Satalite phones for emergency use
We have been talking about getting one of these but not sure what to get.
With the lack of cell coverage out here and a recent trip way out into the wilderness where we did not have cell service for most of the day made us think a little more about buying one. That and the trip to Bozeman has little cell coverage and in the winter the road can go from passable to a nitemare instantly, the thought of her getting stuck or wrecking with no way to call help is a concern.
Garmin has one that has GPS and other features but the subscription is high. I like the features but would prefer a ?pay as you go? or prepaid phone.
Any suggestions?
With the lack of cell coverage out here and a recent trip way out into the wilderness where we did not have cell service for most of the day made us think a little more about buying one. That and the trip to Bozeman has little cell coverage and in the winter the road can go from passable to a nitemare instantly, the thought of her getting stuck or wrecking with no way to call help is a concern.
Garmin has one that has GPS and other features but the subscription is high. I like the features but would prefer a ?pay as you go? or prepaid phone.
Any suggestions?
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I had a Iridium. My unit issued me one in Iraq and Afghanistan and it held up fine and operated every-time I needed it. Be advised some only work in certain areas, like a Thurya will not work in the Americas(But they are really good phones).
When I got out and started working in Africa I got another one just like it. I believe it was about $900. The service is expensive but I turned it on and off as needed. I will say I didn't use all that often because I usually had good cell phone coverage wherever I was but it did come in handy a few times especially in South Sudan and DR Congo.
I sold it to a friend who was still working and he still uses it.
These are nice if all you want to do is send text messages. I have a friend who uses one all over the world: Garmin InReach Explorer+0 -
Sam06 wrote:I had a Iridium. My unit issued me one in Iraq and Afghanistan and it held up fine and operated every-time I needed it. Be advised some only work in certain areas, like a Thurya will not work in the Americas(But they are really good phones).
When I got out and started working in Africa I got another one just like it. I believe it was about $900. The service is expensive but I turned it on and off as needed. I will say I didn't use all that often because I usually had good cell phone coverage wherever I was but it did come in handy a few times especially in South Sudan and DR Congo.
I sold it to a friend who was still working and he still uses it.
These are nice if all you want to do is send text messages. I have a friend who uses one all over the world: Garmin InReach Explorer+
In Iraq we had HF radios and sat phones. Never needed to use the sat phone but it was nice to have it. The HF radios would almost always reach a base when needed.
I don?t mind the high purchase price but that Garmin has a $70+ per month subscription that I don?t want to pay. Although I do like the S.O.S feature it comes with.0 -
This is the model I had:
https://www.northernaxcess.com/iridium-9505a-satellite-phone-refurbished
BSR I was way out in the booneys and we had to have Primary, back up and another means of commo. Primary was SatCom, HF with data was 2nd and the sat phone was 3rd. We mostly used to Sat phone to talk back home
All the bases and camps had a Sat phone number.0 -
Sam06 wrote:This is the model I had:
https://www.northernaxcess.com/iridium-9505a-satellite-phone-refurbished
BSR I was way out in the booneys and we had to have Primary, back up and another means of commo. Primary was SatCom, HF with data was 2nd and the sat phone was 3rd. We mostly used to Sat phone to talk back home All the bases and camps had a Sat phone number.
Looking at thier airtime plans, do the prepaid minutes expire?0 -
Yes PP does expire if you don't use it.
The monthly plans are a better deal. I had the global plan and I believe I had a 30 hr per month voice and a lot of SMS message time and it was $1.10 a Min. I cannot remember who it was through.
If you are not going out of the Americas a local plan would work fine they are a lot cheaper.0 -
BSR here is another option:
https://www.satphoneamerica.com/product/iridium-go-custom-bundle-9560-satellite-wifi-hotspot-with-voice/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMImcax-N235AIVFozICh0bbwBREAAYAiAAEgJD2fD_BwE&ppcsclkid=EAIaIQobChMImcax-N235AIVFozICh0bbwBREAAYAiAAEgJD2fD_BwE&ppcstrkid=1900774448&ppcsu=xhg7f5djqrotinomllac
Its a kind of wifi hotspot that turns you iPhone into a satphone within the Hotspot(Which you can carry with you).
I have never used this but it might be worth researching this.
More info here: https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/best-satellite-phone/0 -
In the back country of Idaho we discover and mark "Phone Booths" on the GPS. These are places where cell phones work (usually on a ridge and only 50 yards in diameter). Move away from the spot and cell service goes away.Also at most Forest Service Fire Lookouts there is cell service. 0 -
I know nothing of Sat phones but I have used a Garmin Inreach satellite communicator GPS extensively. What I can tell you is they work, reliably and have a lot of cheaper plans. I have the "Freedom" plan that is $38.08 a month only when you use it. I activate it during December and January when I'm duck hunting in the middle of nowhere with no cell service. It has many features, one of which is that you can set it up to send a GPS point every ten minutes and have that sent to a Garmin webpage for those concerned can track your progress. It also has an SOS button that triggers rescue.
All you can do is text, not make calls. You can bluetooth connect to your phone for ease of texting or using various map features. I don't use a phone, so the built in keyboard is awkward. However, you can coordinate pre-set messages through the Garmin website so all you have to do is push a button for an "out safe" message to be sent to pre-selected contacts. It has way more features than I'll use, and a web portal to simplify GPS points, make a track, pre-set messages and contacts etc. etc. then sync the unit.
I was an early adopter and very skeptical, but has worked great even in cover, and most importantly it gives my wife peace of mind, happy happy.
If I would buy again I would get the cheaper model, the SE+ , Any questions just ask.0
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