[pct-l] Globalstar Satellite Phone

Mon Feb 14 23:53:10 CST 2011

First off, I'm a geek. I love tech stuff and satellite phones make a part of me dance and giggle inside. 

That said, I am taking my iPhone with me. I was telling a friend about my plans and how I hoped to use it to stay in touch while on my hike. He thinks I'm nuts. He asked why I didn't want to "unplug" for while. I took his comments to heart. What are we doing on the PCT if were trying to bring the everyone else with us? I'm trying to "exit" for awhile and reconnect to a more natural existence. 

Leave the sat phones at home. If you really NEED to let loved ones know your alive, use a Spot. 

I've told my employer I will check in when I can in case they need me in exchange for a leave. This offer was made reluctantly though.

While I'm very much in favor of letting my family and friends know I'm OK, and share me experience, I really want to leave the stress and problems of society behind. I fully intend to ignore ALL news that doesnt affect the PCT(ie fire) while on my hike. Do you really want to know everything that is happening while you're hiking? 

This is just my humble opinion, but a sat phone would provide too much 2 way communication for my tastes. Maybe this is also why I'm planning my zeroes ON trail to avoid spending too much time in town. HYOH of course. We all have are differing and varied reasons for thru hiking, but my main reason is to get away from "real life", whatever that is. :p

Of course, I'll be trying to hang out with the hikers with sat phones so the little geek in me can secretly covet the blinking lights that represent modern society. ;)

Misspellings and typos brought to you by iPhone.

On Feb 14, 2011, at 7:07 PM, Dan Engleman <danengleman at yahoo.com> wrote:

> I talked to a globalstar rep yesterday and he pretty much talked me out of 
> getting a satphone.  He said that the satalite is fixed in a location above 
> Brazil and because of that fact the reception is often times blocked by 
> mountains, expecially when one is on the north side of the mountain.  Apparently 
> there is an Iridium phone that has great coverage because they have low lying 
> satalites; the Iridium phone is pretty pricy though and out of my league.  I 
> guess one can rent but I think I am leaning towards some sort of smartphone 
> now.  
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ________________________________
> From: Gerry Zamora <gerry0625 at gmail.com>
> To: halfmile at pctmap.net
> Cc: pct-l at backcountry.net; dnlcyclone at aol.com
> Sent: Mon, February 14, 2011 12:04:22 PM
> Subject: Re: [pct-l] Globalstar Satellite Phone
> 
> Why not just get the spot and save?
> On Feb 14, 2011 11:47 AM, "Halfmile" <list at lon.net> wrote:
>> It would be interesting to hear from anyone who has actually used a
>> Globalstar satellite phone recently. Their satellites network has
>> experienced "degraded performance" the past couple of years.
>> 
>> http://globalstar.com/en/index.php?cid=107
>> 
>> They launched a bunch of new satellites back in October and have plans
>> to launch more, but I don't know if any of them are online yet.
>> 
>> This web tool shows you when your Globalstar phone should work:
>> http://calltimes.globalstar.com/
>> 
>> A quick look at Campo, CA for today shows the phone should work about
>> 15 or 20 minutes out of each hour with the longest call duration of 13
>> minutes and 20 seconds (but mostly shorter calls).
>> 
>> Considering the price it might still be worth it, if you can reliably
>> predict when the phone will work. But their is a reason for current
>> the low price.
>> 
>> -Halfmile
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On Mon, Feb 14, 2011 at 11:02 AM, <dnlcyclone at aol.com> wrote:
>>> Thanks to...can't remember who posted it, but thanks for the heads up on
> the Globalstar Satellite Phone.  To those that didn't see that post, it's
> really a good deal.  The phone usually goes for over $1100, and a monthly
> service plan for $50 a month.  If you launch your annual plan before March
> 31st, you can buy the phone for $500 and sign an annual contract for
> unlimited airtime minutes for only $20 a month.  Additional fees are $50 for
> first time activation, and a $30 shipping fee.  So, for $820 (up to $900
> with taxes) you get a year's worth of great reception in the wilderness and
> a phone that will last for years.  I think it's a good deal, and if you're
> travelling with a partner or two, you can leave/cancel other phones for 5-6
> months and just take the Globalstar.  You're given a phone number with an
> area code that corresponds to your home region in the U.S., so anyone can
> plug your Globalstar number into their cell phone and call you.  You also
> get voicemail that allows
>>>   you to save 25 messages.  The phone also has the capability to hook up
> with a modem and send emails, store data (audio blogs, you name it)...It's a
> wad of money in the beginning, but a worthy investment.  My wife and I have
> spent $1000 a year using our cell phones, and cell phones really don't work
> on the trail.  Anyway, thought I'd say thanks for the heads up and plug a
> product that could be of some help to some others.
>>> 
>>> 
>>> David Liechty
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>> http://mailman.backcountry.net/pipermail/pct-l/
>>> 
>>> 
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