EPIRBhire.com.au Australia wide.
Contact: Peter & Caroline Davidson.
P.O. Box 614,  MANLY. 1655.
Peter:  0415 263 750
Office: 0410 506 709
Overseas calls:  +61 415 263 750

email: info@epirbhire.com.au

24/7 emergency orders - Peter 0415 263 750

Thank you for choosing EPIRBhire for your Satellite phone requirements.
We use the Iridium Satellite network with the Motorola 9505a handset (pictured) as we feel it is the best option available.

First a quick word about what to expect from an Iridium Satellite phone.
When you make a call the handset talks to a satellite 780km up in the sky that is travelling at 26,000km per hour. Your call is bounced between up to 4 satellites until it reaches Nevada (USA) where it is pushed down an optic fibre to Sydney and into the local network.
This amazing technology allows you to make a phone call from anywhere in the world, except inside a house. So for obvious reasons the handset needs a clear view of the sky. If you like the technical stuff, click on this site and you can see realtime Iridium Satellites passing over, http://www.n2yo.com/?k=15
Calls do drop out and sometimes you will need to dial twice, it brings back memories of the old analogue phones and the Motorola "brick" of the 1980s. (the phone weighs 380gms) Having said all that, overall you will find it very reliable and the best option available.
We have found SMS technology (.99 each) is a great way for people to communicate with you.
We have many clients needing weather information for bushwalks and yacht deliveries, a very successful solution is to have a friend send regular SMS with the appropriate information required. 
If you base your call costs on $2 to $3 per minute when you are in Australia, calling an Australian landline or mobile, you won't get any nasty surprises on the itemised calls bill that we send you at the end of the hire period.

How to rent a phone from EPIRBhire.
Please feel free to call us and we can fax or email a hire agreement and terms and conditions to you.
We can normally deliver Australia wide within 24/48 hours although we prefer not to rush things. We will only charge you from the day you need it to the day we get it back, if we are able to send it a day or so before you need it we will not charge you, and it takes out any last minute problems.

You can download a hire agreement from the links below, fill it in, sign it then scan it and email the contract to info@epirbhire.com.au

Click here for hire contract in PDF or 
Click here to download a word doc
other downloads
Click here for a sample of the call cost bill you will receive at the end of the hire
Click here for a one page phone instruction sheet

Please read the summary of costs and the terms and conditions below.

Hire rates. (Summary)
At the very bottom of this page there is a complete day to day price list.
Minimum charge one week $140, 
2 weeks- $266, 3 weeks - $385, 4 weeks - $497,
5 weeks - $581, 6 weeks - $665, 7 weeks – $735, 8 weeks - $800
then $50 per week or part there of. (see daily rate at the bottom of this page)
For frequent usage we are able to negotiate economical terms.

Call rates
We use two different carriers, Pivotel and Telstra. There are combinations of flag falls and time charges depending on where you are and who you are calling. The charges are based on 30 second blocks, so a 31 second call will cost the same as a 60 second call. 
We recommend one carrier over the other depending on whether you are travelling overseas. If you are travelling overseas use Telstra so you don't get charged for people calling you. Use Pivotel if staying in Australia, as people can call you for the same cost of a normal mobile call.
You will be billed for the calls you make during your hire period approximately three days after you have returned the phone. We will email you an itemised Tax receipt that will be charged to your supplied credit card for the calls made. (let us know if your business requires a different payment arrangement) 
If you don’t make calls there will be no extra charge as there is no charge to you for incoming calls or SMS. 
We have disabled the voice mail due to the fact that it will cost you to listen to them at approx $3 per minute. We can enable the voicemail if you wish.
We suggest that if people want to leave a message, you ask them to send an SMS.

An approximate summary of charges for your calls.

While in Australia
Calls to Australian landline, mobiles and other Pivotel Phones
Outgoing calls approx $2 to $3 per minute.
SMS .99c for up to 150 characters
Calls to and from Overseas locations depends on the country, generally around $4 to $5 per minute.
Calls to a Telstra Iridium phone from a Pivotel Iridium phone(0147 number) $10 per minute.
Calls to a Pivotel Satellite phone, same as a normal mobile.
Calls to other Satellite systems – DON’T CALL THEM! It can be up to $25 per minute.

