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CXtec Knowledge BaseStructured Cabling Telephony |
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Satellite PhonesA satellite phone, also called a satphone, is a mobile phone that enables signal transmission via satellite instead of landlines or cellular broadcast towers. The only prerequisite for a satphone to function properly is that it has an unobstructed line of communication between the phone and the sky. The primary benefit of a satphone is that it operates anywhere on the planet, which means it can function in the middle of the desert, atop the world's tallest peak, or from deep inside a jungle. If you need a tool to keep in touch with people from remote areas, the satphone is ideal for trips to the far corners of the world, offering superb quality conversations on land and water and in the air. One downfall to satphone usage is the delay in messages; the signal must be beamed to the satellite, and then reflected to a gateway back towards earth, where it is finally directed to the handset. The responder will also have to deal with this holdup while their words travel the same path in reverse. In addition, satellite is more costly than cellular usage. These disadvantages are actually impertinent when you take into account what a satphone is used for. When no alternative communication technology is available, a satphone is your sole connection to civilized society. Besides enabling loved ones to remain in contact with each other, the satphone is an excellent option in case of emergency for scientists, adventurers, or military personnel when cellular and landline signals may be out of service. Currently, the three primary satellite networks are Iridium, Globalstar, and Thuraya. Iridium satellites are stationed lower to the earth to reduce downtime during calls. Even more impressive, Iridium is the only company to offer global coverage anywhere in the world&emdash;even in the ocean. Globalstar manages to provide service to approximately four-fifths of the earth's land except for the north and south poles. Thuraya focuses on the eastern hemisphere, with users in India, Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. Some people may prefer to have satphones available to them for short-term use only, in which case they would rent a phone as opposed to purchasing one. Rentals can be had for as little as $40 a week, but talk time is not included. This may be as much as $1.75 per minute. If you wish to purchase a satphone, you must agree to a contract with one of the previously mentioned networks, or prepaid phone cards can replace a contract. Contractual plans are always cheaper by the minute than rental or prepaid. In the end, cell phone minutes are the least expensive. The better your network coverage, the more expensive a satphone is going to be. Therefore, phones running on the Iridium network are the most costly because they can be used anywhere. For instance, a basic Iridium satphone is sold for $1,275, but comparable phones on other networks are about half that. Since satphones are so pricey, people often opt to buy them used. |
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