisk noted "with compatible phone" leaves many still out in the dark.

Very true. For Apple users, only the iPhone 13 series is eligible for T-Mobile’s “T-Sat” free ‘SOS only’ service.