Our preferred carrier (Pivotel) is from our experience, a much better option. This carrier allows your friends to call and SMS you for the same cost as a call to a local mobile phone. It is in fact cheaper for your friends to call you, than you to call them. To put it another way it is just like they are calling a normal GSM mobile phone in Australia. 
Note: When you are overseas - you will be charged approx $3.00 per minute for the incoming call.

Our other Carrier (Telstra) does not charge you for incoming calls if you are overseas. If you are going overseas use Telstra as they not charge you for Australian incoming calls when overseas. If you are overseas on business and the total communication costs will be booked to the business then Pivotel is the better option due to their SMS facility. Telstra only allow SMS to other Telstra Mobiles. It will cost the caller just under $2 per minute to call you on a Telstra Iridium Satellite phone.

If you are just calling mobiles and landlines, (and all is within Australia) base your calculations on $2 to $3 per minute for most of your calls and you shouldn’t get any surprises on your call charges bill.

Data over the Iridium network, I wouldn't bother it is too slow for short term use.
We can supply the land based BGAN unit. BGAN operates with the Inmarsat system and will deliver 230kps to your PC anywhere in the world.

Call me for a chat. Peter 0415 263 750.

P.S. Please call me with your specific requirements and we can work out the best option.
If you own an Iridium phone we are able to rent you a SIM card. This will save you committing to a 2 year plan.
If there is any way you feel we could do things better, we listen to, and welcome all suggestions.
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General Terms and Conditions of Hire for Satellite phone and BGAN units.

1. Interpretation

a) ‘Company’ means EPIRBhire and its employees and agents.

b) ‘Contract’ means the Contract comprised of the particulars set out on the face of this document.

c) ‘Customer’ means and includes the Company, firm or person, the name of which is set out on the face of this document as the Customer and any person whether as employees, agent or otherwise, who makes this Contract on behalf of such company, firm or person.

d) ‘Equipment’ means the goods specified on the face of this document as the subject of this Contract.

2. Proper Use and Ownership of Equipment.

The Customer shall at all times use the Equipment in a skilful and proper manner for the purposes intended, and in the manner recommended, by the manufacturer. The Customer agrees and acknowledges that at all times the Equipment is and remains the property of the Company. During the period of hire, the Customer shall not sell, lease, pledge, assign, transfer, part with possession of or deal with Equipment in any manner which may affect, directly or indirectly, the Company’s ownership of the Equipment.

3. Customer Acknowledgment of Quality.

The Customer acknowledges having:

a) selected the Equipment without relying on the skill or judgment or any advice from the Company as to the fitness of the Equipment for any particular purposes of the Customer;

b) inspected the Equipment prior to taking delivery of it; and

c) satisfied itself as to the quality and fitness of the Equipment for the purposes of the Customer.

4. Breakdown and Damage.

The Customer shall be responsible for any loss or damage to the Equipment for any reason whatsoever except loss or damage as a result of reasonable wear and tear. In the event of breakdown or failure of the Equipment the Customer shall notify the company and shall return the Equipment to the Company’s or agents premises as soon as practical. On no account shall the Customer repair or attempt to repair or cause someone else to repair the Equipment without the prior written consent of the Company.

The liability of the Company in respect of any matter arising out of the application of Division 2 of Part V of the Trade Practices Act or any other applicable legislation is limited at the option of the Company to:

a) the replacement of the Equipment or the supply of equivalent Equipment; or

b) the repair of the Equipment

and the period of the hiring shall be suspended during the period from return of the defective Equipment to the Company until re-delivery of the Equipment to the Customer in accordance with this clause.

The company will refund at its discretion the downtime value on inspection of the faulty equipment. Should the equipment be faulty due to misuse, the customer will be responsible for the repair costs.

In no other event shall the Company be liable to the Customer on any account whatsoever, whether as a result of wear and tear or any defect in the Equipment or any negligence by the Company, for any loss or damage whatsoever including consequential loss or damage and whether or not foreseeable or contemplated by any of the parties.

5. Call Charges on Satellite Phones

Call costs are calculated and charged in 30 second blocks. Eg: Should the customer make a call for the duration of 32 seconds, the call costs charged will be for 60 seconds. All call costs will be charged to your credit card. The customer gives the company authority to hold and debit any amount from their credit card for the purpose of bond against loss of or damage to equipment and for payment of call charges. 
Indicative costs to replace equipment.
Handset $2200; 240v Charger $180; 12v Charger $120; Antenna Adaptor $105;
Aux Magnetic Antenna $150; Standard Antenna $450; Carry Bag $49; Battery Door $50; Battery $164.

