During emergency situations when normal telephone, radio communications or cellular traffic is prevented by heavy use or the unavailability of a repeater site, the portable satellite telephone shall be used.
When a CSD Unit is issued a portable satellite telephone, with a spare battery, equipment case for storing the satellite phone and battery charging units, it will be the responsibility of the Branch/Unit Supervisor to control the daily issuance and maintenance of the equipment.
As part of the BEC Training, the Unit/Branch Supervisor should brief their personnel on the policy for using the satellite telephone. They should also ensure that a current copy of the Sheriff’s Department, as well as CSD’s Satellite Phone list is kept inside of the storage case.
Accountability, Storage and Maintenance
Each facility will establish an equipment checkout procedure equivalent to the current process of assigning handheld radios, in order to identify the individual assigned the specific equipment they are issued.
Whenever a satellite telephone is not in use, it should be stored in its case in a place where it can be readily available when needed for emergency use.
The person assigned one of these phones, should routinely check the battery meter level at least once a month as well as exchange the spare battery and put it in the phone for a meter level check to ensure both batteries are charged. To charge a battery, it must be attached to the telephone and then connected to an AC outlet or a vehicle's cigarette lighter receptacle. A charger adapter is included in the issued carrying case for that purpose. The Unit/Branch Supervisor should endeavor to have the batteries fully charged at all times. The telephone instruction manual lists the operational time of the battery to be: Standby time, up to 30 hours and Talk Time to be up to 4 hours.
Telephone Operation
The satellite telephone operates in a manner similar to cellular telephones. The user must be outdoors with a clear sight to the sky. Gently extend the large antenna built into the handset of the telephone outward and upward. It is critical that the user be in an open area away from buildings and structures, including the inside of a vehicle (unless using the remote antenna), that would prevent a clear view of the sky.
If you dial 9-1-1 the call goes to a center located in Colorado (for US only). Personnel at this center can read your GPS location off the phone. (Example dial: 9, clear, clear, 911, send). It is suggested, due to the possible delay because of routing, that you call the SCC Bridge at (323) 881-8100, give them your location, they will either connect you to the local law enforcement agency or supply you with the number so you can dial directly, unless in times of disaster...then the 9-1-1 routing should be used.
Telephone Testing
Each phone comes with ten minutes of test time each month. At a minimum, each phone should be tested quarterly. The testing must be limited to ten minutes to avoid additional per minute costs.
Each phone provides an instruction guide with the Iridium 9555 Sat Phone. If for some reason the instructions are not available with the phone, you can obtain a copy in the CSDNet ‘Forms’ under ‘Instruction Guide Iridium 9555 Sat Phone’.