Satellite Phones: Anybody have one?

[deleted]

On my way to pick up my trailer in Michigan I discovered a flaw in my safety plan of a woman traveling alone. I thought if I only drove during daylight hours, had a cell phone, and a AAA membership I'd be set if my car broke down along the way. Then I got to Wyoming where I drove for over four hours with no cell phone reception at all. I also didn't see a single Highway Patrol car so if my car had broken down I'd have had to rely on the kindness of a stranger to stop and help me. Not that I don't have faith in my fellow man, but that would leave me me more vulnerable than I'd like to be. I've also run into significant dead zones in Wisconsin and Montana.

It seems the answer is to purchase a satellite phone. I did some research and want to go with the most inexpensive, basic, reliable one which appears to be the IsatPhone-Pro.

Any feedback about this model or satellite phones in general would be very much appreciated.

[working on it]

We don't have a satellite phone, but are interested in one for the wife. She travels a lot more than I do, and probably encounters some dead zones, especially in her business travels (disaster areas). I was just perusing this link http://opensignal.com/coverage-maps/US/ to see what open gaps there are in cell phone coverage, and saw that the West (and even West Texas) have a lot. We use AT&T, now for most of 20 years, because they covered my travels in N Texas pretty well. We started with Voicestream (now called T-Mobile) but we had a 5 mile diameter DEADSPOT centered on our home! Went to AT&T, then 5 years later, my wife inexplicably switched us back to T-Mobile (she forgot about the dead spot). After that fiasco, we settled on AT&T and stayed with it. But, I see that she might need better coverage for both data and voice in the future.

[deleted]

Wow that map is stunning. I'm on AT&T but looks like I should be on Verizon. No wonder I had no connection. I pretty much only drove in states that aren't well supported by AT&T. The coverage over the northwest and northern central states is clearly better with Verizon. For now I'm stuck on an AT&T contract though so that's not an option.

And LOL like you, about 6.5 years ago my phone would only work at home if I sat right next to the kitchen window. Anywhere else in the house and the call would drop. We lived right on the border of a dead zone that thankfully doesn't exist any more so I can talk from anywhere in the house now

[NetDep]

Hi Stacie -

Like you, although not a woman that travels alone, I have an interest in not lying alone at the bottom of a small cliff and reenacting the scene from "127 Hours" that makes us all cringe!! So - my plan involves always leaving a trip plan, a SPOT Communicator and a satellite phone. Cell coverage is spotty at best anywhere and depending on a cell phone is folly as far as I am concerend. Much of my travel is solo and I often find myself in places when photographing wildlife/nature that is far from conventional assistance. The SPOT has a "911" feature on it that will send the calvary and the satellite phone is both backup and a way to keep in voice contact with home base. The satellite phone has its limitations but is ultimately reliable, even if one has to wait for a satellite to become available. The company that owns SPOT just recently released a satellite phone and they are available at REI. That is not the phone I have and I will provide links to the products mentioned below: (I urge anyone to do some research before buying or depending on ANY device)....

SPOT Communicator:

http://www.findmespot.com/en/ (I have the basic SPOT and use it frequently to check in and advise when I am on the way home -- preprogram the buttons)

The satellite phone that I have/use:

http://www.globalstar.com/en/index.php?cid=1110 (I have the GSP1700 and really do love it)

Hope this helps - feel free to shoot any questions/thoughts my way --- really enjoy your writing and can't wait for my teardrop which should arrive this week!!!

[deleted]

Thanks so much NetDep!

I didn't even know about the SPOT system. It seems like it could be sufficient on its own without a satellite phone since I don't stray too far off the beaten track when I'm by myself. I'll definitely look into them more closely.

I also enjoy shooting wildlife in particular and would love to be/feel more confident about going to more remote locations. I don't know that I ever will feel that way going by myself but even with another person this seems like a sensible plan to have in place.

Really appreciate the information.

[working on it]

While looking at the deadspot map, I also found this emergency communicator

delorme.jpg (16.67 KiB) Viewed 1514 times

that can be found here http://www.amazon.com/DeLorme-AG-008449-201-Satellite-Communicator-Smartphones/dp/B007ZOK6B2/ref=sr_1_2/187-9699438-9986354?ie=UTF8&qid=1372606124&sr=8-2&keywords=satellite+phones. It is cheaper, and used as a supplement for smartphones, which my wife and everyone else but myself carries. I'll probably get one for her; if I get stranded or lost, I can build a smoke signal fire (I carry a magnesium fire starter with me for years, no reason why, I've never used one).

[NetDep]

Stacie -

Yes, the SPOT would be quite sufficient for the purposes you describe -- a safety net of sorts. I do love mine and it is nice when arriving for the night - or leaving - to just hit the "OK" button and know that your location/status are being e-mailed/texted to the folks you want to have it. Kinda cool to provide a track of trips as well. The annual fee is nominal - and I have it deducted from my card and have the basic coverage only.

