Suggestions on satellite phones?

[XXXpedition]

For our upcoming Down Under XXXpedition, we're looking into satellite phones for emergency communication. Depending on cost and ease of use, we might also use it to upload pics to our website (slowly, I realize). Anyone knows anything about these gadgets? Some places rent them out but since we need one for approx. 6 months, we might be better off buying. Any recommendations? Thanks!

[Scott Brady]

I have used the Globalstar units successfuly. I have always rented, which runs about $30 per week.

[gjackson]

We took an Iridium sat phone to Africa with 200 pre-paid minutes. I think minutes were about 1$ each. Worked very well and was nice to have, although we never used it for data transfer, just for voice. The service can provide very cheap (sometimes free) incoming text messages. Problem is you have to leave the phone on to recieve them, so battery longevity can be an issue.

cheers

[Boston Mangler]

I have used the Iridium units down in Baja for the races and do work great, the clarity is amazing.

They had some slight problems connecting to other sat phones, but once they did connect, they never dropped a call and worked great!

They connect to land lines and regular cell phones flawlessly. However, we did have some slight minor problems connecting to other sat phones.

2 down sides we noticed were you needed to be outside of the vehicle to make or recieve a call and they arent very efficent on batteries! :D

If i were to end up purchasing one of these units, it would be an Iridium!

[XXXpedition]

Thanks for this feedback, guys.
Renting is one of the options, but at $30 a week for 6 months, we might as well buy one. Looks like it'll be either Globalstar or Iridium. Thanks!

[Boston Mangler]

Look around the race websites, they have killer special deals on them before the races usually.

The team we work for deals with this place:

http://pciraceradios.com/catalog/default.aspx?ProductID=10426

Ebay has some KILLER package deals sometimes. Folks like you buy complete systems for long trips and then sell them when they are done.

Here are a few:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Iridium-9505-Global-Satellite-Phone-w-Solar-Charger_W0QQitemZ5845676764QQcategoryZ64355QQssPag eNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/Motorola-9500-Iridium-Satellite-Phone-accessories_W0QQitemZ6466643667QQcategoryZ42428QQs sPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/Globalstar-Satellite-Phone-LIKE-NEW_W0QQitemZ5844567145QQcategoryZ1503QQrdZ1QQcmdZ ViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/Iridium-9505-Mobile-SATELLITE-PHONE_W0QQitemZ6466615226QQcategoryZ14411QQrdZ1QQc mdZViewItem

[Offtrack]

Hello

New to the board here. Been a member of the expedition campers borad but I see some low life has hacked it.

I have used (and still use) Globalstar for 5 years and have been very happy with the service. The data speeds are not all that fast but it gets the job done. I use it for my net connection when I am on the road to check and send emails and weather. The acceleration software they provide helps out. The cost per min is much lower than the others and also the equipment cost. For down under it would be my first choice as they have a good sales and service network in place along with the entire land mass is covered. One thing that is very nice is that I have my cell phone number in it also. I have the cell number set to forward to the sat number. The phone is set up to look for cell service first then sat service. Works very well and you can change the settings to any way you like. Roaming is 1.39 min in most of the world and .75 in Canada.

[Hltoppr]

IIRC Globalstar is the one to get for OZ...coverage wise.

Look for used units...you can save some $$$

I've always been pleased with GS's coverage and ease of use.

-H-

[Offtrack]

I talked to G* customer service some time back as I was not sure just how long my phone will last. My first phone the case broke after a few months and they replaced it for me. But my current phone I have had for 5 years now and it still works like new. They told me that they will sell referbed units and that would be a good option also.

[Mike S]

I have been using a Qualcom unit with Globalstar service for about 3 years. The cost is only a bit more than a cell phone, and I like the ability to use it anywhere. I take it when I travel - worldwide. Don't forget to caryy all the phone numbers that you might need in the area you are travelling in.

Mike

[Offtrack]

My phone is the Qualcom also, Keep in mind its a good idea to replace the battery about every year to 2 years. I keep the old ones as a back up as they still have some go left in them and in a pinch you could make a few calls. Here is the best prices I have found on the net for parts and phones.

http://www.satellitephonestore.com/globalstar/globalstar-satellite-phone.php

I just ordered a new battery from them and even after the shipping it was a few bucks lower than the others or a local retailer.

[GeoRoss]

For those of you who don't know, sat phones do suffer from the problem of needing a 'line of sight' to the satellites. It has been my experience that they work poorly in urban areas/canyons, worse than a GPS unit. When in an urban area you will end up finding all the best roof top bars to make calls. The also tend to be much more sensitive to 'atmoshperic conditions' than other wireless communications but that could have just been my phone though I was three miles closer to the sats than at sea level.

What ever phone/plan you go with, try to find one with free text messaging so you can recieve info from home. This saves battery life and expense of checking the voice mail. For those 'weekend warriors' go with a plan where you buy pre-paid minutes and pay the premium so that they can roll over. Consider buying a refurbished unit instead of renting if you see several years of multi month usage in your future.

Buy two batteries if you can even if you will be near a power grid at times. The reason I say this is unless you are in your personal vehicle, you cannot vouche/predict how operational the vehicle is you will be driving in. A number of times I have been in vehicles where the 12V cig lighter doesn't work. On an 8 week field season I didn't even run down the charge of one battery, but I only had it on for about 15-20 minutes a day and only had about 2-3, 10-20 minute phone calls per week.

People I work with have also reported good luck with solar chargers for recharging batteries.

Have fun,

Ross

[XXXpedition]

Great! There's a lot of good info here. Thanks.
We ended up getting an Iridium 9505 phone supplied by Satcom Direct for this trip. We have two batteries and hope the car charger will work. As the Jeep has been on the ocean voyage for a while now we have not had an opportunity to test how the charging works.....

We'll keep you posted!

[Dave]

I have used the Globalstar units successfuly. I have always rented, which runs about $30 per week.

Can you recommend a place for rental? Looks like I'm going to need a sat phone during our upcoming trip due to limited staff availability here at the office.

As a side note, it was pretty cool scouring ExPo for legitimate work purposes!
:elkgrin:

[Skillet]

I also would like to know of a good suggestion on renting one for my upcoming baja trip.

Mangler, where do you rent yours from?

[Boston Mangler]

Mangler, where do you rent yours from?

I get mine free from the team when at races!

Try the link i sent you via PM