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NJLawman.com
Sunday,
September 11, 2005 10:36 p.m.
In the wake of Hurricane
Katrina, it has become clear just how fragile our
communications system can be. It came to the point
where agencies and organizations were using human runners to
send and receive information.
This simply will not do when
lives are at stake.
Satellite phones were the
only form of communication that was left after the
devastation for those who had them.
How do Satellite Phones
Work?
 A
satellite phone or satphone is simply a mobile phone that
uses orbiting satellites instead of cell towers to connect
with main phone lines. While systems vary, some
satellite phones will work on just about every portion of
the planet.
Satellite phones are about
the size that mobile phones were in the late 1980's, but
they continually get smaller as technology improves.
The one feature that sticks out is the large, protruding,
retractable antenna as seen in the photo to the right.
Iridium Satellite Phones, as
of this writing, use a "constellation of 66 low-earth
orbiting (LEO), cross-linked satellites operates as a fully
meshed network and is the largest commercial satellite
constellation in the world" according to their website.
Will Satellite Phones Work
During Power Outages
Absolutely.
As long as you have a charged
battery in the satellite phone itself, it will work fine.
Again, satphones do not use cell towers. Their signal
is beamed to actual orbiting satellites.
How Much Do Satellite Phones
Cost?
Do you remember when cell
phones first became available to the public? Do you
remember how expensive they were? That is where
satellite phones are right now, but their prices have been
coming down and will continue to do so.
Now there are several plans
available and most vary. You can lease, rent, or
purchase satellite phones and the monthly charges vary from
$50 per month and up. In many cases, additional
calling charges apply.
Satellite Phones are Just
not Possible for my Agency
Okay, if this is the case,
you should still do some homework.
Locate some dealers within
your jurisdiction and keep their contact information in your
disaster plans. Should a large-scale event occur
within your jurisdiction, in the early hours you can get the
wheels rolling for renting leasing a couple of satellite
phones for a month or so.
Even if you get them two days
late, it is better than not having them at all. This
is especially true for protracted incidents like we saw with
Hurricane Katrina were certain areas were without electric,
phone and cell towers for weeks.
NJLawman.com
Sunday,
September 11, 2005 10:36 p.m. |
