Sat phone users? (Yep tried searching)

How many of you guys use a sat phone on your journeys?

I've got some future hunts planned and in my most recent trip to Northen Ontario, I got there and cell service was almost non existant. I don't care to be able to talk to people or anything but I would really like something there for an emergency situation and the occasional check in with family.

I've looked at the spot and delorm(sp?). I'm thinking more along the lines of a iridium 9555 and a prepaid setup as I won't be needing it throughout the year.

I've considered switch wireless carriers to AT&T which seems to get better service in most remote places than my current carrier. But over a 5 year span I would actually save money buying a sat phone and doing a 3-4 month prepaid service. My current cell provider has about the best plans out there money wise. Even then AT&T isn't going to have coverage 50-60 miles into the Canadian bush.

I generally rent one for my backcountry trips when I'm more than a couple hours in by horse. Never had to use one in an emergency, but it gives peace of mind at least.

I have a Iridium 9505A that I use here in Alaska on all my trips. Less than 10 miles out of Fairbanks and you have no cell service going North. Also the Global Star sat phones do not work very well in Alaska. I buy the Northern Light sims card which is $209 for 200 minutes good for 6 months. It works in Alaska and Canada.

Just got back from AK. We used both a Sat phone with 60 minutes prepaid, and one of the Delorme in-reach units. You can text with the in-reach and it only costs 50 cents/text+ plan fees, that you can turn on just for hunting season. It also has a very nice SOS button that the NG monitors (so I am told). If you hit it, they will respond with a text, and then send a team in to your exact location. I plan on picking one up for my solo hunts in the future. There is also a nice APP for the in-reach that allows you to text from your phone.

Delorme inreach is your best bet! Easy to use and the SOS function is there when you need it. I tried mine last week on a 2 night no cell service adventure. It performed flawlessly and gave my wife piece of mind that I was ok. Texting is time consuming but for the price and month to month commitment instead of annual I am very happy!

I also have a SPOT that I carry.

ilscungilli,

What part of AK were you in while using the In-Reach. Some things that work more south want work further north. Just curious.

450hunter said:

I also have a SPOT that I carry.

ilscungilli,

What part of AK were you in while using the In-Reach. Some things that work more south want work further north. Just curious.

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We were hunting in unit 21e, about 50 miles west of Holy Cross, in the middle Yukon region.

Im thinking the sat phone is more along the lines of what im looking for. I looked into the delorme but for the $400 it costs I can throw 600 with it and get a phone that will allow me to make calls.

Watch eBay and you can find some good deals. I bought mine from eBay and it had less than 4 hours total use on it. It came in a pelican case, 3 batteries, leather cover and all the accessories that come with it for $500 shipped to Alaska.

I will!

joshua99ta, most of my family lives in Wesson, MS. I'm the rebel and live in Fairbanks, Alaska.

joshua99ta said:

Im thinking the sat phone is more along the lines of what im looking for. I looked into the delorme but for the $400 it costs I can throw 600 with it and get a phone that will allow me to make calls.

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Been there. I know have a Delorme. With the sat phones too many times the call drops without being finished. With the text ...it all goes through .