What you need to know about renting a satellite phone
Thanks to you we are now Australia's largest satellite phone hire or rental company of all things satellite. We are proud sponsors of the Royal Flying Doctors, Variety Club and the Australasian Safaris for many years.
As a family operated business for we would like to Thank you for letting us serve you. Unlike mobile phones renting a satellite phone is very straight forward if you keep a few simple points in mind:
Not all satellite phone networks in Australia or globally are created equal. Some are known to have mediocre call connection due to your location and call quality. Check the satellite phone you are thinking of using has coverage in the areas you are going.
There are three main satellite phone hardware and airtime suppliers that work in Australia. Thuraya, Inmarsat and Iridium and depending on what your purpose is and destination one or all of these choices will meet those requirements.
The initial questions you must ask yourself are:
At Rent A Sat Phone we have listened to you our customers and have a rental plan that is fully flexible to meet your travel schedule. Be it one day to one year we will work with you to tailor your needs to provide the most value and greatest flexibility. Most other rental companies charge in full week or month increments even if your trip is just a few days. Rent A Sat Phone has the largest fleet of up to date and latest satellite phones across three networks and as such can make sure we have you covered offering 100% peace of mind.
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Q: Do I have to dial an international number to phone out?
A: Normally YES as a satellite phone is a country of its own. However with Rent A Sat Phone you will receive the latest equipment and be eligible for local dialling option for free. So you only have to dial a normal landline or mobile number from the sat phone we supply.
Q: Can someone call me from a mobile phone and will it cost them a fortune as an international call ?
A: Normally YES but as we give you local numbering and dialling the answer is NO. They can call you as if it was a normal mobile number and be charged accordingly by their provider.
Q: Can I get the internet on a satellite phone?
A: The answer is realistically no. Not on any Satellite phone no matter what their marketing says. The speed is so slow that even an email is unlikely to come through. You would need to go to a BGAN satellite WIFI router which are available to rent also. Click here for information on BGAN's
Q: If I rent it for longer can I get a discount?
A: YES absolutely, we have a table on the make a booking page allowing the cost to reduce the longer you rent the satellite phone. Check it out here Booking rates
Q: What are the set up fees to connect the satellite Phone for my rental?
A: Nothing, At Rent A Satellite Phone we absorb all these and as we know you don't like hidden costs and surprises later. So no additional costs to connect an airtime service.
Q: How much do calls cost me - they are really expensive aren't they?
A: MYTH! most companies charge by the minute where at Rent A Sat Phone we charge in just 30 second blocks to save you money and at $1.50 per 30 seconds it's the cheapest insurance policy you can ever have. If you need to talk to someone in an emergency you will pay anything, so $1.50 or $3.00 sounds pretty cheap to me!
Q: What if I don't use the phone whilst I rented it, will I get a bill for airtime at all?
A: NO! If you rent the sat phone and you never use it, it's just there for emergency then all you will pay is the rental and transit costs.
Q: Will I receive an itemised bill for each call I have made?
A: Yes we at Rent A Sat Phone will send an itemised invoice showing each call you have made and its duration and cost.
Q: How do I get the satellite phone back to you?
A: We provide a complete return prepopulated consignment note and a free return shipping package to make it simple and easy.
As satellite phones are something that local mobile phone suppliers can't assist with, the practicality and cost of having a bricks and mortar store in each capital city would be make the cost of renting a satellite phone unviable.
Rent A Sat Phone has spent hundreds of thousands of $$$ on technology to assist in ordering the product easily on your mobile phone through our RASP app (Available in the Google and Apple stores) through to it being shipped quickly via courier and normally will arrive (In most capital cities in Australia) overnight depending on when we receive the request, which is often quicker than trying to reach a store in your city anyway. Covid has made us all allow a little more time and have realistic expectations. Please note we can send a phone to any location just allow an extra day or two for it to arrive.
Download the RASP (Rent A Sat Phone App) Here by using the QR code now. Works in Android and Apple stores
Education is the answer. All satellite phones require a clear line of sight to the sky to connect to the satellites to operate effectively. Being in a building or a vehicle stops that clear line of site to the sky and as such can hinder the connection process. In addition depending on the satellite company you have chosen, some satellites are GEO stationary and the phone needs to be initially pointed in the direction of the satellite for the connection to make initial contact and lock in allowing you to make a call. Others like Iridium are travelling satellites and so connect no matter what direction you point. But patience is also the answer. It can take a minute or two for the phone to search, find and connect to ALL the required satellites and GPS stations required to give you the clearest quality call.
At Rent A Sat Phone we supply a complete laminated how to guide sheet with each satellite phone within the all weather protective pelican case as well as within our Google and Apple store RASP APP, we now have a trouble shoot guide that can be used even if you are not in mobile range on your mobile phone.