Am looking at getting a couple of satellite phones as my drivers deliver to some remote ranches that don't have cell service or get down in canyons without service. It's always one of those times that something happens.

The info that comes up are pretty vague or just flat our outrageous on costs (I know they're not cheap like a burner phone). Anyone have experiences or recommendations for a satellite phone that's good for limited specialized use (like emergency calls or short calls when regular cell service isn't available)?

how about something like this? We carry one all of the time when floating and hiking. It allows you to send texts from your cell phone and provides tracking anywhere in the world.

https://www.garmin.com/en-US/p/765374

We had an inmarsat satellite phone at a former employer. It was kept for use after hurricanes. Can't remember who we had service with(may have been inmarsat), but I remember it was $600 dollars a year or $50 a month. That got us a certain number of minutes a month which would probably be plenty for ocassional emergency use. I made one call a year to make sure it worked.

Not sure how familiar you are with satellite phones. I'll give you what I learned that I didn't previously know. It's a little different making a satellite call so make sure you have instructions for the users. Also, you have to be outside in the open for a satellite phone to work. I wasn't very familiar with satellite phones so this was new to me. Definitely won't work in a building, but probably wouldn't work inside a vehicle. They would most likely need to be outside of their vehicle to get a good enough signal to use the satellite phone. Which I'm sure wouldn't be a problem, as long as they know this.

Tecolote said:

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Am looking at getting a couple of satellite phones as my drivers deliver to some remote ranches that don't have cell service or get down in canyons without service. It's always one of those times that something happens.

The info that comes up are pretty vague or just flat our outrageous on costs (I know they're not cheap like a burner phone). Anyone have experiences or recommendations for a satellite phone that's good for limited specialized use (like emergency calls or short calls when regular cell service isn't available)?

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Doesn't the iPhone 14 and 15 have this capability already built in? Think I read that just last week. Maybe for emergencies and not real time....... if so, are there plans available to do what you're seeking?

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213885

Quote:

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Connect to a satellite with your iPhone

With iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 15, or iPhone 15 Pro, you can connect your iPhone to a satellite to text emergency services, request roadside assistance, and share your location with friends and family all while you're off the grid with no cellular and Wi-Fi coverage.

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I'll be darned, I had no idea.

the Iridium Go is a decent device; creates a wifi hotspot you connect your Android or iPhone to and make calls from there. Still gotta be outside, but you could put it on top of your work truck or something (just dont forget to put it back in the cab before you drive off!)

TexAgs: We Know Stuff.

Similar experience except we installed an antenna (more like a hockey puck) on the Jeep so we could use it when driving. We had 60 minutes/month.

Worked "okay" (drop calls a lot when the satellites would exchange) but for whatever reason, the prices jumped from about $600/yr to nearly double. Also since the new iPhones now let you do emergency calls via satellite, we canceled.

FWIW our part time home is up the North Fork in the Absarokas about 50 miles west of Cody. That road dead ends in winter and we are quite isolated on occasion. Starlink at the house though.

Are conversations needed of for emergencies? What about the satellite texting options like the Garmin Spot. They run a couple hundred bucks each. I know a lot of mountain hunters that carry them.

EDIT - nevermind, 87Flyfisher beat me to it

CanyonAg77 said:

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https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213885

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"Satellite features are included for free for two years with the activation of an iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 15, or iPhone 15 Pro."

According to that site, the feature is free for 2 years, Does anyone know what the rate currently is after the 2 years?

Don't have any info on them, but a SAT phone saved my butt when I went offshore fishing with a neighbor out of Galveston and we ran out of gas 45 miles out. Yes, that is as stupid as it sounds.

Guess I should have known better when the captain said "oh no worries, we have plenty of gas" after asking if we needed to fill up before heading out.

dcbowers said:

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TexAgs: We Know Stuff.

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Yep! After looking for a little bit, I said to myself "screw this - OB has all the answers!"

Thanks for the information everyone. It's good to know that the newer iPhones have all that - and for the other info on satellite phones. We do need voice and not just text, emergency. This has given me the pointers for the direction to head on this.

I second the Iridium Go. I preparo d minutes and it was a little cheaper. It could carry 4-5 phones at once and works as a hotspot. Set it on hood or someplace within range and use cell phone. Sometimes I've been disconnected with regular sat phone just from moving around.

Outfitter satellite. I have used them for 25 years