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Wil is seeking a new satellite phone. I've already kind of looked at the Spot model and a Globalstar one. Seeking recommendations, stories, advice, etc.

Requirements:

-North American coverage (may expand to SE Asia/Japan but not at the moment)
-Decent battery life/talk time. It'll mostly be off, but when it's on, it NEEDS to be on.
-A non-rapey monthly plan/pre-paid
-The smaller, easier-to-use, the better.

I've been using an older model Iridium that just doesn't make the cut, so unless the new models have progressed by leaps and bounds...

_________________
President-in-Exile, Seattle Area Radio Communications And Scanner Traffic Intercept Crew (SARCASTIC)
Don't feel bad if you can't use your STD100/200; there are still people using Digital Frequency Search!
Bunnery definition for the under-fives

Nobody?

_________________
President-in-Exile, Seattle Area Radio Communications And Scanner Traffic Intercept Crew (SARCASTIC)
Don't feel bad if you can't use your STD100/200; there are still people using Digital Frequency Search!
Bunnery definition for the under-fives

_________________
" SILENCE IS CONSENT "

Made to Government Specs:
1) Measured with a micrometer.
2) Marked with a chalk.
3) Cut with an axe.

Jim N7UAP - Bellingham, WA / InterceptRadio.com

Sigh...

_________________
President-in-Exile, Seattle Area Radio Communications And Scanner Traffic Intercept Crew (SARCASTIC)
Don't feel bad if you can't use your STD100/200; there are still people using Digital Frequency Search!
Bunnery definition for the under-fives

Sometimes you just get to the top of the knowledgeable and sophisticated heap and pass us all

Got to play a little with Iridium extreme https://www.iridium.com/products/details/iridiumextreme at work the otherday, did okay. made a call at helibase with ship training with short haul operations and was able to have a decent conversation. Has many capabilites for data, external antenna, relay location via text or email like a spot, handy for short term check-ins. ability to have docking stations for home/office use/coop.

They have American made chipsets for various reasons if you have those needs/concerns.

Overall they did okay. I've not had exposure to many others.

Hope this helps.

Thanks. I've used an Iridium model on and off for some time now and it's not been impressive. I'll wait for NEXT to fully deploy before trying them again.

_________________
President-in-Exile, Seattle Area Radio Communications And Scanner Traffic Intercept Crew (SARCASTIC)
Don't feel bad if you can't use your STD100/200; there are still people using Digital Frequency Search!
Bunnery definition for the under-fives

https://satellitephonestore.com/catalog ... ne-kit-322

Inmarsat is probably the best... and has coverage just about everywhere...

http://www.inmarsat.com/about-us/our-sa ... -coverage/

What frequencies do these operate on?
All INMARSAT antennas operate with right-hand circular polarization. The uplink frequency band is 1626.5 - 1660.5 MHz and the downlink frequency band is 1525.0 - 1559.0 MHz.

_________________
" SILENCE IS CONSENT "

Made to Government Specs:
1) Measured with a micrometer.
2) Marked with a chalk.
3) Cut with an axe.

Jim N7UAP - Bellingham, WA / InterceptRadio.com

Here's the gory details: https://www.dropbox.com/s/0lx7d3w6a2411rh/4F2.pdf?raw=1

Here's the spec on the phone service: http://www.inmarsat.com/service/isatphone2/

We have a Globalstar gsp-1600 takes a long time to connect and then struggles to stay connected. We are using it in a urban EOC environment. Looking at remote antenna options.

Field testing in progress.

_________________
President-in-Exile, Seattle Area Radio Communications And Scanner Traffic Intercept Crew (SARCASTIC)
Don't feel bad if you can't use your STD100/200; there are still people using Digital Frequency Search!
Bunnery definition for the under-fives

Go outside

If you carry the Globalstar on your belt the antenna will be punching you in the chin!

_________________
" SILENCE IS CONSENT "

Made to Government Specs:
1) Measured with a micrometer.
2) Marked with a chalk.
3) Cut with an axe.

Jim N7UAP - Bellingham, WA / InterceptRadio.com