Will Satellite Phones Work If the Grid Is Down?

[Secular Sanity]

If our power grid goes down, am I correct in saying that satellite phones won’t work because they require power for a ground infrastructure? If so, how about ham radios? Do they require power for a ground infrastructure?

[confused2]

No infrastructure required for radio hams - just your TX/RX (transmitter/receiver) and the same or similar at the other end. In the UK you're supposed (at least were) to have a licence - which involves some minimal technical knowledge - the idea being that hams are 'experimenting' rather than intending to replace commercial systems. When commercial infrastructure fails (eg due to a hurricane) radio hams continue to operate.

Edit .. I suspect Starlink works without ground infrastructure too.

[Secular Sanity]

No infrastructure required for radio hams - just your TX/RX (transmitter/receiver) and the same or similar at the other end. In the UK you're supposed (at least were) to have a licence - which involves some minimal technical knowledge - the idea being that hams are 'experimenting' rather than intending to replace commercial systems. When commercial infrastructure fails (eg due to a  hurricane) radio hams continue to operate.

Edit .. I suspect Starlink works without ground infrastructure too.

I have Starlink. It doesn't work when my power is out. I could be wrong, but I think that all satellite phones require ground infrastructure. They might have backup generators at their source, but I'm not sure how long that would last.  

[C C]

https://electronics.howstuffworks.com/ga...-phone.htm

EXCERPTS: Satellite phones boldly go where cell phones can't. They let you make phone calls from almost anywhere because their primary infrastructure is literally out of this world. Satellite phones don't rely on a terrestrial cell phone network. Instead, they beam their data directly to and from satellites orbiting Earth.

[...] One downside of geosynchronous satellites is that their high orbits mean significant transmission delays of around 250 milliseconds one way, or a quarter-second round-trip. So when you're speaking to someone, you may have to wait for a few moments before they answer your questions. Or you may hear a disconcerting echo, which can be frustrating.

Also, their small numbers put these networks at somewhat greater risk for outages. When one satellite requires maintenance (or malfunctions), an entire section of the world may lose service until the issue is resolved. Because geosynchronous satellites hover mostly above the equator, they don't provide much coverage for the poles.

[...] One of the biggest caveats to geosynchronous systems is related to size. To make a connection with these satellites you need a device that's roughly the size of a notebook computer; much of that bulk is comprised of a directional antenna. You also may need to calibrate the antenna and then point it towards the satellite in order to receive the best reception.

[...] LEOs are known for having superior call quality, lower delays (of only around 50 milliseconds one way) and greater dependability. They also need less battery power, so they don't suck as much juice as a geosynchronous-capable terminal. However, their data transmission speeds (at around only 9,600 bits per second) are much slower than geosynchronous systems. Suffice it to say you won't be watching YouTube if you're on an LEO network.

But LEOs have a major selling point in that they don't require a large antenna on your phone. Instead, these phones might be just a bit bigger than a typical smartphone, meaning they're pocket portable.

Whether you're using a geosynchronous or LEO system, for the best service, your phone needs a line-of-sight view to the satellite. So if you're indoors, you may need to step outside to make a call.

[Secular Sanity]

ChatGPT-->While satellite phones don’t require ground-based cellular towers, they do rely on ground-based control centers and ground stations for routing calls and managing network traffic. However, these ground stations are typically resilient and may have backup power sources to maintain operations even during power outages or other disruptions. (But for how long?)

Satellite Communication: Satellite phones send signals to satellites orbiting the Earth, which then relay those signals back to ground stations or directly to other satellites, depending on the system.

Ground Stations and Control Centers: These elements are essential for routing calls and managing the network. While they are independent of local power grids, their operation can be affected by power issues or infrastructure problems.

Backup Systems: To mitigate potential disruptions, ground stations and control centers typically have backup power sources, such as generators, to ensure continuous operation during power outages.

In summary, while satellite phones don’t rely on ground-based cellular towers, their effectiveness can still be influenced by the condition of ground-based control infrastructure.

But ham radios communicate directly between operators without needing centralized infrastructure, which can be advantageous when traditional networks are compromised.

Big tech outages today.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/microsoft-i...worldwide/

[C C]

It's a given that anyone on the other end using an ordinary phone or smartphone would be dependent on and vulnerable to ground infrastructure. The strict question would be can people who are only using satellite phones still communicate with each other? It's similar to the dependence on somebody else having to have a ham radio. If the satellite alone can't directly mediate between two satellite phone users (without ground intervention or assistance), then the system is indeed a fail for a massive SHTF scenario where both users are affected.

[confused2]

Probably obvious but.. does the aerial thing have to be plugged into the mains? Like no mains then no aerial? If it has a place for batteries (?) for backup .. are there nice new batteries in there?
I'd guess (Elon being Elon) Starlink would really be a 'network in the sky' for starlink users.