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

Traveling to Russia? Vital Information You Need to Know to Stay Connected

Iridium and the Russian regulatory authorities have reached an agreement to allow Iridium to legally operate in Russia. There has always been Iridium traffic in Russia but it was never officially allowed or forbidden. The Russian Government wants to regulate this grey market and specifically wants to be able to intercept Iridium calls from Russia to other countries in an effort to fight terrorism. So what does this mean for travelers looking to stay connected while in Russia?

Travelers wanting to use their Iridium satellite phone within Russia must register their SIM card or Iridium SBD Device with Iridium Russia. Registration information is provided for compliance with Russian telecommunications regulatory requirements. Iridium Russia will use and disclose registration information only to meet its obligations under Russian law. An Iridium device can be registered by subscribers for a 6-month period. For service requirements of longer than 6 months, a subscriber should change SIM cards and re-register.

To register, you will need to provide the information below on the registration page of this site.

• Full name
• Nationality
• MSISDN
• Iridium
• Device Model (9555, 9575 etc)
• IMEI

A website owned and operated by Iridium Russia has been created for registering subscribers. If you plan on traveling to Russia with your Iridium device start by going to www.iridiumrussia.com
We recommend to any of our clients operating in Russia to register their SIMs through iridium-russia.com as visiting SIMs and to re-register every 6 months just to be safe.

If you have any questions or concerns please contact GMPCS at 1-888-664-6272 or contact@gmpcs-us.com

How do satellite phones work?

We are all familiar with the convenience of mobile phones and landlines to make a phone call. And it certainly seems that they work almost anywhere in the world. However there are certain areas or circumstances were this convenient service is not available. That is when a satellite phone is the only method of communication.

Unlike mobile phones which use a localized phone tower to connect calls; a call from a satellite phone is sent through a satellite constellation, then sent back to Earth via the nearest satellite gateway. Then the call is routed through traditional voice networks to reach its destination.

A call that is made from one satellite phone to another will be completely routed through the satellite constellations. This way the call will not be affected by any technical difficulties on the ground. This is why satellite phones are essential for communications during a disaster such as a hurricane, earthquake or winter storm where landline communications can be destroyed.

Satellite phones rely on a direct line of sight to the satellite constellation. To use a satellite phone properly you will need a clear view of the sky, so it is important to ensure that the phone signal is not obstructed by trees, mountains, buildings or other large structures.

To choose the right satellite phone, you may want to consider the type of satellite constellation that is used. Iridium and Globalstar use a LEO (low earth orbiting) constellation. This style of satellite constellation covers the entire globe including the Polar Regions. A LEO satellite is also moving quickly from horizon to horizon, so there is the possibility of a dropped call when it is being transferred to the next satellite. Companies like Inmarsat and Thuraya use a geostationary satellite constellation. These satellites move with the Earth’s rotation, so from our prospective on the ground the satellite doesn’t appear to be moving. These satellites are in a higher orbit so you may notice latency or delay with the call, but there is a slim chance that the call would be dropped.

For more information on the different satellite phones available and their style of handsets view our previous comparison blog here.

7 Ways For Controlling Airtime Cost on Your Inmarsat BGAN

Inmarsat’s BGAN (Broadband Global Area Network) has proven to be an asset to many industries. The service is being used for a variety of broadcast applications, aid organizations and oil & gas companies. You may think that the BGAN equipment and service is only available to fortune 500 companies, but that is not true. You too, can have a mobile satellite communications service that offers a variety of voice and data services in a small, portable device. Not only is the equipment affordable, but in this blog I will give you tips on how to maximize BGAN performance while maintaining low costs on the airtime service.

No matter which BGAN terminal you are using; a Thrane Explorer or a Hughes, some simple steps and precautions can be taken to keep usage costs where you expect them to be. Ideally, these recommendations should be implemented prior to departure. Always make sure to set up and test your unit so you're confident the BGAN will be plug and play once you need to use it.

BGAN Basics
When using a BGAN terminal always make sure you have a clear view of the sky with no structures blocking the way. This includes trees, mountains and tall buildings. Clouds, fog, rain, snow, wind and smoke will not affect BGAN reception or call quality like it will with satellite TV. This is known in the industry as “rain fade.”

