How to Test Your Satellite Phone For Free

TS Andrea 2013

When it comes to hurricane season, being prepared is your best defense. A satellite phone from Iridium or Inmarsat in your home’s emergency kit will help you be prepared for any natural disaster. The early start to the 2013 hurricane season with tropical storm Andrea has many first responders, civilians and businesses checking their hurricane preparations. Backup communications play a vital role when it comes to natural disaster preparedness. It’s that time of year when you should re-familiarize yourself with your emergency communications and satellite terminal.

It is highly recommended that you locate your satellite phone and make sure the terminal is active and functional. Check that all the necessary accessories are accounted for, and fully charge the phone confirming that the battery can hold a charge. You will also want to make sure that the airtime for the terminal is active and you know how to use the phone.

Inmarsat and Iridium have a free service for testing your satellite phone. This free service was designed for customers who may not use their satellite phone regularly – such as first responders and anyone keeping a satellite phone in an emergency kit. By taking a few quick steps to ensure the operational status of your satellite phone, you will be better prepared for a sudden emergency.

Iridium’s FREE Test Call
To test the connectivity of your Iridium satellite phone, make sure you are outside with a clear view of the sky and horizon. Once you have powered the phone on, extended the antenna and registered on the network you can dial the free Iridium test number. Enter 00-1-480-752-5105 then press send. If your phone is working you will hear a recorded confirmation message. This call is free and works for all Iridium units: Iridium 9505A, Iridium 9555 and the Iridium 9575 Extreme.

Inmarsat’s IsatPhone Pro FREE Test call
When testing your IsatPhone Pro satellite phone, make sure you are outside with a clear view of the sky and horizon. Power on the IsatPhone Pro and rotate the antenna so it is pointing toward the sky. Let the phone acquire a GPS and register on the network. Dial the free Inmarsat test number: +870-776-999-999 then press the green send button. You will hear a recording to confirm your phone is working properly.

If your free test call is unsuccessful then you may not have active airtime or service on your satellite phone. Please call a GMPCS representative for assistance with service for your satellite phone at +1-954-973-3100. Our role is to provide communications and support in extreme remote environments and when the terrestrial services fail. GMPCS has a choice of satellite solutions to keep you connected.

Winter Storm Saturn and Vital Communications Via Satellite Phone

This week the winter storm known as Saturn has been covering Chicago and the Midwest with heavy snow. Now the storm makes its way to major cities in the Northeast. D.C. to Boston and the rest of New England are preparing for a cold weekend with windy conditions and wet snow. The forecast for this storm brings many challenges because of the warmer air from the ocean creating a mix of rain and snow. These winter conditions are certain take out power and phone lines.

When natural disasters like winter storm Saturn bear down on us with little warning, we are reminded that it is key to always be prepared. That is why it is important to consider a disaster management kit for your family. A disaster management kit should include: fresh water, canned food, flashlights, batteries, a first aid kit and an electric radio, etc. Another item that is vital for communications between your family and emergency responders is a satellite phone.

Terrestrial phone lines and towers may go down in a winter storm, but a satellite phone will not be affected by this. A satellite phone; such as an Iridium or IsatPhone Pro can allow you to stay connected to emergency responders and distant relatives. Satellite phones provide similar functionality to terrestrial mobile telephones including voice, short messaging service (SMS) and low-bandwidth internet access. Having this connectivity to voice and data via satellite can prove vital for the approaching winter storm.

Take action when it comes to being prepared for a natural disaster. Don’t be caught off guard from a winter storm or end of the season hurricane. Learn more about satellite phones and how they can help keep your family connected in times of an emergency.

If you have any questions about satellite communications please visit GMPCS Personal Communications or call us at 1-888-664-3727

5 Tips to Get The Most From Your IsatPhone Pro

When you purchase an emergency communication device such as a satellite phone it is important to familiarize yourself with the main functions. The user’s guide your satellite phone comes with is a good place to start. However there are a few shortcuts or tricks that you may not know when it comes to your IsatPhone Pro satellite phone. Be sure to read these simple ways you can get more out or your Inmarsat IsatPhone Pro.

