Globalstar satellite phone reliability

[big fish]

Does anyone have any info on the reliability of the Globalstar satellite phone service, or a suggestion for another service to use? Thanks.

[Agur's Wish]

We have an iridium phone that works like a charm. A little expensive though. About $1600 for the initial equipment (the phone plus a car antennae, the marine antenna is more expensive and you don't need it). Unlike Globalstar (I believe) you don't have a monthly plan instead you buy so many minutes at a about $1.30 a minute and you order more when you run out there is no time limit in using them. You're supposed to be able to use the iridium phone anywhere in the world and I believe Globalstar is limited to certain areas. Also a couple of friends have said their Globalstar phones cut out frequently and we've never had that problem. If you have any more questions please send a private message.

[Alan Brown]

Have used a Globalstar sat phone for the past two years, the last couple months in the Abacos. It works........most of the time. The most frustrating thing about it is the dropped calls. One minute you've got a strong signal. The next minute the signal's gone. The longest I was able to hold a signal was 15 min.

Price on a new phone was around $450. Monthly service plans, with free minutes, start around $40.

Would I recommend buying one? Depends. I would rather use a cell phone if possible; cheaper and more reliable. If no cell phone coverage is available, then Globalstar is the most economical choice. You just have to deal with the dropped calls.

[big fish]

Thanks for the info on relative merits of different satellite phone services. I'm wondering if your experiences were in the Abaco (Hope Town) area? I will be using the phone while making the crossing from Jupiter FL, and also while staying in HT. Thanks for anything else.
Bruce

[DrRalph]

There was extensive discussion on this board about satellite telephones and their limitations in Abaco immediately after hurricanes Frances and Jeanne. You might want to use the search tool and work through it; much of the commentary was negative.

[Alan Brown]

Bruce,

I used my sat. phone all over the Abacos, Berrys, Nassau, and the Keys. Everything depends upon being able to acquire a satellite signal and hold it. Performance was the same eveywhere........spotty.

Ralph is right about the generally negative feeling about Globalstar phones. You don't want to have to rely on them in an emergency. However, for non-emergency use they're fine. More importantly, what alternative, affordable, phone systems are available to consider? None that I'm aware of. Darn!

[DrGecko]

I was at my cottage on Guana and in Marsh Harbour last week and used my Cingular phone without any problems - both sending and receiving - however as I sit here and look at my, $139.00 :mad: bill (for the week), I will be using it only for emergencies in the future. The pay phone at Guana Harbour Grocery accepts the international ATT 800 number and cost $.25 per minute.
Who needs a phone in paradise anyway?

[dbowman]

I used my Cingular phone on Elbow for two weeks in August. Worked wonderfully except the bill was $2.97/minute. We had used Alltel previously and they charged $1.07. As mentioned we will only use it for emergencies!!!

[Island Notes]

Globalstar works fine but often does drop the call if you talk for more than about five minutes. This situation will apparently improve when they establish the ground station in Puerto Rico.

That said, cost wise it is very affordable and it does work even in the eye of a hurricane.

For emergency use it is a pretty good choice. but Iridium has a little bit more reliable coverage if you are willing to pay that much.

Average call cost is about 99 cents per minute within North America.

Getting cut off on a satellite phone is not actually that bad; it only serves to remind you how much it's cost you to talk for the past few minutes !