Iridium Sat phone for SHTF?

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

Iridium has only limited number of available, shared, time slots under the footprint of each satellite. If TSHTF in a specific area (Example hurricane Katrina) the system can get congested quickly. PTT alleviates some of the problem that duplex phones would suffer. However we are still talking about less capacity than a county trunked system flying overhead.

Fun fact (not really fun): I was an investor on the first round of Iridium stock. 700 shares. Second half bought cheap while the company was augering in.

Had I done the math on back of a napkin, the cost of the constellation divided by potential airtime at the going rate. I never would have bought the shares to begin with. They only survived because of a sweetheart deal with bankruptcy court. At the time they were not marketing to maritime as not to compete with Inmarsat.

 

[RFI-EMI-GUY]

I often wonder why the SHTF people always worry about being able to talk to someone? Who are they going to talk to and what will they have to say to them?

I read one of those prepper sites and the folks on there will scare you with their ideas. I for one am not joining ranks with any one. Ironically, they will all suddenly turn "communist" wanting my stuff. Also I never join any club that would have me as a member.

Comms for me are:
1) Situational awareness, what is everybody up to and why? Scanner, CB Radio, GMRS/FRS etc. Ham radio for chuckles.
2) Communicate with family while out and about. GMRS and VHF Low Band
3) Local security around the "compound". GMRS/FRS

 

[TAC4]

There are legal radio services: FRS, CB, MURS, as well as radios like the Motorola DTR.

Hams tend to get pissy really quick if they think someone is operating where they shouldn't be. SHTF'ing or not, they will likely make your life difficult.

But if you are going to blow off the FCC and really don't give a crap, might as well do it on the ham bands, at least that way you won't be interfering with public safety/first responders.

But, what SHTF type scenario were you thinking would happen where you'd need to hop on the ham bands?
And it's really not that hard to get a ham license, so no reason to not do it right.

The big one. Global war or a lab mistake (virus) or total grid
failure do to sabotage. Basically when the blades come off the fan. lol Also keep in mind I asked what you guys think it does not necessary mean that's what I would do. So the consensus seems to be passionate about get your license. Fare enough.

 

[bearcatrp]

Any comms will be beneficial in the event of a national SHTF scenario. I prefer to listen for information. But if you do have to key up, make it short and to the point.

 

[TAC4]

My no license post seemed to ruffle some feathers lol Would
you guys have any objections if I operated say 10 meter modded
Any Tone on just the chicken band so I can get the 60 watts for
the range when the SHTF ? On a positive note at least we are kinda back on topic on radios.

 

[mmckenna]

My no license post seemed to ruffle some feathers lol

Didn't ruffle feathers. This isn't a new question, it comes up very often, maybe once a day here.

Would
you guys have any objections if I operated say 10 meter modded
Any Tone on just the chicken band so I can get the 60 watts for
the range when the SHTF ? On a positive note at least we are kinda back on topic on radios.

I view CB as one of many useful tools. If it works for you, go for it.

I also view CB as the 'padded cell of the RF world'. It's a good place for people that can't cooperate with others to tire themselves out. If people like to go play games there, that's a great place to do it. No one will mind, in fact, they'll probably fit in well with all the others.

60 watts ain't going to do much for you. It's more about the antenna. Remember, it's two way radio. Increasing transmitter power output only helps you in one direction. Focus on your antenna and a good receiver if you want things to work well.

 

[jwt873]

If you can wait a year or so. Starlink is in the process of upgrading their satellites for direct to cell coverage. Each one will essentially be a cell tower in the sky. They've partnered with T-Link in the US and Rogers in Canada.

In or around 2025 people will be able to do satellite voice, text, and data using a regular out-of-the-box cell phone. >>> Starlink <<< Last I heard, the service will be added to existing cell plans at no extra cost.

 

[bearcatrp]

If you can wait a year or so. Starlink is in the process of upgrading their satellites for direct to cell coverage. Each one will essentially be a cell tower in the sky. They've partnered with T-Link in the US and Rogers in Canada.

In or around 2025 people will be able to do satellite voice, text, and data using a regular out-of-the-box cell phone. >>> Starlink <<< Last I heard, the service will be added to existing cell plans at no extra cost.

Have heard about that. I suspect the cost would be out of allot of folks reach until the price comes down. Don’t think there will be no extra costs to add to the plan unless they charge by the minute and you’re able to switch over from cell to satellite. Will have to wait and see. But that too can be shut down if the government orders them to.

 

[mmckenna]

But that too can be shut down if the government orders them to.

Or Elon has a hissy fit.

 

[rf_patriot200]

Not quite on the topic of Sat phones, but Possibly a useful app depending on the emergency, would be the Rattlegram app.
I've tried it on Murs and Gmrs and 222mhz. It works well on simplex and theoretically on repeaters, but legality and ethical use would I suppose be up to the user. Baud rate is adjustable and Very quick messages can be sent accurately.

 

[TAC4]

Very interesting app

 

[jazzboypro]

Not quite on the topic of Sat phones, but Possibly a useful app depending on the emergency, would be the Rattlegram app.
I've tried it on Murs and Gmrs and 222mhz. It works well on simplex and theoretically on repeaters, but legality and ethical use would I suppose be up to the user. Baud rate is adjustable and Very quick messages can be sent accurately.

Downloaded the app on my iPad but there is not much in there. You can chose a carrier frequency but that’s about it.

 

[rf_patriot200]

Downloaded the app on my iPad but there is not much in there. You can chose a carrier frequency but that’s about it.

