Why do Satellite Phones sometimes drop calls?

Firstly, what is a Satellite phone?

A  satellite phone  is effectively a mobile phone which uses satellites for communication, rather than cell like standard mobile phones.  Due to the fact that they can be used all over the world they are ideal for use in crisis management situations.  There are three satellite phone networks that are currently in operation:

'Iridium

'Globalstar

'Thuraya Iridium

With the increase in the use of Satellite phones over the last couple of years it has been made even more possible and practical to leave home and go places. Since signals may be obtained from virtually anywhere on the planet, satellite phones are being viewed as the next best thing for global travelers. But even the satellite phone has its weak points.  As with all satellite driven devices it requires a clear line of sight connection to the satellites in order to make a successful connection.  Due to this, depending on the wearabouts of your location (i.e. in a building etc) there could be problems with dropped calls or noise interferance.

What causes a dropped call?

Because satellite phones require an unobstructed line of sight this means that, for the phone to be reliable you need a clear view of the sky from where the call is being initiated or received from.

Any obstructions such as high rise buildings, heavy clouds or trees could affect the signal meaning that the quality of the voice may not be great or a call could get dropped if the signal is lost altogether.

Any object that obstructs the line of sight of the satellite phone or the antenna will result to a lower signal strength, which in turn can result to dropped calls.

Another factor may be electromagnetic interference caused by proximity to very powerful transmitters.  This can affect the strength of the signal or the quality of the call.  Weather isn't usually a factor for dropping calls, however, seriously adverse weather conditions could have an effect on the quality of the call if atmospherics interfere with the satellite connection.  Generally, the use of more powerful antennae or bigger satellite phone units can also prevent the frequency of dropped calls.

Depending on which network you are using this can happen as often as every 50 seconds. If the satellite cannot pass on the signal because there is no satellite within view or is blocked, the user may also experience a dropped call.  

If the satellite cannot pass on the signal because there is no satellite within view or is blocked, the user may also experience a dropped call.

About the Author:

Track 24 provide Satellite Phone solutions as part of their range of risk management products. Track 24 are the leading name in global tracking and crisis management solutions.