SAT phone rental--help!

[cohunt]

This is who i use for SAT phone rental in the past. Simple and affordable. Mostly just use my Garmin inReach to text message. Honestly cohunt, if you can use two features on your smartphone, you can use the inReach without issue, its that simple.

its not me that i worry about with texting, inReach would have been fine for me-- as i noted above, we are communicating daily with people at home on updates of condition of relative in the hospital-- the people we are communicating with back at home are not tech savvy, there is no way they would be able to comprehend how to use a web page to send a text, and wont call or text to an international phone number due to rates--- we needed a simple solution for them to just pick up their phone and call us, and the ability to pick up the phone to call them for updates also

and yes you can rent a garmin inReach, but the cost for a rental with a reasonable number of texts over a 10 day period comes to $100+ -- the phone is only going to cost me $150 after i get the deposit back--the inReach still uses a web page to text as it is on the same satellite irridium network (so its still using an "international" number on the same network)---- the inReach would have been fine for me (as I only intend to use my phone in an emergency or to communicate with my 1/2 way tech savvy wife) but it definitely would not have been an option for her to communicate with our non-tech savvy people at home

 

[Toolhand]

InReach with 1 month subscription for me as well. Text back and forth with no problem. Can get the mini for about 350 or so. Subscription is about 40.

 

[cohunt]

InReach with 1 month subscription for me as well. Text back and forth with no problem. Can get the mini for about 350 or so. Subscription is about 40.

anyone try out a "spotX"? they run off the globalstar network rather than the irridium network

has anyone been able to compare the globalstar network directly to the iridium network while in the field? --ALL of the rental companies were recommending the iridium network over the globarstar network----BUT i wonder if that was due to the higher rental cost and air time on the iridium vs the globalstar or if the network really is that much better

the globalstar network is supposed to have good coverage for the US, but iridium has a far superior network for international travel-- but when i clearly tell them I will not be leaving Colorado, they still recommended the iridium network ---better safe than sorry I guess

 

[wyosteve]

I've only used global star and was not impressed. Had to be really in the open to get a signal and signal wouldn't last long as once the satellite passed over, the call would be dropped. An outfitter buddy uses Iridium and I've seen it in action and would say it's a much better system.

 

[cohunt]

I've only used global star and was not impressed. Had to be really in the open to get a signal and signal wouldn't last long as once the satellite passed over, the call would be dropped. An outfitter buddy uses Iridium and I've seen it in action and would say it's a much better system.

good to know, their rental suggestions might not have been just for more $

 

[DesertDweller62]

I have and use an Garmin/Delome Inreach when out of cell service to keep in touch with the wife. I mostly use the free messages, but do send a custom txt when needed. Just got back from a wilderness elk hunt and the Inreach worked super. It also has the SOS feature that give you peace of mind with you way back in the boonies. I also cancel my subscription when not using the unit. I highly recommend this unit.

 

[cohunt]

anyone with an "sos" button pay for the GOES SAR insurance?

 

[cohunt]

quick question-- do the inReach work anywhere in the world? or only in the US? I know it uses the iridium SAT network (which is global) -- but has anyone taken one to someplace like Africa and sent/received text messages with it?

 

[skipglo]

scheduled to set up camp for elk hunting this friday morning--wifes grandma just went into the hospital this past Saturday night
we don't get cell reception in the elk hunting area we are heading so I need to rent a SAT phone ASAP (probably need to get it on order today to get it here in CO by Thursday at the latest)

has anyone rented a SAT phone before? if you how was the experience and what company did you use--I am frantically trying to google-foo the heck out of sat phone rental companies as we speak but it would be nice to have someone with a little prior experience doing so

Used them a great deal...but I'm Canadian.Work exceptional. Every sat phone goes thru the same exchange in Colorado virtually World wide.. except for Russia and China as far as I know. But turn it on and register in before you leave so you are familiar with it. You don't have to leave it on obviously but the first use is a little different from any phone you are used to. Also schedule with your wife times for calls...they are darned expensive...but worth every penny when you need it!

 

[skipglo]

globalstar vs irridium phones?-- im starting in the dark here

Irridium!...

 

[cohunt]

Used them a great deal...but I'm Canadian.Work exceptional. Every sat phone goes thru the same exchange in Colorado virtually World wide.. except for Russia and China as far as I know. But turn it on and register in before you leave so you are familiar with it. You don't have to leave it on obviously but the first use is a little different from any phone you are used to.

Company I rented from says there is a "tech" phone number on the side of the phone when I get it-- they told me to turn it on and call that number to verify it is working, and if I have any questions they can answer--- nice offer but seems like it's a way to get you to use the minutes up....if I have questions I might call that number but it would be from my cell phone before I'm out of service range
We are planning on testing it out by texting to it, and from it, then maybe a quick 1 minute or less phone call before we head out--- receiving a text is free, sending one uses up 1 minute of your air time through this company

 

[skipglo]

Company I rented from says there is a "tech" phone number on the side of the phone when I get it-- they told me to turn it on and call that number to verify it is working, and if I have any questions they can answer--- nice offer but seems like it's a way to get you to use the minutes up....if I have questions I might call that number but it would be from my cell phone before I'm out of service range
We are planning on testing it out by texting to it, and from it, then maybe a quick 1 minute or less phone call before we head out--- receiving a text is free, sending one uses up 1 minute of your air time through this company

Nope! I strongly recommend you call the number..its kinda like calling to register your credit card before the first use...

 

[cohunt]

Nope! I strongly recommend you call the number..its kinda like calling to register your credit card before the first use...

yup-- I see that they have a "free" number to call once you get the phone --it does not use up any of the minutes-- this info was just sent to me in an email with an attached user quick guide

 

[skipglo]

yup-- I see that they have a "free" number to call once you get the phone --it does not use up any of the minutes-- this info was just sent to me in an email with an attached user quick guide

Yup....
Lol