I am looking at getting an Iridium sat phone soon. Does anybody know of a phone for sale or a cheap internet place to get a phone?
Dale

Just don't go with GlobalStar. I used one on my logging trip and I wouldn't give you a nickel for it especially if you want it to maybe save your life. If it picked up a signal, which was at times nonexistant, you could talk for maybe 3 minutes and then it would loose connection.

Ebay

Got mine from Surveyor's exhange, and love it. Out here in Nome, it has a plan that costs $250/6 months and you get 200 minutes free. Since we get no real cell phone coverage here, I take my Sat phone with me everywhere. However, they aren't cheap to by (cost $1500 for phone, some accessories, and pelican case). But worth it in my opinion.

I bought a refurbished Iridium last year from Outfitter Satellite in Nashville (I think) It was 995. I then bought a 6 month card that had 200 minutes on it specific to Alaska for $200. You can call anywhere but the call must originate in AK. Worked great!

As kusko mentioned, lots of areas aren't covered by Globalstar. Stick with Iridium.

I own a gloablstar and can be very aggravating at times getting a signal, in my area at least, it did it's job however but I'd go Iridium for sure. Hope it gets better in the future cause I'm stuck with it now.

Same hear Takotna. It did the job but I had a lot of 3-5 min calls. A lot of wait time as well at times. Other times it was spot on and managed to be pretty good the few times I really needed it. I only regret buying soo many minutes as I could never use them at 5 min per call. They did extend my time to use the 6000 min . ($700) from July to Jan. But I will seek out iridium after that.

Ken you alway had signal with the iridium. No waits?
I would usually wait from 0 to 10 min for a signal. Could usually get a 5-7 min conversation in prior to being cut off. Played a lot of phone tag with the family in the evening.
I am going to give it one more complaint call to see if they will extend my minutes further.
When they try to defend their signal I will tell them to look and respond why I have 5 calls to the same number repeatedly that last 2-5 min.
I really don't understand why they couldn't perform better after making such a push for covering Alaska better.

I've taken my Iridium up a lot of places and never waited for a signal. Turn it on, pull out antenna and then pops up the "registering" and thats it. LOVE that phone. And the 200 minutes with the "Alaska" plan is nice. I take it everywhere when I go out and about. Nice to call the folks in Fairbanks when I get to tell them "BEAR DOWN" while I'm with the animal.

No need to call. You could just stand up and let him know when he pulls up........

-TJ

I just couldn't hold back.......

Len. I've never had to wait for a signal It will almost do it from in the cabin if I'm near a window. Usually takes less than 10 seconds to be dialing.

Seems to me I may have mentioned that I had tried the Globalstar and it was real lousy in this area.........But I won't mention it again.

Alaskan is right, that Alaska plan with 200 minutes is the way to go. I can also get an antenna to put on the cabin and connect to the phone so I can use it inside. I might just do that.

Sorry to hear you guys had lousy service. Iridium Rules

TJ - We called mom because we like her. Notice we didn't call you.

Touche'

-TJ

I have called from the tent on many fly out hunts with an iridium. My buddy owns one and I usually "rent" it from him for a week or so.