Posted by Nick Leadley on June 16, 2006 at 10:10 PM
Do any of you use/carry satellite phones when out in the field, particularly when at a good distance from the nearest civilization or where a cell phone does not work? And if so, what service do you use? Any pros or cons?
My reason for asking is this.....
Recently I started studying material to become a Registered Maine Guide. One thing that is stressed heavily in the examination process is lost person scenarios, and the ability to contact wardens in a timely manner. It would seem to me that a satellite phone would be a viable option in the event someone else, or myself, should need to contact the outside world when out shooting.
This point weas further driven home on a recent trip to Alaska where the only means of contact with the outside world was by satellite phone.
Thanks!
Posted by Kent Staubus on June 16, 2006 at 10:35 PM
I have never considered a satellite phone, and in fact don't often even carry my cell phone even when I know there is a signal. I just don't want to be bothered by a stupid phone. I see them as sort of a "leash". I am content to rely on my self to get out of any problems I get into, and OTOH I'm not the type that uses a phone just to chat. I can see where if you are responsible for a paying client that a phone might be a positive.
I carry my cell when there is a signal. I should emphasize that I do not use it at all It is turned off mostly - I just have it for emergencies and I keep it on vibrate without ring.
I do not have a satellite phone. However, FWIW, when I do hire guides or tours in remote areas such as bear viewing in Katmai or kayaking in the fiords of Prince William Sound, I always ask if the guides have communication capability with a home base.
Since satellite phones are now easilly available I can't imagine any professional guide not having one to get emergency services for clients.
All that said these wonderful communication tools should not be used to chat or conduct business. In the wilderness they should be safety tools only.
I just carry my cell phone just in case of emergency. Another question is are you going to have a GPS to report your position. Not familiar with satellite phones, I would assume the phone has GPS capabilities.
I've used one fairly extensively on and off for the last ten years or so, though I don't own one. When I started they were huge and heavy, and sometimes you had to do some climbing up a mountainside in wilderness settings simply to get a signal. Now they are small and light, the signal coverage is getting really good, and best of all the prices for the units and the service are really dropping.
As indicated, they have become almost standard here for guides and remote residents, to the point that a fair number rely on Star Band for their internet connections. I'd ask the locals in Maine which service is best, because what happens in the advertizing department may have no bearing on whether or not you can get good coverage in a specific place. NO! Tell me it isn't so.... Advertizers never spin their products, do they?
If you recall, a satellite phone probably saved 6 lives in the recent Hallo Bay crash. The guide used his to call home base, who in turn called the Coast Guard and got help there in a hurry. I've used VHF radio quite a bit in this vicinity, and signal reception in many places (including Hallo Bay) is so poor that they might not be alive today if they had been reliant on radio rather than sat phone.
I would also check about radio coverage in the area you plan to work, BTW. Maine is pretty small and there aren't a lot of mountains compared to here so there's some likelihood that you could get by with a VHF handheld in at least parts of the area you work. The single advantage to VHF rather than a sat phone is the Coast Guard's 24-hour emergency channel monitoring (Channel 16 is the standard here, but as I recall it is Channel 9 in some areas). If you can function on VHF, at least there's always someone listening.
Before opting for a sat phone, I'd confirm that there are local options for 24-hour coverage in emergencies, whether it's 911 or home base. With the sat phone you need to know who to call, while with VHF there may be lots of folks listening.
Posted by Nick Leadley on June 17, 2006 at 12:34 PM
Thanks for all your input. I also carry a cell phone with me when out shooting and it is always turned off or on vibrate. But there is not always coverage. The satellite phone would also be used in the same manner in event of emergencies, not for chit-chat, which I never do as I hate phones anyway.
I think Ed described them perfectly as "safety tools only". The VHF is also a good idea. Thanks Hank for that suggestion. I'll have to see how many people use them in this area.
Discussion
5 repliesMy reason for asking is this.....
Recently I started studying material to become a Registered Maine Guide. One thing that is stressed heavily in the examination process is lost person scenarios, and the ability to contact wardens in a timely manner. It would seem to me that a satellite phone would be a viable option in the event someone else, or myself, should need to contact the outside world when out shooting.
This point weas further driven home on a recent trip to Alaska where the only means of contact with the outside world was by satellite phone.
Thanks!
Kent in SD
I do not have a satellite phone. However, FWIW, when I do hire guides or tours in remote areas such as bear viewing in Katmai or kayaking in the fiords of Prince William Sound, I always ask if the guides have communication capability with a home base.
Since satellite phones are now easilly available I can't imagine any professional guide not having one to get emergency services for clients.
All that said these wonderful communication tools should not be used to chat or conduct business. In the wilderness they should be safety tools only.
I just carry my cell phone just in case of emergency. Another question is are you going to have a GPS to report your position. Not familiar with satellite phones, I would assume the phone has GPS capabilities.
John
As indicated, they have become almost standard here for guides and remote residents, to the point that a fair number rely on Star Band for their internet connections. I'd ask the locals in Maine which service is best, because what happens in the advertizing department may have no bearing on whether or not you can get good coverage in a specific place. NO! Tell me it isn't so.... Advertizers never spin their products, do they?
If you recall, a satellite phone probably saved 6 lives in the recent Hallo Bay crash. The guide used his to call home base, who in turn called the Coast Guard and got help there in a hurry. I've used VHF radio quite a bit in this vicinity, and signal reception in many places (including Hallo Bay) is so poor that they might not be alive today if they had been reliant on radio rather than sat phone.
I would also check about radio coverage in the area you plan to work, BTW. Maine is pretty small and there aren't a lot of mountains compared to here so there's some likelihood that you could get by with a VHF handheld in at least parts of the area you work. The single advantage to VHF rather than a sat phone is the Coast Guard's 24-hour emergency channel monitoring (Channel 16 is the standard here, but as I recall it is Channel 9 in some areas). If you can function on VHF, at least there's always someone listening.
Before opting for a sat phone, I'd confirm that there are local options for 24-hour coverage in emergencies, whether it's 911 or home base. With the sat phone you need to know who to call, while with VHF there may be lots of folks listening.
I think Ed described them perfectly as "safety tools only". The VHF is also a good idea. Thanks Hank for that suggestion. I'll have to see how many people use them in this area.
Thanks again!
Nick