BajaNomad - Globalstar Sat Phone users?

Globalstar Sat Phone users?

RufusTheDoofus - 10-11-2012 at 12:44 PM

Planning another trip to to Baja from Maine this winter. Thinking about a sat phone for this trip. I know Globalstar has had a bunch of problems with their satellite network in the past. Anyone here using a Globalstar phone in Baja? Which model? Is it working well for you?

avid - 10-12-2012 at 09:06 PM

I purchased a GSP-1700 last December betting on a third successful launch of their second generation satellites. I have used it in Oregon and the Sierras and never had a problem making calls. When I was in the Sierras during the nine days of incredible daily afternoon deluges in August; I called SEKI headquarters after reports of even worse weather on the way. The person at the front desk asked me where I was calling from several times. She couldn't believe I was on the John Muir Trail. The receptionist said the call clarity was better than local calls. The standby battery life on the phone seems unlimited. We use it to make short check-in calls and have weather texted to us. We won't leave home for hiking or RV trips without it.

They are set to launch one more set of second gen satellites some time in the next six months. Call the HQ and talk to them about Baja coverage. They were very upfront about their problems over the last several very difficult years. I can't see why they wouldn't tell you what kind of service to expect. If you wan't more info ask for the phone number of the regional rep for your area.

[Edited on 10-13-2012 by avid]

Alm - 10-12-2012 at 11:34 PM

If you are not going to use it a lot, Inmarsat is a better option, IMO. Cheap prepaid cards, handsets cost the same if not cheaper, and no complaints on connection. With Globalsat I don't even know if they have prepaid cards, you probably have to buy a monthly plan. In the past they didn't sell airtime in the US, i.e. you could dial from Baja but not from US, now I think they sell US airtime too - not that I need that, just heard the announcement in September.

[Edited on 10-13-2012 by Alm]

avid - 10-13-2012 at 09:39 AM

When I purchased they were still making super deals. I pay $20/month for unlimited usage. Last I looked it was $39.95 unlimited usage. The CEO said something to the effect of wanting to become the WalMart of Satellite phone service.

Phone numbers for Globalstar are Texas based. For some of the other providers they are international numbers that cost people who call you serious dollars.

Inmarsat has one geostationary satellite that covers an area. If you can see the bird you can make a connection. With a fleet of orbiting satellites making a connection in an area with limited sky view is possible. Even though the connections may be brief.

Then there is also Iridium. Their new Iridium Extreme phone allows "SPOT" like constant tracking.

I talked about buying a Sat phone for years and spent many hours digging through information before buying. Having one with me is worth every penny of the monthly cost. I tell my wife that if we don't save our own lives with this phone, we may save someone else's.

bill erhardt - 10-13-2012 at 10:54 AM

I fish a lot offshore on both sides of the Baja peninsula, often outside both vhf and cell phone range. A few years ago I got an Iridium sat. phone. When it was stolen I replaced it with an ISAT (Inmarsat). The servcice with the ISAT has been about the same as with the Iridium. For use in Mexico you can get prepaid minutes. Hardware and minutes for the ISAT are about half the cost of Iridium
With Globalstar's history of service - lack of service, I wouldn't consider their product regardless of price. If I'm lucky I'll never need to use mine again. But if I do I want one that will work.

Alm - 10-13-2012 at 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by avid
When I purchased they were still making super deals. I pay $20/month for unlimited usage. Last I looked it was $39.95 unlimited usage.

Yes, this is their current promotion, $39. But this is only for calls within US or Canada. Calls from Mexico to US cost $1.39 roaming per minute on top of monthly plan, if I'm correct. For calls within Mexico there is same roaming charge, if not more. If the handset number is Texas-based - can you still call from Baja to the US without roaming charges?

Quote:

Originally posted by bill erhardt
If I'm lucky I'll never need to use mine again. But if I do I want one that will work.

x2. For most of us sat phone is an emergency communication tool. If you want unlimited chat with people back North or in Baja - get a cell phone, it usually works in big cities of Baja. Golbalstar is getting their satellites back online this year, so the service should improve. I just don't find their prices competitive when used only in Baja and only occasionally.

