Anyone have experience with sat phones?

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   Our primary cell phones are on AT&T.  I kept our landline for many years more than we needed it for emergency calls - if AT&T is down, I want a backup.  3-4 years ago I converted the landline to a prepaid Verizon phone.  Still had redundancy, cheaper than the landline plan we were on, plus the Verizon phone could go with us on trips.
Over the last 4 summers we spent a lot of time during our trips outside of AT&T or Verizon coverage, and I often thought a satellite phone could be useful in an emergency.  We spent a 2 1/2 hour stretch in west Texas where I passed several locals on the side of the road out of gas, standing on the cab of their truck trying to get a signal (there was none - nor was there any gas during that stretch).  We did run out of gas in eastern Montana, but we were lucky that time.

My annual renewal for our Verizon phone is coming up and on a whim I started doing research on the various sat phone systems, phones and pricing.  Turns out a used phone would only be a few hundred bucks and either a prepaid card or the smallest monthly plan wouldn't be much more than we are paying each year for the Verizon phone.

So, anyone have experience with these things?

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techntrek Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group - pHp Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9062	Topic: Anyone have experience with sat phones? Posted: 26 Aug 2016 at 10:32pm
	Our primary cell phones are on AT&T. I kept our landline for many years more than we needed it for emergency calls - if AT&T is down, I want a backup. 3-4 years ago I converted the landline to a prepaid Verizon phone. Still had redundancy, cheaper than the landline plan we were on, plus the Verizon phone could go with us on trips. Over the last 4 summers we spent a lot of time during our trips outside of AT&T or Verizon coverage, and I often thought a satellite phone could be useful in an emergency. We spent a 2 1/2 hour stretch in west Texas where I passed several locals on the side of the road out of gas, standing on the cab of their truck trying to get a signal (there was none - nor was there any gas during that stretch). We did run out of gas in eastern Montana, but we were lucky that time. My annual renewal for our Verizon phone is coming up and on a whim I started doing research on the various sat phone systems, phones and pricing. Turns out a used phone would only be a few hundred bucks and either a prepaid card or the smallest monthly plan wouldn't be much more than we are paying each year for the Verizon phone. So, anyone have experience with these things?
	Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual

furpod Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Moderator Group - pHp Joined: 25 Jul 2011 Location: Central KY Online Status: Offline Posts: 6128	Posted: 27 Aug 2016 at 8:48am
	I kind of like the looks of this gizmo.. Sat Comms.. It also looks like a rental might be an option, so you only have to deal with it during your long trips..

Leo B Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 13 Jan 2012 Location: Lyndonville, VT Online Status: Offline Posts: 4518	Posted: 27 Aug 2016 at 10:57am
	My unit had one for a while a few years back, but it didn't work really well in Northern Vermont/New Hampshire so we got rid of it.
	Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171

techntrek Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group - pHp Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9062	Posted: 27 Aug 2016 at 12:04pm
	I considered renting for trips, $35/wk plus air time so affordable for emergency backup (and keep the Verizon phone). A good option. Leo, do you know which system it was on? Globalstar had major system issues from around 2008 to 2012 with many of their satellites failing early. They have all-new satellites now.
	Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual

osage Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 13 Mar 2016 Online Status: Offline Posts: 146	Posted: 27 Aug 2016 at 1:25pm
	check out consumer cell. My son went with them 2 mo. ago and likes them has service where he lives in the country now he didn't have on the att or vis.

ronahue Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 02 Jun 2015 Location: Massachusetts Online Status: Offline Posts: 317	Posted: 27 Aug 2016 at 2:34pm
	Have you considered a Satellite Messenger like the Spot Gen 3 or a PLB their are plusses and minuses to both a PLB and a satellite messenger and on going cost. I'm not recommending one or the other but the REI link below might help you decide if one is right for you. https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/personal-locator-beacons.html
	Ron & Sharon 2015 R-Pod 179 2022 Nissan Frontier No trees were harmed in the sending of this message but a billion electrons were really agitated

Leo B Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 13 Jan 2012 Location: Lyndonville, VT Online Status: Offline Posts: 4518	Posted: 27 Aug 2016 at 2:36pm
	Can't remember who the state had the contract with but it was back in 2008-2009 before I retired.
	Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171

codycountry Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 26 Jan 2014 Location: Wyo Online Status: Offline Posts: 168	Posted: 27 Aug 2016 at 8:41pm
	Sat phones can be rented via the internet, and then they also cost several bucks a minute to use. They are expensive to rent. I have used them on occasion for almost a decade in the remote backcountry wilderness (for work) south of Yellowstone NP as a safety back up communication to a VHF/UHF hand held radio that don't work well in those remote locations unless you are on top of a mountain. The sat phones have saved several lives around here that I know about. Every hunting outfitter in the wilderness areas here has at least one in camp, and every year they save someone's life or help greatly in extrication of seriously injured or ill people from the backcountry. They work pretty well indeed, unless the battery goes dead, or you drop them in the spring or creek. Been there, done both of those. They don't come cheap, and the need vs the cost is a big factor. Not for casual phone conversations unless you are wealthy. I don't carry one on my own nickel. I just drove thru Yellowstone today and my cell phone didn't work most of the time. I don't think it worth getting a sat phone for that minor factor. In fact, I sure like watching the frustrated kids who's cell phones don't work there at most of the Yellowstone attractions.......

techntrek Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Admin Group - pHp Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9062	Posted: 28 Aug 2016 at 8:32pm
	Thanks for the link. I probably should have had a SPOT device many years ago. codycountry - I agree a sat phone wouldn't be used as a normal cell phone replacement. Partly due to cost, partly because incoming calls are problematic (for several reasons). Good post.
	Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual

Guests Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Guest Group	Posted: 02 Sep 2016 at 7:46am
	Another reason to get your amateur radio license. Some stations are equipped with "autopatch" or "phonepatch", which allows you to connect to the telephone system. If an operator/station is not equipped, nearly all would likely make a "courtesy/distress call" for you. Depending on your location, there may not be any VHF/UHF repeaters nearby but, with a General license or better, you'll always find someone on the HF freqs. "Autopatch" was very popular in the "pre-cell phone" days but, not as common today. It was also used quite a bit by military personnel to "phone home" and get to speak with their families (MARS). Between this and OnStar, I can always get in contact with someone.