Inmarsat Frequently Asked Questions
Can I send SMS text messages?
Yes, you can send and receive SMS messages. For all our satellite phone options.
What number should I dial for emergency services?
000 is the emergency services number that is designated for emergency calls from all telephone networks in Australia. When calling 000, you will be connected to police, fire, or ambulance. If you are travelling overseas and using your phone, you can call the international emergency number 112 wherever there is Iridium coverage.
Can I use my telephone overseas?
The Inmarsat network has full global coverage allowing you to use your phone across the globe, on land or at sea. Your Inmarsat phone will operate at the standard rates within the Australian/New Zealand territory, and outside these areas it will still work however incoming and outgoing calls will be charged at a higher rate. Please note however that the Satellites are located around the Equator so polar regions do not have particularly good coverage
How many Inmarsat satellites are there?
Inmarsat works off 4 Geostationary Satellites based around the equator. However here in Australia you will only ever use the one satellite based on the equator above the NT/QLD boarder. This gives fantastic coverage right across the country.
Can people call me on the satellite phone?
Yes, however please note you need to have the phone switched on and connected to the satellite system for them to be able to call you. If you are just on holiday, we recommend telling people to call you at set times if they need to call. Something like between 6pm and 7pm when you would normally be camped up for the evening having dinner and can have the phone outside connected to the network.
Is it expensive for people to call the satellite phone?
No, All Rent a Satellite Phones are on local number systems so most calls made to the phones will just be a normal mobile call rate. However, as all phone plans are different please note that some users calls may not be included in their free call allowance or might have a small surcharge
How to use the Inmarsat Satellite Phone
How do I make a call with my Inmarsat satellite phone?
Firstly, make sure you are outside away from trees and tall buildings. Rotate the antenna into its open position and point it straight up at the sky. Press and hold the red power/hang up button on the top right of the keypad. You should see the Inmarsat splash screen, followed by 'Searching for network'. To register on the network the phone must first locate its GPS location (this happens automatically) you can track this progress by the red globe in the top right of the screen, once this disappears you are ready to connect to the satellite. Once you have a GPS location and a strong signal showing in the top left of the screen the phone will register and show 'Ready for service'. Once the phone is registered you are ready to dial. .
How do I call a landline or mobile number using an Inmarsat satellite phone?
All Rent A Satellite Phone services are on local number systems so to call a mobile you just dial the number as normal. For landlines you just need to enter the state code and then the number
Sending a text message
To Send a text message go into the Menu and select “Messages” then “New Messages” then “Text Message”. Type your message using the multi touch keypad and once complete select “Options” then “Add recipient” you can then select the recipient from the phone book or manually enter the number. Please Note: when entering the phone number please use full international format for the number so for the mobile 0412 345 678 you would enter the number as +61412345678.
Charging the phone
All phones come with car and wall chargers specific to the handset please note that many mobile chargers do not put out enough power to charge the satellite phones so please use the chargers provided. The charger plugs into the base of the phone however the connection is protected by a little rubber seal.
Sending GPS Location
With the Inmarsat handsets you can view and send your current GPS location. To do so go to Menu – GPS Position – Options – Send GPS fix details. You can add additional text to the message to update them on your status and then enter the recipients details in full international format and press send to update them with your location.
Additional Tips
When you are not using the phone ensure the antenna is stored down to avoid any damage. If you are struggling to get a signal try quickly turning the phone off and on again as the registration process can go into a power saving mode if there's no signal for a little while, restarting the phone can just speed things up. Satellite connections can be tricky, to keep the best voice quality try to avoid moving around while you are on the phone. If the phone is not getting a good signal remember the satellite is located above the NT/QLD border, so ensure there is a clear view in that direction. If the troubles continue the phone has an advanced satellite search which can take a little longer but can fix some glitches that can occur over time. To access it go to Menu – Network Connectivity – Advanced Options – Advanced Satellite Search.