FAQs

An important consideration is that Iridium satellite phones need to have a direct line-of-sight to a satellite to function. Do not attempt to use an Iridium phone near an obstruction or in a building. You can use the Iridium network to make and receive calls all over the globe, including the polar regions.Example 1: If you are using the Iridium satellite phone to call a landline or cell phone in the United States, dial 00-1-XXX-XXX-XXXX. Regardless of where the satellite phone is located, this is the procedure for calling a landline in the U.S. 00 is for all outbound calls from your satellite phone, 1 is the U.S.’s country code, then the area code, then the seven-digit phone number.

Example 2: If you are using an Iridium satellite phone to call a landline or cell phone in a country outside the United States, dial 00-CC-XXXXXX. Regardless of where the satellite phone is located, this is the procedure for calling a landline outside of the U.S. 00 is for all outbound calls from your satellite phone, CC is for country code, and XXXXXX is the actual number.

Example 3: If you are using an Iridium satellite phone to call another Iridium satellite phone, dial
00-8816-XXX-XXXXX. Regardless of where the satellite phone making or receiving the call is located, this is the procedure for calling between Iridium satellite phones. 00 is for all outbound calls from your satellite phone, 8816 is the MSISDN, and XXX XXXX is the actual number.

Any Iridium subscriber using Iridium voice service within the 50 United States, District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands can use the emergency 9-1-1 system.However, outside the U.S. and its territories, a 9-1-1 call will not be directed to an emergency call center. Your call will terminate to a message instructing you to hang up and dial the local emergency provider directly. For this reason, it’s important to keep a list of emergency phone numbers and important numbers for each country you travel in.

If you are asked to enter a PIN code when you turn on your Iridium satellite phone, it means your SIM card is protected by a PIN code. The default PIN for all Iridium phones is 1111. To keep your phone and account secure against unauthorized use we recommend you set up a new PIN code for your SIM card.

If the incorrect PIN to an Iridium satellite phone is entered three times in a row, the phone will automatically block the SIM card. To unlock it, enter **05** and press the green button. The phone will instruct you to enter the eight-digit PUK1 code and press the green button. Then you will be able to set up a new PIN.The PUK1 code is sent to you via email when you activate your SIM card. If you cannot find your PUK1 code, please contact Remote Satellite Systems.

Iridium voice mail can be accessed by pressing the Voicemail icon in the Menu or calling 011-8816-6299-0000

Dial 00-1-480-752-5105 from your Iridium satellite phone to verify that your phone is working and practice using the phone – for free! You will hear a pre-recorded message that lets you know your call was completed and giving you helpful hints on proper phone usage. This is an automated service that Iridium subscribers can use whenever they like, not just when they first receive the phone.

There are three ways to check your Iridium satellite network prepaid account balance.Choice 1: Voice Call
Dial 2888 from your Iridium handheld device. This free call will connect you with an automated system that will notify you of the number of remaining minutes of calls to cell phones and landlines you have left as well as the number of days to your account expiration. The announcement will be in English.Choice 2: SMS
Using your Iridium phone, create a blank text message and send it to 2888 (or 002888 or +2888). You will get a response to this free message with the number of remaining minutes of calls to cell phones and landlines, the number of days to your account expiration, and the expiration date. The reply text message will be in English.

Choice 3: Voice Call
When you place any phone call with your Iridium phone, the remaining minutes will be announced before your call is connected.

Because all Iridium phone numbers are international, it can be very expensive to make calls to an Iridium phone and many phone providers will block international calls unless the subscriber has an international calling plan.
To work around this, Two-Stage Dialing lets callers in the United States and Canada call a local number (based in Phoenix, Arizona) that can connect you with an Iridium phone. The Iridium subscriber is responsible for the cost of the call.
To place a call to an Iridium subscriber or to receive a call on your Iridium device using Two-Stage Dialing, the subscriber must make an outbound call and successfully place the call for the first time. Call Iridium’s automated test number at (408) 752-5105 for free. After an outbound call has gone through, the Iridium subscriber line will be registered for Two-Stage Dialing and future calls will be routed correctly.
If the initial outbound call was dialed successfully and Two-Stage Dialing is still not functioning properly, please contact Remote Satellite Systems technical support at (888) 989-8199.

