How Do Satellite Phones Work?
Introduction
Most anywhere in the world, you can stay in contact with others through a traditional cell phone or landlines. However, in certain areas of the world without lines or signals--or in emergency situations in which traditional cell and land-based phones don't work--a satellite phone can be the only option to communicate.
Satellite Phone to Landline
When a call is made from a satellite phone to a landline somewhere else in the world, the signal bounces through a series of destinations. When the call is made, the sound waves are converted into satellite waves. These waves are sent from an internal device in the cell phone to one of 48 satellites in the sky. This signal is then bounced between satellites until it reaches a satellite with a direct view of the location where the signal is to be sent. The satellite signal is then sent back down to Earth through a gateway. The gateway then transfers the satellite signal into a regular cell tower system or landline system. The call is then routed through the ground infrastructure to its destination, just like a regular phone call.
Satellite Phone to Satellite Phone
In case both parties are in areas where no ground phone infrastructure is available, calls can be made directly from one satellite phone to another. As long as both satellite phones are on the same service, the signal is sent the same way as it would to a land line. However, instead of the final satellite sending the signal to a cell tower or landline receiver, it's sent directly to the other user's satellite phone.
Requirements
For satellite phones to work, the user must operate the phone in clear view of the sky. In areas that are heavily wooded, or if the user is underground or inside a building, the satellite phone may not work because it needs an unobstructed gateway between the phone and the sky satellite.
Tags: call made, cell phone, cell tower, from satellite, from satellite phone