Get A Satellite Phone For Snowmobiling…
Globalstar satellite phone
Related: What To Carry For Emergencies
A Globalstar Mobile Satellite Phone is the best snowmobile satellite phone for your snowmobile tour or snowmobile vacation. I was on tour when a sled broke down on a trail with no cell service. Before we made a beeline for the nearest dealer, I called ahead on my handheld Spot Globalstar Phone to request service.
This helped avoid a layover that would lose the next day’s riding. Fortunately, I never had any other urgent need to use my satellite phone last winter. But this is why I always carry it with me snowmobiling.
Best Satellite Phone For Emergencies
I figure that more than 70% of the places I ride are beyond cell service. So the reliability of the Globalstar GSP-1700 Mobile Satellite Phone gives me great peace of mind. Best of all, using my satellite phone in an emergency means no uncertainty. I can call multiple responders. Also, I know who I’ve reached and when they’re coming. I can give them all the pertinent information they need and they can even call me back.
Plus, I am able to call any family or friends to let them know what’s up. What’s more, I can use my live unit to provide my location to first responders. Or provide additional information regarding an emergency situation. And in the rare case when we’re staying overnight at remote outfitter with no land or cell service, I can also call home to confirm we’re okay.
Satellite Phone Is Affordable
Not so long ago, a satellite phone was expensive – costly to buy and pricey to operate. But my Globalstar Phone retails at about $500 and a basic plan can be had for as little as $80 per month. There are no extra charges if you never use the phone except for urgencies and emergencies.
And if regular riding buddies share the cost of having a shared Globalstar satellite phone with them on tour, you’re really looking at peanuts dollar wise. Especially compared to the alternative of being totally out of touch and having to ride a long way for help when timing may be critical.
Satellite Phone Provides Service Almost Anywhere
Cell phone service is still typically located in high population areas and along main highway corridors with limited coverage. So relying on cell service one while snowmobiling could be a crapshoot.
On the other hand, Globalstar Phones use a second-generation constellation consisting of 32 Low Earth Orbit satellites. They provide comprehensive coverage throughout snowbelt North America. So your Globalstar Phone will work virtually anywhere you ride. There’s no perceptible voice delay, excellent clarity, and thanks to multiple satellites, minimal call interruption.
Satellite Phone Battery Life
The Global satellite phone isn’t much bigger than a cell phone. But it’s still highly portable. And pretty stylish too, with no more of that bulky industrial look satellite phones were once know for. This is good news for snowmobilers when space is at a premium.
It isn’t even necessary to carry the sat phone in an inside pocket. iInstead, place the battery inside your jacket to stay warm, while keeping the phone elsewhere. Each battery is rated for four hours talk time and 36 hours in standby mode. But these times will likely be reduced when used in the freezing cold.
So if a couple of riders carry fully charged extra batteries, your sat phone will have plenty of juice in the cold to make multiple calls and be left on in an emergency. Just remember to keep the batteries charged every night as needed.
Satellite Phone Operating Tips
There’s no rocket science to operating a satellite phone. Find an outdoor location with an unobstructed view of the sky. Raise the antenna and point it up. Turn the unit on. Wait for connection and dial just like on any other kind of phone.
To maintain optimum connection, don’t be moving around while talking. Keep the antenna pointed in the same direction and at the same angle. There’s only one challenge no phone maker has yet overcome. How to hold a unit up to your mouth and ear with a helmet on, so keep a warm tuque handy!
Bonus Tip: If you don’t need to communicate by voice, the SPOT X 2-Way Satellite Messenger may be just right for you. It provides the same connectivity and access as a sat phone, but with 2-way text messaging. Plus, ti also provides a host of other features you may find useful.
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The tips and advice in this blog are the opinions of the author, may not work in every situation and are intended only for the convenience and interest of the reader, who has the personal responsibility to confirm the validity, accuracy and relevancy of this information prior to putting it to their own use.