Always remember the following satellite phone basics when using your IsatPhone Pro. A handheld satellite phone will not work indoors without the use of an external antenna or a docking station. You must be outside with a clear view of the sky, away from structures and trees for reliable service. Also a satellite phone can only send and receive calls when it is registered on the satellite network. It is important to test your satellite phone before its intended use, while you still have access to a landline phone.

1. Test your IsatPhone Pro for free: Inmarsat has set up a free test phone number that you can call anytime. This will ensure that your phone is active and working properly. Once you have a registered signal on your IsatPhone Pro dial +8707 7699 9999 then press the green call button. When the call is successful you will hear a recorded message from Inmarsat.



2. Check your Prepaid airtime balance: You will need to be registered on the Inmarsat satellite to check your balance. From the main calling screen enter the balance enquiry code of (*106#) then press the green call button. Your current balance and expiry date of your SIM will be shown on the screen. Another way to access this information is via the phone menu: Select Menu > Setting > Prepay > Balance Enquiry. Note that this option only works for Prepaid customers. Monthly Postpaid subscribers will not be able to check their airtime service via this process.



3. Send a free message to an IsatPhone Pro: The easiest method of sending an SMS to the IsatPhone Pro is by using the Inmarsat email-to-text service. Simply send an email to 870xxxxxxxxx@message.inmarsat.com (where 870xxxxxxxxx is the IsatPhone Prp mobile number). You can also use the Inmarsat SMS Portal by clicking here. If the IsatPhone Pro is off at the time you send the message, it will be waiting for delivery at the Inmarsat message center for 7 days. The next time your IsatPhone Pro is registered the message will be sent to the phone.



4. Redial feature: If you press the green call button you can see a list of the previous numbers which you have dialed. Cycle through the numbers with the cursor keys, and when you reach the one you want to call press the green button again to call it.



5. Send a quick alert with your GPS coordinates: To set up and activate a personal alert, on the IsatPhone Pro go to the menu and select Extras > Personal alert > Edit personal alert. Select Configure personal alert, and edit the recipients and the message. Once your IsatPhone Pro is set up for personal alerts the quickest way to send one is to press * and # simultaneously for at least 2 seconds from the main screen. You will see an icon of an envelope and a message confirmation when the alert is sent. This personal alert will send your short message with GPS coordinates and the time and date the alert was triggered on your phone.

We hope that these quick tips will help you get the most from your satellite phone. If you have any questions about these services please visit GMPCS Personal Communications or call us at 1-888-664-6727

Does your IsatPhone Pro have the latest firmware from Inmarsat?

Since the satellite phone debuted in 2009 the IsatPhone Pro has been a market leader in the satellite communication industry.  The IsatPhone Pro satellite telephone from Inmarsat has always featured: near toll-quality voice, voicemail, text and email messaging, with the ability to send your GPS position via either text or e-mail.  To maintain these features and new ones you should check the Firmware version on your IsatPhone Pro handset.

To check your firmware version on your IsatPhone Pro, select: Menu > Settings > About.  Your firmware version should be V5.2.0.  If it is not, then you will have to upgrade your phones firmware before June of 2013.

Inmarsat has released a mandatory firmware upgrade for the GSPS service on the IsatPhone Pro handset.  This latest version was released on November 16th 2012.  If you have purchased an IsatPhone Pro prior to this date you will need to upgrade the firmware on your IsatPhone Pro handset.

This is a mandatory firmware upgrade, meaning that the features introduced by the firmware are vitally important for the GSPS service including the network and the IsatPhone Pro handset.  In order to update your phone you will need to download the Inmarsat Firmware Upgrade Tool as well as the latest version of Firmware.  Links to both downloads can be found on this site here.

Inmarsat advises that per end of June this upgrade is absolutely critical as IsatPhone Pro phones that are not upgraded by 30th of June, 2013, will no longer be able to register and make/receive calls for handsets in the field Inmarsat recommends that firmware is distributed to all customers.

Instructions on the IsatPhone Pro Firmware Upgrade from Inmarsat can be found on the GMPCS website here.

