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Satelite Communicators
#7444631
02/26/19 03:50 PM
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,093
Trozacky
OP
Pro Tracker
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OP
Pro Tracker
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,093 |
I'm headed to Alaska on a caribou hunt this September and a moose hunt September 2020. What do you guys recommend for Satelite texting? Both the communicator and plan? Thanks
Travis
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Re: Satelite Communicators
[Re: Trozacky]
#7444640
02/26/19 03:59 PM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,603
BOBO the Clown
kind of a big deal
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kind of a big deal
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,603 |
I’ve been running Inreach for 5 years now. From Canada to Mexico, no major issues. They had an issue with AT&T recipients the past Sept. but that’s only issue I’ve had in 5 years. I just switched to email vs texted number, for a quick fix.
I go with the unlimited plan in Sept-Jan and drop it to bare minimum rest of the year.
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Re: Satelite Communicators
[Re: Trozacky]
#7444648
02/26/19 04:04 PM
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 4,073
RedSnake
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 4,073 |
Any experience with the rented units? Any reputable vendors?
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Re: Satelite Communicators
[Re: Trozacky]
#7444944
02/26/19 08:43 PM
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Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 659
Nitro27
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 659 |
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Re: Satelite Communicators
[Re: Trozacky]
#7444963
02/26/19 09:06 PM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 25,372
Creekrunner
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 25,372 |
I've got an inReach. Ramp it up in the fall and suspend it in January. I think they call it the "Freedom" plan.
I've also rented a satellite phone a few times from Explorer Satellite out of Florida. They've always seemed professional. Except for the one time I inquired about buying one through their website. 'Never heard back, but I really didn't need it.
...and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. Gen. 1:28
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Re: Satelite Communicators
[Re: Trozacky]
#7445042
02/26/19 10:16 PM
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,201
Theringworm
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,201 |
I rented an Iridium Sat phone once for a backcountry trip. The phone itself seemed fairly lightweight and easy to pack. Only problem was when I wanted to use it the battery was dead. I fully charged it before going. Fortunately I rented an additional battery and it worked.
For the money, InReach is the best bang for your buck. I have wanted to get the Iridium Go and trial it but never have. Inmarsat and Iridium are your two major Sat phone suppliers. Phones aren’t terribly expensive but the phone plans are astronically expensive. The two companies satellite orbits are drastically different from each other which means so is their coverage and reception. Please verify, but if I am not mistaken, Iridium satellites have polar orbits so they are better if used closer to the “poles” of the Earth (I.e. Alaska, Yukon, etc.). Inmarsat satellites orbit equatorally and therefore are better served in places along the equator. If you used an Inmarsat phone in Alaska it likely would be worthless. But please verify before you rent/buy.
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Re: Satelite Communicators
[Re: Trozacky]
#7445051
02/26/19 10:27 PM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 25,372
Creekrunner
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 25,372 |
I had Iridium in Zimbabwe and Mozambique, they worked well. I think Inmarsat gets better reviews, but is a totally different coverage map. InReach is through the Iridium network.
...and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. Gen. 1:28
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Re: Satelite Communicators
[Re: Trozacky]
#7445156
02/27/19 12:36 AM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 785
Deer Hound
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 785 |
In Reach had one for 5 years have used it from Alaska to Mexico I keep it hot year round You would be surprised how much you will use it my buddy's son carried it to Germany to help save on cell charges.
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Re: Satelite Communicators
[Re: Theringworm]
#7445702
02/27/19 04:22 PM
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Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 52
Top Jimmy
Outdoorsman
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Outdoorsman
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 52 |
I rented an Iridium Sat phone once for a backcountry trip. The phone itself seemed fairly lightweight and easy to pack. Only problem was when I wanted to use it the battery was dead. I fully charged it before going. Fortunately I rented an additional battery and it worked.
For the money, InReach is the best bang for your buck. I have wanted to get the Iridium Go and trial it but never have. Inmarsat and Iridium are your two major Sat phone suppliers. Phones aren’t terribly expensive but the phone plans are astronically expensive. The two companies satellite orbits are drastically different from each other which means so is their coverage and reception. Please verify, but if I am not mistaken, Iridium satellites have polar orbits so they are better if used closer to the “poles” of the Earth (I.e. Alaska, Yukon, etc.). Inmarsat satellites orbit equatorally and therefore are better served in places along the equator. If you used an Inmarsat phone in Alaska it likely would be worthless. But please verify before you rent/buy. This right here as an Alaskan who uses a sat phone when hunting. Iridium is the way to go. The others don't have the coverage you want in Alaska, and if you are near any mountains (which is most places people hunt), they will block the signal of the others that are below the horizon. These guys rent and sell and have offices in Anchorage and Fairbanks: Surveyors Exchange-TJ
Some people are like slinkies - not really good for anything, but they bring a smile to your face when pushed down the stairs.
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