Satellite Phones

 















Even with increases in nationwide cellular coverage range, there are still areas that are completely out of range, and those may include some of your favorite fishing and boating areas around the state. If your boat were to break down or any other emergency arise deep in the Everglades or 50 miles offshore, what could you do? There are times when the old VHF antenna-on-a-pushpole just won't work. How can you attain line-of-sight when mangroves tower 30 feet into the sky? And of course, being far offshore, neither cell nor VHF is likely to get you in touch with the world.

The solution is a satellite phone, which depends on satellites circling the globe to provide coverage worldwide, similar to the way GPS satellites aid navigation. These have been around for years but the prices were astronomical, so to speak. Now, they're becoming reasonably affordable and consequently a lot more useful to the average angler or boater.

Satellite service was specifically engineered to use in remote outdoors locations where there is no type of phone service. A satellite phone works in much the same way as a cellular except that you must be outside in an unobstructed area with ample visibility to the sky in order to attain line-of-sight to the satellites—again, think of GPS. The phones are similar to cell phones but generally larger, and they have larger antennas—they're not designed to go in your pocket. Most have removable batteries, or can run from a DC adapter to your boat's cigarette lighter socket.

The best known companies in the industry are Globalstar, Iridium and Inmarsat. Of the three, Iridium is the only system capable of worldwide coverage, consequently making it a bit more expensive. A handheld unit goes for around $1,495, but if you're a boater who frequents The Bahamas or beyond then it is probably smart investing the few extra dollars. Iridium units use a constellation of 66 satellites and offer incoming messaging up to 120 characters. Iridium's complete coverage means you will be able to stay in contact through phone, pager and even e-mail anywhere and at anytime. Programs start at about $32 a month, with zero minutes and airtime of about $1.49 per minute.

Inmarsat is not quite global, but provides coverage from 70 degrees north latitude to 70 degrees south—way more than you need for any Florida-based adventure. However, the company primarily targets the shipping industry, and they use large antennas (up to 5 feet across) and are fairly pricey, at $2,000 and up, so are generally not the preferred choice for small boats.

I personally went with a Globalstar system because it was affordable, and seems generally user-friendly to the small boat skipper. A new Qualcomm Globalstar 1600 Tri-mode handheld satellite phone retails for just $499 at local West Marine and PC centers. Used and operable phones can also be found via Internet in places like Ebay for even less money. Another place to shop for reconditioned phones is a service provider of global mobile satellite communications. Renting the phones for extended travel into distant destinations is another alternative to owning—if you're making a one-time voyage into The Bahamas or Central America, for example. Rents are around $70 a week, plus around $2 a minute for airtime.



The Globalstar system depends on a 48-satellite constellation in low orbit. I have found reception good throughout the Everglades, where I work most often. I opted for the basic plan which includes 30 minutes at a monthly fee of $34.95. Additional minutes are 99 cents.

Using a satellite phone is a lot like using a cell phone. Turn on the phone by pressing the power button and pull out the antenna, directing it toward the sky. To make a call, wait for an icon to pop up on the screen (it may take a minute) and then enter 1 – the area code and the phone number on the keypad and press send—it's all very familiar for cellphone users. Calling a Globalstar phone from a cellular or landline phone is the same as calling any other phone: Dial 1 plus the 10-digit Globalstar phone number and you'll be connected. In order to receive calls the sat-phone must of course be on and have a clear view of the sky—it's not going to work inside a cabin or under a heavy overhang of mangroves.

Give your new satellite phone number to your family and close friends but remember, it's not for chatting. Exceed your particular contract and you will be required to pay for the extra time, usually at a much higher price per minute.

Firsthand experience has taught me that when safety is in question, a few hundred dollars is a small price to pay. When my engine seized some 25 miles away from the Flamingo Marina I had to wait three and a half hours before communication was available through my cellular phone. Having a sat-phone would have saved time and a long ride in a passing sailboat's inflatable dinghy.

While cell-phone service is ever expanding, areas like the backcountry of the Everglades are unlikely ever to see ground-to-ground cellular towers being erected. And if you're a serious offshore angler regularly running over the horizon, you will sooner or later be very, very glad that you have invested the extra bucks to allow you to pull an E.T. and phone home on your satellite phone.

FS

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