Test your Satellite Phone

The below information is taken from an article about the "Test your satellite phone week" which we ran last year May 2008.

“We recommend Iridium Satellite for encouraging satellite phone users to regularly test their satellite phones to ensure that they are ready to make that critical call during a disaster,” said Anthony Glass, chairman of SatComm.
“Too often, customers turn on their satellite phone when a disaster strikes to find they do not know how to use it properly, the batteries are not charged, or the phone won’t connect.” “Taking precautions like testing your satellite phone can help save lives and property and we’re happy to support this initiative by encouraging users to take heed,” said Glass “Iridium and SatComm hope to raise awareness of the importance of testing your satellite phone on a regular basis.”

The “Test Your Satellite Phone” Week initiative was launched last year as a public service campaign to educate all satellite phone users about the importance of knowing how to use their phone and knowing that the phone is ready to connect when used. This has become increasingly more important as other mobile satellite phone providers have seen a drop in reliability and connection rates. Independent testing has verified that Iridium’s first-time connection rate is better than 99 percent.

The “Test Your Satellite Phone” Week campaign asks all satellite phone owners to call a special number – 00-1-480-752-5105 – to test their satellite phones. Callers will hear a recorded message confirming that their call was completed and offering quick tips on proper handset usage. Iridium customers are not charged for air time on their satellite phone when calling this number. If customers find that their phones are not operational through this process, they should call SatComm for trouble-shooting.
“Routine testing of emergency equipment, including satellite phones is critical to any emergency preparedness planning,” said Iridium board member Tom Ridge, the first U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security and a two-term governor of Pennsylvania. “No phone is going to be effective unless users know how to operate it and the batteries are charged.”
“Satellite phones have increasingly become the primary or backup communications tools during a disaster when cellular infrastructure and radio towers are down,” said Matt Desch, chairman and CEO, Iridium Satellite. Tips and techniques available for satellite phone use and testing are included, such as:
• Test your phone on a monthly basis.
• Keep your phone’s battery charged to ensure that it is ready for use
when needed.
• For maximum battery performance, allow the battery to power down
completely before fully re-charging.
• Check to make sure that the phone’s SIM card is locked in place.
Users can check this by removing the battery and ensuring that the SIM card
tray is securely positioned.
• Use the phone outside with a clear view of the sky and the horizon.
• Turn the phone on and ensure that the antenna is extended and
rotated upward.
• To test your satellite phone, call 00-1-480-752-5105. The dialling
sequence is very similar to dialling an international phone call. Dial 00, then
country code, and then the phone number, or press the 0 key until a “+”
appears, dial the country code, and then the phone number.
• To hang up a call, press the red “C” button.