Satellite Phones

I am thinking about getting my own satellite phone for use on liveaboards. Has anyone out there done this? Which one and which service are good?

I am thinking about getting my own satellite phone for use on liveaboards. Has anyone out there done this? Which one and which service are good?

I have rented from Allroad Communications, with no problems. Presently prices have dropped and a two week rental with return shipping etc is about $350 and I've rented a phone for a trip next week.

I've considered buying, but then you have to get an annual contract, or pay a reconnection fee each time. It depends on how much you plan to use it as to whether buying or renting makes sense. BTW if you do decide to use them, let them know Jeffrey Hartog referred you. It may get me a discount on my next referral.

I use RoadPost ( http://roadpost.com ). They are really responsive, and I recommend them highly. But if Jeff gets a referral bonus at Allroad, use them.

I use RoadPost ( http://roadpost.com ). They are really responsive, and I recommend them highly. But if Jeff gets a referral bonus at Allroad, use them.

Hey, it's no big deal. I think it's 10 minutes of air time bonus, paltry really. This is a good time to negotiate with all of these guys though, either to rent or to buy. I know AllRoad's prices are about $250 less for the rental than they were in February.

Jeff, the Iridium phone I have does not have a reconnection fee using the Prepaid Card system. Nowadays nobody wants to reach me that badly that I need one on a liveaboard which usually has one already. I usually only take it on boats which don't have one or places where there's no cellphone service for long periods.

Don't use Globalstar. They've lost a few satellites and coverage reliability is crap now. Inmarsat and Iridium are both the ones to think about.

Jeff, the Iridium phone I have does not have a reconnection fee using the Prepaid Card system. Nowadays nobody wants to reach me that badly that I need one on a liveaboard which usually has one already. I usually only take it on boats which don't have one or places where there's no cellphone service for long periods.

Don't use Globalstar. They've lost a few satellites and coverage reliability is crap now. Inmarsat and Iridium are both the ones to think about.

Who is the Prepaid Card from, where did you buy your phone? I take one because I like to talk to the family, and sometimes I have to put out some fires at work (not always possible from a distance, and sometimes just puts a dent in my vacation. )

Who is the Prepaid Card from, where did you buy your phone? I take one because I like to talk to the family, and sometimes I have to put out some fires at work (not always possible from a distance, and sometimes just puts a dent in my vacation. )

Mine is an old Iridium 9505 I bought 2nd hand. The prepaid sim cards and vouchers can be bought anywhere. You just have to top up so it doesn't expire. The 500 minutes is valid for a year (I think) so just top up with the vouchers before it expires. It's not cheap but it's better than a contract.