I am no tech genius. I am sorely lacking in my understanding of how all this works.

My question - is there a device that I can use to connect to the internet or a cell system remotely when no connection is available?

In other words, I have seen a PH use a device where no cell signal was available. It seemed to connect to a satellite or something else.

Help needed !

Thanks!

Sat modems.

That is what we use.

Expensive though.

Sat modems will get you (as Saeed said, expensive) moderate speed internet connection. If you just need connectivity for conversation (not data), you can look into either a sat phone or a sat texting device. I have had good experience with the Garmin InReach device for sat texting capabilities at a really reasonable price and buy low volume sat phone sim cards for voice connectivity when I'm going to be off the grid.

In Africa there are only four choices - Landline/DSL/WiFi, Radio/Microwave WiFi, Cell Networks 3G and 4G, and finally satellite. As Saeed said, Satellite is pretty pricey for non-critical communications.

The good news is the SpaceX Starlink service will soon be available. It promises to have much of the same throughput at 3G and still be cost effective - at least that is the marketing hype. We have signed up to Beta Test the network so will be interesting to see if it can deliver. If it does, all of our communications challenges in remote Africa will be resolved... finally.

In many of the cellular fringe areas you will not be able to use 3G or 4G smartphones, but the older dual-band 2G (GSM 850/1900) phones will work - voice only, no data. We have boxes of Nokia 105's for these areas.

I have a device that I think is called and i Savi.

Ross,

A little off topic but I've been amazed in the last few years at how many remote camps I can call on WhatsApp. I literally can follow my hunters day by day progress and get pix from them the day they score.

Mark

Like Mark said, WhatsApp sometimes works in remote areas however in some parts of Western Tanzania WhatsApp does not work.

In order for WhatsApp to work (VoIP) on cellular, there must be sufficient G3 to G4 connectivity to support the data rate. No data bandwidth, no WhatsApp.

That is why a burner phone like the Nokia 105 can be a life saver when nothing else works - other than satellite of course.

We have used a BGAN unit several times, rented from Andy Cool at Explorer Sat., worked really well in most parts of Africa that we've visited. Didn't work worth a flip in Canada (British Columbia or Newfoundland). Not terribly expensive, either.

quote:

Originally posted by K Evans:
We have used a BGAN unit several times, rented from Andy Cool at Explorer Sat., worked really well in most parts of Africa that we've visited. Didn't work worth a flip in Canada (British Columbia or Newfoundland). Not terribly expensive, either.

Only INMARSAT covers north of a certain latitude.

Thuraya does not, more around the equator.

Thuraya Satsleeve worked well for me in the past. You can connect it your smartphone and use your phone via sat connection (VPN recommended).
It's not cheap though.

quote:

Originally posted by Caracal:
Thuraya Satsleeve worked well for me in the past. You can connect it your smartphone and use your phone via sat connection (VPN recommended).
It's not cheap though.

You are lucky.

We tried 3 sat sleeves and non of them worked all the time.

In fact, I am very upset about Thuraya.

If I can help it, I won't be using their BEGAN again.

Their sat phone works fine, but BEGAN has given us endless problems.

Especially in Tanzania.

The impression I am getting is that they are well over subscribed, and they do not have the bandwidth to support it.

We got billed for streaming one year!!

We never stream anything.

In fact, it was bad enough getting normal Internet connection.

I refused to pay it.

After that we used INMARSAT and were very happy with their services.

Saeed,
I only used it in Western Africa (Cameroon, Benin, Burkina) and a few times in central Asia.
It worked well with my android phones, but it took some work to set it up. And without a VPN it would probably not work at all.

Dennis

Ones we tried were with iPhones.

Never worked.

Most camps in Zambia have their own wifi system set up.

quote:

Originally posted by fairgame:
Most camps in Zambia have their own wifi system set up.

Aren't most camps in Zambia permanent?

I'm glad you do it, Saeed, but it's definitely not for me. I enjoy your posts from the bush.

I can't imagine how you find the time to do it! Maybe I don't have the energy, but I actually like not being connected to the outside world when hunting, even though I have used satellite phones and even email and the internet when possible.

Mostly I have done it because it's possible, because of the need sometimes to be responsive to my clients, and to be honest, sometimes just simply out of habit.

Still, I do miss the good old days, when one could say to one and all: I will be unreachable for the next X days (or weeks, in some instances).

We cannot honestly say that anymore, no matter where we go, and more's the pity, IMO.