Perhaps you have previously used the Iridium Two-Stage Dialing system to receive calls. Now it’s not working. What happened?
The Iridium service outage that took place on October 20, 2016 cancelled all Two-Stage Dialing subscribers.  All subscribers who use the service, even if you were previously enrolled, must establish an outbound call. Call Iridium’s automated test number at (408) 752-5105 for free. After an outbound call has gone through, the Iridium subscriber line will be registered for Two-Stage Dialing and future calls will be routed correctly.

If your new Iridium SAT phone displays “Enter Phone PIN” when you turn it on, enter numbers 1111 followed by the green call key. If the PIN code does not work, do not try repeatedly. If you enter the wrong PIN code 3 or more times it will lock the phone and you will need the sim cards PUK code to unlock it. Call Remote Satellite Systems technical support at (888) 989-8199 with assistance in getting your satellite phone operational again.

Every call that originates from an ISAT phone is considered an international call. For people who haven’t made an international call before, it can be a little tricky. This guide will explain how to make calls using an ISAT phone. Each ISAT terminal is given a 9 digit international telephone number in addition to a 3 digit country code. All ISAT phones use the country code 870.If you are using your ISAT phone to call a landline or cell phone in the United States, dial the appropriate country code (001), then the area code, and the phone number. If the phone does not begin to dial, try pressing the pound (#) key to complete the number and begin dialing.

Example 1: 001 408 808 8838 #
You can see in the example the U.S. country code (001), the area code (805), the number (808 8838), and the pound key (#). Sometimes the pound key is necessary to alert Inmarsat that you are done inputting the phone number.

If you are using your ISAT phone to call a landline or cell phone in a different country, dial the country code and the full phone number. You can find the international country codes here. Note that it does not matter where the ISAT phone is located, just where the call destination is.

You can use any phone on the planet to call an ISAT phone. If you do not know your personal ISAT phone number you can reference your Quick Reference Guide provided to you or contact Remote Satellite Systems at 888-989-8199If you are calling the ISAT phone from the United States, regardless of where the ISAT phone is, dial 011, Inmarsat’s country code of 870, then the 9 digit ISAT phone number. 870 is the country code for all Inmarsat phones.

Example 1: Dialing an ISAT phone from the United States 011 870 737009141

From inside the United States, the first numbers will always be 011. If originating a call from outside the U.S., please use this tool to help you find the correct number sequence. Note again, it does not matter where the ISAT phone is located.

Example 2: Dialing an ISAT phone from outside the United States: 00 870 737009141

When calling a ISAT phone from outside the United States, you will use the same formula of XX (in this case 00), Inmarsat’s country code (870), and the ISAT 9 digit phone number (737009141). Every country is different, but many countries use 00. You can use this tool to figure out what code to start with. You can also always ask the operator for assistance connecting you. As long as you know the 870 country code for Inmarsat and the ISAT phone number, the operator can connect you.

It’s important to remember that the ISAT account will not be charged for incoming calls, however the caller will pay for satellite ISAT phone rates. Some phone providers block international calling, and others charge various rates. If you are going to call an Inmarsat phone number, ask your phone provider for the international call rate to 870 and if there are any international plans available.

If your ISAT phone will not turn on, first check to see if the battery is inserted correctly into the device. Next, check if the battery needs charging. Charge the battery for at least 20 minutes, which should provide enough power to turn the device on.

If the ISAT phone does not turn on after charging the battery, you probably need a new battery. Contact Remote Satellite Systems to determine the right battery for your device.

NOTE: In some instances with a NEW battery, the battery will need to be charged for an extended period of time (10 plus hours) and in some cases overnight.

If your ISAT phone is failing to make (or receive phone calls), it could be that you are not registered to the network. Point the antenna towards the sky and look at the signal bars on your screen. You must have a clear line of sight to the satellite and at least two signal bars to make or receive phone calls. Check to see that your antenna is fully extended. Face the equator. If no signal appears, try rotating slowly until you register on the network.