Glad I could help!!

Travel safe!!!

[deleted]

Thanks again NetDep!

Funny you should mention a CB radio Slow. Fred did mention a couple of times I could get one especially if I was going to keep driving so many hours each day.

The satellite phone I mentioned in my first post is pricy but still affordable. The best part about it is I can pre-pay for minutes and only use them in an emergency. They expire after a year but they'd be there if I needed them. But, now I'm leaning more towards NetDep's suggestion of using the SPOT system. I think it will suit my needs.

If I really get into long hauls I may do the CB too. I don't like driving too fast so I drove the truck speed limits even when I didn't have to. As long as I'm driving with them I could chat with them too and tell them to let me into a lane when I need to merge.

[bdosborn]

Rather than a satellite phone, you might consider a cell phone booster. We have one and I was the only guy with cell phone coverage at the Walk the Winds in Wyoming. It doesn't work when there isn't any signal at all but it will make get you a signal when levels are lower than you usually can use. I've gone from 0 bars to 4 in some remote areas where my phone didn't used to work.

Wilson Sleek

Bruce

[deleted]

Thanks for the info Bruce. I think the SPOT system NetDep suggested is a booster. Good to hear first hand others find them worthwhile. I'm thinking I'll start with a booster and only get an actual satellite phone if I feel the booster isn't enough. Your Walk the Winds experience is a great testimonial!

[bdosborn]

Thanks for the info Bruce. I think the SPOT system NetDep suggested is a booster.

I don't think it is, it just lets you send text messages from your phone and the DeLorme AG-008449-201has a subscription for t $120 per year plus $.50 per waypoint and $1.50 per message. Pretty expensive for a once in a while device.

Bruce

[NetDep]

Stacie - Just as an FYI...if you have a special travel plan coming up you can consider renting a satellite phone. The SPOT is a good way to go - nice balance - but renting a satellite phone might also work - best of both worlds. Google satellite phone rental for where you are and you should find some good ideas. My plan - unlimited talk with texting (texting is free and can be accessed via the web: http://www.globalstar.com/en/index.php?cid=5510 - is a pretty good one and I am not sure if it is still available. I pay about $60.00 a month for my plan on my satellite phone. I consider it, along with my cell phone and SPOT pretty good travel insurance since I would rather not be buzzard bait if I snap an ankle trying to get "the shot!"

I am not trying to push a satellite phone but think there might be some misconceptions - this is a coverage map for my provider:

http://www.globalstar.com/en/index.php? ... sidenav=85

And my unlimited plan allows me to call anywhere in my "home" area (N. America) as part of my plan so sometimes I carry my satellite phone into Canada (I live in Seattle) since there are no obscene roaming fees with it! And as a point of a technicality - there are a couple of satellite providers - Globalstar and Iridium - Iridium has been around longer but something to think about - with Globalstar you get a conventional area code + number phone number so anyone you know can just call you without much hassle -- with Iridium there is a much more complicated calling procedure. Also, my research - at the time I got mine about a year ago - was that Iridium was much more expensive.

A note on CB and FRS/GMRS radios -- they are alright for line of sight and like you said, CB radios might be nice to pass the time but over time they have become less popular. I do have one in the truck but use it mainly for trail runs and listening when on the interstate. Again, all IMHO and YMMV.

Travel safe!!

[deleted]

Ah Bruce I had a chance to do more reading and you're right. But the booster you suggested coupled with the SPOT system NetDep suggested are together well under the cost of a satellite phone so maybe I'll do both. I'll have to do a lot more research to figure out what will work best for me and the way I anticipate traveling. Right now though I like the idea of the booster and the SPOT Satellite GPS Messenger service. In case the booster fails there are plenty of people I could contact through the SPOT system who could make ER calls for me as long as they know where to send a tow truck to. And for $99.99 a year the basic SPOT plan seems to be all inclusive of any messages I'd need to send: http://www.findmespot.com/en/index.php?cid=103

Thanks so much for all of these insights into all of my options. I'm definitely ending the day a lot more informed than I began.

[Bogo]

In stead of CB, I'd get a HAM license and a HAM radio. Much greater range. http://www.arrl.org/what-is-ham-radio

SPOT also seams interesting to me. I just don't travel enough to justify.

[deleted]

Thanks for the suggestion and the link Bogo. After I read your comment the first thing I thought was "What is ham radio?" so thanks for the link too That sounds interesting. I'll definitely have to read up more about it.

Wow! So many options. I thought a few people would say yay or nay on satellite phones. I never imagined I'd end up with five options to choose from by the end of the day.