Of the various brands/services out there - Motorola, Thuraya, etc., which is the best in terms of performance.

Was that same brand the top dog back in 2005 or so?

Thank you in advance.

Brought a Motorola last year, never used it. In the Caprivi, we had more than adequate cell signal, just as expensive as sat, but a lot easier to carry. Next time, just buying a SIM card locally to use in a throw down phone for local stuff, still using AT&T for dialing home.

They all work, and they all have problems sometime or other.

best way is to find if your PH has one, and just use that for your calls and pay him.

http://www.inreachdelorme.com/

sat messenger. works pretty slick.

I have the Inmarsat, bought at DSC. just about half the cost of Motorola (sold by the same guys that sold mine). Airtime cost the same. Works well. The one feature I really like is free texting.
BTW, you can rent sat phones and figure out which one you like that way. Explorer Satelite can fix you up no matter which way you go

I have the Motorola(Iridium) & the Inmarsat. Which one is best? It depends on where you are. Personally, I find the Inmarsat the best in Africa. However, I find the Motorola to be by far the best in the extreme north ( above the Arctic Circle).

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
I have the Motorola(Iridium) & the Inmarsat. Which one is best? It depends on where you are. Personally, I find the Inmarsat the best in Africa. However, I find the Motorola to be by far the best in the extreme north ( above the Arctic Circle).

I may need to come borrow one

I really appreciate you back stopping me on the march trip.

I need to buy one. I bought a samsung multi sim phone in india - can have dual sims running at same time.

Just need to check rules before you travel with sat phone - in some countries they area big no no (india for one) - akin to an undeclared gun.

Mike

I have an Iridium 9575 and use a prepaid Sim from http://www.cytechcommunication.../category-s/1846.htm It is the cheapest way to stay in contact back home. I use it mostly in Namibia because cell coverage is a little more spotty there. The 9575 is the best sat phone I have ever used and seldom have a problem with it.

Another idea is to take an unlocked cell phone over and buy a MTN prepaid Sim if you are hunting in RSA. (Make sure it's an unlocked phone, otherwise a prepaid sim will not work) Cell coverage in RSA is very good for the most part. You can always purchase an international unlocked cell phone on Amazon or pick one up at any MTN counter in RSA. Leave it behind with your PH as a gift.

Very good information, and very much appreciated.

A young friend is headed back to Afghanistan and is wondering what to get.

Another vote for Iridium 9575. Reliable and built to be very durable. Explorer Satellite is "good people".

A word of warning although not likely relevant for Africa is make sure you have reputable batteries in your sat phone.

We had a loan sat phone with us on our Tahr hunt in the Southern Alps last year where we bore the brunt of a vicious snow storm and saw no sun on our snowed in camp for nearly a week before a chopper could get in to retrieve us.

The phone provider, who usually hires these and other equipment out to hunters and mountaineers for mountain use, had just installed a new battery set and also gave us a spare set but when we went to use the phone to call up the chopper the batteries would not function because of the cold. A few minutes in hot water saw them work long enough to call up the chopper. The spare set were no different in performance or lack thereof. Apparently the phone batteries are quite expensive and the replacements he had sourced were quite a bit cheaper FROM CHINA!!!!!

One of our party was a friend of the phone supplier hence we had it on free loan. He, an extremely experienced outdoors man, was very apologetic and learned there is no free lunch when it comes to safety equipment. We were not charged for our call time which was brief anyway because of the dying battery issue.

If you're really in the outback, then a solar charger is a great addition - http://www.goalzero.com/solar-panels. A power inverter is also a useful tool for laptops, radios, and phones.

Very good help folks. Please accept my thanks.

I will get him a power inverter that works with the GMV/"HummVee" power interface, and a solar charger.

I am sure the military sources a lot of its batteries from China (Bureaucrat saves money & gets a bonus).

L/D