I was entertaining the idea of disposing of my cell phone for a satelite phone for better coverage. I don't use many minutes per month (usually around 30-50) and don't use it for pictures/texts etc. I like the idea of having much better coverage-especially when out in the boonies.

I know nothing about sat phones. They seem to have come down a lot in price over the past couple of years. Does anyone use one? What are your opinions on it? Am I nuts for considering something like this? Is it even reasonable to consider or is it cost prohibitive? A Google search left me circling a dozen websites ending in confusion.

Thanks!

It's cost prohibitive for me since I don't get out to the boonies that much. The cheapest airtime for Iridium is about $1/min, slightly more if you don't buy in bulk. Iridium has true worldwide coverage, including all oceans, north/south poles, etc. There's also Globalstar, which is more restricted in its coverage but would be fine if you're just looking at it for wheeling. It does have coverage of most of the north Atlantic and a bunch of the Pacific, but if you're going to fight Somali pirates you'll be SOL with Globalstar, and it's also blocked in China. I've used neither, only read about them briefly. Gently used phones come up on ebay all the time, some with minutes left on them.

Where do you you plan on getting better coverage? What cell providers have you tested so far?

Yep, what he said. We (Navy) use iridium and it is definitely $$$$$...

I'll send smoke signals before I spend $1/minute. Definitely NOT worth it.

I'd like better coverage in the mountains. I've had Verizon for almost 10 years and have substantially better coverage than everyone I know with other carriers. I get service where they can only dream of getting service.

The idea of going to a sat phone was just a thought. For the money, it's simply not worth it. I'm not traveling internationally or headed out to sea-there just isn't a need for it with that high of an expense.

Depends on your situation, might be worth it's weight in gold if your trapped somewhere. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

you might check out places that rent them for the week, etc...

The globalstar is not a bad deal'

http://www.globalstarusa.com/en/airtime/voicepricing/

What we have at work, in case the carriers whack the lines with a backhoe or an avalanche blanks everybody:

http://www.allroadsat.com/rentals/iridium-rentals.aspx

Our service provider:

http://www.wcclp.com/

x2-- rental might be the way to go.

Up here they're used extensively by surveyors, scientists, fishing industry, etc. Our network guys take them on the road if headed to Valdez or up the Haul Road to Toolik Station for safety, not just for coverage.