Satellite Phone Recommendations

[WestDan]

I'm looking at different Sat phones for this year and wanted to see if anyone has some recommendations. Likely going Iridium as they seem to be the most reliable but there are several models. I'll be in the Yukon Territory for two weeks in August so I need it for that. I was originally considering the Iridium Go but heard some bad stuff about voice calls. I have my Delorme Inreach if I need to text so I mostly need the phone for voice calls.

 

[Ryan Avery]

Whatever you do don't go Globestar. They absolutely suck! It takes 20-30 minutes to get a signal, then cuts out as soon as they answer. Or it won't connect at all.

I've been with several people that have Iridium Phones, and I borrowed one. MUCH better service!

 

[WestDan]

Whatever you do don't go Globestar. They absolutely suck! It takes 20-30 minutes to get a signal, then cuts out as soon as they answer. Or it won't connect at all.

I've been with several people that have Iridium Phones, and I borrowed one. MUCH better service!

Thanks Ryan! Heard the same thing so I'm sticking to Iridium.

 

[Yellowknife]

I had both Iridium and Globalstar phones in the field last week. The Globalstart worked great when it had a connection... but most the time it just wouldn't connect. Iridum suffered the usual issues of dropped calls and poor connections, but generally connected far more reliably than the Globalstar.

My understanding is that the Iridium about the same most places, but the Globalstar varies by where you are in the world. Key with either is to keep conversations short and concise.... trying to hold an extending conversation is an exercise in frustration.

 

[idig4au]

I use the Iridium Extreme with a world plan. I haven't had too many issues in terms of connectivity with it during my travels using it. Most issues as stated are dropped calls.

 

[jherald]

I've got the Iridium here in AK. I get the dropped call once in a while but overall very reliable and the phone is really rugged, I have the 9575 Xtreme phone. Very happy with it.

 

[kingcon14]

Spent the last week and a half backpacking and fishing in Nevada, Utah, and Colorado. The Iridium 9575 Extreme worked great during the entire trip. The only time I had a connection problem I was in a valley while backpacking into the Maroon Bells area in CO. Took a few minutes to connect then worked great.