does anyone have recommendations or experiences to share regarding sat phones? Your experiences with company, equipment, plans, costs and uses would be appreciated. Initially looking to use in US, CA and MX and central AM waters.
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Monty?
A couple of summer's ago my SIL went into the Southwest desert and camped for a week with their off-road vehicle. Cell phones didn't have any reception. Their only contact with the outside world was the phone, so they rented a satellite phone for the week. All was fine. If they had been bitten by a snake, etc., then they could make a necessary call. They left us the number in case they needed to be contacted.
A couple of summer's ago my SIL went into the Southwest desert and camped for a week with their off-road vehicle. Cell phones didn't have any reception. Their only contact with the outside world was the phone, so they rented a satellite phone for the week. All was fine. If they had been bitten by a snake, etc., then they could make a necessary call. They left us the number in case they needed to be contacted.
We use a Globalstar on our 470...
We spend a lot of time on the back side of the Channel Islands, and wanted the kids to be able to reach us in an emergency. I installed the unit my self. (it's a very easy job). We purchaded the phone and car kit. The reason for the car kit is that it allows you to place the phone in a cradle mounted on a bulkhead. It also comes with a hand set so you use the phone like a house phone, and a hands free set of speakers. The phone is charged when ever it is in the cradle. The phone works great with a very clear voice. The only problem we have had is if we back into a very little cove with very tall cliffs on each side and the unit can't see the satelitte. The cost for the phone is about $650, the car kit is another $650. The use plan we purchased is about $800 per year. You get 1800 minutes, free e-mail (with a $60 cable to hook to your laptop) and free unlimited voice mail. Globalstar also rolls the minutes over if you pay for the year in advance. They don't care if you use the 1800 minutes the first or last month. If you don't pay in advance 1/12 of the minutes fall off each month. There are less expensive and more expensive plans. We have friends that have used their phones as far north as Canada, a some who have used the as far south a Z town in Mexico. Hope this helps.
We spend a lot of time on the back side of the Channel Islands, and wanted the kids to be able to reach us in an emergency. I installed the unit my self. (it's a very easy job). We purchaded the phone and car kit. The reason for the car kit is that it allows you to place the phone in a cradle mounted on a bulkhead. It also comes with a hand set so you use the phone like a house phone, and a hands free set of speakers. The phone is charged when ever it is in the cradle. The phone works great with a very clear voice. The only problem we have had is if we back into a very little cove with very tall cliffs on each side and the unit can't see the satelitte. The cost for the phone is about $650, the car kit is another $650. The use plan we purchased is about $800 per year. You get 1800 minutes, free e-mail (with a $60 cable to hook to your laptop) and free unlimited voice mail. Globalstar also rolls the minutes over if you pay for the year in advance. They don't care if you use the 1800 minutes the first or last month. If you don't pay in advance 1/12 of the minutes fall off each month. There are less expensive and more expensive plans. We have friends that have used their phones as far north as Canada, a some who have used the as far south a Z town in Mexico. Hope this helps.
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