About Iridium Push-to-Talk

General Questions on Iridium Push-to-Talk:

1. What is Iridium Push-to-Talk service?
Iridium Push-to-Talk (PTT) service uses a small portable handset to provide unlimited PTT communications between different satellite phones active on the same Talk Group. The Talk Group area can be defined on the fly by the customer's designated Administrator using a simple easy-to-use web interface called the PTT Command Center. A quick video overview of the Iridium PTT Command Center is provided below. Simple geometric shapes such as circles and squares are dragged onto a map to define the Talk Group.

2. Is Iridium Push-to-Talk service available on existing Iridium satellite phone equipment?
Iridium PTT is available on several phone models. The Iridium Extreme PTT can operate in either telephony mode or PTT mode. The ICOM IC-SAT100 is a dedicated Iridium PTT-mode-only phone with an overall design similar to typical mobile radios. Finally, indoor Iridium PTT equipment for dispatch operators is also available.

3. What does Iridium Push-to-Talk service cost?
Iridium Push-to-Talk service has two components: a Talk Group plan and an Iridium PTT phone plan for each Iridium Extreme PTT satellite phone. For more detailed information click here. Talk Groups come in small, medium, large, and few even larger sizes. The Small Talk Group is free for any user with 5 active devices. The Small Talk Group is roughly the size of the state of Indiana and can be divided into 5 non-contiguous areas whose borders can be re-configured on-the-fly through a secure web portal. Our experience is that most users find the free Small Talk Group more than adequate.

4. Are there any best practice recommendations for Iridium Push-to-Talk?

1. In order to assure best results, orient the antenna of the Iridium Extreme PTT up towards the sky. Try to stay clear of tall buildings, trees and other vertical obstructions.
2. For in-vehicle applications, you will need to use a docking station with an external antenna mounted on the exterior of the vehicle.
3. Following successful registration with the Iridium network, use the device status screen and observe the tones that indicate when you are granted the floor to speak or receive push-to-talk communications.
4. Audio defaults to the Speaker and you can increase and decrease the volume to enhance clarity. If you need better sound quality, use the ear piece that is included with the Iridium Extreme PTT or plug in a third-party but approved wired headset.
5. To start a push-to-talk call, push and hold the PTT Button on the right side of the Iridium Extreme PTT handset until you are granted the floor to begin speaking. You will hear a series of connecting tones at one second intervals followed by a Talk Tone (3 notes ascending in rapid succession) or a Reject Tone (2 notes descending in rapid succession). The Reject Tone occurs if the service is busy or unavailable.
6. When you receive the Talk Tone, continue holding the PTT Button the entire time you are speaking. Release it when you are done speaking. If you attempt to hold the button for longer than 20 seconds, the floor will automatically be open again for others to speak.
7. Even if you are not speaking, be sure to keep the antenna oriented towards the sky so that you will be included in new PTT sessions initiated by others.
8. For even more best practices, click this link to a useful, one-page best practices guide to PTT