Satellite phones

[BobKatMsu]

Has anyone used a satellite phone while camping in the wilderness? What were your experiences?

[mchero]

Before you start asking questions I suggest you first look at the cost of owning a sat phone.

[FatChance]

What "wilderness" do you anticipate driving your coach into?

[ScopeGuard]

Telemarketers kept calling, gave up the phone.

[Unicorn Driver]

Owned one for backpacking trips, ended up selling it as the monthly cost went up a lot. Now have a satelitte messenger, it's far cheaper to run and got it from a buddy for free.

[BobKatMsu]

Originally Posted by FatChance

What "wilderness" do you anticipate driving your coach into?

This summer plan on spend a couple months in Tahoe National Forest. There is no cell service for 30 miles. There were many places in Alaska last year that there was no cell service and we plan on going back in 2021. Hope that answers your incite full question.

[MD-Keith]

A). They work pretty well, except in low valleys amidst mountains where the satellite signal cannot penetrate well. B) The are very expensive, both the equipment, and the costs of use. But if you need to be in touch they serve that purpose well. You will more than likely have to use them outside your rig and have a clear path to open sky.

[SLOweather]

We have had a GlobalStar phone with car kit since '02. This is the second moho it's been mounted in. It is connected to the house batteries so we can run it all the time.



(I had one for a magazine review for a few months before that, We used it a lot on a boonies trip to the redwoods, even the 9600 baud Internet connection to check email and file the review with the magazine.)


Originally it was for peace of mind (elderly parents, keeping in touch with my wife's insurance office) and personal safety. On a trip to Kirk Creek campground in Big Sur, I used it to call in a 911 air strike when an elderly gentleman fell 70' down the cliff to the beach. CHP helicopter H70 carted him away with the help of USFS personnel.


Now, with the passings of our parents, and retirement, we still keep it for the peace of mind and safety.



I stuck with G* through their lean times when their satellites were failing due to unforeseen radiation damage. Now, as a long time customer, I can get pretty exceptional non-published monthly service rates.


We use it most trips. It's surprising how many highways and sites in California and adjoining states still have no cell service; many southern Utah state parks, Pinnacles NP and the highways in, a lot of AZ 2 lanes... Recently we were at Sequoia RV Ranch at Three Rivers, and they had ATT service which was good for our Internet router, but bad for our Verizon phones.



(Before cell phones and G*, we had a VHF Pacific Bell IMTS mobile phone in the Suncruiser. Same reasons. )

[SLOweather]

Sat phones are pretty inexpensive these days. especially if you buy used on ebay, which is where I got our G* GSP 1600 and first car kit. Airtime can be pricey, at $65/month for $100 minutes for a new customer (G* pricing).



I found a Thuraya brand at satphonestore.com that I haven't heard of before that has $29/month plans with 0 included minutes. Interestingly, incoming calls are free, outgoing are $0.99/minute. So, spend a buck to call someone and tell them to call you back...





Or, $39.month with 10 included outgoing minutes.



https://www.satphonestore.com/airtim...a-airtime.html

I don't know anything else about them.


If you have a motorhome, a car kit is almost a must. If I had a truck and trailer, I'd have a car kit in each of them, and move the phone when parked.

[zzotte]

If you need a sat phone for a specific location you planning to go you can rent one

Zzotte