Ok, so something I know nothing about ,......I know, rare huh?
what are the different plans and phones that work in Africa
I pulled a Rory and bought a used unlocked Iridium 9505A
thinking all I had to do was buy a sim card preloaded with minutes. But then I look at sim cards, one in particular is 200 minutes globally or 500 minutes if used in a MENA area, now I am not sure what works
I believe I need some guidance, and the lady at the Satellitesuperstore does not seem obligated to help as I "shunned" their high priced service
So if you don't mind helping, I don't mind looking like an idiot

Rory

I buy a SIM card for my iridium at my local sat phone dealer specifically for Africa, they are good for one year once activated. You can buy them in different time increments 100,200 min and so on. Can't recall off the top of my head how much they are. I'm sure there is someone in the know that is aware of different/better options. You might want to consider looking into an Delmore Inreach as well, they are a slick little unit.

quote:

Originally posted by d.unger:
I buy a SIM card for my iridium at my local sat phone dealer specifically for Africa, they are good for one year once activated. You can buy them in different time increments 100,200 min and so on. Can't recall off the top of my head how much they are. I'm sure there is someone in the know that is aware of different/better options. You might want to consider looking into an Delmore Inreach as well, they are a slick little unit.

Might be a bit late for that, unless I want two Sat Phones. Where do you get your SIM cards?

Call Explorer Satellite Communications in Florida and talk with Nina Zabuga
Toll free 866 662 2665 They will give you the sim cards and you can buy minutes 75 minutes is $165.00 I think and only good for 30 days. If you buy more minutes they are good for longer periods. Look them up on line and get their price list, it's long and varied. I just buy 75 minutes for a trip if you want more you can call for them. At the beginning of each call it will tell you how much time remains.
www.explorersatellite.com
nina@explorersatellite.com
Mine has worked well for me hope this helps.

You can rent an Iridium and just pay minutes very easily. You can rent with a nice little Pelican case or if you just happen to have a friend that owns one personally borrow it. I can give you a friend that is a dealer if you'd like that sounds less expensive than you are looking at ( geography or shipping cost on a small pelican case not withstanding)
Iridium is the way to go in Sub Sharan Africa if you've seen their coverage map

Might be a bit late for that, unless I want two Sat Phones. Where do you get your SIM cards?[/QUOTE]

Delmore Inreach is a small device that pairs with your IPhone or other smart phone. It allows you to text and email via satelite. You can buy them at Cabelas, Bass etc.

You should be able to get the Africa specific SIM card from any Iridium dealer. If you want I can dig up the contact info of my local guy but I'm sure it would be the same as any other dealer.

You may want to consider just having continual service. I have a Sat Phone and it costs about $50 per month and is always activated anywhere in the world. The calls end up being about $1.39 per minute. Obviously I use it for Africa, but it is also handy if hunting remote areas in Nevada, Canada, Alaska. My wife takes it with her if she's driving the kids to ski races down at Mammoth or other areas where the cell coverage is not 100%.

I made this decision after almost stepping on a rattlesnake up in northern Washoe County. Getting to the car and getting to where we would have had cell phone reception would have taken about four hours vs careflight in about 45 minutes.

Nina @ explorer is very good at her job. About $300 for 300 minutes of Africa time which expires after one year but can be extended for up to three years if you keep re-charging the card annually for another $300. That is what I do and view it as cheap insurance!

Hi Rory, do you need a Sat Phone? Last year in Zim, the PH, trackers, skinner, scout all were talking and texting. I didn't say anything but found it a real distraction. Guess I better get used to it as they want to allow cell phone use on flights

quote:

Originally posted by DoubleDon:
Hi Rory, do you need a Sat Phone? Last year in Zim, the PH, trackers, skinner, scout all were talking and texting. I didn't say anything but found it a real distraction. Guess I better get used to it as they want to allow cell phone use on flights

Now that is distressing………… thank god I live where the cell phone service is poor on good days. When you go to town it is getting so that you can't have a normal conversation without someone texting or tweeting or whatever the hell else they do now. So many are distracted all the time because of it.

But to the topic…… I don't know why more people who hunt do not get a satellite phone. Iridium works best up here, also last time I checked you can use the hand held units as a cell phone as well in areas with coverage and save sat. minutes.

The irdium African card is perfect. I've bought it many times and it always works. Much Much less expensive than the worldwide card.

quote:

Originally posted by DoubleDon:
Hi Rory, do you need a Sat Phone? Last year in Zim, the PH, trackers, skinner, scout all were talking and texting. I didn't say anything but found it a real distraction. Guess I better get used to it as they want to allow cell phone use on flights

Hi Don, how have you been? Ya, I think I would put a stop to the PH, trackers etc. texting on my dime. Game scout, not much you can do about that except voice your displeasure (read tip, or lack of)

I do want to take a sat phone with me this year. Last time I had to use the PH's a few times to check up on home and did not care to borrow his minutes. Borrowing is not one of my feel good things. Also, there have been a few times here at home going jeeping or hunting where a sat phone would have come in real handy. In addition, I went into the Alaska peninsula with my son a few years ago, self guided, absolutely no way to contact the outside world.
When we finally realized where we were(big ass grizzly bear in camp) and the variety of ways you could fawk up or get fawked up, I decided then and there that I would not go into that type of situation without communications of some sort, especially with one of my kids in tow. So I tried renting Sat phones a couple times and seemed like a big waste of time and money



So, I bought a used un-locked Iridium 9505A from one of the satellite stores and now I need a SIM Card

The month to month plans don't really fit my lifestyle, so I was looking at getting prepaid minutes

To clarify: my original question was about what is termed an emergency minutes plan which gets you 200 global minutes or 500 MENA minutes (mostly Africa areas) and has anyone used this type of SIM card before and would recommend it. The minutes roll over if you re-up prior to your 12 months ending

PS - Don: You planning on an elephant this year? If so and you can go in May PM me and I will send you some details. Tuskless and buffalo should be good and I could meet up with you in Washington