Is anyone using a satellite phone for communication in backcountry areas? Someone mentioned the SPOT system for sure.

Issue number one is cost, both of the phones and the service plans. But they seem to be getting more affordable. Also the telecommunication companies that own the satellite constellations seem to go bankrupt a lot. I thought Iridium went bankrupt immediately after the constellation was operational; and now I see they're selling phones.

One interesting thing is that you can rent an Iridium phone for a month with 200 minutes for $112 for a month: http://www.globalcomsatphone.com/satellite/phone_rentals_iridium.html I am NOT a communications person and I am in now way affiliated with any of those companies. For more goodies see http://www.satphonestore.com/

These seem like an interesting alternative to a ham radio for emergency use in remote areas because even with ham you can't always reach a repeater. Of course it's better to be in a convoy, but that's not always possible.

Really neat stuff, but as always the issue is cost. In the long run it seems like satellite phones are the way to go.

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2003 Liberty, ARB bumper w fogs and KC SlimLites
Front Franky II HD, rear OME948 w Rancho RS9000/XL shocks
LT245/75R16C Duratracs on Moabs
4.10 gears, front & rear ARB lockers, Boulder Bars, AFE Stage 2 intake
Surco rack w BajaRack jerry can holder
Cobra 75 WX ST

06 LJ Rubi, 3.5" RE SA and 33" BFG KM2s, GenRight tank

Here is an interesting YouTube video discussing satellite phones (Iridium, iSaphone Pro and TerreStar):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6w7wmHk9W8&feature=player_embedded

_________________
2003 Liberty, ARB bumper w fogs and KC SlimLites
Front Franky II HD, rear OME948 w Rancho RS9000/XL shocks
LT245/75R16C Duratracs on Moabs
4.10 gears, front & rear ARB lockers, Boulder Bars, AFE Stage 2 intake
Surco rack w BajaRack jerry can holder
Cobra 75 WX ST

06 LJ Rubi, 3.5" RE SA and 33" BFG KM2s, GenRight tank

Here's a picture of someone using an Iridium phone in the desert. Just imagine that's a Jeep.



Basic access is "only" $40 a month. It doesn't cost anything to receive calls, but making calls costs $1.39 / minute. Prepaid minutes are cheaper.

Gotta get to work now.

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2003 Liberty, ARB bumper w fogs and KC SlimLites
Front Franky II HD, rear OME948 w Rancho RS9000/XL shocks
LT245/75R16C Duratracs on Moabs
4.10 gears, front & rear ARB lockers, Boulder Bars, AFE Stage 2 intake
Surco rack w BajaRack jerry can holder
Cobra 75 WX ST

06 LJ Rubi, 3.5" RE SA and 33" BFG KM2s, GenRight tank

Spot is very different from a sat phone. Spot is a locator beacon, with the main purpose of acting as a distress signal. If your lost/hurt/screwed hit the sos button, and it sends a message to the monitoring service (run by spot) including your GPS location. They will contact whatever local group is in your area and get you help. Sat phones are really great things, and work very differently though. You won't have a "oh crap" button that automatically gets you help, you will have to call a friend, or if you know the number a local group to get you help.
To be fair If I did enough "far out" activities, I would carry a spot, or another personal locator beacon (spots are cheap, but you pay for monitoring, there are other expensive beacons that are monitored by free government agencies). That being said I would also carry a sat phone if I was there enough, to actually say hi to people.

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02 KJ "Frank The Turtle"
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3111598