I have an opportunity to buy a Sat phone for cheap and i am wondering if the Globalstar network has improved since they have put up the new satellites.I know iradium is good but this is a good deal whats the latest on Globalstar?Thanks Dan
Globalstar
- Thread starter Ramcam
- Start date
broncoformudv
New member
Dan I used a Globalstar in Oct/Nov 2010 on the south end of Kodiak and was not impressed and very happy we did not have an emergency and actually needed it.
That seems to be the consensus.1400 for the iridium or 500 for the globalstar.Iridium has the market and boy are they exploiting it.
Currently i am using a spot connect with one way text messaging and i noticed Delorme has a two way text messaging unit now but it only works with Android phones.My connect works with my Itouch hopefully Delorme will make their device Mac compatible.
broncoformudv
New member
I bought the basic spot a year ago and have been very happy with it. Should be interesting to see what all comes out in the next couple of years and what the prices are.
I have only very limited experience with sat phones, but did use one this last fall on the Globalstar network. Even on a nice clear day and out in the open (no nearby mountains), it literally took 15-20 minutes of scanning for it to find a signal and then it didn't hold the signal for all that long. I was not all that impressed, but as I said, it was only very limited use, so I can't say whether that is/was typical. I'm just glad it wasn't an emergency situation.
I haven’t heard anything good about the Globalstar satellite phone, besides the price. I like the spot but need voice communications. Have you guys tried the IsatPhone Pro satellite phone in Alaska? The price is very nice, I found this site here that sells the phone for under $600 http://www.gmpcs-us.com/ISATPHONE/IsatPhone-Pro-Executive-Kit-Green.htm
Greg @ Anch Sat Phones
Sponsor
Differences between Globalstar / Inmarsat BGAN / Iridium
Differences between Globalstar / Inmarsat BGAN / Iridium
Here is a quick rundown on the different satellite phones out there:
Globalstar: operates off of equitorial satellites. They had major problems with their satellites years ago & that is why everybody in Alaska stopped selling & renting them. Globalstar continues to say that they are going to launch more satellites. But even if they do launch all of their satellites, it is still an equitorial based satellite constellation. Therefore if you are in an area where you do not have the needed view to the South, the phone will simply not work. But a good positive of Globalstar is that if you are in an area where you have coverage, the voice quality is very clear.
SPOT: this device also works off of the Globalstar satellites. It works very well because it is much easier to send an outgoing data message than make a phone call. Works great for tracking! I have one myself. Just remember that when you use it, you want to position the SPOT so that you have the best view to the South as possible, because that is where the satellites are at.
INMARSAT: The IsatPhone Pro does not work very well up here at all. There are some places where you can get service. But in most places in Alaska you only have 1 view to 1 satellite. It is to the S-SE @ 15 degrees at the highest. Because of this I dont recommend an IsatPhone in Alaska.
BGAN/Inmarsat: These are terminals(about the size of a laptop). Antenna has a higher gain than the small antenna on the IsatPhone
Pro. If you are in an area where you can see the Inmarsat satellite, this is a great device if you would like to check your work emails & have access to websites that you need to view. The online newspaper Alaska Dispatch used one of these BGANs to send many of their stories, pictures and even small video clips back to their office while reporting on the Iditarod, when they had no other internet access.
Also check this out!
http://www.everestmillion.com/
This guy has a BGAN Terminal while climbing Denali! All of these videos & pictures were taken with his Smart Phone & then sent using a BGAN. But the BGAN did not work until he got to an elevation where he could lock onto the satellite. Before that he was using his Iridium phone to update his TWITTER account by sending outgoing sms messages.
IRIDIUM: If you want a satellite phone that simply works EVERYWHERE, this is your sat phone. Yes you will have dropped calls & sometimes the voice quality fluctuates but Iridium works everywhere. This is because Iridium is the only sat phone that operates off of polar orbiting satellites, not equitorial like Globalstar & Inmarsat.
You can also send/receive text emails, email pictures & get weather updates by connecting your Iridium sat phone to a Netbook or Laptop. There is also a new device called an AxcessPoint which has WiFi capability. During our initial testing we are finding that it works best IOS Devices such as an iPhone or iPad.
Any other questions feel free to post them. I have been working in the satellite phone industry for about 7 years now in Alaska. Favorite part of my job is when I get to go hunting & at the same time field test all of these sat phones! :topjob:
And if you ask a question I dont know, I'll be able to find out by talking to my other contacts in this industry.
We Rent & Sell Used & New Satellite Phones year round.
My Best,
Greg Lee
907-272-RENT
www.AnchorageSatellitePhones.com (Sponsor of the Saftety Forum)
Right across the street from REI in Anchorage
Differences between Globalstar / Inmarsat BGAN / Iridium
Here is a quick rundown on the different satellite phones out there:
Globalstar: operates off of equitorial satellites. They had major problems with their satellites years ago & that is why everybody in Alaska stopped selling & renting them. Globalstar continues to say that they are going to launch more satellites. But even if they do launch all of their satellites, it is still an equitorial based satellite constellation. Therefore if you are in an area where you do not have the needed view to the South, the phone will simply not work. But a good positive of Globalstar is that if you are in an area where you have coverage, the voice quality is very clear.