What Time Does Your Satellite Phone SIM Card Expire?

If you have an Iridium or Inmarsat IsatPhone Pro satellite phone and are using a prepaid airtime card from GMPCS you already know about the expiration date. But did you know that the official expiration date for a SIM card is at 00:00:00 Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) or Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)? Or that Iridium always uses GMT and Inmarsat UTC. For our purposes, there is no difference between the two indicators.


Because of this, you will need to be aware of the time zone where you are located and whether or not Daylight Savings Time (DST) is in effect where you are or in the United Kingdom (UK). Why the UK? For the answer you will need to think back to your primary school experience where we learned that the Prime Meridian was located at Greenwich, England. All satellite communications service activations, deactivations and expirations are based on GMT/UTC time.


So what does this mean for you? Well, if you are in the US Eastern time zone and daylight savings time is in effect for both the US and UK, your time will be 4 hours behind GMT. For example: 10:00 PM GMT will be 6:00 PM EDT.


Now if your prepaid SIM card expires on October 10th at 00:00:00 GMT, you will need to purchase additional airtime or a 30 day extension from GMPCS BEFORE 8:00 PM on October 9th. You may be saying to yourself, “That’s just crazy!!”, and a first glance it would seem so. But then we need to remember that satellite airtime is based on GMT and for that reason, we will need to leave reminder notes for ourselves to top-up our prepaid airtime cards in advance of the published expiration date/time.


To be safe, give yourself a 24 hour window and mark the expiration date on your calendar each time you add airtime, it will save headaches in the future and prevent the loss of unused airtime. We also recommend that you Google the current UTC time and act accordingly.


Any questions regarding the expiration of your SIM or available time extensions can be answered by calling GMPCS at 954-973-3100 or via email at: contact@gmpcs-us.com

Why More Power Companies Use a Satellite Phone: Satellite Phone First Steps

Over the past few years utility companies have seen more of a demand for remote communications via satellite. Severe weather, hurricanes or unpredictable natural disasters such as an earthquake, have increased that need. These disasters might catch most off guard, but utility companies can’t take that risk.

When severe weather strikes terrestrial communications such as land lines and cell towers can go down. In the case of a hurricane; after the storm cell towers become overwhelmed and full of traffic not allowing for reliable communications. This is unacceptable for the utility industry. A remote worker out in the field needs to be able to call the office. There is a simple cost effective solution for a situation like this: Satellite Phones.

Satellite phones don’t rely on cell towers or landlines. The remote worker and the office can both be connected by satellite communications. With satellite phones, you are not connecting to cell towers but to actual satellites. These satellites (Iridium or Inmarsat for example) provide voice and data services to wherever you are in the world.

Phones and rates have come down from the past. In the simplest form a handheld satellite and an airtime plan is all you need to get started and be connected. Recently two southeastern utility companies came to GMPCS for emergency backup communications. These communications will be provided to utility trucks and other remote workers, working to restore power. GMPCS was able to come up with an affordable solution via Inmarsat and the IsatPhone Pro. They also participate in our emergency rental program.  You can read about our rental satellite phones here.

If you are looking for a similar solution for your utility company please visit GMPCS or call Cliff Trinkofsky, our utilities sales expert.  Cliff has over 7 years experience assisting utility companies with their needs for voice and data solutions over satellite. Call Cliff directly at: 954-725-1019

With the right expertise and advice we will find a solution for your needs.

GMPCS Sponsors Bluewater Babes Fish For A Cure

While breast cancer awareness is important all year long, October is reserved as a special month to highlight the impact breast cancer has on so many lives. This month GMPCS Personal Communications will help sponsor a local fishing tournament in Florida to benefit cancer awareness charities.

The Bluewater Babes Fish for a Cure is a fishing tournament which raises money for two charities: Cancer Alliance of Help & Hope and H.O.W. – Hearing the Ovarian Cancer Whisper. This year is the 4th Annual Bluewater Babes Fish for a Cure and will be held October 5 & 6, 2012 at the Square Grouper Tiki Bar in Jupiter. This tournament is a festive mix of fishing, boat decorating, cocktail and costume contests, and an awards party to raise money for local breast and ovarian cancer patients who are in financial need.