They all are raising the bar slowly. Monthly plans are not getting cheaper, and it's getting difficult to find a prepaid card with not too much airtime and long expiration term.

[Edited on 10-13-2012 by Alm]

bill erhardt - 10-14-2012 at 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bill erhardt
If I'm lucky I'll never need to use mine again. But if I do I want one that will work.

As I said above, I have a satellite phone for use offshore on the Baja Pacific and the Sea of Cortez, not in Baja "big cities". cell phones are of no use offshore.
Maybe Globalstar service will improve, maybe not. That is yet to be seen. What is certain, however, is that when they had few or no satellites carrying their signals they kept right on marketing their phones and left a lot of people in the lurch with their useless phones.

htnfool - 10-14-2012 at 07:13 PM

I second, Bill's words of wisdom.

I hunt and fish off of the cel service map in both countries. So, I needed to get a sat phone.

My 1st was Globalstar from 2004-2008. Rotten service(s) to say the least. Fair-poor at best in the USA, very poor in Mexico. If I was able to get a call out, which was 1 outta 10 tries, I usually lost the connection within a few seconds. Thankfully I didn't need one for an emergency.

I switched to Iridium in 2009 and have been pretty happy with its service, not perfect, but much better. This goes for both countries. I do seem to get better reception in the morning than in the afternoon, must be something to do with the satelite position or maybe its the sun. I think I will need to ponder this one over a couple more Pacificos

Globalstar failed so miserable on all accounts, I have a hard time understanding how they continue to dupe people still to this day with their idea of "service".

Hope this helps

avid - 10-14-2012 at 08:03 PM

http://www.globalsatellitecommunications.com/news/globalstar...

Three launches are complete, giving Globalstar users significantly improved service and reliability with the industries best call clarity, fastest handheld satellite phone data speeds and the most affordable service. As of the date of this article Globalstar users in North America are experiencing an average of 87% coverage with a higher percentage in the northern United States. It is expected Globalstar service will be up to full service by spring of 2013.

Alm - 10-15-2012 at 01:53 AM

Not to defend the company that I am not quite familiar with, but Avid - or article that he is quoting - is right. Globalstar is launching new satellites this year, so it should improve. For how long - nobody knows. Any satellite will eventually will stop working, nothing is forever. There is an opinion that those failures were caused by exposure to radiation in some areas of the orbit, but Globalstar denies it. Don't know, I'm not an expert.

Btw, Inmarsat has 2 geostationary birds that cover this area - not one. The closest one is south-west at 45 deg elevation (looking from Baja), and another one is south-east at 30 deg elevation. So maybe try pointing it south-west at 45 deg to horizon, when dialing. Or at least turn to south-west.

[Edited on 10-15-2012 by Alm]

Bob and Susan - 10-15-2012 at 05:17 AM

actually having a SAT phone is overkill in baja anymore...cells are in every town
an american/mexican service plan is about $25

ONLY old guys talk on the phone too...99% of "normal" people TEXT
no one wants to talk to someone else...too much effort

you can text just about everywhere in baja

i can see a need if you are in the middle of the ocean but other than that all communication can be digitized

[Edited on 10-15-2012 by Bob and Susan]

mtgoat666 - 10-15-2012 at 06:06 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bob and Susan
actually having a SAT phone is overkill in baja anymore...cells are in every town
an american/mexican service plan is about $25

ONLY old guys talk on the phone too...99% of "normal" people TEXT
no one wants to talk to someone else...too much effort

you can text just about everywhere in baja

i can see a need if you are in the middle of the ocean but other than that all communication can be digitized

[Edited on 10-15-2012 by Bob and Susan]

sat phones never did give reliable service. now that mobile phones have taken over rural areas of most countries, doubtful sat service providers have enough customer base to maintain their system that was crappy in first place.

in baja mobile coverage is pretty good in all populated and many rural areas. perhaps you worried nellies should get SPOT devices for security blanket when outside mobile coverage areas.

fudscrud - 10-15-2012 at 09:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mtgoat666

Quote:

Which cell provider has the best coverage for Baja? I've heard AT&T before, is this still the case?
Has anybody picked up a prepaid minutes cell phone?
What is the cost per min for a call to the US?
I know, a lot of questions and this should probably have it's own thread ...

