Very informative thank you. I've just acquired the Thuraya Sat sleeve. And a little disappointed considering I'm on the N.S.W. Victorian border, regarding the low North West Satellite. And the potential for obstructions in the line of sight to affect reception. But I bought it second hand and hopefully it will serve its purpose especially in an emergency. I also have a Zoleo as a backup.
I was stuck on a boat in the middle of the ocean trying to use this and it kept saying 000 call rejected, I was so mad but thankfully someone seen us and picked us up.😂
Good review. I've had a 9505A since 2004 and while Iridium is not the cheapest option, it's very reliable. Great in the 4wd but a big brick on the bike. Am considering one of these simply from a size point of view. 👍
Timely review, I sold my iridium 9575 a while back and now looking for a new phone. I wasn’t happy with the iridium voice quality and experienced a lot of call drops in remote areas of WA with horizon in all directions. I’ve been hoping starlink would have come up with a mobile system by now, but looks like it’s still a fair way off. What’s the voice quality like compared to iridium? Also to note, I never had to pay for incoming calls on my iridium and neither have the people who called me. It’s just treated like an Australian mobile number.
Yes there are plans where you dont have to pay for incoming on Iridium, but you have to be on a contract, and they are more expensive. To be on Casual you will pay. The Thuraya you get free incoming and no contract at all, for only $15 month. Voice quality is pretty good for a sat phone. Some say Thuraya have the best voice quality, due to the bitrate and less compression, but its line ball. Its hard to hear a difference.
The external antenna connection? Being a sat phone, when in a car or vehicle an external antenna can boost you signal strength, also when in dense tree coverage.
Thanks for the review. I have the same phone and it has been good. My only complaint is texting. I’m very slow on the old style keypad. I wish I d bought the satsleeve. I’m curious to know why you didn’t buy the satsleeve.
I wanted a stand alone phone especially when in the motorbike. Also in the research I did, there were a huge amount of complaints from people where the app would not ring on incoming calls, would disconnect etc, and there wasn't a lot Thuraya or the user could do, as it was changes in the Phone OS. Mainly iOS. So I thought I would stay aways from them, and go with reliability. But yes, you have to rely on muscle memory from the Nokis days :)
I have the sat sleeve and i don't recommend it. It needs to be connected to your smartphone app before you have no service and needs to stay charged and connected at all times. If you turn off the app by accident, you won't be able to reconnect unless your smartphone has data. It is also has talk lag and is a pain to answer if using you phone for music or movies.
I have one of these, its one of those things you pay for every month but almost never use. I'm on the waiting list for starlink and if tesla phone comes out, all other devices will be redundant. I hope it happens in 2022.
You will be waiting for a while. maybe 2032 at the normal Telco pace. :) I need a solution today. I use mine quite a bit. Using it next week when I head north. If something better comes out I will switch to it. Competition will make the market even more competitive. All other systems wont be redundant, just a fraction of the price.. that will be even better. If Telstra are involved, Starlink will be way to expensive for many years to come. :)
Also, Starlink is a data service, I'm not sure they have phones in mind right now, especially will all the regulatory stuff that goes with being a phone carrier.. Probably have to use skype. And they have some work to do the reduce the size of the antenna.. not impossible, but they are probably going to spend most of their time just rolling out data to the world for a few years. But you never know..
@@jjsadv I work with Western Australia Spaceport. They are already contracted for constellation replacement satellites, starlink and others. Starlink is low earth orbit, this is why it’s a mesh not geo stationary. geo stationary is 35,000km+ orbit, low earth is 500km. Hence starlink low latency and no requirement for external antenna. My information is Aus access by mid 2022. Starlink is both data and voice. Tesla phone will be compatible and 3rd party phones can licence access. Cheers mate.
@@marcusrwalker Very interesting.. I work in a similar tech industry. We have most likely provided some of the components for their solution. I understand their Tech, And the differences between the various systems. If Startlink provides a better solution (tech and price), I will move to it. :) But no doubt it will be more expensive for a while. The Marketing people will be looking for payback in the shortest time. Apple were looking at adding Sat compatibility, I presumed that Starlink would be what they are looking at for now.. until they built their own :)
It would want to be for the price they ask. Until the day does Thuraya was better as you could actually use it just like a regular phone without having to pay 1000s dollars a month.
The InReach is ok. I have one also. But for plain coms it’s more expensive and txt only. The tracking is ok but the web back end works like it was created by a first day intern.