Make sure you are dialing correctly. Follow these steps:
Example 1: 001 408 808 8838 #
You can see in the example the U.S. country code (001), the area code (805), the number (808 8838), and the pound key (#). Sometimes the pound key is necessary to alert Inmarsat that you are done inputting the phone number.

If you are still experiencing issues with connectivity on your ISAT phone, please ensure that your service with Remote Satellite Systems is active.

Sometimes even if your phone is registered with the network, the network does not recognize your inbound phone calls. In this case you will need to first make an outbound phone call from the satphone to force the registration. Then try to receive a test call. If this does not work confirm that your satphone number is correct with the SIM card provider. Hopefully this is Remote Satellite Systems.

If you are still experiencing issues with connectivity on your ISAT phone, please ensure that your service with Remote Satellite Systems is active.

If your ISAT phone is failing to make or receive text messages, it could be that you are not registered to the network. Point the antenna towards the sky and look at the signal bars on your screen. You must have a clear line of sight to the satellite and at least two signal bars to make or receive text messages. Check to see that your antenna is fully extended. Face the equator. If no signal appears, try rotating slowly until you register on the network.

For ISAT Phone Pro and ISAT Phone 2, follow these directions to send a text message:

• Press the Menu key
• Choose the white envelope “Messaging” icon and press the “Select” button
• Highlight “Text Message” and press the “Select” button
• Enter the recipient’s phone number (Country Code + Area Code + Phone Number) in the “To:” field
• Type your text message (up to 160 characters)
• When you are done with the message, press the “Options” button
• Highlight “Send” and press the “Select” button

ISAT phones have limited storage capacity. The phone can hold a maximum of 20 messages in its memory. Delete some of your old text messages to free up space for new ones.
Ensure that your service center number is correct.

You can check your pre-paid balance on your ISAT phone with this routine:

• Register the ISAT phone to the network
• Press Menu
• Highlight “Settings” and press “Select” button
• Highlight “Prepay” and press “Select” button
• Highlight “Balance Enquiry” and press “Select”

Other ways to check your balance

• Call 591 from your ISAT phone
• Press *106# on your ISAT phone Pro while connected to the network. Your airtime balance will display as text on the screen.

• Press the red button to return to your ISAT phone’s main screen
• Press the left “Menu” button to go to the menu screen
• Select the Settings icon on the bottom left corner (this will be the same regardless of the language displayed)
• Press the down navigation button two times to highlight the Language icon and press the center “Select” button
• Press the center “Select” button and use the up and down buttons to find the correct language. Once you’ve found the right language, highlight the language and press the center “Select” button to change the ISAT phone’s language.

There may be due to different issues. Is your phone connected to the network? If you do not use the satellite phone and connect to the network regularly, your voicemails may have been automatically deleted from the network. The best way to stop this and ensure you receive voicemails is to connect to the network regularly.

• The first step is to extend the antenna completely so it is pointing to the sky.
• Rotate holding the phone until you have at least two bars.
• Hold the “1” button until the phone dials the voicemail.
• The automated system will ask for your 4 digit PIN.
• Enter your PIN and hear your voicemail.

The first time you call your phone’s voicemail, you will need to create a greeting and choose a 4 digit PIN.

Contact Remote Satellite Systems right away.

BGAN stands for Broadband Global Area Network. It is a worldwide solution for satellite telephone service and Internet connection via portable, easy to use devices. The BGAN satellite network is owned and operated by Inmarsat and interconnects with Remote Satellite System’s Point of Presence (POP) to provide connection to the Internet.

The BGAN terminal must be in line of sight with an Inmarsat satellite to work. This means the BGAN terminal antenna must be outside. This offers coverage over almost the entire globe except for the Polar Regions.

Yes, you can. All IP capable devices including tablets, smartphones, Mac laptops, PC laptops, IP routers, switches, and IP enabled PLC/RTUs can connect to a BGAN terminal.

Connect your laptop to the BGAN terminal using an Ethernet cable. Once done ensure your computer’s IP adapter settings are set for DHCP.

BGAN LaunchPad is a universal user interface that enables your laptop to connect to the Inmarsat satellite network. It can be used with all land mobile BGAN terminals. You can download the latest version of BGAN LaunchPad for your Mac or PC on the Inmarsat website.