This tournament is a female angler only event with close to 100 boats already registered. The participants are comprised of women who are either breast cancer survivors, have family members with cancer, or have been touched by someone affected by cancer.

“This is the first year that GMPCS has been involved in this event.” Says GMPCS Maritime Sales Manager Matt George. “We wanted to get involved with some of the local fishing tournaments and the Fish For A Cure was a perfect place to start.”

GMPCS has donated an IsatPhone Pro satellite phone with airtime to be auctioned off at the event. The IsatPhone Pro is an excellent communication device that works virtually anywhere on Earth. Numerous boaters use the satellite phone as a precautionary backup for voice, text and email messaging while out on the water. The IsatPhone Pro also has the ability to send your GPS position via text or e-mail.

For more information on the Bluewater Babes Fish For A Cure visit their site: www.fishforacure.com

Vital Communications With The IsatPhone Pro Satellite Phone

Are your remote land and offshore communications reliable? When it comes to oil and gas we know how important it is to stay connected. A satellite phone is one of the most reliable means for remote communications. Now it is one of the most cost effective solutions that can help:

• Exploration teams stay in touch with the progress of oil exploration and discoveries
• Executives and oil rig personnel communicate important tasks and strategies to conduct daily business operations
• Quickly contact rescue and medical services in an emergency
• Maintain contact with specialists at headquarters in case of structural damage to an oil rig
• Coordinate and implement emergency procedures

We have one of the most affordable satellite communication devices -- the IsatPhone Pro by Inmarsat.

For over 30 years, Inmarsat has been a leader in satellite communications service and technology. Their network of geostationary satellites is equipped with the latest technology and software to ensure that you rarely miss a call or connection. Furthermore, we are a direct partner and service provider meaning that we have direct access to Inmarsat’s support services, we receive stock directly from Inmarsat without going through a distributor and we offer competitive pricing than other satellite communications companies.

The IsatPhone Pro is a handheld satellite phone that costs less than $700.00. It has a large color display, an easy to use navigation menu, clear voice quality and large keypad for ease of use even while wearing gloves. It is also dust proof and water resistant with an IP54 rating. So you don’t have to worry about its durability while in remote onshore or offshore locations.
The IsatPhone Pro also includes built in GPS and is the only satellite phone with Bluetooth capability. Other features include long battery life, SMS, email, 8 hours talk time and 100 hours standby time.

To use the IsatPhone Pro, you must be outside with a clear line of sight of the southern sky. Turn on the phone and extend the antenna so that it can get a GPS fix with the satellite. Once the phone is registered with the satellite, you are able to place calls anywhere in the world except for the polar region.

We have several postpaid and prepaid airtime options to choose from based on your usage and budget. Prepaid airtime can be used worldwide including the U.S. For more information check out our website www.gmpcs-us.com or contact Tanga Williams in sales at 954-725-1012.

GMPCS Offers Vehicular Satellite Phone Package for media solutions with Inmarsat

The SatTruckPhone™ turns the Inmarsat IsatPhone Pro satellite phone into an affordable and reliable kit for voice and data communications in the field. Global satellite coverage offers reliable communications during natural disasters and communications blackouts.

The SatTruckPhone™ satellite communications kit for journalists and other broadcast professionals who need affordable satellite communications for immediate deployment to outside broadcast locations is now available. The kit pairs the Inmarsat IsatPhone Pro satellite phone and a docking station in a rugged portable case. Included cables allow an external antenna to mount to the top of a vehicle and adapters for the vehicle power supply, allowing in-transit use. The IsatPhone Pro Handheld phone can be used independently of the kit when communications are needed away from the satellite truck.

“Whether after a natural disaster like a tornado, hurricane or earthquake, or in the remote areas where news happens, broadcasters need communications in the times and places where cellular technologies fail,” said John Stoltz, Director of Media & Enterprise Markets for GMPCS. “The SatTruckPhone™ instantly gives broadcasters the ability to access satellite communications anytime and anywhere, with no installation, and the ability to move from vehicle to vehicle and use the phone outside of the truck.”