10yrs ago I started off with a Iridium then after about 4yrs as price monthly increased I changed to Inmarsat handset for 2years contract deal which was like $25 month instead of $40 Iridium at the time, however After that the price deal finished so I ended up getting a Thuraya basic phone like this one as the monthly casual $15 plan was perfect. Pivotel was who I have always been connected through. Call quality in South Australia and travel has been best with Iridium and thuraya but found inmarsat sometimes calls were not as good or connections. I did however admire the bluetooth with inmarsat however it would only pair to ear head phones but not the car bluetooth systems even with latest firmware on inmarsat and decks. Iridium 9555 and thuraya i preferred the design antenna size and specs. I had considered the Sleaves or hotspots with Iridium and Thuraya but when you get into the nitty gritty nothing is better than just a phone that works especially in an emergency. pairing issues, amount of people connect and all that wasnt at the time as good as it initially sounds. pitty the Thuraya didnt have loud speaker phone, unlike the inmarsat and Iridium handsets. pitty no bluetooth to car music systems too like mobile phones. Pivotel did say when i was roaming international that the plan i was on allowed FREE incoming calls opposed to the cheapest plan and cant remember now if thuraya also allow this for international roaming incoming calls? after 10yrs i now dont have a sat phone as hardly travel but still have a PLB with gps. Im excited to see what the future brings to satellite phones and hot spot sleeves etc.
Since the New iPhones have a satellite texting capability for emergencies, I think we have see a glimpse into the future.. With these new LEO systems like starlink, all mobile phones in the future will have a satellite capability.. The dedicated Satphone will go the way on the landline.. Nearly extinct..
![Thuraya XT-Lite Satellite Phone REVIEW! | The BEST Satellite Phone For Overlanding & 4wd? [2020]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/22FbnuONyJA/mqdefault.jpg)
Good no nonsense review. I’m having a look at your other MC videos
Very informative thank you. I've just acquired the Thuraya Sat sleeve. And a little disappointed considering I'm on the N.S.W. Victorian border, regarding the low North West Satellite. And the potential for obstructions in the line of sight to affect reception. But I bought it second hand and hopefully it will serve its purpose especially in an emergency. I also have a Zoleo as a backup.
Yes, it’s good. The Toronto raptors wone the basketball champion ship a long time ago against the 76ers
Great review mate. Very helpful for me. Thanks.
I was stuck on a boat in the middle of the ocean trying to use this and it kept saying 000 call rejected, I was so mad but thankfully someone seen us and picked us up.😂
Might have to try it and see what happens. I have an Australian Mobile number on it, So I presume it works, I actually haven't tried 000
Merry Xmas thanks for the review 👍👍👍👍🇦🇺
Good review. I've had a 9505A since 2004 and while Iridium is not the cheapest option, it's very reliable. Great in the 4wd but a big brick on the bike. Am considering one of these simply from a size point of view. 👍
Yeh, I use to lug around the 9555 in the tank bag. The Thuraya phone is smaller and lighter thats for sure.
Im from Bangladesh your products Bangladesh market have?
Bangladesh market have in your products?
Timely review, I sold my iridium 9575 a while back and now looking for a new phone. I wasn’t happy with the iridium voice quality and experienced a lot of call drops in remote areas of WA with horizon in all directions.
I’ve been hoping starlink would have come up with a mobile system by now, but looks like it’s still a fair way off.
What’s the voice quality like compared to iridium?
Also to note, I never had to pay for incoming calls on my iridium and neither have the people who called me. It’s just treated like an Australian mobile number.
Yes there are plans where you dont have to pay for incoming on Iridium, but you have to be on a contract, and they are more expensive. To be on Casual you will pay. The Thuraya you get free incoming and no contract at all, for only $15 month.
Voice quality is pretty good for a sat phone. Some say Thuraya have the best voice quality, due to the bitrate and less compression, but its line ball. Its hard to hear a difference.
Is pivotel now pulsarbeyond ? Because i can't find their homepage
Pivotel page is still there.
What is the benefit of the small hole closed with a piece of rubber behind Thuraya XT Lite ?
The external antenna connection? Being a sat phone, when in a car or vehicle an external antenna can boost you signal strength, also when in dense tree coverage.
@@jjsadv
Thank you I really appreciate it
Thanks for the review. I have the same phone and it has been good. My only complaint is texting. I’m very slow on the old style keypad. I wish I d bought the satsleeve. I’m curious to know why you didn’t buy the satsleeve.
I wanted a stand alone phone especially when in the motorbike. Also in the research I did, there were a huge amount of complaints from people where the app would not ring on incoming calls, would disconnect etc, and there wasn't a lot Thuraya or the user could do, as it was changes in the Phone OS. Mainly iOS. So I thought I would stay aways from them, and go with reliability.
