Keep Safe on Your Adventure with a Satellite Phone

09-25-2013

Rentals

Occasional travelers shouldn't foot the expense for a satellite phone, which can cost into the thousands. Research rental options to avoid a massive upfront cost that could cause bankruptcy before you even start your dream vacation. Phones cost up to $1,700. You would have to be in the middle of nowhere for six months for it to pay off.

Satellite rental options range from short-term rentals of a few days to longer-term rentals, such as a month. Road Post recommends you rent a satellite phone with a flexible term schedule to work around your plans and requirements.

A satellite phone is also reliable. Because signal is your primary concern, go with networks that are known to not drop calls. The Iridium network is a global phone network that is reputed for quality, and some companies will give you daily rental options.

As you book your wilderness vacation, talk to your travel agent or search for a local satellite phone rental company. Ask about their phone range, features, reliability, and durability. Some versions are great for the water, while others are better for snowy mountaintops. Road Post offers phone rentals starting at $7.99 per day and monthly plans at $199.99. If the included minutes are not enough, purchase additional airtime bundles starting at $79 for 50 minutes. Internet service is also available on some satellite phones, although having high-speed broadband Internet drives up the price.

Purchases

Engadget reports that some companies are developing consumer-friendly satellite phones geared for the general market, as opposed to business, industrial or wilderness travelers. Global Phone by Spot focuses entirely on the consumer market and costs $499. The monthly plan is $25. It's a good price, given the lack of dead zones you'll experience. It's not the most fashionable phone. It'll be an aesthetic downgrade from your touchscreen smartphone, but it can get you out of tricky situations in the backwoods. With up to 36 hours on stand-by and four hours for talk time, you should be okay while waiting for help during an emergency. Extend the antenna to get the satellite signal, and make the call as you would on a typical phone.

How Satellite Phones Work

According to Forbes, the network of low Earth orbit satellites powers the satellite phones with their signals. These satellites are generally unaffected by bad weather, so you don't have to worry about your call failing if you're caught outside.

While the market is primarily geared for government agencies, utility companies, and search and rescue organizations, more individuals have expressed interest in having a phone that always gets a signal. Satellite phones have been around since 1997, and Iridium, GlobalStar, Thuraya, and Immarsat are the current leaders in the field.

 

David is a freelance writer from Vermont who loves writing about hunting, fishing and outdoor sports.

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