Whenever your vehicle or truck is outside of cellular range, the SatTruckPhone™ system keeps field personnel in touch with headquarters, office or studio. Providing basic voice service via Inmarsat’s satellite network and “IsatPhone” service, GMPCS bundles the satphone, docker, mobile antenna and airtime service – for true one-stop-shopping. The SatTruckPhone™ system allows for satellite phone calls whether outside your vehicle, stopped on site or even on-the-move.

In addition to offering clear and reliable voice service, the SatTruckPhone™ lets broadcasters send emails and SMS with their GPS location.

The GMPCS SatTruckPhone™ Kit includes the following:

• Inmarsat IsatPhone Pro satellite phone
• Beam Communications “Pro” Docking Station with RJ11 interface
• Pelican™ CustomFoam Protective Case allows for vehicle to vehicle rapid deployment
• Inmarsat antenna with cable
• GMPCS SIM Card (service sold separately)

The IsatTruck kit is available immediately from GMPCS on the SatTruckPhone Page

Inmarsat Prepaid Vouchers Work Within the United States

Beginning September 1, 2012 Inmarsat will be offering global prepaid satellite service for both voice and data on Inmarsat terminals. This will apply to all new and existing Inmarsat prepaid SIM Cards for the IsatPhone Pro, BGAN, FleetBroadband and FleetPhone units. The Inmarsat prepaid service was originally only available outside of the US, but it will now be fully global.

Benefits for IsatPhone Pro users Prepaid services are popular with clients who work on short term or seasonal projects and prefer not to commit to a contract. Inmarsat offers a variety of prepaid vouchers for the IsatPhone Pro to fit any requirement Small and large vouchers are available, giving you airtime with an average cost of $1.10 per minute and $0.55 per SMS. A list of available vouchers for sale can be found here. One key benefit of Inmarsat prepaid is any unused minutes will roll over if the SIM is loaded with another voucher before the expiration date. If you allow your prepaid minutes to expire, the prepaid SIM will remain active, you can recharge it when you like and you keep the same sat phone number.

BGAN Prepaid benefits Inmarsat BGAN customers will also benefit from global prepaid voice and data services. Not only do the BGAN prepaid vouchers have the same airtime roll over benefit as the IsatPhone Pro, but the validity for use on the BGAN airtime is 730 days. This means that even the smallest prepaid BGAN voucher of 10.99 MB of standard IP or 100 voice minutes is valid for about 2 years. BGAN Prepaid service includes Standard IP, SMS and Voice service; streaming and ISDN services are available upon request on initial activation only. Fax service is not available e on BGAN prepaid. More information and Global prepaid options for BGAN are now available on this airtime page.

With the announcement of Inmarsat prepaid available for global use, airtime for the IsatPhone Pro and BGAN will be simple with no credit check, no annual contract or bills. For more information on the Inmarsat prepaid options visit GMPCS or contact a representative at 1-888-664-6727

Battery Stations For The IsatPhone Pro And Iridium 9555 Satellite Phones

GMPCS is pleased to offer SatStation battery docking stations for the IsatPhone Pro and Iridium 9555 satellite phones. All of these new battery docking stations are capable of rapid charging a satellite phone battery in a single process without ever draining them. This accessory from GMPCS is available in single bay units as well as four bay units, for both the Inmarsat IsatPhone Pro and the Iridium 9555.

Whether you work in the public service sector or the private sector, your ability to be effective depends on the reliability of you communications system.  While the batteries for your satellite phone keep you connected when no one else can, we have all experienced the frustration of having them run “out of juice”. The SatStation Battery Charger is the only standalone charging station for the IsatPhone Pro and Iridium 9555. It is the perfect solution for those who need their handset ready at all times.