SPOT: this device also works off of the Globalstar satellites. It works very well because it is much easier to send an outgoing data message than make a phone call. Works great for tracking! I have one myself. Just remember that when you use it, you want to position the SPOT so that you have the best view to the South as possible, because that is where the satellites are at.
INMARSAT: The IsatPhone Pro does not work very well up here at all. There are some places where you can get service. But in most places in Alaska you only have 1 view to 1 satellite. It is to the S-SE @ 15 degrees at the highest. Because of this I dont recommend an IsatPhone in Alaska.
BGAN/Inmarsat: These are terminals(about the size of a laptop). Antenna has a higher gain than the small antenna on the IsatPhone
Pro. If you are in an area where you can see the Inmarsat satellite, this is a great device if you would like to check your work emails & have access to websites that you need to view. The online newspaper Alaska Dispatch used one of these BGANs to send many of their stories, pictures and even small video clips back to their office while reporting on the Iditarod, when they had no other internet access.
Also check this out!
http://www.everestmillion.com/
This guy has a BGAN Terminal while climbing Denali! All of these videos & pictures were taken with his Smart Phone & then sent using a BGAN. But the BGAN did not work until he got to an elevation where he could lock onto the satellite. Before that he was using his Iridium phone to update his TWITTER account by sending outgoing sms messages.
IRIDIUM: If you want a satellite phone that simply works EVERYWHERE, this is your sat phone. Yes you will have dropped calls & sometimes the voice quality fluctuates but Iridium works everywhere. This is because Iridium is the only sat phone that operates off of polar orbiting satellites, not equitorial like Globalstar & Inmarsat.
You can also send/receive text emails, email pictures & get weather updates by connecting your Iridium sat phone to a Netbook or Laptop. There is also a new device called an AxcessPoint which has WiFi capability. During our initial testing we are finding that it works best IOS Devices such as an iPhone or iPad.
Any other questions feel free to post them. I have been working in the satellite phone industry for about 7 years now in Alaska. Favorite part of my job is when I get to go hunting & at the same time field test all of these sat phones! :topjob:
And if you ask a question I dont know, I'll be able to find out by talking to my other contacts in this industry.
We Rent & Sell Used & New Satellite Phones year round.
My Best,
Greg Lee
907-272-RENT
www.AnchorageSatellitePhones.com (Sponsor of the Saftety Forum)
Right across the street from REI in Anchorage
broncoformudv
New member
Greg,
Thank you for taking the time to spell it all out for those of us that are technologically challenged!
Thank you for taking the time to spell it all out for those of us that are technologically challenged!
MaximumPenetration
New member
I paid 700 for an iridium on this forum last year lightly used.
Greg @ Anch Sat Phones
Sponsor
Iridium Satellite Phones for SALE @ www.AnchorageSatellitePhones.com
Iridium Satellite Phones for SALE @ www.AnchorageSatellitePhones.com
If anyone is looking into purchasing an Iridium Satellite Phone this is what we currently have in stock:
Anchorage Satellite Phones(across from REI) is also the Sponsor of the Safety Forum.
Mention that you heard about us from the Outdoors Directory & receive an additional discount! :topjob:
Used Iridium 9500 Complete Kit: $499
Used Iridium 9505 Complete Kit: $625
Used Iridium 9505A Complete Kit: $845
***Complete Kits come with waterproof case, 2 batts, chargers, etc.***
Sorry but no Used 9555's for sale right now. We will start selling them in October for $945.
If you plan on using your satellite phone only in Alaska/Canada the Northern Lights Plan is the most affordable.
Sat Phone will only work in Ak/Canada & approximately 10 miles out into the ocean. Any questions, please ask.
Besides using your satellite phone for voice communication, you can also send/receive emails & pictures too! Please give us a call if you would like for more info about emailing.
Greg Lee
www.AnchorageSatellitePhones.com
Iridium Satellite Phones for SALE @ www.AnchorageSatellitePhones.com
If anyone is looking into purchasing an Iridium Satellite Phone this is what we currently have in stock:
Anchorage Satellite Phones(across from REI) is also the Sponsor of the Safety Forum.
Mention that you heard about us from the Outdoors Directory & receive an additional discount! :topjob:
Used Iridium 9500 Complete Kit: $499
Used Iridium 9505 Complete Kit: $625
Used Iridium 9505A Complete Kit: $845
***Complete Kits come with waterproof case, 2 batts, chargers, etc.***
Sorry but no Used 9555's for sale right now. We will start selling them in October for $945.
If you plan on using your satellite phone only in Alaska/Canada the Northern Lights Plan is the most affordable.
Sat Phone will only work in Ak/Canada & approximately 10 miles out into the ocean. Any questions, please ask.
- Outgoing calls can be made to anywhere worldwide.
- $198 keeps sat phone active for 6 months & comes included with 200 minutes!
- Activation fee of $50
- Unused minutes roll-over
- With us you can purchase more minutes 7 days a week
- Easy to understand dialing instructions included with all phones
Besides using your satellite phone for voice communication, you can also send/receive emails & pictures too! Please give us a call if you would like for more info about emailing.
Greg Lee
www.AnchorageSatellitePhones.com
