7hetexsun

NedLloyd

I don't know a whole lot about sat phones,.... but how far out are you running? Back when I knew something about them they were expensive and pretty much for the guys who went pretty far off. The reception also had blackout periods as one satellite went over the horizon and you waited for the next. Unless you had money to burn they weren't really an "I'm going to late for dinner" kind of a thing,

Captinlon

over priced to buy and bend over for the service plan, forget about getting it wet (can't imagen how that would happen on a boat) Took one on a trip I had up the Maine coast and it was more frustrating than worth. Didn't work much better than my cell phone. I've been told to look into the garmin "in reach" but I have yet to do so

Capt Henry Morgan

If in FL you lose service as close as 4 miles depending on location and provider full black out around 5-10 miles out

pworm14

We have a Garmin InReach mini we use for off-roading/Overlanding activities and we like it a lot.

It uses the Iridium satellite network and sends and receives text messages and/or emails to whoever you want to send to. There are different tiers of service at different costs and we use the cheapest one at about $15 per month (+$28 a year to keep activated). You can turn your service on and off as needed but, once turned on, it's on for 30 days and you have to turn it off or it renews for another 30 days automatically.

It's worth checking in to for what you want to do. It's a good supplement (not replacement) to your EPIRB.

7hetexsun

Antwerpen

I have an Inmarsat IsatPhone 2. There are several coverage plans - if you want minutes to talk it's somewhere around $1.00 per minute, there are also a couple of emergency use only options where the annual cost is pretty low but if you use it for phone calls the per-minute charge is pretty high. The system uses a satellite that is roughly at the equator so the coverage is not good very far north or south. I have used it in the Shetland Islands, mountains of Montana and many times in the Gulf of Mexico 20 to 50 miles out from the Florida west coast with good clear reception. The phone is IP65 rated which means it's supposed to survive a water jet exposure but not submersion in water. On the boat it's in the ditch bag inside a water tight Pelican case. I have been happy with it and consider the expense worth it when out of cell phone range (have called Sea Tow once with it 15 miles out). Lots of info at www.satellitephonestore.com

River Hill

Will Sea Tow respond to the Garmin InReach or other towing companies?

jwb

Another vote for the satphonestore. I bought phone, pelican case 2 chargers and 200 units of service for under $1000. This year 180 days and 200 units is about $200. You can get 100 units and 90 days for $100. I usually run out of time not units. I learned you need a southerly exposure ( no t top in the way) and have to deal with a slight delay when talking. I use it every time I go offshore to check in with the wife. Texting is free.

7hetexsun

blake0723

I don't have an inreach but have been looking to get one. I assume that if you need a tow for a non emergency you would text a friend or family member that is on land and have them contact the towing company for you and provide your location based on the inreach tracking. If it is an emergency you would use the SOS feature on the inreach and their monitoring center would dispatch whatever emergency response unit is closest and available.

Flatlined

I have an Iridium Go from Network Innovations and it acts as a hot spot and allows 5 phones to connect. Sent texts or calls. Flexible plans. Call SeaTow or whomever you'd like regardless of location. Not 100% on coverage but I think it's pretty vast. Something bad happens outside of phone or VHF coverage you'll kick yourself for not owning one.

Aix_Sponsa

Have you used the Iridium Go to pull weather data to your phone? I am wondering if it is possible to get the weather radar on my phone like I can when I am in cell range.

Wampus Cat

MayhemFT

Most of the guys I fish with use the Garmin In Reach texter. I carry an Iridium sat phone offshore with me. I pay $6-700/yr for over 500 minutes. We normally spend a couple of nights offshore, so I use it to call and check in with my wife, check on the office, and call in releases if we are fishing a tournament.

tdk72

I have an Inmarsat2 phone that I buy the prepaid minutes for, it costs about $400 per year. If something bad happens far offshore it is comforting to me to talk with someone as opposed to sending a text and hoping it is received.

Lambertmj

Lambertmj

C Skip R

In most areas you can reach the CG with your vhf at 40 nm even further. If so call the CG and have them deliver message to SeaTow. In an emergency I'm sure the CG would make a phone call for you.

Bamaskeetshooter