The SatStations have the ability to maintain a battery’s peak condition for as long as it is left on the unit. While the battery is on the SatStation, it will be managed so no overheating or overcharging will occur. The GMPCS satellite phone rental department uses these SatStations to make sure every rental satellite phone goes out with two fully charged batteries. “The SatStation Battery docks are extremely valuable. And when I have several rental satellite phones going out, I know the batteries will be fully charged for our customers.” Says Celia Gajewski, GMPCS rental manager.

If you are interested in more information on the SatStation for your satellite phone please see our product pages for the phones below. They are available and in stock now.

• IsatPhone Pro Single Bay SatStation Battery Charger
• IsatPhone Pro 4 Bay SatStation Battery Charger
• Iridium 9555 Single Bay SatStation Battery Charger
• Iridium 9555 4 Bay SatStation Battery Charger

Satellite Phone and Network Comparison: Thuraya, Inmarsat, Iridium

Choosing the correct satellite phone can be a big task for personal use or for your business. Now, there are more options for handheld satellite phones than ever before. The major players for handheld satellite phones are Iridium, Inmarsat and Thuraya.

We also understand there may be many questions you have when it comes to choosing a satellite phone. That is why we are offering a complete comparison chart at the end of this Blog.

First thing you should know is a satellite telephone connects you to an orbiting constellation of satellites instead of land based terrestrial cell sites. Satellite phones provide similar functionality to terrestrial mobile telephones including voice, short messaging service (SMS) and low-bandwidth internet access. Having this connectivity to voice and data via satellite makes a satellite phone extremely useful in times of need. The satellite phone system is not hindered by natural disasters where land services might be hindered by hurricanes, earthquakes or floods. The three major players of handheld satellite phones have their own unique satellite constellations.

The Thuraya satellite phones work on the Thuraya satellite system consisting of 2 geostationary satellites. These satellites are located over Africa, Europe, Asia and Australia. Currently Thuraya does not work in the Americas. If you are traveling to the regions Thuraya covers, be sure to check out the Thuraya XT satellite phone.

The Iridium 9575 Extreme satellite phone uses a 66 low Earth orbiting satellite system that covers the entire Earth including the Polar Regions. If you are looking for a satellite phone with true global capabilities Iridium is the way to go.

Inmarsat has an extremely reliable satellite constellation of 3 geostationary satellites. The IsatPhone Pro is Inmarsat’s handheld satellite phone. The IsatPhone Pro gets great coverage over the Earth but will not work in the Polar Regions. A benefit to the IsatPhone Pro is once the phone is connected to the satellite, it is highly unlikely to drop the call. It is important to note that registering on the Inmarsat network with the IsatPhone Pro takes just over a minute because the phone needs to obtain a GPS fix before placing a call.

With a basic understanding of the 3 major satellite networks, it will be easier to choose the right satellite phone. We have an excellent comparison chart on the handheld satellite phones that you can view by clicking here. As always if you have a question we can answer call us at +1-954-973-3100

The Inmarsat IsatPhone Pro improves remote safety

With the latest IsatPhone Pro firmware from Inmarsat, your IsatPhone Pro satellite phone can become an emergency personal alert device. The personal alert feature allows users to send their GPS coordinates and short message to predetermined recipients. The IsatPhone Pro subscriber can save time and money with the personal alert option. This new feature is similar to the SOS button on the Iridium Extreme satellite phone.

The personal alert feature enables a user to send their GPS position, along with a short pre-configured message, as an email or text message, to a maximum of 10 recipients. Personal alerts can be sent quickly whilst maximizing reliability. This is achieved by restricting the alert to one 160 character message, and mailing to each recipient separately. Each message sent is charged separately.

The personal alert is made up of the following elements:

•  Last GPS fix, time of GPS acquisition and fix accuracy
•  Time that the personal alert was triggered on the phone
•  Email address of the recipient if the alert is sent as an email
•  A short message predefined by the user, written in Latin characters

It is fairly simple to set up and activate the personal alert on the IsatPhone Pro satellite phone. To do this, make sure that you have the latest version of the IsatPhone Pro firmware. To check your firmware, choose menu > settings > about. You should have Firmware version v5.0.0 or higher, if not contact GMPCS tech support at 954-973-3100

To set up and activate a personal alert, select Extras > Personal alert > Edit personal alert. Select Configure personal alert, and edit the recipients and the message.

