What You Need To Know About Satellite Mobile Phones

Satellite mobile phones are communication devices that employ services of orbiting stations found in space to connect users who make calls, messaging and provide internet service. They cannot be fully distinguished from the ordinary cells that we use. The only difference is that satellite mobile phones use satellites while the ordinary cell phones uses transceivers fixed within earth.

Satellites that connect various users are located at high altitudes of about 35-40,000 kilometers (21-25,000 miles). The coverage is dependent on topographical orientation of a system. It may cover the whole earth or certain specified locations depending on how communication laws govern that region.

The ones used for such purposes are geostationary in space. This has an economic advantage because only a few satellites may be required for communicating around the whole world. Setting up and launching a satellite is very expensive and thus having to install only a few is very good. It is however noted that some coverage gaps are experienced between various users because of the high altitudes that the satellites are located.

Low-earth orbiting stations may also be put to use. They are located at altitudes of about 600 to 1100 kilometers (372 to 683 miles) With such types of satellite mobile phone satellites, no coverage gaps are experienced. The major disadvantage with such a mode of communication is that it requires many satellites being set up. The coverage of an area is just for a few minutes before it shifts to another place because the satellites are always orbiting.

The earliest satellite mobile phone devices were relatively heavy, looked large and were installed with long antennas. Nowadays, they have internal antennas and they are small as well as light in weight. They look just like the regular cell phones that people use. Their services are usually employed by security systems like the military that require privacy in their operations and are at most times out of cell range especially in remote areas or in the sea.

While in sea, micro wave antennas are installed to help automatically track overhead satellites. This is necessary because a ship is always in motion and may require connection to satellites at various parts of the journey. For those on land, one must be outdoors to maintain connection and ensure quality signals. When using indoors, one can always use an external antenna connector.

For private individuals, it expensive to acquire such devices and pay for services they offer. It may cost a few thousand dollars but is mostly dependent on the type of service that the device offers or sometimes the quality of coverage that service providers are able to match. Satellite mobile phones are so advantageous in making distress calls from remote regions. They can also be used to contact ordinary cells.

It is important that one learns of the various communication laws that govern communication in respective countries of usage. Some countries like Myanmar and North Korea have ban use of satellite mobile phones. This is mainly due to inability to monitor such communication or the clog on other communication systems.