Sat phone experience?

[Duckbutt]

It looks like cell reception in my unit will be nonexistant.  I guess the responsible thing to do will be to take a sat phone since I'll be solo.  Anybody have opinions on these things?  From what I've read, they can be kind of iffy in the mountains.

[overshoot]

Or do a good trip plan also Personal Locator Beacon.  I've never used but know that they are good to have.

[BillW]

I used one in Kotzebue, AK just tell the rental co where you will be and they should be able to tell you which works best there. I had an Irridium phone and rented for 2 weeks. I shipped back to the rental co after I got back. I did the base rental and paid for minutes BUT that was way too expensive. I would select a package plan and buy your minutes up front.

Bill

[Lost Arra]

Bill: if you don't mind me asking, which rental co. did you use?

[John3]

My guide had a $1000 sat phone in BC.. He was not happy with it at all. The little that I looked at the phone we had a sat. signal about half the time.


John III

[Jason Lester]

Ok I have to put my 2 cents in here.

I used to work for Iridium Satellite (well for Motorola and Boeing) I controlled the satellites for the system. If you are going to get a sat phone or rent one make sure it is an Iridium.

I'm not shamlessly pluging my old company I have resons if you'll let me explan.

Iridium is made up of 66 mission satellites. They are polar orbit insted of orbiting aroun the equator. What this means for you is that the satellites truely cover the entire globe. Other satellite providers cannot claim this. So if you want coverage up north your much better off with an Iridium phone. The other thing is that these spacecraft are low earth orbit. Every 10 minutes you have a new satellite overhead. This means even if a satellite goes out of service  (very,very rare) if you wait 10 minutes your good to go.

Now as far as who to get it from I think there is a list of thier providers on their website. I could also shoot an email to my freinds that still work there and see if they have a list.

[Lost Arra]

Thanks Jason.

You confirmed my research results: go with an Iridium.

[Duckbutt]

I'm not too informed on sat technology.  If I'm down in a canyon, does this affect my ability to get a signal?

[bowhunter97]

I rented one a few years back on backpack hunt in CO was vary happy with it. It is worth the money when your 9to 10 mile from the trail head and its the 1st of September and you have meat hanging. you can get horses in asap. you never know what else could happen. here is some info that I kept it was in 03 so dont know how good it is. PHI LEASING.COM 1 877 977 6303. ORBIT 1 888 771 9831, I think I went with the phi says here I payed 119.00 for 2 weeks and 1.49 per min just made to short calls to get horses on the way.

[Whip]

Perfect timing on this question!  I need to find a satellite phone to rent for two weeks in September.  Sure would appreciate any suggestions on best place to do that!

[Snakeeater]

duckbutt,

if you think about the geometry of the line of sight from you to the satellite, you will probably be able to get a signal down in the valley with a satellite overhead every 10 minutes, but it might not last for long. So, you might want to be in a more open area when you make the call.

[Jason Lester]

Actually with Iridium you should have no problems. Unless you have a very very limited view of the sky. I doubt to many places this will happen with Iridium. You probably have 2-3 satellites within view even in a confined area. On each of the satellites has 3 antennas that cover a wide area. The antenna is made up of many beams that cover the ground and overlap somwhat.

Obviously the more sky the better but unlike cellular the line of site will not be effected being down low because line of sight is up.

Now in a cave it may cuse you problems LOL.

[Jason Lester]

Oh I forgot to mention Iridium is the only company whos coverage has no holes. Meaning no matter where you are you will have a satellite if you have a decent veiw of the sky.  BTW the satellites go pole to pole and there are 6 planes of 11 spacecraft covering the earth. So its a pretty good be you'll get coverage.

[Duckbutt]

Lester,
All that info was God sent.  Many many thanks!

[JC]

I think Jason is spot on...I rented one for my trip to Africa 4 years ago and it was well worth the money. I'll definately do it again.

[Lost Arra]

I read somewhere that the Globalstar system had some satellites not working which made the Iridium system a better choice now. (In addition to Jason's info above).

I would just like to have a rental company recommendation. There are so many out there it's hard to know who is reputable.

[Jason Lester]

The thing with Globalstar is they actually don't cover the poles and the satellites orbit around the equator. So even if your in the open but have a mountain south of you in AK and places like that you can have problems. Iridium is designed to keep that problem from happening. We had people using them one Antartica when I worked there. They still use them actually. No other company provides this capability.

Like I said I used to work there and know the system well. It works well.

[JC]

Lost Arra, I rented from outfittersatellite.com and everything went smooth as silk.

[Lost Arra]

Thanks JC.  

[bushwood]

I have an Iridium phone that I have had for 5 years. It has NEVER failed me. I use it offhsore as well as in the mountains. I just returned from Africa where someone used it every night.

I got my from Kevin Finnegan at Satcom Direct. They have a website and are very helpfull as well as outdoorsmen. The owner is a major bowhunter.