If your PC or Mac laptop cannot detect the BGAN terminal, the first task is to ensure Ethernet cable is properly connected. If it is loose, you may not have the ability to detect the terminal. You can also check your computer’s TCP/IP settings to make sure they are set to use DHCP. Then renew your computer’s IP address and try to connect again. Lastly, configure your Firewall/Proxy on your laptop to allow the BGAN IP.

A GPS fix is needed before you can connect to the BGAN terminal and start using voice and data services. A GPS fix alerts the Inmarsat satellite where the BGAN terminal is located. To obtain a GPS fix, you need to have clear line of sight with the satellite. It’s best to be a wide open area – do not attempt inside or under a tree. Connect the BGAN terminal with your laptop or other device, then open the BGAN LaunchPad. Set the terminal flat on the ground with its face directed up. When you turn the terminal on, it will automatically search for and acquire a GPS fix. By monitoring the GPS status indicator on BGAN LaunchPad, you can ensure that a GPS fix has been completed.

If you have followed the directions and have acquired a GPS fix, the next step is pointing your BGAN terminal to the Inmarsat satellite network. Although the terminal will automatically search for a GPS fix, it must be pointed manually. After a GPS fix has been obtained, the BGAN LaunchPad will display the recommended antenna angle and compass direction you should point the terminal to. Simply move the terminal side to side, up and down, as needed while watching the signal strength indicator on your LaunchPad. You may need to make small adjustments to the angle and direction of the BGAN terminal until you see the strongest signal strength registered.

If you have followed the directions and pointed the BGAN terminal, you need to register the terminal to the Inmarsat network before you can connect to the Internet. All you have to do is turn to the BGAN LaunchPad on your device and click on the “Register with network now” button. Once registration is complete, the words “Registered with network” will display on the screen. The process can take up to ten minutes.

BGAN terminals are used for two distinct purposes: data and voice. Once you have acquired a GPS fix, pointed the terminal, and registered the terminal, you need to open a standard data connection to use the Internet. Fortunately, after you register the BGAN network with the Inmarsat satellite network, the terminal should open a data connection automatically. When the standard data connection is started, you will be connected to the Internet and able to browse, send and receive email, and use other IP applications. When you need to open or close a data connection, simply click on the “Data” button in BGAN LaunchPad to open the “Data Connections” tab. From there you can open up a new data connection or close an existing one. Be sure to close out any standard data connection when you are not using your device. Keeping your data connection open will incur additional charges.

BGAN terminals offer different functionalities depending on your needs. Each BGAN terminal, or SIM card connected to the BGAN terminal, has a unique telephone number. Some BGAN terminals will work with your smartphone. Other BGAN terminals have an RJ-11 hone jack that can use any cordless or corded phone. Discuss your needs with Remote Satellite Systems to determine the right terminal for you. We do suggest choosing phones that do not need external power to work because it is likely that you will be using your BGAN terminal in a location without a power connection.

To initiate a call, dial the country code you are calling (regardless of where your BGAN terminal is located), the area code, the number you are dialing, and the # key. For example, to call Remote Satellite Systems, the number would be 001 888 989 8199 #.

To dial a BGAN phone, use the country exit code, then the Inmarsat country code, then the 9 digit BGAN phone number. The country code for all Inmarsat phones is 870. For example, if the person is calling from the United States (no matter where the BGAN terminal is located), it would be 011 870 XXX XXX XXX. The 011 is the country exit code, the 870 is Inmarsat’s country code, and then the 9 digit phone number that is unique to your BGAN.

There is a short and long number to collect messages. Dial either the full number 00 870 772 001 899 or the short number 570 to collect your messages. The first time you access your BGAN voicemail, an automated voice will walk you through setting up your voicemail, including picking your preferred language, choosing a PIN, and recording a greeting.

BGAN terminals… Other BGAN terminals that have an RJ-11 phone jack can use any standard corded or cordless phone. We do recommend using phones that do not require external power to operate since most of the time the BGAN will be used in no-power locations. Phones connected to a BGAN terminal act as as any normal phone with dial-tone. Instructions for calling over BGAN are here.