Satelite phone systems IMPROVED??

smokindave

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I have been with Globalstar for 7 years now and use it all the time.
Service has improved big time this year.Every time I turn it on I have service.
I am glad I never canceled my plan,at 49 a month you can't go wrong.
I am glad they are giving us loyal customers that deal.I hope it continues indefinitely...
 

PowderStew

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I have had global star for 6 or 7 years. My plan cost just jumped from $39 to $49 as well. Phoned them up and complained and played the long time customer, hung in there with them when service was dismal card. They gave me a "unadvertised plan" deal. $20 a month with 10 minutes free. For me thats perfect. I rarely use my phone but pack it with me all year round sledding, hunting, jet boating ect for emegency use.
Also, they used to let you disconect for the winter at no charge. They don't do that anymore. When I called last year for this, they gave me a discounted rate for 6 months rather than dissconnnect. Over all they have been great to deal with. Service has improved dramatically since all the new sats have been put up. It is very rare to have to wait for a sat to make a call now.
 

RGM

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When the Sats went south years ago I told them to cancel my service. They kept my account open but only charged me 1.5/min if I used it which was rarely and I ended up having to buy a iridium. A coupe of months ago they started charging me 49.00/ month I told them I didn't want the data plan and other stuff so it now 24/ month. Still have issues not having immediate service but within 5 min can get it. I like the fact you can call a 800 number which the iridium can't. I hope they come out with an updated phone soon. Sounds like they got a pile of the spot phones to dump first though.
 

catmando

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I have been with Globalstar for 7 years now and use it all the time.
Service has improved big time this year.Every time I turn it on I have service.
I am glad I never canceled my plan,at 49 a month you can't go wrong.
I am glad they are giving us loyal customers that deal.I hope it continues indefinitely...
Ditto!!!!!they told me it is indefinite, if you buy a phone that plan costs new customers 149 a month. Assuming your is the same as mine.(unlimited long distance and min)
 

smokindave

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Ditto!!!!!they told me it is indefinite, if you buy a phone that plan costs new customers 149 a month. Assuming your is the same as mine.(unlimited long distance and min)

Yup my plan is unlimited minutes and no long distance.:)
I'm glad I stayed with them for all these years.


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Swirlibirdz

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I am going to purchase a sat phone this year. Are there any updates that the group can provide? Reading this thread it seems that global Star is the preferred choice. Is this still the case?
 

SnowJunkie82

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I was initially disappointed with my spot phone, but after using for a year it seems pretty good. Anywhere there is clear line of sight it seems to work quite well. I'm on the $480\yr plan witch gives me 480 minutes of air time. I only us a fraction of those minutes. Hope this helps.
 

007sevens

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I bought the Global Star phone and have never been let down works well, holds a charge for a long long time and is durable and other than its thickness its about the size of a iPhone 4
 

AkNomad

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I am going to purchase a sat phone this year. Are there any updates that the group can provide? Reading this thread it seems that global Star is the preferred choice. Is this still the case?

I've used a sat phone many times here in Alaska and the iridium phones always worked the best for us.
 

jockdoc

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It depends on where you intend to use it. My understanding is that Iridium is truly a pole to pole system, meaning, you can use it anywhere in the world.. Globalstar and others are somewhat limited still, although their coverage is improving due to increased numbers of satellites. I purchased an Iridium after renting one and I haven't looked back.
I am going to purchase a sat phone this year. Are there any updates that the group can provide? Reading this thread it seems that global Star is the preferred choice. Is this still the case?
 

RGM

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I pay 28 bucks a month for Globalstar. Service is good and price is good.
 

jockdoc

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I pay $240 for 6 months of global coverage on my Iridium. $240 covers 250 minutes of anywhere in the big fat world.
No initiation or contract, just pay as you go, 6 months at a time.
I pay 28 bucks a month for Globalstar. Service is good and price is good.
 

freeflorider

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I meant to contact SPOT tech support throughout the winter and ask them about the poor reception (a lot of dropped OK's and the most common ones were between noon and 2:00pm). I got all the lights indicating that the messages were sent but they were never received by the intended parties. The morning ones and the ones later in the day were sent regularly. I didn't have a lot of confidence if I had to use the 911 or HELP buttons during the early afternoon. I couldn't attribute the missing ones to tree cover, mountains in the way, or whatever as lots of them were in the open and many on blue bird days.

I had the same problem with my spot and dumped it. Picked up a spot sat phone that is made by globilstar. $40 month and gives 40 min talk time, works ok but still hit and miss at times here in the Nelson area. Works way better then the old system and its the only option out there to get a call out with...at least you know that your message went through when you call.
 

Braddock54

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I like Iridium. That things links up no matter what.paying once for the minutes is nice too.
 

RMPERK

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We have about 100 sat ph at work. We had global star and went away from them as they were really poor coverage. We swung over to The Iridium. They are very reliable.
i use it virtually every day and count on one hand the number of times it misses. Use at all across northern Western Canada. We recently rented 6 global as they are pushing that they are now back on track with new sats. I still would with Iridium as you know it works, Not a science experiment,
 

lilduke

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I have a Global Star phone. Here is what they claim their coverage is: 120 countries and blah, blah.

Now this is supposedly a satellite phone, meaning there is lil satellites orbiting the planet that my phone transmits to.

They say It works in Panama, but not Nicaragua? How is that even possible:confused:
 
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X-Treme

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I have a Global Star phone. Here is what they claim their coverage is: 120 countries and blah, blah.

Now this is supposedly a satellite phone, meaning there is lil satellites orbiting the planet that my phone transmits to.

They say It works in Panama, but not Nicaragua? How is that even possible:confused:

I wouldn't worry. I don't think you'll be sledding in EITHER of those two countries anytime soon. ;)
 

lilduke

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I wouldn't worry. I don't think you'll be sledding in EITHER of those two countries anytime soon. ;)

Not worried, just doesn't make any sense to me if it were really a Satellite phone. Still confused.

No sledding there, but Id still like to visit, maybe even retire there one day . I Just wont be counting on my "Global" star to get snow reports! Haha
 

kakwa climber

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I am buying one this year too. Don't want to ever feel like I can't get help. Between Sledding, boating camping and fishing I think I will get enough use of one. But now to decide which one.


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