Have you ever been hiking in the backcountry and discovered an odd manmade structure? Did it have a pipe or tank, or otherwise resemble a small, strange pool or water collection unit surrounded by a low fence? Congratulations, you've found a wildlife guzzler!

These structures are often installed in wilderness environments to help wildlife by providing reliable access to water, especially in arid regions or places with extreme dry seasons. Finding one can be a bit like unearthing a treasure because they're placed in areas where animals have been observed to frequently travel. If you love to see and photograph wildlife, you can set up a trail camera near a guzzler to get some excellent shots. Or make your camp some distance away, upwind, where you can remain hidden from wildlife and view the guzzler with binoculars or your camera.

As part of its commitment to its reliable, fully-global satellite network, Iridium is launching its next generation of satellites comprising 66 active satellites as well as 9 orbital and 6 ground spares. Iridium has been launching these new satellites with SpaceX throughout 2017 and will continue in 2018 with launches of 10 satellites about every two months.

In addition to providing enhanced low earth orbit communications for Iridium satellite phones, some Iridium NEXT satellites include additional capabilities for air traffic control, airlines, and marine AIS (Aeronautical Information Service) ship tracking receivers.

Outfitter Satellite, as a premier supplier of satellite phones, accessories, and rentals, is keeping a close eye on the progress.

Who Needs a Fixed Site Satellite Phone?

When you think of satellite phones, an image may come to mind of a backpacker or mountaineer calling home on a handset from the middle of nowhere. Or maybe you think of a first responder in safety gear, checking in from a disaster relief area. Both ideas are accurate, but they aren't the whole picture — not all satellite phones are stuffed into a pocket to carry into rough terrain (although many are). Others are fixed site.

A fixed site satellite phone is part of a permanent installation within a structure, meant to bring satellite service to that location. The issue of the handsets needing a line of sight to an orbiting satellite is solved through the use of external antennas, allowing indoor use. So, who can benefit from such a setup?

Survival When You're Lost

No matter how prepared you are for a wilderness adventure, something can still go wrong. This shouldn't scare you away from the great outdoors, but you should learn how to survive until help arrives.

Viewing the Solar Eclipse

Satellite Phones: The Solution for Emergencies

You are likely already familiar with the idea of using a satellite phone to keep connected during a natural disaster. However, there are additional situations you may not be aware of in which a satellite phone will be helpful. It's true that earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis and other forces of nature could bring down the cell phone grid by destroying infrastructure such as cell towers, but it doesn't take an event of that magnitude to disrupt communications.

Are Satellite Communications Possible Indoors?

You may hear that satellite phones cannot be used indoors. It is true that satellite phones rely on a clear view of the sky, as they require line-of-sight to a satellite on their network in order to have a signal. Not even using one next to a window will be effective. So, what if you can't necessarily be outside? Maybe you need to use a satellite phone while inside your car, boat, or aircraft. For the purposes of satellite phone functionality, these all count as "indoors" and have a negative effect on your ability to get a signal. So what do you do? Are you out of luck?

The simple answer is no. You can get around the need to use the satellite phone strictly outdoors by installing an antenna on the outside of your vehicle or building. Outfitter Satellite carries the equipment you need for this purpose.