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Battery Life The rechargeable batteries in both Iridium and Globalstar phones provide talk time similar to that of cell phones. On a long expedition, consider taking along a spare battery. If you rent the phone, many outfitters include a spare battery as part of the package. But even if you have a spare battery, I don’t suggest leaving the phone in standby mode, or you will likely deplete all available batteries well before your trip ends. Turn the phone on only to make calls and check text messages or voice mail. If you adopt this strategy and make only a few minutes of calls per day, each fully charged battery should last for several weeks. The standard Lithium-Ion battery in the Motorola 9505 provides approximately two hours of talk time or 24 hours of standby time. The standard Lithium-Ion battery in the GSP-1600 provides three-and-a-half hours of talk time or 19 hours of standby time. Higher capacity batteries are available for either unit. Both phones come with a charger and adapters to plug into wall outlets of different countries. The package often includes a car charger that fits into a cigarette lighter socket. You can also charge your satellite phone with a solar battery charger, but be sure to check with your dealer for compatibility, or you may damage the equipment. Data Services Using optional data kits, both Iridium and Globalstar phones can connect with a laptop computer to browse the Internet or to send and receive e-mails. Maximum connection speeds are approximately 10 Kbps (only about 20 percent the data rate of a standard dial-up modem). At this speed, airtime charges can accumulate very quickly. Since this is a much more technical topic and it’s unlikely you’ll lug along a laptop on a kayak trip, I won’t go into any further detail on this capability. Both Iridium and Globalstar’s web sites (listed at the end of this article) have detailed information on the data transfer capabilities of their respective phones. Rental and Purchase Pricing For most paddlers, it will make more sense to rent than to purchase a satellite phone. It definitely pays to shop around. I found rental prices on the Internet varying from $40 to $129 a week for the same service. All prices referenced here are subject to change at any time. Prices are expected to come down gradually. The best rental deals I found were with a company called GMPCS Personal Communications (ph: 954-973-3100; web: www.gmpcs-us.com) in Pompano Beach, Florida. They offer Iridium (Motorola 9500) and Globalstar phone rentals starting at $20 per day or $39.98 per week, including an AC charger and spare battery. Their per-minute rate for outgoing Iridium calls is $1.80. Their per-minute rate for Globalstar calls is $1.59 within the continental U.S. or Caribbean, and their roaming rate is $3.49 per minute. They charge $14.25 for three-day shipping within the continental U.S. The customer is also responsible for return shipping. Best of all, while some dealers charge you from the day they ship the phone until the day it’s returned, GMPCS ships the phone three days before your rental period begins and gives you a grace period of three days to return the phone after your rental period ends. There are many other dealers. If you can locate a dealer in your city (see Satellite Communications in the Yellow Pages), you can escape high express shipping charges by going to the store directly. If you intend to use the phone for more than three months or you intend to make many calls in a short period, consider purchasing. The retail price of the Globalstar GSP-1600 is around $600, but many discounts are available, and occasionally used units are put up for auction on eBay. You’ll need to pay an activation fee of $50 and sign up for a plan with a 12-month commitment. The plans start at $34.95 per month for 30 free minutes and 99¢ for each additional minute. Iridium phones and plans are more expensive. The retail price of the Motorola 9505 is nearly $1,400, but again, many discounts are available. I found a limited supply of discontinued Motorola 9500 models available for $850. Like Globalstar, a $50 activation fee and 12-month contract applies. Plans start at $32.95 per month for zero included minutes and $1.49 for each minute. Again, incoming Iridium calls are free. Iridium and Globalstar also offer prepaid plans. Like prepaid cell phone plans, you can purchase either phone with a bundle of minutes valid for a set period of time (such as 12 months) rather than a monthly plan. This may be a more cost-effective option for some users, such as those planning to use the phone on several different trips but not needing the phone in between those trips. Which Phone is Best? The choice between an Iridium or Globalstar phone depends on how and where you intend to use it. If you intend to stay almost exclusively along coastlines in your home area (for U.S. residents, this includes the continental U.S. and the Caribbean), Globalstar is probably the more economical choice. Globalstar also has a slight edge in sound quality, and anyone trying to reach you only needs to dial a regular U.S. phone number. On the other hand, while Globalstar charges higher roaming rates if you wander out of your home area, Iridium rates are the same regardless of where you go. Iridium also has a superior short messaging service. More important, Iridium phones work virtually everywhere. If you’re looking for a satellite phone to take to the South Pacific, for example, Globalstar currently can’t help you, but Iridium will work fine. Globalstar also has spotty coverage in Alaska and no coverage in Hawaii. Check the Globalstar web site for a detailed coverage map, or ask a dealer. Whatever phone would work best for your trip, you no longer have to be completely out of touch when you paddle far away from civilization. Satellite phones obviously won’t appeal to all kayakers. For some, getting as far out of touch as possible is one of the principal motivations for paddling into remote areas in the first place. But for others, the ability to talk to loved ones back home or to call for help from anywhere in the event of an emergency will be a great comfort on kayaking expeditions. Just don’t tell your boss you’ll be available by phone. Gary Lai is a freelance writer and aerospace engineer based in Seattle, Washington. His past work includes mission planning for orbital launches of Globalstar satellites. |
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