Controlling Airtime Cost
It is important to remember that when you are using BGAN airtime, you are responsible for all data and voice that is transmitted from your device.   Also keep in mind that it is best not to log in repeatedly to send individual emails. The best solution is to save emails as drafts offline, then log on to send all of them at once. Below are more tips to help reduce unnecessary data transmission and control your cost.

1. Disable any automatic updates: When your computer logs onto the internet it may search for automatic updates for Windows or other programs. It is wise to disable this option so you don’t end up paying for data transfers you could get at a later time.



2. Do not leave web pages open: Some websites have many photos that are downloaded when visited. Others like CNN have a live news feed that will continue to update in the background while you are online. This can be dangerous for your airtime. Make sure to close these sites while you are working in other applications or your computer is unattended.



3. Minimize use of streaming media: There is no need to use the streaming guaranteed bandwidth connection unless you are streaming live video. For email and browsing the web use the standard IP connection. Streaming options are billed at a per-minute rate, not by data transferred.
   
   
4. Minimize sending and downloading large files: This includes photos and videos. Minimize the file size as much as possible before sending any via BGAN.



5. Enable a WEPKEY for BGAN Wi-Fi networks: Specifically, the Hughes HNS 9201 and the Thrane & Thrane explorer 700 have Wi-Fi enabled capability with no security. If this is not password protected other people may see your network and use it. This can lead to very high unexpected usage. Disable the Wi-Fi feature for extra protection or make it password protected. See the user guide for encryption standards.



6. Use client-based email instead of webmail. Using webmail like Hotmail, Gmail or Yahoo can be 10 to 20 times more expensive than Outlook, or GMPCS SpeedMail.



7. Increase your data efficiency with a Web Optimizer: The third party device known as a WebXaccelerator 102 will block unwanted traffic, prevent runaway bills and more. This is an Inmarsat certified device and highly recommended for BGAN users. You can read more about it on this site here.

As always the GMPCS technical support team is available 24/7. If you have any questions about these tips we can assist. We'll answer any other problems you may have. Call us at 1-888-664-6727 or visit GMPCS support.

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

Portable Broadband Office Anywhere in the World With BGAN

When travelling the world, you may find yourself in remote locations where there is little to no access to the local terrestrial or cellular networks. Some international networks can be unreliable and even if you are able to make a good connection you will often find that the roaming fees can be cost prohibitive. Being able to conduct your business on a global basis is vital and the Inmarsat BGAN keeps you connected. The BGAN service delivers a reliable broadband connection over satellite wherever you may go using one of the small, portable, lightweight, cutting edge BGAN terminals. GMPCS is an established Inmarsat Partner and is well equipped to provide you with the right Inmarsat BGAN equipment and service for your application.

Inmarsat BGAN is the world’s first mobile communications service to deliver broadband Internet accessand voice connectivity, simultaneously, through a single, truly portable device, anywhere on the planet. It is also the first mobile communications service to offer guaranteed data rates on demand. BGAN is a satellite terminal that you can connect to using your laptop, your smartphone or any tablet computer. It is very compact and lightweight and some of the terminals are equipped with a Wi-Fi hot spot. BGAN terminals are battery powered and can be recharged from any AC or DC power source.


Based on IP technology, BGAN provides you with a data connection to the Internet or your corporate network at speeds up to 492Kbps. BGAN enables you to remotely access all the applications you would normally access from your desktop via a secure and reliable connection and you can even make a phone call at the same time.


BGAN is quite simple to deploy and operate. Making a connection is as simple as these steps: 

1. Find a clear view of the Southern sky (Northern sky if you operate in the Southern Hemisphere)
2. Power on the BGAN unit and wait for it to acquire a GPS positions
3. Point the BGAN toward the Inmarsat satellite covering your area, let it register to the network and launch the connection.
4. You are now connected to the Internet and can connect your laptop, smartphone or tablet computer using the Wifi hotspot (on certain models), an Ethernet cable, USB or Bluetooth. You can also place voice calls and send text messages.

There are several types of BGAN to suite your needs. For more information on the variety of BGAN units view this comprehensive comparison chart . If you have questions or need a more catered solution for remote broadband contact a specialist at www.gmpcs-us.com or 954-973-3100