Satellite Phone Networks Can Democratize Global Communication

Tue, 02/13/2024 - 8:57am

bdhsfz6

15 years

Depends on Cost

Something that isn't mentioned in the article is that Satellite communications are more easily jammed and hacked than terrestrial systems. It could become a wartime security risk.

Right now, for $17/mo., I subscribe to a satellite based (Iridium) texting service with worldwide coverage. I use it as a backup to my smartphone for emergencies.

I might be interested if the price is right.

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Tue, 02/13/2024 - 11:16am

maddog67

14 years

I think

I’ll pass.

--
With God, all things are possible. ——State motto of the Great State of Ohio

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Tue, 02/13/2024 - 12:04pm

John from PA

10 years

Owning a “dumb” flip phone

…the advance in technology doesn’t get me excited. My flip phone costs me $6/month with unlimited texts and calls. I get about a dozen texts a month and I can’t remember the last time I got or made a call. I like the peace and quiet….

I also don’t hold up the guy behind me at the traffic light. When it turns green, I go because I’m not looking at some screen on a phone!

--
John from PA

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Tue, 02/13/2024 - 12:08pm

archae86

14 years

won't be fast--will be "out there"

A little like residential Starlink, the wonder of direct-to-cell Starlink will be having a lifeline in the outback, far from any towers. Your cell antenna is small compared to standard Starlink antennas, so simply physics says the available bandwidth will be smallish.

Think yelling for help somewhere out in the wilds, not streaming Game of Thrones in your living room.

--
personal GPS user since 1992

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Tue, 02/13/2024 - 12:46pm

Jim1348

17 years

Satellite Phone Networks Can Democratize Global Communication

My wife and I are in two different ATV clubs. We get to some very remote areas. Last year, during one of the rides, a UTV lost control and rolled over. We were able to get a 911 call in to the local PSAP, but in a slightly different location, we would not have had coverage.

In that case, we would have had to send others in different directions along the trail until they would have had coverage. Watching TikTok is the furthest thing from my mind out in the woods.

Apple iPhone’s Satellite SOS has some saves, already.

https://www.backpacker.com/news-and-events/news/apple-iphone...