5 Places Where You Absolutely Need a Satellite Phone

5 Places Where You Absolutely Need a Satellite Phone

5 Places Where You Absolutely Need a Satellite Phone

 

Whether you consider yourself a seeker of adventure or simply a lover of the outdoors, a satellite phone can be your best friend. A satellite phone can allow you to keep in touch from remote locations where cell coverage is spotty or nonexistent, enabling you to update others as to your location or call for help if something goes wrong. For this reason, a satellite phone should be considered a necessary component of your travel equipment.

 

Infrequent travelers may wish to opt for renting a satellite phone at Outfitter Satellite's affordable rates, while those who spend more time in the outdoors should consider purchasing. Either way, a satellite phone ensures you have a lifeline back to civilization. Here are some examples of when such a lifeline can make all the difference.

Read More
How to Get Started with Prepping and Survivalism

How to Get Started with Prepping and Survivalism

How to Get Started with Prepping and Survivalism

 

In today's society of convenience, it becomes very easy to let one's guard down. Unfortunately, in many situations, this can mean the difference between life and death. We're all familiar with people who wait till the very last second to prepare for anything, whether out of procrastination or simple denial. But with the way store shelves empty out just before an impending natural disaster, you can't afford to put things off too long. It's better to be proactive, and more and more people are turning to prepping as a lifestyle to ensure their survival in an uncertain future.

Read More

Gifts for the Adventurer

Finding gifts for the adventurer in your life present a unique set of challenges. Perhaps they love to go on long, far away hikes; or they are hunting in a remote wooded area; or they are setting out to sail on the open ocean. With some careful thought and preparation, acquiring the perfect gift for an adventurer is not only possible, but easy. Consider the following items when purchasing for an active traveler.

Outerwear and Footwear

Perhaps the easiest category to begin for the adventurer is outerwear. Consider the list below when choosing outerwear for an active individual:

  • Materials: Choose synthetic materials for their ability to wick away moisture rather than trap it like cotton materials
  • Pants or Shorts: While shorts are cooler and give mobility, pants offer warmth for changing climates in altitude changes and also provide protection from allergenic plants and low-to-ground vegetation.
  • Footwear: Boots provide extra strength to the ankles. Consider leather for its superior moisture wicking properties; also Goretex lining for cold or wet climates to keep feet dry
  • Rain Gear: A waterproof and breathable rain jacket is always a good option; also consider a poncho to be kept compactly packed and deployed when needed
  • Hats: Reducing glare and facial sunburns is simply by using a wide-rimmed hat made of a breathable material

Kit

  • Sunglasses: Eye protection from UV and low hanging vegetation is an important safety consideration but can also add a fun fashion statement
  • First Aid Kit: Having necessary supplies for an emergency could be a life-saving addition for any traveler
  • Waterproof container: A waterproof bag, especially for matches and or cell phones will keep necessary dry things dry in the event of inclement weather
  • Multi-tool: Whether its sawing a small branch or tightening a screw, a multi tool provides a great small addition with multitasking in mind
  • Trekking Pole: A quality trekking pole provides stability on rough terrain
  • Binoculars: Whether taking in vast mountain landscapes or watching whales from the side of a boat, binoculars bring the far away closer for enjoyment and safety

Technology

  • Helmet Cam: Sailors, hikers, and hunter alike can catch the perfect shot with a helmet- or headband-mounted, fish-eye camera like a GoPro
  • Multifunction watch: From compass features to timers, a multifunction watch is a compact tool with many uses
  • Multipurpose Bio Camp Stove:
  • A camp stove would seem like a one-purpose device; however, now multipurpose camp stoves can provide heat for cooking and convert power to charge USB devices

  • Satellite Phone: While away from cell towers, a satellite phone can provide an important safety net as well as provide an ability to keep in contact with friends and family through calls, texts, and emails

Outfitter Satellite has numerous options for satellite phones when gift giving this holiday season. Fantastic deals on the used Iridium 9505A, 9555, GO!, and Inmarsat Isatphone 2 with service activation can be a great idea for the off-the-beaten-path adventurer.

After these considerations, finding gifts for the adventurer, hiker, sailor, or hunter is easy and thoughtful. Any one of these gifts are a cool addition to any gift list, especially for the active traveler.

