The kit comes with everything needed to set up and launch a satellite communications connection
Inmarsat announced that Assemble Communications, a provider of voice and data services to residential and small business customers, will incorporate its new BGAN high speed mobile communications service into a Personal Hurricane Kit, in preparation for the hurricane season.The small lightweight kit will be marketed to residents of U.S. Gulf Coast states to ensure constant connectivity in the event a hurricane or other disaster disables the traditional terrestrial and cellular networks.
“We have seen several examples of the vulnerability of terrestrial networks during recent hurricanes and have learned that only through satellite communications can you guarantee constant connectivity,” said Jack Deasy, Inmarsat’s director of civil programs.
“The Personal Hurricane Kit from Assemble is all about providing portable and reliable communications connectivity by utilizing Inmarsat’s BGAN,” Deasy said. “With BGAN, residents of the Gulf Coast states as well as first responders will have significantly enhanced communications services during a disaster.”
No — I don’t know how much they’re asking for the kit.
Sat phones aren’t too expensive anymore. About $600 for a phone, and yearly service plans starting about $600 for 600 minutes, $1 a minute there after. Data sets and plans are more expensive. The prices depend on the service/satellites used. I priced them last Fall. I didn’t say it was cheap, but if you’re in the middle of Mongolia..
I hate to be a prick, equating intelligence to wealth and all, but…
Those who can afford this already have the common sense to evacuate.
I got a C.B ..
More affordable and I can call up a trucker to come haul my ass out of the area.. plus they work on any 12 volt battery..
Ummm,
and if the TELCO’s dug a ditch 6 feet deep, and ran the line, I dont think it would get bothered Either. Why run the poles, if they cant protect them, only 1 reason, easier to repair if they are in the air.
But if you run them under ground, them some drunk CANT hit the pole, and break the wires.. they need some reason to NOT fire 1/2 the repair men.
ECA — watch an amateur with a backhoe, sometime. Like cleaning up after a hurricane — or something as simple as hooking up the electrical/communications service from a home to the mainstream.
In my neck of the woods, code requires buried power and electricity — and they still get screwed up. People are very inventive about being klutzes.
We lost power twice, yesterday. And if the idiot with the backhoe just fills his trench, packs up and leaves — trying to avoid a fine — it ain’t especially easy for the utility crew to locate the break.
I understand that.
But if they used a parallel grid insted of a SERIAL based grid, you WOULDN’T LOOSE POWER.
Its the old idea that, they WON’T add 0.10 worth of improvement to something that’s worked for 40 years, and they make FULL profit from.
My company had had a sat-phone onsite for Y2K.. I think it’s still taking up space in the office and was only used for a test call.
I’ve also have suffered from telephone (and power) interruptus due to the occasional backhoe, drunk driver, or hurricane. Not fun when your business depends on it…
I briefly played with this piece of equipment a few years back. Price was pretty steep on a per-minute basis ($1/min voice, $6/min data rings a bell). It does have a data port that you can get on the internet, but speed was nothing to write home about, you got about 100Kb/s. The planar antenna was pretty cool. The phone asked you where you were located, then it gave you approximate settings (Az-El) to place the antenna. It would beep to let you know when you were getting close as you adjusted it for the optimum signal. There was a large warning sticker on the front of the antenna warning people not to get close to it due to the microwave radiation. Fun stuff.
A 4-watt CB will be useless. Ham radio has far more flexibility in terms of authorized frequencies and power levels and was utilized extensively after Katrina.
Whats the frequency Kenneth? Who said anything about 4 watts? Thats what linears are for..
I’ve talked around the world QRP buddy… Your a lot more hard pressed to find a ham than you are someone with a C.B. especially in the south..
How about a CB with a FOOT-WARMER
Known also as a linear which, provides extra amplified wattage, (illegal) but works well, *for in the event of an emergency!
All points considered, I would rather get the SAT phone if I had the money, it would certainly be handy …*for in the event of an emergency!