|
|
|
|
|
Iridium
|
 |
|
|
 Iridium
is the only voice-capable communication system that has true global
coverage. Unfortunately, with its 2.4 kb/s data speed, Iridium is slow
compared to Globalstar and Thuraya.
Polar expeditions need not despair however. Even with the slow speed,
when using the Contact software, polar and ocean expeditions have been
able to upload images and even small video clips with Iridium.
Iridium claims the data speed to be up to 10 kb/s but that is only
achieved using compression software, which can also be used with the other
satellite companies.
Iridium is a Low Earth Orbiting (LEO) satellite system. They presently
have 66
satellites (not by coincidence, 66 is the number for Iridium in the
Periodic Table of Elements) polar-orbiting the earth at 780 km, giving true coverage at
any given point on the Earth.
 Because
the satellites are low orbit, there is always the risk of a "shadow"
when climbing mountains. Occasionally they still pop up (and work fine)
in Himalayan expeditions, but the Thuraya system is cheaper and faster
and thus the preferred system by most high-altitude expeditions today.
Iridium phones are instead regularly used by expeditions in Antarctica
and the Arctic.
Iridium has the most simple
pricing system on the market. Call/data cost $1.30 to $1.60. To transmit
data you need a data kit (app. $250) that attaches to the bottom of the
phone. The data kit breaks easily and should be taped to the phone
during expeditions.
There is currently one handset on the market, the 9505. It is
rugged and reliable. If buying a second-hand 9505 or the older 9000
model be sure to check that it is upgraded for data speed.
The new Iridium phones will be able to both
receive and send SMS (short text-messages). Old models can be upgraded for around $80.
Because Iridium satellites are closer to earth than Inmarsat, the voice
delay is small. Iridium is the way to go if you need a simple voice
satellite phone that works all over the world including the high
Arctics.
Coverage and more |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