Once your IsatPhone Pro is set up for personal alerts the quickest way to send a personal alert is to press * and # simultaneously for at least 2 seconds from the main screen. The antenna must be deployed and your IsatPhone Pro connected to the satellite to successfully send personal alert messages. Any questions regarding this new feature, please call GMPCS 954-973-3100.

Satellite Phones Are A Must Have For Smart Travelers

If you travel outside of main urban centers in the United States or abroad, you may find yourself without cell phone service. In case of emergency, a satellite phone can save the day or even save your life. With satellite phones available to rent or to buy fromGMPCS, you will never have to worry about traveling outside of cell phone range.

World travelers can also benefit from the affordable flat rate calling that both Inmarsat and Iridium satellite phones offer. Satellite phone rates are often a fraction of cellular roaming rates, especially in exotic destinations. To learn more about a satellite phone rental click here.

Satellite phones are reliable, easy to use and affordable. They work virtually anywhere on Earth, independently from the local infrastructure and are not affected by weather conditions or natural disasters.

With affordable rental & purchase prices and attractive airtime plans, having access to this potentially lifesaving technology has never been easier.

So while planning for your trip or for the hurricane season, consider renting or buying a satellite phone.

To purchase a satellite phone look at our most popular models the IsatPhone Pro and the Iridium 9555 or Extreme.

Hurricane and Natural Disaster Preparedness 2012 With Satellite Phones and More

With the start of hurricane season, now would be a good time to make sure you have everything you need in case of a sudden emergency. GMPCS would like you to be prepared before, during and after the storm. The following are a few items that will help for this hurricane season.

Satellite Phones
In any natural disaster the potential for landlines and cellular phone towers to go down or these networks to be overloaded is very likely. After a tornado, hurricane or flood a satellite phone may be your only way to communicate. A mobile satellite phone relies on an orbiting satellite system, which are independent from local infrastructure and therefore not affected by these natural disasters.  The most reliable satellite providers with global coverage are Inmarsat and Iridium. Both providers have their advantages and are compared in this online article.  The most affordable of the two is the IsatPhone Pro from Inmarsat. For as little as $610 you can have an emergency satellite phone, sold here. Another smart option is the IsatPhone Pro Emergency kit which includes an emergency airtime plan with the equipment.

Additional Batteries
If you already have a satellite phone, now would be a good time to test it. Check the Batteries and make sure you are familiar with making a call. Also having an additional battery is an affordable solution to being prepared. The IsatPhone Pro battery retails for just $40.95. Iridium offers a high capacity battery for the 9555 model phone and an additional Iridium 9575 extreme battery can be found here.

Battery Docking Stations
Battery docking stations are capable of rapid charging most types of satellite phone batteries in a single process. A battery docking station allows you to charge the satellite phone battery without using the handheld phone. This accessory is available in single bay units as well as four bay units, for the Inmarsat IsatPhone Pro,the Iridium 9555 and other Iridium handsets.  Each bay can accommodate a charging plate designed to fit each type of battery.  Charging plates can be swapped to charge different types of batteries with the same bay.  More information on the battery docking station can be found here.



Nomad 13.5 Solar Panel

Solar Charger
When the power goes out the Nomad 13.5M solar panel may be your only source for charging your electronics. Using 13.5 watts of highly efficient mono-crystalline solar technology, its four small panels provide plenty of power and conveniently fold into a small, lightweight portable case. This solar charger will recharge the batteries of the above satellite phones for Iridium and Inmarsat. In addition it will charge a mobile cell phone, MP3 player or tablet connected via the DC cigarette adapter.

Inmarsat’s Airtime Changes for the IsatPhone Pro and IsatPhone Link

In the past, Inmarsat’s Prepaid validity timeframes were easy to remember and understand. Regardless of the number of units you recharged with, the validity was extended by 730 days from the date of topup. This validity extension will be changing soon for a couple of the Inmarsat terminal types, namely the IsatPhone Pro and IsatPhone Link terminals.