5a. Data and Call Charges on BGAN

Call costs are calculated and charged in blocks. All call costs will be charged to your credit card. The customer gives the company authority to hold and debit any amount from their credit card for the purpose of bond against loss of or damage to equipment and for payment of data and call charges. 
Indicative costs to replace equipment.
BGAN Antenna base unit $2000; 240v Charger $130;

6. Return of Equipment

The Customer shall return the Equipment to the Company on or before the due date as shown on the invoice in good order and condition, including being properly cleaned.

EPIRBhire
Po Box 614
MANLY NSW 1655
Phone : 02 4997 8183
Ph : 0415 263 750
Email: info@epirbhire.com.au

7. Period of Hire

The period of hire shall commence from the time the Equipment is delivered to the Customer and will cease when the Equipment is returned to the Company. The Equipment shall be deemed to have been duly delivered and returned if delivered and returned to the Company’s premises during the Company’s business hours in the manner set out in the invoice. Where the Company agrees in writing that it will accept return of the Equipment other than at the Company’s premises, the Customer shall remain responsible for the Equipment until the earlier of such time as the Company collects the Equipment or the expiry of five (5) days from after the date agreed for collection.

8. Payment of Hiring Charges.

The Customer shall immediately pay to the Company the hiring charges set out on this invoice at the beginning of the period of hire. The Company reserves the right to vary the hiring charges at any time after expiration of the initial period as set out overleaf and any variation shall be effective immediately upon and after notification in writing to the Customer at the Customer’s address or at any place where the Equipment is being used.

The Customer shall pay or reimburse to the Company on demand all stamp duty or other statutory charges payable in connection with the Contract, the cost of all consumable items supplied by the Company used up in the use of the Equipment and the cost of all freight and delivery charges incurred by the Company in the delivery of the Equipment to the Customer or the return of the Equipment to the Company.

For the purposes of re-possessing the Equipment pursuant to this clause, the Company may enter upon or into any premises where the Equipment may be without notice to the Customer

This agreement indemnifies the Company in respect of any claims, damages or expenses arising out of any such action. Repossession of the Equipment by or on behalf of the Company shall be without prejudice to any other rights of the Company arising out of this Contract.

9. Deposit.

The Company shall hold the deposit as security for the due performance by the Customer of its obligations and may apply the whole or part of the deposit at any time against moneys due but unpaid or any expenses, loss or damage incurred by the Company as a result of a failure by the Customer to perform properly its obligations. Application by the Company of the whole or any part of the deposit pursuant to this clause shall be without prejudice to any other rights of the Company arising out of this Contract.

10. No Assignment of Contract.

This Contract is personal to the Customer and the Customer shall not transfer or assign or purport or attempt to transfer or assign the benefit of this Contract to any other person without the prior written consent of the Company.

11. Customer Authority

The Customer warrants that it has full authority to enter into this Contract for itself and any employer principal or other person named overleaf and that the information set out in this invoice is true and correct.

12. Safety.

The company shall not be responsible for damage to person or property including vehicles caused from the use or misuse of hired equipment.

The Customer acknowledges that it has received from the Company advice, information or items (or all of them), which relate to the safe operation and use of the Equipment. To the maximum extent permitted by law, the Customer indemnifies the Company from any loss, claim, expense, damage, cost or proceeding which may arise as a result, directly or indirectly, of the failure of the Customer to act in accordance with that advice or information and or to use in a proper manner as specified by the Company those items or any of them. Apart from the advice, information or items referred to in this Clause, the Customer acknowledges that in connection with the Equipment and its use, it is solely responsible for obtaining all advice or information necessary for the safety of and the safe use of the Equipment and for the provision and proper use of all items, tools, plant or other devices necessary for the safe use of the Equipment.

13. Satellite Phone Safety.

The customer acknowledges that driving a motor vehicle whilst using a mobile phone including a Satellite phone is against the law in Australia and agrees to abide by these laws and conditions. The customer also agrees that when driving in vehicles, it is the sole responsibility of the driver of the vehicle to operate the vehicle in a safe manner, maintain full surveillance of all driving conditions at all times, and may not become distracted by a mobile or satellite phones.

14. Extra info

Iridium Satellite LLC is prohibited from providing products and service to some countries. At present these include (and are subject to change): Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Cuba, Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Sudan, and Poland. Therefore, use of your Satellite phone in some countries may be illegal.