Satellite Phone Coverage

I obviously came into this conversation late. The basic differances between Globalstar and Iridium service is their satelite locations. GS has them mainly around the equator - that's basically where the majority of world's population is. This means the further north, or south you go the worse the coverage. Basically when you get into Alaska, the GS satelites can be down below the horizon, espcially if there's a mountain between you at the time of your call. People in Fairbanks with a GS phone have to know when the their satelite will be available (direct line of site to it) and for how long they can make a call.

On the other hand, Iridium (the old Motorolla system) has complete coverage around the globe with their satelites (and therefore have all of the military and government contracts). If I remember right, they have about ten times as many satelites up as GS. And therefore their service is more expdensive. You'll make contact 98% of the time and you can do (slow) internet over them.

If anyone thinks of getting a sat phone, despite what the movies show, they don't operate like a cell phone. You can't use them without the antenna having a direct line of site to the satelites. This means they don't work inside of bomb shelter, a cave, tent, house, office, motorhome, etc. Contact through a window like on a house or car will work at times, but is very iffy. If you're going to be inside of something, you need to have up an external antenna so that it has line of site to the satelite.

Bill

Texas is flat.....another myth that needs to be shot down. Only the coastal plains are flat, then it starts elevating to around 8000' in west Texas. The road we are on has an elevation change of over 150' in the mile I can view from here and is still climbing as it passes our entrance road.

I have seen the Chinese junk, as you call it, work much better than the expensive Wilson stuff, many times.

I'll have to see specific examples of Chinese cellular band equipment to compare to Wilson in order to believe that. Most of the Chinese junk I've ever tried - electronics and otherwise - works great for a short time - but as for long term reliability year after year ... forget it. My Wilson cellular band electronics (antenna, coaxial cables, amplifier) and CradlePoint 12V router have never let me down.

Did you read the links I provided on how to receive cellular service where it normally appears to not be available? I don't know where it is you're needing service, but if it's Texas ... isn't Texas flat (it was the last time I was there)? If so, cellular line-of-site ranges should be terrific there ... especially if you amplify the carrier signals going and coming. If your problems are in Idaho, then the canyons and valleys there could certainly mess with cellular band signals, but properly done amplification going and coming will always give one more of an edge.

Have you tried it with a legitimate antenna and amplifier - designed specifically for the cellular band and operating off 12 volts??

Yes and the answer is, you will NOT use your Verizon from that point, to over 30 miles west. We all own and many time have to use our amps, most times without any success. By the way, I have seen the Chinese junk, as you call it, work much better than the expensive Wilson stuff, many times.

I will invite you to visit us and drive just 8 miles west, then try and use your Verizon with the amp.....ain't gonna work.

Have you tried it with a legitimate antenna and amplifier - designed specifically for the cellular band and operating off 12 volts??

I'm not talking about the El Cheapo stuff made in Ch**a you see in the electronic gizmo sections of big box stores. Here's the kind of real equipment I'm referring to:

http://www.wilsoncellular.us/amps-antennas.htm

We have made connection in the Oregon outback 25 miles for any town (...and even then the nearest town was a one-horse one) and from valleys buried deep within the Kentucky hills.

Our antenna is only mounted up on the RV's roof. Even greater cellular phone/Internet ranges can be obtained if you combine real amplifiers with more sophisticated antenna arrangements different from, and well beyond, our rooftop RV antenna. For instance:

http://www.boxcarcabin.com/psr.html

If you want to check out even more from the above website, start here:

http://www.boxcarcabin.com/ruralcell.htm

Verizon cell service does seem to have the broadest coverage… but it is not good service in much of their covered area… my service in PA, FL, and OH where I spend most of my time is bad to terrible, and I am being kind in my accessment… about the only thing I can say about my Verizon service is that it works most of the time, and other providers would be no better or worse…

While 25% of the country has no cell service, at least as much of the coverage area has poor service… their coverage maps and promotional material in my opinion are gross misrepresentations of what they offer…

Where I am now located (between) less than 2 miles from 2 Verizon towers and often only receive national access that is slower than any dial up I ever used and when I do get broadband it drops the connection very often… dropped phone calls are the norm and can you here me now the most used phrase used…

Video is out for me… to view a 3 min u-tube requires 40/45 min of buffering time and that’s on a good day…

Personally I am tired of paying high prices only to subsidize city users fast 4G service… its about time they use that money to upgrade the rest of the network…

This doesn’t answer your satellite question but don’t believe their promotional garbage, and unfortunately I find many personal testimonials almost as unreliable… if coverage and quality of coverage is important to you, you will have to do a lot of research from many sources… but more than anything you may have to adjust your stays and use…

Mbethrobi wrote:
Thank you everyone, It seems that there is just no sure bet for coverage. It limits our ability to RV/Camp right now as I am still working and husband intended to go ahead and set up camp (roughly 5 hours away from our home are many of our destinations) and I was going to drive up after work. It is too late to leave after work and try to set up camp, but without confidence that we have coverage for contact should something go wrong on the road, we don't feel we can risk having me drive to the destination alone. I appreciate everyone's help in this area, we will keep trying to think of a solution to our current dilemma.

another option might be getting ham (amateur) radio licenses.

Fwiw, I have an AT&T MiFi & contract and definitely plan to move over to Verizon when the contract is up. Coverage is fairly good in the East but we like South Dakota and Colorado and there are lots of places we are out of luck. Verizon is not perfect but better than what we have for web & phones.

Well we have the Verizon phones and the Mifi. We just completed a 9 month stay at Artesia Wells, Texas and was told there is no Verizon in that area. We went and got an ATT phone and would you believe it the Verizon worked better than the ATT. 9 months and not a missed or dropped call and on the internet every day. Not bad for a place where you absolutely can not get Verizon service, LOL.

Thank you everyone, It seems that there is just no sure bet for coverage. It limits our ability to RV/Camp right now as I am still working and husband intended to go ahead and set up camp (roughly 5 hours away from our home are many of our destinations) and I was going to drive up after work. It is too late to leave after work and try to set up camp, but without confidence that we have coverage for contact should something go wrong on the road, we don't feel we can risk having me drive to the destination alone. I appreciate everyone's help in this area, we will keep trying to think of a solution to our current dilemma.