But yes, you have to rely on muscle memory from the Nokis days :)
I have the sat sleeve and i don't recommend it.
It needs to be connected to your smartphone app before you have no service and needs to stay charged and connected at all times.
If you turn off the app by accident, you won't be able to reconnect unless your smartphone has data. It is also has talk lag and is a pain to answer if using you phone for music or movies.
Are incoming calls with iridium or thuraya free of charge?
@@ShineRecordings yes they are. Or they were in Australia until they lost the satellite.
what do you prefer generally (in australia)? Iridium or Thuraya?
Like everything it’s not that simple. But for price and value for money Thuraya wins, for ultimate coverage iridium would win, but you pay for that.
My Name is Thuraya omg
I have one of these, its one of those things you pay for every month but almost never use. I'm on the waiting list for starlink and if tesla phone comes out, all other devices will be redundant. I hope it happens in 2022.
You will be waiting for a while. maybe 2032 at the normal Telco pace. :) I need a solution today. I use mine quite a bit. Using it next week when I head north. If something better comes out I will switch to it. Competition will make the market even more competitive. All other systems wont be redundant, just a fraction of the price.. that will be even better. If Telstra are involved, Starlink will be way to expensive for many years to come. :)
Also, Starlink is a data service, I'm not sure they have phones in mind right now, especially will all the regulatory stuff that goes with being a phone carrier.. Probably have to use skype. And they have some work to do the reduce the size of the antenna.. not impossible, but they are probably going to spend most of their time just rolling out data to the world for a few years. But you never know..
@@jjsadv I work with Western Australia Spaceport. They are already contracted for constellation replacement satellites, starlink and others. Starlink is low earth orbit, this is why it’s a mesh not geo stationary. geo stationary is 35,000km+ orbit, low earth is 500km. Hence starlink low latency and no requirement for external antenna. My information is Aus access by mid 2022. Starlink is both data and voice. Tesla phone will be compatible and 3rd party phones can licence access. Cheers mate.
@@jjsadv for some reason youtube keeps deleting my reply, have no idea why.
@@marcusrwalker Very interesting.. I work in a similar tech industry. We have most likely provided some of the components for their solution. I understand their Tech, And the differences between the various systems. If Startlink provides a better solution (tech and price), I will move to it. :) But no doubt it will be more expensive for a while. The Marketing people will be looking for payback in the shortest time.
Apple were looking at adding Sat compatibility, I presumed that Starlink would be what they are looking at for now.. until they built their own :)
Pivotel are tops
Iridium is far superior to Inmarsat and thurya
It would want to be for the price they ask. Until the day does Thuraya was better as you could actually use it just like a regular phone without having to pay 1000s dollars a month.
Nah. Sold it and got an inreach
The InReach is ok. I have one also. But for plain coms it’s more expensive and txt only. The tracking is ok but the web back end works like it was created by a first day intern.
10yrs ago I started off with a Iridium then after about 4yrs as price monthly increased I changed to Inmarsat handset for 2years contract deal which was like $25 month instead of $40 Iridium at the time, however After that the price deal finished so I ended up getting a Thuraya basic phone like this one as the monthly casual $15 plan was perfect. Pivotel was who I have always been connected through. Call quality in South Australia and travel has been best with Iridium and thuraya but found inmarsat sometimes calls were not as good or connections. I did however admire the bluetooth with inmarsat however it would only pair to ear head phones but not the car bluetooth systems even with latest firmware on inmarsat and decks. Iridium 9555 and thuraya i preferred the design antenna size and specs. I had considered the Sleaves or hotspots with Iridium and Thuraya but when you get into the nitty gritty nothing is better than just a phone that works especially in an emergency. pairing issues, amount of people connect and all that wasnt at the time as good as it initially sounds. pitty the Thuraya didnt have loud speaker phone, unlike the inmarsat and Iridium handsets. pitty no bluetooth to car music systems too like mobile phones. Pivotel did say when i was roaming international that the plan i was on allowed FREE incoming calls opposed to the cheapest plan and cant remember now if thuraya also allow this for international roaming incoming calls? after 10yrs i now dont have a sat phone as hardly travel but still have a PLB with gps. Im excited to see what the future brings to satellite phones and hot spot sleeves etc.
Since the New iPhones have a satellite texting capability for emergencies, I think we have see a glimpse into the future.. With these new LEO systems like starlink, all mobile phones in the future will have a satellite capability.. The dedicated Satphone will go the way on the landline.. Nearly extinct..
@@jjsadv yeah i think your on something there, and data speeds and costs etc better as time goes until a meteor wipes the satellites lol. 🤔🤣