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Travellers' Advisories, Safety and Security on the Road Recent News, political or military events, which may affect trip plans or routes. Personal and vehicle security, tips and questions.
Photo by Marc Gibaud, Clouds on Tres Cerros and Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia

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Photo by Marc Gibaud,
Clouds on Tres Cerros and
Mount Fitzroy, Argentinian Patagonia



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  #1  
Old 4 Dec 2006
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Star-Traxx
As an alternative to phones and pirb's, you could look at this.

https://star-traxx.com/

John
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  #2  
Old 4 Dec 2006
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Wink I am a lonely orfen
I stand corrected. I never thought about the family back home.... for the simple reason that I don't have one. (makes travel very easy).

I can imagine that in the Netherlands (also my home-land) a epirb needs a license..... (this is one of the reasons I left... rules, rules, rules)... but in the more developed parts of the world (like australia) you can buy a second-hand epirb on just about evey street-corner. (which kind of eliminates the need )

I know they are usually marine-use... but they (the people who I hope know about this stuff : US coastguard) told me that every airplane scan's this frequency and that satelite's also pick it up. (406/121.5 mhz).
They also told me to have a insurance in case I trigger it. Press the button and you have to pay the resque.
They had no direct awnser as to who would rescue me somewhere in the desert. It all depends on the country... but the same goes for a sat-phone I guess

Then again... you can't call mum on your epirb

Maarten
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  #3  
Old 6 Dec 2006
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T and T
Thrane and thrane units. They are the size of a small laptop. They double up as internet modem too. They have a cordless phone. Weigh next to nothing. Can be used for hours on end. Skype runs on em. Video skype. Skype out!! and i know sometimes they let u do pay as you go....I think the airtime is sold by bgan. check it out.
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  #4  
Old 6 Dec 2006
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But how much?
Lovely units.
When I enquired in 2003 (not with Thrane) the BGAN contract was in the 23€/month range with data charged at 10 dollars per megabyte regardless of direction(upload/download).
A Skype video call could set you back a bit.
I convoyed for a while with a friend who had wangled a sponsorship deal with a French supplier; the BGAN really is like broadband at home. You need a PC to use it though.
For some reason that I didn't understand it wouldn't cover southern Africa though. Perhaps they've fixed/improved that.

G'luck
Luke
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  #5  
Old 8 Dec 2006
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Bgan and T&T
Hey luke
They most certainly do cover ALL of Africa. I used it from London to Cape Town and had no problems. Although u have to point the receiver in different directions in Southern Hemisphere.

Skype uses minimal megs per call so the biggest cost is actually for ur Skype out initial outlay. I think 10 Euros lasted me 4 months of using Skype. But then i dont really like chatting that much.

U need a very small pc to run it and it can also connect via bluetooth to ur pc if u have the capiblities. So no cables!!! I would reccomend one of those mini PC laptops.. i forget the name.

I know they have loads of deals now of varying ammounts. They have packages of bytes used or time used. Also u can buy the unit or rent it.

It is a little larger to carry especially on a bike, but it saves time for hunting for internet cafes and so on in the long run. For 4x4 its a doddle!! I also beleive that they will have auto tracking units in the near future! internet while u drive cant wait. i think it would work wonders with google Earth......but the cost!

Good luck
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  #6  
Old 8 Dec 2006
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Excellent
I wondered why a communication system based on Inmarsat would have dark zones. Maybe you buy a coverage package. That could be the R in the RBGAN (Regional).
Just Googled it and I see that prepaid costs 12€/Mb from a French supplier. You don't want to download movies with that!
Also saw that a 50 Mb prepaid is only valid 3 months! What was the deal you got, how long did it last?

Seems you've got to hunt around and play one off against another.

Yep Skype's cheap, and really useful and at least your Skype credit doesn't expire.

IMHO it's really worth investigating for overlanders. OK Iridium does data, but only at 9600baud... You can hardly get anything done at that rate, and the call dropping is annoying.
Its only advantage is that it's relatively small and doesn't need a computer, if you're only going to use it for voice calls it could be enough (just).

Has anyone ever seen 2nd hand BGAN antennae up for grabs?

Surf; are you thinking of the Flybook and similar? or do you think it would work with a pocket PC (Imate Jasjar/SPV M5000)?

Happy trails
Luke
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  #7  
Old 8 Dec 2006
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Deals and wheels
Well Luke we asked for sponsorship. In return they branded our vehicles came on the some legs of our trip and also i managed to hook them up some contracts in Africa. But we had a cap which we did not even come close to passing. If u are clever on how u use your time it can go a very long way.

i know in SA we get a much better rate than that. Thats very expensive. But then skype uses minimal bytes to transfer data. I even video skyped.. shh dont tell them!

I would go for the JVC interlink. It also allows u to burn DVD... so for backing up photos on a trip! priceless. Especially for guys on bikes

Thuraya is the way to go but the coverage in Africa is poor. If u plan to come lower than Kenya get iridium or both? or one if u dont mind 7 min calls use iridium! We used iridium and believe me its a pain sometimes.

To set up bgan is 5 mins which is the time it takes to find a signal on sat phones any way.....

IMHO i would take mini laptop with T&T unit. Once its locked it stays locked...unless someone walks in front of it. They will end up having far fewer children if theyt stay there for long. Also the unit is cordless so u can work under ur vehicle or bike with no problems!!!

Many happy miles and if u need any help yell!

Keep surfing
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