Sat Phone

Thor0331

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Jun 20, 2017
Messages
138
Just finished scouting the area I will be hunting next month and there is absolutely no cell phone service. Debating on getting a sat phone for emergencies. What are you guys using?
 

jyatsko

FNG
Joined
Feb 22, 2017
Messages
19
Location
Sacramento, Ca
Just finished scouting the area I will be hunting next month and there is absolutely no cell phone service. Debating on getting a sat phone for emergencies. What are you guys using?
I bought the inreach GPS with satellite last week. Tested it out in the Sierra Nevada's today. Performed well. Took up to 10mi to send message but I was in thick timber at times. I only need to text wife that I'm ok when out or use the SOS feature in case of emergency.

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Thor0331

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Jun 20, 2017
Messages
138
Don't really need another GPS. I have a Rino already. Just the phone capability
 
Joined
Jul 8, 2015
Messages
1,609
Location
Colorado
The Inreach has two different models, one that has gps capability and one that doesn't. I have the Inreach SE. I'm pretty sure the explorer has a built in GPS.
 

TNHunter

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Jan 3, 2015
Messages
194
Location
Nashville, TN
I used the Inreach last year in Colorado. Debated on sat phone and you can rent them from a company here in Nashville. But the cost was about the same for the Inreach. The Inreach subscription is very reasonable and you can suspend it when not using it. I did a lot of research before going with Inreach and happy I made the purchase. I was able to text family during my hunt. The only drawback was text messages would not go through if heavy canopy overhead. I didn't have to use the emergency sos (thank goodness). I always research my equipment before making a purchase and tend to only buy top shelf. I'm glad I bought the Inreach. Hope this helps


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GregB

WKR
Joined
Aug 5, 2017
Messages
811
Location
Idaho
The InReach is a great option and probably cheaper than the sat phone. I've had mine for 3 or 4 years prior to Garmin buying them out. Other than the initial cost of the unit it's fairly cheap. $25 annual fee and you can do month to month subscriptions for as low as $15. There are a bunch of different plan options based on number of text messages per month. You also get 3 preset messages which are unlimited and I mainly use those. It also has an SOS function.
 

bowhunter

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Jun 11, 2012
Messages
228
Location
Helena Montana
I'll go against the crowd here and put a vote it for a sat phone. Of course it all depends on if there is someone at home that wants to talk to you when your gone for 2 weeks.

I recently sold my inreach and purchased a inmarsat sat phone on eBay for a very good price and bought a prepaid card for it so no monthly fees. Inmarsat prepaid card are very well priced compared to iridium. Only restriction is if your in the far north or south pole. To me it was worth it to be able to have voice communication to my wife or others. It also has a sos button on it that communicates with GEOS just like inreach does.

Dan


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Joined
Jun 1, 2012
Messages
360
Vote Sat phone. Just traded in my Iridium Extreme for an Iridium Go. You use your smartphone to text or talk over it. I buy 300 use or lose minutes each year and see it as an insurance policy. Iridium just changed their policy that you can wait 9 months after expiration to reload the phone with minutes without needing to change your number with a new sim card. I just plan renewal around my hunts to maximize the use. Not sure how much you plan to use one but renting is always an option to dip your toe in the water. Explorer Satellite sells and rents. Good peeps too. Andy Cool 866-662-2665
 
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