#NoCellService

Read More

How to enable the Wideye iSavi for use with Inmarsat BGAN SIM Cards

The Wideye iSavi terminal by AddValue was originally offered with the economical IsatHub service plans but lower performance.  Now, it is compatible with all of Outfitter Satellite's Inmarsat BGAN service plans.  In addition to supporting data speeds up to 384 kbps in Inmarsat BGAN mode, it supports both 32 kbps and 64 kbps streaming IP data.   This means that at 1.94 lbs, it is now the lightest and most portable terminal available for BGAN services for users needing basic email and broadband connectivity.  Learn more here.

Read More
Why You Should Bring a Satellite Phone Out to Sea

Why You Should Bring a Satellite Phone Out to Sea

Why You Should Bring a Satellite Phone Out to Sea 

It takes only a passing familiarity with boats to know about radar and marine radios, and we've all seen both in television and movies. They've become constant in people's minds when they think of traveling over water.  However, because of these assumptions, people underestimate the utility of satellite phones on a seafaring voyage. Having a satellite phone can save your life, even when your vessel is equipped with other electronics, and at the very least it can help you keep in touch much more easily while away from land.

 

Read More

Satellite Phone Choice - Which One?

When leaving on your next trek into the outer reaches, satellite phone choice is as important as bringing the right footwear or clothing. Depending on where your trip will take you, Iridium and Inmarsat possess definite strengths and a few challenges that will make the choice relatively painless.

A World of Difference

Iridium carries the distinction of being a truly “global” phone. An Iridium phone will function at any location on the planet. Use of their low-earth orbit constellation of 66 satellites makes this possible. Those satellites are in constant motion overhead, completing an orbit around the earth in about 90 minutes. For end users, that means that a satellite passes overhead from horizon to horizon rather quickly. And while it passes overhead, a satellite phone can lock on to place a call. This has the advantage of being able to be used even in partial obstruction.

Inmarsat utilizes 3 geostationary satellites in high equatorial orbit. Their essentially motionless satellites afford the end user long connection times without dropped calls. The Isatphone 2, Inmarsat’s primary handset, also registers to the network very quickly. The geostationary system, however, necessitates a line-of-site to the satellite to be used. This means, you must be below (in the north) or above (in the south) the 50 latitude line or the curvature of the earth will obstruct the signal.

Location, Location, Location

Where you will be traveling heavily influences satellite phone choice. Consider the following factors:

  • Tall mountains or deep canyons: large, natural obstructions can block equatorial views; choose Iridium
  • Canada, Alaska, northern Europe or Asia, Polls: above or below the 50 latitude line causes curvature of the earth obstruction; choose Iridium.
  • Open ocean: clear, unobstructed views; choose Inmarsat.
  • Geographic location close to the equator: angle to satellite nearly directly overhead; choose Inmarsat.

Pros and Cons

Basic functionality of both Iridium handsets and Inmarsat’s Isatphones are the same. All Iridium handsets from the 9505A to the current 9575 Extreme as well as the Isatphone Pro and Isatphone 2 have SMS texting abilities and low speed data transfer. The 9575 Extreme and Isatphone 2 also have GPS tracking abilities with programable emergency buttons. However, the similarities end here.

The Isatphone 2 offers superior call quality and call length to the Iridium. So if long, clear connection times are needed, the Isatphone 2 is the obvious choice. Also, airtime options for the Isatphone 2 are more economical than their Iridium counterparts. If, however, there is concern for possible terrestrial obstruction for an emergency situation, then the Iridium, with its ability to register and make calls even with partial obstruction, is the choice to make. Iridium also offers the GO! wi-fi hotspot which allows the pairing of a smart device as the conduit for a satellite device. This enables calls, easier SMS texting and even text-based email.

Outfitter Satellite provides new and used purchase options for the Iridium 9505A, 9555, GO!, 9575 Extreme (with service) as well as the Isatphone Pro, and Isatphone 2 (with service).  If your trip is shorter in duration, or if you don’t want to have to maintain equipment, rental options for the Iridium 9555, GO! and Isatphone 2 present an attractive alternative to purchase.

Satellite phone choice, either purchasing new or used, or renting, is easy when making an informed decision.  Knowing your terrain, location, and how you want to use the device are all factors in making the right pick.

Read More
More results: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ...25 Next Page