(Vanity) What kind of Satellite Phone will work in Afghanistan?

Me | 08MAY2005 | Treadstone

[Treadstone]

Hi Freepers, I figured this would be the best forum to ask this kind of question without being bothered with all the politics and such. Plus, you guys seem to be friendly and from time to time moderately trite. I'm trying to find out what would be the best way to have phone/web access while I am deployed for 18 months. I have been considering getting Satellite Phone with a data cable for my laptop from Iridium. I tried to figure out where my unit will be stationed. My battalion is an aviation unit, so I presume we will be on a large base. I have tried to find out what kind of web access we will have available for soldiers in my company to email family back in forth. I came to a conclusion; even if there is access it will busy nonstop, extremely expensive if AAFES will have anything to do with it and might be unavailable from time to time do to tech issues. My idea is get a basic satellite phone and data cable and have anyone who wants to email family stateside type up and email ahead of time and send a collection of emails at the same time to save on airtime. Iridium seems to be the phone of choice for soldiers deploying. I already kno this will not be cheap to make it happen, however it beats nothing. Any thought or suggestions on this? Please forgive me for making any errors. This is my first post on Freerepublic after a few years of being a lurker.

Regards, Treadstone

[Mister Baredog]

Any thought or suggestions on this? Please forgive me for making any errors. This is my first post on Freerepublic after a few years of being a lurker.

Try reposting, I'm sure someone knows. I find it hard to believe you've gotten no answers. FReepers are generally knowledgeable, keep trying.

Have a safe journey and thanks.

[ThreeTracks]

The larger bases all have phone/Internet centers set up. The phone centers require that you purchase an AAFES phone card, but the rates are not as expensive as you fear. The Internet centers are all run 24 hours a day free of charge, and you can of course access e-mail as well as the WWW from there. Most of them even have webcams so you and Suzie can see each other while you chat.

The lines can get long. It depends what time of day/night you go there. Helpful hint: bring your own laptop; you may be able to plug it into a dropline at the Internet center without having to wait in line.

For phones Iridium's not a bad idea; most company-sized units and larger have at least one, but it tends to be used mainly for official communications with higher headquarters back in the US. If you want a dedicated personal sat phone, you can bring your own, but Iraq's not exactly short of Iridium phones right now. I'm sure you can find someone to loan you one.

Conclusion: communications facilities are widespread and easily accessible. Unless you anticipate a situation where you have to call Mama RIGHT THIS VERY MINUTE, you don't need your own personal (expensive) Iridium phone.

ThreeTracks