New ~ SPOT Satellite Phones

Almot wrote:
Do you own research.

3 most often used providers are Iridium, Isatphone and Globalstar. Iridium is the most expensive - usually, both handsets and plans. Isatphone - a little cheaper, $650 for handset.

Isatphone and Globalstar use geostationary satellites, so if there is a coverage in your area, the satellite is always there. If there is a poor coverage due to mountains, for example - then it is always poor in this location.

Most common complaint on Istaphone is - it may take too long to lock on satellite, up to a few minutes, and there is a "delay" in receiving - they hear you and respond a few seconds after you've said something.

Iridium has "moving" satellites, they come and go on the horizon, so there is no "bad" location, unless you're deep under ground. At any given moment there "should be" at least one of them in view, but in reality you may have intermittent signal at times.

All of them have raised the prepay rates recently - you can't get 60 minutes prepay card valid for 2 years like in the past, to use it in occasional emergency.

excellent summary and sums up my research as well. One other issue with Globalstar in Inmarsat is the GEOS sat being on the equator mean no coverage in the far north/south. I was looking at Iridium prepaid, problem was best deal I could find was for 200 minutes/year and $400. A friend, similar needs to mine says he only really needs and uses about 20 minutes/year on his Iridium phone. I figured about the same. So the 20 minutes needed end up cost about $20/minute!

So I stuck with a good 3W cell phone amp and yagi antenna and my spot connect to send messages if needed for the few times/year we end up out of cell range. A good 3W cell amp and yagi antenna will set you back about $400 with no ongoing costs.