[pct-l] satelite phones

[dougmusso at hotmail.com (doug)]

I rented a satelite phone for a  pct hike last summer from a company in Texas the name of which I have forgotten. Here's what I would suggest: do a google search for "rent satelite telephone". There are four costs to consider they are all about your total cost for your hike. To buy a phone you will incure the cost of the phone, the monthly charge, the activation fee, and the per minute charges.Include any excessive fees to call the sat phone and to place a call from the sat phone BE WARY OF HIDDEN INTERNATIONAL PHONE NUMBER CHARGES.Ask about selling your phone at the end of your hike.
    To rent you will incure the cost of the rent plus per minute charge. The same attention to international numbers should be investigated in order to find out what it would cost your friends to call your sat phone.
    Our experience with the sat phone was supurb. we rented a 2nd battery but did not need it. The calls to co-ordinate meeting our resupply friends was wonderfull for us and our resupply friends. The safety factor never came into play but was important too. 
Please let me know if you get this email.   Thanks Doug Musso  dougmusso@hotmail.com

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "David and Cindy" <hikeon@surewest.net>
To: <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
Sent: Friday, March 10, 2006 11:52 AM
Subject: RE: [pct-l] Motorola i415 GPS Mobile Phone with Trimble Outdoors


Eric,
Thank you for the info on this phone.  I now realize that this is not a Satellite phone when it comes to incoming and outgoing calls.
Does anyone have any recommendations for a true Satellite phone and also a service plan that would accommodate the need for use only when in the backcountry or remote areas without cell reception?