Satelite phone

[peesalot]

any recomendations on what company to activate service with, ?

[Mark W]

If you are gonna spend much time in the higher lattitudes, the Irridium has better coverage. They use polar orbits for their satellites, whereas Globalstar uses equatorial orbits.

Globalstar seems to be more widely marketed

I have used Irriduim. Have not used Globalstar.


Mark...

[DieselROCKS]

My old man has the Globalstar unit, works great whenever he needs it. They had a special on a while back they would throw in the car kit for free. Works real slick....just make sure you're not using the Sat mode when you don't need it...it has a tendancy not to switch back to Cellular if the signal isn't perfect.

[emtee]

I'm not all that familiar with satellite phones (I barely deal with my cellular; it's basically an emergencies-only item that stays on my belt.)

How do they compare with cellular? I'm guessing range is the obvious advantage, but what about initial layout/monthly cost/etc? Can you do a "pay as you go" plan, or...?

I'm looking into 2M for my rig for better trail communication, but I'm guessing satellite would have a definite advantage if you weren't getting any love from repeaters, etc.

[spressomon]

Originally Posted by emtee

I'm not all that familiar with satellite phones (I barely deal with my cellular; it's basically an emergencies-only item that stays on my belt.)

How do they compare with cellular? I'm guessing range is the obvious advantage, but what about initial layout/monthly cost/etc? Can you do a "pay as you go" plan, or...?

I'm looking into 2M for my rig for better trail communication, but I'm guessing satellite would have a definite advantage if you weren't getting any love from repeaters, etc.

As long as you, when you are using your sat phone, have a clear view of the sky...and not stuck down in some deep tree covered canyon .

[emtee]

Originally Posted by spressomon

As long as you, when you are using your sat phone, have a clear view of the sky...and not stuck down in some deep tree covered canyon .

Well of course! I mean, how often to you flop your rig or break an appendage in the *bottom* of a canyon?

[FJ40_owner]

Originally Posted by peesalot

any recomendations on what company to activate service with, ?

Jim B had a sat phone last year when your pal had his accident. He could not get a signal and we used ham radio to call for the bird.

Sat phones are finicky. Don't trust your life on one.

[hatfieldcb]

Originally Posted by FJ40_owner

Jim B had a sat phone last year when your pal had his accident. He could not get a signal and we used ham radio to call for the bird.

Sat phones are finicky. Don't trust your life on one.

We were steered well away from Globalstar phones this year for Cruise Moab. Went with Iridium Motorola phones.

[Hltoppr]

Globalstar has had a couple of satellites fail recently, and will not have new ones up until June or the Fall....

Right now the GS coverage is almost useless...seriously....

Just got back from Mexico with a GS phone, and for emergency usage you might as well use smoke signals....

Until they get it repaired, don't waste your money....

-H-

[GeoRoss]

Originally Posted by FJ40_owner

Jim B had a sat phone last year when your pal had his accident. He could not get a signal and we used ham radio to call for the bird.

Sat phones are finicky. Don't trust your life on one.

X2,


I have also had finicky reception on both carriers. There was no problem with line of site either (15,000 ft plateau).

[brownbear]

In BC globalstar sucks ass. Too bad, as they have better clarity and don't have the long number to call. They are even significantly cheaper.

But the best coverage is Iridiums. The 9505A is a nice phone. I have used both systems. I even installed the 9505A into a plane I look after.

The Iridiums seem to get coverage everywhere. The Iridiums work pole to pole and all over the world. Globalstars barely cover NA.

[pismojim]

Originally Posted by FJ40_owner

Jim B had a sat phone last year when your pal had his accident. He could not get a signal and we used ham radio to call for the bird.

Sat phones are finicky. Don't trust your life on one.

I rented a Globalstar phone for the week, about $100 with the mailing back and forth. I prepaid about 30 minutes so I could play around with it. When it worked it sounded great but about half the time it would drop the call at some point. It didn't like trees and steep canyons.

In the case of the accident, near V-rock on Cadillac Hill, at one point I had a good signal, the emergency phone number entered and was just waiting for a patient status update from the on-scene EMT, before I hit send. Once I received the status and hit send... nothing... The location was a steep canyon side with trees. At this location and a few others I felt like the satellites were moving overhead. The coverage would seem to come and go. But, I'm not sure if that's how they actually work. In the mountains it can be tough to see a large portion of the sky without climbing higher.

As bad as it was, it was better than nothing. I thought it was pretty cheap insurance. I was also impressed with the amateur radios which seemed to work great at this location.

[cruiser88]

can someone chime in on phone cost/coverage. is there a contract.ive often wondered. cell phones suck in wv

[ginericLC]

Our neighbors have a trucking company and they have a few. They use the Irridiums. It is fairly expensive. I think it costs a buck a minute. They have a plan where they buy a years worth of minutes in bulk. If you don't use the minutes you lose them. Other than that I don't know that much about them. He's had me try to buy them on Ebay for him to get the car kits and some accessories. The accessories are expensive.

[brownbear]

http://www.infosat.com/services/irid...time-rates.htm

[cruiser88]

Originally Posted by brownbear

http://www.infosat.com/services/irid...time-rates.htm

thank you it just might come in handy in my neck of the woods

[brownbear]

yah they are the owners of the iridium system....after Motorola crapped out on it.

[mep1811]

Iridium is the way to go. Globalstar's system is failing and they have an almost 50% voice failure rate. I have used Globalstar here and in Iraq and it is hard to find a bird to hit and then maintain a connection.