Satellite phone for Alaska moose hunt, buy or rent or?

[AKDoc]

Being able to communicate with family and my transporter, and emergency services (if necessary)...that's all I need and want when enjoying the remote solitude of adventures in Alaska. The inReach does that reliably for me every year.

Being there...totally present...in the world of the animal I'm hunting is what I seek. It's a priceless reset for me, spiritually and mentally. The very last thing I want when in those natural settings is internet access.

That said, we're all different...no worries.

 

[kcm2]

I have a T-Mobile phone with the satellite link. In rural Colorado it has worked well for me. No signal at all, it directs you where to point the phone (even to the extent of hold the phone outside the cab of your vehicle) and I can text or call as I need.

 

[2531usmc]

I use the Garmin Messenger so I can type the texts on my phone.

That’s what I use also. Partnering with an iPhone seems to be the best of both worlds

 

[AKDoc]

That’s what I use also. Partnering with an iPhone seems to be the best of both worlds

I agree! As I mentioned previously I have the earth mate ap on my iPhone, which allows me to partner with my inReach. That is soooooo much more convenient than direct texting on my inReach.

On home internet before heading out, always check for any updates for both the inReach and the earth mate ap. I forgot to do that one time before a 14-day hunt...won't ever forget that again.

I also utilize the plan option that allows me to activate and deactivate my inReach. When activating my inReach plan I always choose the unlimited texting plan...that's cheaper for me in the long run. I like getting current wx forecasts for my location, and the forecasts are typically/mostly pretty accurate.

 

[akn300wsm]

The new InReach Mini 3+ can send pictures and voice messages. I’m “upgrading” to that from the Explorer+, I’m not sure if I will regret not having a decent sized gps map screen.

 

[Sako76]

In 2001 my father and I hunted in Anticosti Island and the only communication at camp was a satellite phone. You paid the camp manager $2/minute and you got to use it. We used it a couple of times to call home and make sure everything was OK. Calls lasted 2 minutes and we gave the guy $5. I don’t remember any delay or issues with the phone that people are talking about. Can anyone explain?

I was looking at new sat phones and saw some for $12-$1300 and some for $100! Does anyone know why there is a big discrepancy? Any sat phones recommendations? Sorry for all the (dumb) questions, I’ve hunted all over the U.S., twice in Canada and once in Africa and could always call home. Thanks again for your help!

 

[RWT]

I believe the point they are making is use the newest Inreach mini and text home for much less hassle and expense. More reliable and less expense.

 

[AKBorn]

In 2001 my father and I hunted in Anticosti Island and the only communication at camp was a satellite phone. You paid the camp manager $2/minute and you got to use it. We used it a couple of times to call home and make sure everything was OK. Calls lasted 2 minutes and we gave the guy $5. I don’t remember any delay or issues with the phone that people are talking about. Can anyone explain?

I was looking at new sat phones and saw some for $12-$1300 and some for $100! Does anyone know why there is a big discrepancy? Any sat phones recommendations? Sorry for all the (dumb) questions, I’ve hunted all over the U.S., twice in Canada and once in Africa and could always call home. Thanks again for your help!

I never got on the InReach train, always rented a sat phone from Surveyors Exchange for my remote AK hunts. When I am in the AK wilderness, the last thing I wanted was text or Internet access. I would give my wife a call every other night or so, and call the bush pilots each morning for a brief update on flying conditions in the field.

Give Surveyors Exchange a call. Super easy, and they rent out a bunch of phones in AK every year. After using a sat phobe this year, you cab decide if thats for you or if you want to invest in an InReach.