As of June 1st (UTC), any additional units you add to an IsatPhone Pro or IsatPhone Link Prepaid subscription will, at most, extend your validity 365 days from the date of topup. All new extensions will be from date of topup and not the original expiration date. The full list of new validity extensions by Prepaid voucher size can be seen in the following chart:

Options	Validity
25 unit voucher	30 days
50 unit voucher	90 Days
100 unit voucher	180 Days
250 unit voucher	180 Days
500 unit voucher	365 Days
1000 unit voucher	365 Days
2500 unit voucher	365 Days
5000 unit voucher	365 Days

Note that if you have more than 365 days remaining on your current SIM, you will not lose your existing validity come June 1st. However, you will only extend your validity longer than your current expiration date if the remaining validity is less than the new topup validity as listed above.

For example:

• Old balance : 10 units with 395 days validity remaining
• Apply voucher: 25 units with 30 days validity
• New balance: 35 units with 395 days validity remaining

For example:

• Old balance : 10 units with 60 days validity remaining
• Apply voucher: 500 units with 365 days validity
• New balance: 510 units with 365 days validity remaining

These changes only affect IsatPhone Pro and IsatPhone Link. FleetPhone and BGAN will continue to have the same 730 day validity extensions for all voucher options.

Inmarsat’s new vouchers will be non-cumulative in terms of expiration only. So, if you add 2 of the 25-unit vouchers today, you will only add 30 days validity from today’s date, but you will still add a total of 50 units.

This means now is an ideal time to topup your SIM to extend the validity while quantities last. If you are not ready to purchase another 100 or 250 units, simply purchase our 730-day validity extension for $30.00. This will add 10 units to your account, as well as maximizing your validity. Don’t wait until the last minute to make your purchase, as we cannot guarantee that quantities will remain in stock.


For more information contact GMPCS at 954-973-3100 or www.gmpcs-us.com

Maintenance for Inmarsat’s IsatPhone Pro battery

IsatPhone Pro with SatStation docs

Inmarsat and GMPCS have received reports regarding the IsatPhone Pro battery not being able to hold a charge. Some of the batteries for the IsatPhone Pro have been draining to the point where they will no longer power the IsatPhone Pro and cannot be recharged in the phone via USB. If you have experienced this issue the only way to recharge the battery is to place it in a SatStation charging cradle or purchase a new battery.

What is the IsatPhone Pro Battery Bug?
The IsatPhone Pro handset battery is becoming impossible to recharge. This issue is occurring in the field and has been reported by several distribution partners and customers. There are no records from customers on battery usage and maintenance related to these reported failures, however it is most likely related to the charge level in the battery becoming too low, and the safety circuit in the battery activating. The safety circuit can become activated when the differential between the positive and negative is so low that it thinks there is a short circuit, and disconnects the cell. This can be caused by poor battery maintenance.

Another cause for this battery issue may be from excessive charging. We have seen that where the battery is charged constantly, it has a very short lifespan. If the battery is left in the handset it will naturally drain power slowly until the battery reaches the level where it cannot be recharged again. However if the battery starts with a full charge and is then left in the handset, it should last many months before reaching the un-rechargeable state, depending on the environmental conditions.

Proper Battery Maintenance
When in storage the battery should be recharged regularly. We recommend recharging once a month to be safe. Inmarsat recommends you charge the battery to around 60% charge, and store the battery in a dry environment separate from the handset. This gives the best shelf life, because fully charged batteries degrade quicker than part charged batteries, and humidity affects charge life in storage. If a battery is left to go completely flat, then it may not be possible to recharge it again with the normal charger. Therefore never store batteries with a low charge level.

Solution
If you have experienced this issue or have difficulty charging your IsatPhone Pro battery your best solution is the SatStation Bay Charger. The SatStation IsatPhone Pro Battery Charger is the only standalone charging solution for the IsatPhone Pro satellite phone. It comes in a 4-Bay Charging station and Single Bay.

For more information contact GMPCS Tech at 954-973-3100 or www.gmpcs-us.com