Alm - 10-15-2012 at 12:18 PM

SPOT has a spotty coverage even here in Canada, when you are away from major cities or offshore on big lakes. Besides, it's a one-way communication. I wouldn't count on cell phone either, if you fish offshore in Baja.

Mula - 10-15-2012 at 12:49 PM

Here is a Tel Cel web site in English:

http://www.telcel.com/portal/beforeyouleave/begin.do?languag...

It might answer some of your cost questions.

Alm - 10-15-2012 at 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Mula
Here is a Tel Cel web site in English:

http://www.telcel.com/portal/beforeyouleave/begin.do?languag...

It might answer some of your cost questions.

It's not about "cost", in case of cell phones. They are all affordable now. It's about coverage.

Desertbull - 10-15-2012 at 07:27 PM

Bob is somewhat correct, but I can give you a big list of places that TelCel, AT&T absolutely don't work...both own the pavement and in the dirt, $59 a month via www.allroadsat.com on an Iridium Sat Phone, rollover minutes month to month, I do 40,000 miles a year in Baja and I always need to be connected for emergencies ... Iridium Sat is the only way to go.

I do have a TelCel for use in towns as well as a TelCel USB Internet card...works really really good!

Quote:

mtgoat666 - 10-15-2012 at 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Desertbull
I do 40,000 miles a year in Baja

that seems like a lot of miles! that's about 800 to 1,000 hours of driving per year just in baja. seems a bit much,.... just saying!

Alm - 10-16-2012 at 12:15 PM

There is a separate thread on cell phones going right now. They are not a substitute for sat phone in may cases. Cells phones cover populated areas, and not all of them. A lot of substantial towns are not covered yet, and even when they are, don't expect anything on the road between towns. Most of Baja is desert and mountains with no people, I don't think there will be any coverage there for at least few years. They also don't cover water farther than 15-20 miles offshore.

Bob and Susan - 10-16-2012 at 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by mtgoat666

Quote:

Originally posted by Desertbull
I do 40,000 miles a year in Baja

that seems like a lot of miles! that's about 800 to 1,000 hours of driving per year just in baja. seems a bit much,.... just saying!

nope "goat"
not too many miles
i did 35k a year in the last 2 years and i live here

bajaguy - 10-16-2012 at 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Alm
SPOT has a spotty coverage even here in Canada, when you are away from major cities or offshore on big lakes. Besides, it's a one-way communication. I wouldn't count on cell phone either, if you fish offshore in Baja.

Although SPOT is a one way communications EMERGENCY device, it does not rely on cell coverage. Service is provided by satellite. It would be interesting to know where in Canada you are not getting SPOT coverage...... :?:

Alm - 10-17-2012 at 11:53 AM

OK, Spot is irrelevant to cell phones, it is satellite-based and email-based. As a one-way distress signal, a lot of good will do email to 911 from Baja

... Mentioned it only because somebody mentioned "spot"-like tracking on Iridium handset - which has little to do with Spot 911 service. A different thing. Other than tracking - which is not what everyone needs or likes - Spot device doesn't look a reliable tool to me. You don't know whether the emergency email (or "I'm OK" email) reached anybody, emails don't always reach the destination, it's a nature of internet. In case of emergency and in absence of cell phone or sat phone I wold rather use PLB - though it provides no confirmation either.

[Edited on 10-17-2012 by Alm]

Bob and Susan - 10-17-2012 at 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Alm
emails don't always reach the destination, it's a nature of internet. [Edited on 10-17-2012 by Alm]

my SAT emails ALWAYS make it...the internet works pretty well IMHO