There's more to the app if you play with it. Basically you type a message then transmit the data over a radio to another radio and the app on the second users phone will decode that data, and display the message you sent.

 

[IC-R20]

Unlikely an Internet outage would affect the Iridium network, they have multiple ground stations & device authentication is performed by their own internal network. Iridium is a good option when local terrestrial infrastructure is damaged or destroyed.

You should consider using one of the Iridium Short Burst Data devices instead of the telephone service. They are much more affordable in both equipment and service costs than satellite telephony. Popular options include the Garmin InReach and Zoleo Communicator units:

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Icom also makes some great dedicated handheld 2 way radios that utilize half duplex on the iridium network. It works very well and they do make an external antenna set that lets you use it inside a vehicle. They're much better than the older ones that only worked off the same satellite so you had to be within about 250 miles of each other, the Icoms can utilize the relay network so anywhere on earth with a view of the sky would work. The satellite phones like the 9555 will also work like this as well allowing intranet comms so even if everything did go down on earth you would still be able to use them for a while, at which point you would have bigger issues to worry about then emcomm if you're even still alive (or even want to be at that point).

 

[sempai]

i had the opportunity to use my iPhone's Satellite fail-over and it was pretty nicely done. I designed a GMRS system (channel plan, provisioned identically for the first 20 channels). There are no public access repeaters in Iowa City and i am trying to make a friend in the NW side of town that is willing to let me rack equipment and and an antenna for neighborhood and recreation use,

i've recently acquired some Meshtastic devices to explore that as well. i didn't know there was a bbs server for meshtastic and once i learned that i surrendered and have things being delivered from all over the planet haha. make your own craigslist? make announcements to neighbors? build a new black market is apparently what some people immediately focus on, so i would like to see positive applications that improve people's lives rather than easier ways to score narcotics.

i don't see any reason to buy a satellite phone though.

 

[SCFDCOMM]

With the Iridium service, Iridium satellite phone to Iridium satellite phone calls are handled totally by the constellation. Calls are not sent through a gateway. The constellation has intelligence built into the system where a satellite outbound call goes from the Iridium satellite phone to the Iridium constellation then the call is either sent directly down to the receiving Iridium phone or can be set to other Iridium satellites before being sent down to the receiving Iridium phone. With the Iridium service when making Iridium to Iridium satellite calls the gateway is not utilized.

 

[MUTNAV]

Maybe it would be worth reviewing (on our own), the real, and relatively current SHTF situations that actually occur, like...

Puerto Rico loosing power and everything else for at least 340 days.

The political/economic disaster in Venezuela

The Spring revolution (I think that is what it was called) social disorder situation in
Egypt and parts of the middle east.

and Lebanon.

There are articles written about interviews of the people in the situation, (or were there themselves).

and of course there are some good books (Ragnars Urban survival) etc.. (available free online).

Communications seems to be a small and (by varying degrees) important part in all of these situations.

Personally I think just about everyone on this site has got the technology of communications down pretty well, and should check out possible blind spots.

ie... people that can set up a cross linked repeater easily, but might have a hard time getting clean water or processing a rabbit safely, or keeping a low profile by not cooking meat on a grill when there are very hungry people around.

my 2¢
Thanks
Joel

 

[dkcorlfla]

Look what Helene did to N.C. There are people up there that still do not have cell phone service or much of anything else for that matter. It might have been worth it for people up there to have access to a sat phone. But from what I have seen the money saved by not having sat phone service might have been better spent on a good pair of hiking boots. The boots could have been used to walk back home after anticipating there might be a flood and driving their car a couple of miles to high ground. Then used again to hike to the car if the flood did come. I see this happen over and over down here in Florida. Cars get flooded out and then what do they do? Seems to me an escape plan would be a good idea just in case.

 

[mmckenna]

I look back on my younger years when cellular phones, satellite phones, satellite beacons or other such tools were not a real option.
Yet, somehow we survived.

The "prepper" crowd has somehow convinced many people that the key to survival in any "SHTF" situation is to simply "buy more stuff". That's lead many to believe they can buy their way out of any situation. That's usually not the way it works out. Your brain has to work clearly, and that can be difficult in a traumatic or stressful situation. Making good decisions the first few hours is what matters. In a true disaster, it'll take longer than that for help to arrive.

Satellite phones/beacons/cell phones/ham radio won't fix an overwhelmed brain. Being able to think clearly and make good decisions will. That's not something that can be purchased. If ones brain is fully overwhelmed (and it probably will be for the first few hours), something simple like hitting an SOS button on an InReach may be about the limit of what you can do. Setting up radios, dipole antennas, or even getting a satellite phone/internet device to work might be too much to handle.

I agree, be able to look after yourself, your family and your neighbors for the first few hours/days. A communications tool is good to let others know you are there and in need of help, but in a big disaster, it's going to take a while for emergency responders to catch up. Buying a satellite phone/beacon/Baofeng/whatever isn't a guarantee.

 

[BinaryMode]

Yeah, communications is waaaay down the totem pole when it comes to REAL SHTF survival. What is it again? Water, shelter, food? In that order?

SHTF prepping means you learn how mankind lived during the medieval period and before. Knowing how they made fire, cooked , gathered water, etc. That's the key. Forget about all the technology crap. Heck, you might want to learn how to use human couriers and one time pads... But I digress. When it comes to technology, spend the money on medicine and first aid equipment. Get the book Where There is No Doctor.