Satellite phones

[merle&louise]

We will be going to Alaska in June 2010, and I want to buy a satellite phone. I am looking at the Iridium 9555. Can anyone comment on this phone; good or bad. Iridium is advertised as the best sat phone. Globalstar has the lowest per minute charges.

What kind do you have and why did you buy that brand?

Would you buy a sat phone on eBay?

I have looked on eBay and there are quite a few to choose from; new & used.

How do the minutes work? Do they expire after a certain time?

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

[flyu2there]

Should you really need one of those things, I would rent one. The air time is steep, 2-3 dollars a minute with a minimum charge per connection and the quality is only so-so. Remember you have to be outside to use the thing with a clear view of the sky. Also remember that big brother monitors your conversations.............

John

[merle&louise]

John,

What you say is true; it is expensive but it is also the only game in town!

Cell phones won't work north of Calgary. So satellite phones seem to be the only way to keep in touch with the lower 48 when we are between major towns.

Does anyone know if cell phones will work in the major cities like Anchorage, Fairbanks, Whitehorse, etc ? We have Sprint coverage.

Has anyone ever rented a satellite phone? I see that they can be rented for $160 per month.

[flyu2there]

Don't know about Whitehorse but mine works fine in both Fairbanks and Anchorage....cell phone that is!

Looks like you have 8 months or so...maybe you could become a Ham Radio Guy......probably be cheaper and more reliable than the Sat Phone although you coach might look like a radio station

John

[merle&louise]

John,

What cell carrier do you use? I have Sprint.

I think I will just rent a satellite phone and go that route.

[flyu2there]

Tuga,

I have AT&T but it worked fine in Alaska, big cities, if you want to call them that.

We did a project a couple of years back with the Iridium Phones...they work well, but the downside is that unless you are outside, you would never know that you had a call. Should you want to talk to say the grand kids, it would be cheaper to find the nearest airport and fly down and do that. We also used them in the airplanes, when I was active with the airlines, they were splendid however we were always 30,000 feet or higher when we used them....even then, the company bitched if there was not a good reason to use them....the connect fee's were high and the per minute charges were even higher than ARINC. ( a private company run and owned by the airlines).

You might take a look at Data Storm or one of the others then buy yourself an account with one of those internet phone companies (Vonage) and give that a go. It certainly would be cheaper, at the end of the day, although those satellites are orbiting the equator and the angles may be too much.....I dunno.

John