Satellite Phones or alternative comms

[oafpatroll]

What is this 'enforce the law' thing of which you speak?

On a serious note, at R400 for a pair it's not worth mw replacing the nicad batteries in my very old and reliable cobra ghetto grade handhelds.

[Paul]

As I have said elsewhere, there are so many of them out there that it would be easier for ICASA to change the rules than it would be for them to enforce the law.

ICASA... meh! I fart in their general direction.

So we have some properly allocated frequencies (digital and analog), and use of a repeater on Northcliff hill.

We can't even use our own frequencies for all the tow-truck and security companies rabbiting away.

[Daaf Malan]

https://www.news24.com/news24/tech-a...rlink-20230822

[wave.jaco]

https://www.news24.com/news24/tech-a...rlink-20230822

Please help me understand this better: The Starlink user equipment consists of a portable sattelite dish and a wifi router/access point to which your devices connect to. The satellite dish gets its signal directly from the orbiting satellites.

Where does a third party like IT Lec come in and what exactly do they do? If the satellite connects directly to the dish, what is the problem then? I am asking because I have seen one of these Starlink devices in action that was brought in by someone visiting another country where you can buy the hardware and traveled with it in their normal check-in luggage. No problems experienced with that and it worked perfectly. Where do the ICASA licensing/regulatory issues come in exactly?

[Daaf Malan]

Jaco,

The user will still be able to use the device and service, but it will be illegal to do so. Similar to operating a CB Radio without a licence. I would not put it past ICASA to seize hardware in order to prove a point to Elon.